Introduction of Chakras

"Wheel" is the literal translation of the Sanskrit word "Chakra", and in practice you can think of it as a spinning wheel, or vortex, of energy.

7 Chakras

The 7 Chakras most of us are familiar with represent focal points, or vortexes, of energy running from the bottom of the spinal column to the top of the head, connecting the life force, or energy, called Qi in Chinese, or Prana in Hindu, with our body’s nervous and endocrine systems. These connections are often achieved using our nerve pathways, called Nadis in Hindu (meaning channels or meridians), and the major nerve centres, or plexus, that influence our spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical selves.

The ancient philosophy behind the activation of Chakras was to induce energies associated with a specific deity at these focal points. Today we use this meditation practice for its therapeutic value, with the idea that by finding and correcting any imbalances in our Chakras, we can target and correct any imbalances in our physical, mental, and spiritual self.

The act of targeting a specific Chakra can involve visualizing the shape (Mandala) and colour of the Chakra, along with chanting the sound (Mantra), using hand gestures (Mudras), as well as proper postures (Asanas), and breathing (Pranayama), in your meditation and yoga practice.

Simple example of targeting your Root Chakra through meditation

• Asana – with your back straight, sit in a full lotus, half lotus, or simple cross-legged position

• Mudra - your hands on your knees, facing up, with your thumb and index fingers touching

• Mandala – visualizing red energy vortex at the base of spine (between anus and genitals)

• Mantra and Pranayama – taking deep breaths, chanting L A A A M M with each exhale. This can be done over several breaths to several minutes

It is important to understand there are many types of meditation practices, as well as physical exercises, that can help you with unblocking and balancing your Chakras, and the examples here are just some of many possible use cases. Your meditation practice is a very personal experience, and if a certain Astana or Mudra is physically uncomfortable for you, by all means adjust it to suit your needs or look for an alternative. If lying down instead of sitting works better for you, than do so. Being comfortable and having a productive meditation experience is more important than worrying about having your left thumb over your right, or vice versa.

1 Muladhara - Root Chakra

The Root Chakra is located in the region below the genitals, or at the base of the spine, and is the first of three Chakras that relates to our Physical Self, representing your natural instincts, fight or flight emotions, health, prosperity, survival, safety and security.

Direct Translation

Muladhara = Root or Base

Indications

• Under-Active – bad health, insecurity, nervousness, cynicism, negative thoughts, eating disorders

• Balanced – grounded, feeling safe, healthy, having stability and security, prosperity, confidence

• Over-Active – shrewd, stubborn, unsentimental, greedy, materialistic, arrogant

Root Chakra Colour.

The Root Chakra is represented by the RED colour vibration, same as Numerology No1.

Root Chakra Mandala

An inverted triangle, within a square, within a four petaled lotus.

Root Chakra Mantra

Sanskrit word LAM

Pronounced L A A A M M

Element EARTH

Root Chakra Mudra

Place your hands, facing up, on your knees with the thumb and index finger forming a circle.

2 Svadhisthana - Sacral Chakra

The Sacral Chakra is located in the region above the genitals, or the pelvis area, and is the second of three Chakras that relates to our Physical Self, representing creativity and emotions stemming from your sexuality, relationships, intimacy, and sensual desires.

Direct Translation

Svadhisthana = One’s own abode/seat/residence

Indications

• Under-Active – destructive behaviour, menstrual problems, impotence, kidney and urinary tract issues, commitment and relationship issues, apathetic behaviour, emotionally closed off

• Balanced – sexually healthy and emotionally fulfilled, trusting and balanced in relationships, mentally energized, expressive, creative, passionate

• Over-Active – promiscuity, overly emotional

Sacral Chakra Colour

The Sacral Chakra is represented by the ORANGE colour vibration, same as Numerology No2.

Sacral Chakra Mandala

A circle forming a crescent moon, within a six petaled lotus.

Sacral Chakra Mantra

Sanskrit word VAM

Pronounced V A A A M M

Element WATER

Sacral Chakra Mudra

Place your hands, facing up, in your lap, with your left hand under your right, and thumbs touching at the tips.

