The 7 Chakras: Portals between our inner and outer worlds

As portals between the physical and spiritual planes, the Chakras offer unparalleled opportunities for growth, healing, and transformation. An understanding of Chakras takes you on a powerful journey through progressively transcendent levels of consciousness.

The chakras are energy vortexes that bring energy into the body. There are 7 main ones and many minor chakras throughout the body. Chakras, derived from the Sanskrit word meaning “wheel”, are the energy centers of your spiritual power within your body. Each of our Chakras has it’s own unique healing color, which are also the same colors that appear in a rainbow. There are 7 major Chakra centers of the physical body, where vital energy flows and intersects. They begin at the base of your spine and continue up to the crown of your head. Through our Chakras, we transmit and receive physical, emotional, and spiritual energy. The chakras are manifested in one's physical state. 

The idea is to have all chakra centers clear, balanced, and vitalized for optimal well-being.  Each chakra is associated with a particular area of the body and a color of the spectrum.  Crystals and gemstones can be used at chakra centers for clearing, revitalizing, and healing.

These are the 7 major Chakra centers:

🌹 ROOT CHAKRA

Color is red, other colors associated with the Root Chakra are black brown, and gray

Location: base of the spine to the genitalia

Association: Represents passion and the feeling of being grounded

Root Chakra crystals/stones: garnet, ruby, onyx, red jasper, obsidian, smokey quartz, black tourmaline, hematite

🍁 NAVEL CHAKRA

Color is orange

Location: lower abdomen to naval area

Association: Represents creativity and your ability to accept others

Navel Chakra crystals/stones: carnelian, jasper, imperial topaz, mookaite, sunstone, moonstone

☀️ SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA

Color is yellow

Location: Upper abdomen, above the navel, below the chest

Association: Represents will, power, action

Solar Chakra crystals/stones: citrine, amber, tiger eye

💚 HEART CHAKRA

Color is green and the secondary color is pink

Location: Center of the chest

Association: Represents your ability to love unconditionally and accept others

Heart Chakra crystals/stones: Morganite, rose quartz, green and pink tourmaline, jade, aventurine, malachite, emerald

🦋 THROAT CHAKRA

Color is blue

Location: throat

Association: Represents communication and self-expression

Throat Chakra crystals/stones: Lapis Lazuli, Sodalite, turquoise, blue lace agate, chrysocolla, Blue Kyanite, larimar, amazonite, aquamarine

🧿 THIRD EYE CHAKRA

Color is indigo or shades of dark blue.

Location: Pineal Gland between eyebrows, center of forehead

Association: Represents understanding and your ability to focus on and see the big picture

Third Eye Chakra crystals/stones: Azurite, tanzanite, lapis lazuli, fluorite, sodalite

🔮 CROWN CHAKRA

Color is purple, the secondary color is clear or white

Location: Crown of the head

Association: Represents divine inspiration, communication and knowledge

Crown Chakra crystals/stones: amethyst, charoite, selenite, clear quartz

The Chakras of Matter

The first three chakras, starting at the base of the spine are chakras of matter. They are more physical in nature.

1️⃣ First Chakra: The Muladhara is the chakra of stability, security, and our basic needs. It encompasses the first three vertebrae, the bladder, and the colon. When this chakra is open, we feel safe and fearless. 

2️⃣ Second Chakra: The Svadhisthana chakra is our creativity and sexual center. It is located above the pubic bone, below the navel, and is responsible for our creative expression.

3️⃣ Third Chakra: The Manipura chakra means lustrous gem and it’s the area from the navel to the breastbone. The third chakra is our source of personal power.

4️⃣ The Fourth Chakra: The Connection Between Matter and Spirit

Located at the heart center, the fourth chakra, anahata is at the middle of the seven and unites the lower chakras of matter and the upper chakras of spirit. The fourth is also spiritual but serves as a bridge between our body, mind, emotions, and spirit. The heart chakra is our source of love and connection.

When we work through our physical chakras, or the first three, we can open the spiritual chakras more fully.

The Chakras of Spirit

5️⃣ Fifth Chakra: The Vishuddha chakra is the fifth chakra, located in the area of the throat. This is our source of verbal expression and the ability to speak our highest truth. The fifth chakra includes the neck, thyroid, and parathyroid glands, jaw, mouth, and tongue.

6️⃣ Sixth Chakra: The Ajna chakra is located in between the eyebrows. It is also referred to as the “third eye” chakra. Ajna is our center of intuition. We all have a sense of intuition but we may not listen to it or heed its warnings. Focus on opening the sixth chakra will help you hone this ability.

7️⃣ Seventh Chakra: The Sahaswara chakra or the “thousand petal lotus” chakra is located at the crown of the head. This is the chakra of enlightenment and spiritual connection to our higher selves, others, and ultimately, to the divine. It is located at the crown of the head.