The word chakra comes from Sanskrit (a classical language of India). The
major chakras are often described as ‘spinning wheels of light’ or ‘energy
centres’. However you connect with them, you won’t find them in a
physical form if you were to cut open the body – they are esoteric and
vibrational energy forces that are intrinsically linked with your body and
physiological wellbeing.
The study of chakras dates back many centuries, and as such, they are
considered an integral part of holistic health. By consciously working
with your chakra energy and the issues that relate to each zone, you should be
able to bring your life into balance and experience a deep sense that ‘all is
right’ with your world.
When all your chakras are balanced and vibrating at their optimum level, they
integrate physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual facets of the human
into a coherent whole.
The chakras are located roughly near our glands along the vertical meridian
of our body. The name of each chakra describes roughly where it is located.
There is generally an overlapping and sharing of functions amongst chakras,
both physiologically and psychologically.
The Physiological Role of Each Chakra
The base and sacral chakras are related to generative and sexual functions,
while the solar plexus chakra is related to the stomach and digestion. The
heart chakra is related to the heart and circulation, and the throat chakra is
related to the lungs and the voice, including the thyroid glands, ears, nose and
throat. The third eye chakra is related to vision, the eyes, and the
pituitary gland, while the crown chakra is related to the brain, and especially
the pituitary and pineal glands.
The Psychological Function of Each Chakra
The three lower chakras are related to our raw emotions and biological
instincts ranging from sexual desire and hunger, into passion, anger, pleasure
and joy and other relatively simple emotional states. The four higher
chakras are related to higher cognitive states. That is, the heart chakra
is related to empathy and understanding; the throat chakra is related to vocal
expression, hearing, and the ability to communicate; the third eye chakra is
related to clarity and the ability to understand; and the crown chakra is
related to deep understanding and comprehension on a spiritual level.
Each chakra represents one of the seven essential facets of life –
foundation, abundance, self-ownership, love, truth, trust and faith.
The major chakras and their life-aspect are as follows:
Base :: Foundation
Sacral :: Abundance
Solar Plexus :: Self-ownership
Heart :: Love
Throat :: Expression
Third Eye :: Wisdom
Crown :: Faith