3 Manipura - Solar Plexus Chakra

Solar Plexus Chakra sits below your rib cage, but is sometimes interchanged with the term Naval Chakra indicating the area around your belly button, and is often shown positioned just at the stomach level. This is the third and final Chakra that is related to our Physical Self, and is considered the energy center of your will power, representing inner strength, self-control, vitality and self-esteem.

Direct Translation

Manipura = Resplendent Gem

Indications

• Under-Active – digestive problems, prone to addictions, indecisive, fatigued, low self-esteem, timid and passive

• Balanced – healthy self-esteem and confidence, engaging and satisfying world view, assertive and in control of one’s actions

• Over-Active – restless, fidgety, aggressive, over-confident

Solar Plexus Chakra Colour.

Solar Plexus Chakra is represented by the YELLOW colour vibration, same as Numerology No 3.

Solar Plexus Chakra Mandala

An inverted triangle within a ten petaled lotus.

Solar Plexus Chakra Mantra

Sanskrit word RAM

Pronounced R A A A M M

Element FIRE

Solar Plexus Chakra Mudra

Clasp your hands in front of you, under your chest, with your fingers straight and usually your left thumb over your right.

4 Anahata - Heart Chakra

The focal energy of the Heart Chakra is the middle of the chest. This is our fourth Chakra, but the first that relates to our Emotional Self, representing compassion, love and devotion, forgiveness, openness and trust, and emotional peace and contentment.

Direct Translation

Anahata = Unhurt

Indications

• Under-Active – feeling emotionally lost, angry, jealous, lonely, stressed, high blood pressure, heart related health problems, cold and distant

• Balanced – feeling emotionally balanced and at peace, friendly, generous, loving and trusting

• Over-Active – overly loving, emotionally suffocating, too trusting

Heart Chakra Colour

Heart Chakra is represented by the GREEN colour vibration, same as Numerology No 4.

Heart Chakra Mandala

Two triangles, forming a hexagram, within a twelve petaled lotus.

Heart Chakra Mantra

Sanskrit word YAM

Pronounced Y A A A M M

Element AIR

Heart Chakra Mudra

Place your hands, facing up, on your knees with the thumb and ring finger forming a circle on your left hand, and your thumb and middle finger on the right

5 Visuddha - Throat Chakra

As the name suggests, Throat Chakra’s focal energy is centered at the throat. This is the second Chakra that relates to our Emotional Self, representing self-expression through creativity, ingenuity, and communication using written, spoken, or otherwise symbolic means, including art, music, and other creative venues.

Direct Translation

Visuddha = Pure

Indications

• Under-Active – thyroid problems and throat ailments, speech and hearing impediments, neck and shoulder pain, inability to express oneself, shy, unable to concentrate, introverted, dishonest

• Balanced – good at expressing oneself, able to listen and communicate well, honesty

• Over-Active – too blunt, domineering with ideas, talk too much

Throat Chakra Colour

Throat Chakra is represented by the BLUE colour vibration, same as Numerology No 5.

Throat Chakra Mandala

A circle, within an inverted triangle, within a sixteen petaled lotus.

Throat Chakra Mantra

Sanskrit word HAM

Pronounced H A A A M M

Element ETHER

Throat Chakra Mudra

Place your hands, facing up, in your lap, with your fingers interlocked and thumbs touching at the tips.

6 Anja - Third Eye Chakra

The Third Eye Chakra is cantered between the eyebrows. This sixth Chakra is related to our Mental Self, representing insight, intuition, intellect, perception and psychic awareness.

Direct Translation

Anja = Perceive

Indications

• Under-Active – headaches, eye sight problems, moody, reclusive, confused

• Balanced – able to see patterns, solve puzzles, see the truth, fantasize, perceive lies, able to focus and see things clearly as they truly are, intuitive

• Over-Active – over imagination, not living in the real world

Third Eye Chakra Colour

Third Eye Chakra is represented by the INDIGO colour vibration, same as Numerology No 6.

Third Eye Chakra Mandala

An inverted triangle within a two petaled lotus.

Third Eye Chakra Mantra

Sanskrit word SHAM

Pronounced S H A A A M M

Element ALL

Third Eye Chakra Mudra

With your hands under your chest, keep your thumbs and middle fingers straight and touching at the tips, and rest of the fingers bent and touching at their middle joints.

