THE MAJOR CHAKRAS (A BRIEF OVERVIEW)

Within the main Indian yogic teachings, seven major chakras are assigned specific qualities, all the minor chakras also have an important role to play, not least in regulating the flow of energy.

BASE/MULADHARA 

Colour of Influence – Red  Element – Earth  Body Sense – Smell Endocrine Gland – Testes/Ovaries

Chakra Qualities – Grounding, stabilizing, earth energy  Essential Oils – Patchouli, myrrh, cedar wood

BASIC UNDERSTANDING WITHIN EACH SEVEN-YEAR CYCLE

Year – 0 to 7 and 50 to 56/Keywords:

Life-force energy; connection to the Earth and material world; stability; initiating new beginnings

If your Base Chakra is not strong, you may feel unhappy with your body size or shape, or may have a feeling that you are not in control of your life.  On the other hand, if your Base Chakra is overactive, you may explode angrily at the slightest provocation.

SACRAL/SVADISTHANA (also known as the Sexual Chakra)

Colour of Influence – Orange  Element – Water  Body Sense – Taste Endocrine Gland – Adrenals

Chakra Qualities – Transmuting sexual energy  Essential Oils – Sanalwood, jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, champaca

BASIC UNDERSTANDING WITHIN EACH SEVEN-YEAR CYCLE

Year – 8 to 14 and 57 to 63/Keywords:

Sensuality; creativity; enthusiasm; exploring creativity and boundaries

Low energy flow through the Sacral Chakra will cause you not to have any joyful moments in your life.  If it is hyperactive, you may experience tears of frustration.

SOLAR PLEXUS/MANICURE

Colour of Influence – Yellow  Element – Fire  Body Sense – Sight Endocrine Gland – Pancreas

Chakra Qualities – Transducing solar and pranic energy  Essential Oils – Sage, juniper, geranium

BASIC UNDERSTANDING WITHIN EACH SEVEN-YEAR CYCLE

Year – 15 to 21 and 64 to 70/Keywords:

Development of personality and feelings; wisdom; expansion and limitless possibilities

Inactivity of the Solar Plexus Chakra will cause you to feel powerless when you are under pressure and to develop a quest feeling, or ‘butterflies’ in your stomach.  Overactivity will make you domineering and a ‘control freak’.

HEART/ANAHATA

Colour of Influence – Green/Pink  Element – Air  Body Sense – Touch Endocrine Gland – Thymus

Chakra Qualities – Flow of unconditional love  Essential Oils – Rose, melissa, neroli

BASIC UNDERSTANDING WITHIN EACH SEVEN-YEAR CYCLE

Year – 22 to 28 and 71 to 77/Keywords:

Love; compassion; selflessness; development of healing skills in self and others; working to heal the Earth

If you feel that your ‘heart has missed a beat’, it may indicate a weak Heart Chakra as well as a weak physical heart.  If you redden or your pulse races in stressful situations, your Heart Chakra may be overactive.

THROAT/VISHUDDHA

Colour of Influence – Turquoise  Element – Ether/Akasha  Body Sense – Hearing Endocrine Gland – Thyroid/parathyroids

Chakra Qualities – Self-expression, communication, will  Essential Oils – Chamomile, lavender, rosemary, thyme

BASIC UNDERSTANDING WITHIN EACH SEVEN-YEAR CYCLE

Year – 29 to 35 and 78 to 84/Keywords:

Communication; self-expression; inspiration; independence; openness to higher development; speaking with wisdom

A weak Throat Chakra will make you unable to speak your truth, or you may stutter or shake.  An overactive Throat Chakra will cause you to speak before you think – sometimes with hurtful words.

BROW/AJNA

Colour of Influence – Deep blue  Element – Spirit  Body Sense – Extra-sensory perception Endocrine Gland – Pituitary

Chakra Qualities – Balancing the higher and lower selves, ESP  Essential Oils – Frankincense, basil

BASIC UNDERSTANDING WITHIN EACH SEVEN-YEAR CYCLE

Year – 36 to 42 and 85 to 91/Keywords:

Realization of inner senses, such as clairvoyance, intuition; responsibility; deepening life experiences

If you cannot visualize and organize your life very well, then your Brow Chakra is under active.  If you experience nightmares, it may have become hyperactive

CROWN/SAHASRARA

Colour of Influence – Violet/Gold  Element – Spirit  Body Sense – All the senses Endocrine Gland – Pineal

Chakra Qualities – Divine love and super-consciousness  Essential Oils – Ylang-ylang, rosewood, linden

BASIC UNDERSTANDING WITHIN EACH SEVEN-YEAR CYCLE

Year – 43 to 49 and 92 to 98/Keywords:

Time of inner work; unity; enlightenment; inner spiritual transition, contemplation and meditation

An inability to think clearly when under stress means that your Crown Chakra is weak.  If you want to eat all the fruits of spiritual attainment before you have learned how to plant, water and grow them, then your Crown Chakra is unbalanced.

***The reference used for the above information comes from a great book called:  The Chakra Bible by Patricia Mercier.  This book is a definitive guide in working and understanding our Chakras.  Here is a link to her website:

http://patriciamercierauthor.webs.com

If you are interested in learning more about the Chakras, I would highly recommend by The Chakra Bible as it really goes into depth about key characteristics, how to balance the Chakras, aromatherapy, crystals, reiki, yoga, health issues and so much more information to ensure you mind and body are balanced.