7 Sahasrara - Crown Chakra

The Crown Chakra is cantered at or above the crown of the head and is related to our Spiritual Self, representing thought, understanding, enlightenment, and inspiration, and serves as a connection point to the higher levels of consciousness that allows for psychic abilities such as lucid and vivid dreaming, self-healing, aura reading, telepathy and more.

Direct Translation

Sahasrara = Thousand Petals

Indications

• Under-Active – spiritually depressed, unable to concentrate, rigid in your understanding

• Balanced – living in the present moment, trust in yourself, aware of the greater consciousness, content with oneself

• Over-Active – over sensitive to stimuli such as light and sounds, overthinking things, too analytical, possibly arrogant

Crown Chakra is represented by the VIOLET colour, vibration same Numerology No7.

Crown Chakra Mandala

A circle within a thousand petaled lotus.

Crown Chakra Mantra

Sanskrit word OM

Pronounced A U U U M M

Element ALL

Crown Chakra Mudra

With your hands under your chest, clasp and interlock your fingers keeping the ring fingers straight, and usually your left thumb under your right.

8 Vyapini - Soul Star Chakra

In the 9 Chakra System, the Soul Star Chakra is the 8th Chakra. It is located just above your head representing your Soul’s selflessness, compassion, spiritual contentedness, and your soul’s purpose. Depending on the literature and Chakra System, it is often referred to as Soul Chakra, Soul Star Chakra, or Soul Gateway Chakra.

Direct Translation

Vyapini = All-pervading, reaching through, covering, diffusive

Symbol used

Atman = Soul

There are no test questions that can be used to directly gauge your Soul Star Chakra. However, the approximation of your Soul Star Chakra is derived by looking at the combination of 4 of the 7 Chakras that you were questioned on in the 7 Chakras Test, representing your Emotional, Mental and Spiritual Essences. These are your Heart, Throat, Third Eye, and Crown Chakras. As such, it stands to reason that working on opening these four Chakras in particular will help you in activating your Soul Star Chakra as well.

Soul Star Chakra is often represented by either Lite Ultraviolet (Rose) or White/Silver light. ROSE colour vibration is also used for Numerology No 8.

9 Vyomanga - Stellar Gateway Chakra

At the top of the 9 Chakra Diagram is the Stellar Gateway Chakra, which sits above your 8th Soul Star Chakra and depending on the literature and Chakra System used, it can be a combination of several different Chakras including Spirit, Universal, Galactic, Cosmic, God, Stellar, or Divine Gateway Chakra. To keep things in line with the common 9 Chakra system, we refer to it here as your Stellar Gateway Chakra, representing the connection to the Astral body and Divine Force.

Direct Translation

Vyomanga = Cosmic/Universal/Space Body

Symbol used

DEVA = Divine/God

Much like your 8th Soul Star Chakra, there are no test questions that can be used to directly gauge your Stellar Gateway Chakra. However, the approximation of your Stellar Gateway Chakra is derived from looking at the combination of ALL of the Chakras that you were questioned on in the 7 Chakras Test. This represents your Physical, Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual Essences ... in other words your entire self. As such, it stands to reason that keeping all your Chakras opened and well balanced will help you in activating your Stellar Gateway Chakra as well. Stellar Gateway Chakra is depicted by the GOLD colour vibration, same as Numerology No9.

Everything in life is connected in some way, and although Chakras and Numerology seem like different topics, there are some overlaps.

For one, you might have noticed that the color vibrations we associate with numbers 1 to 9 in Numerology are the same as the color vibrations of Chakras 1 to 9. Each number in Numerology represents both positive and negative attributes, and although many of us don’t like to admit this, if you are a little off balance, you are more likely to exhibit the negative properties of the numbers represented within your Numerology Chart. For example, a balanced Expression Number 1 represents a person who is confident, independent, and motivated. An unbalance Expression Number 1, on the other hand, represents someone who can be overly opinionated, self-centered, intimidating and overly critical of others.

Opening up and unblocking our Chakras is a means by which we can become more balanced, and by doing so bring out the positive energy that is associated with the numbers in our Numerology chart, and hopefully in the process, making us kinder and better people as a whole.