Our Chakras: Beyond the Physical

OUR ENERGY BODIES


Most people consider the physical body and the material world as the only reality and that only things that can be discerned by the physical senses are existing as these are the things understood by their rational mind. However, there are numerous energy bodies within and around the human body, which are:

1. The ethereal body
- resembling the physical body in shape and dimension, it is sometimes called the ''ethereal twin'' or inner physical body''.
- it draws vital energies from the sun throughthe solar plexus chakra, and from the earth through the root chakra. 

-it stores these energies and feeds them in continuous streams through the chakras and nadis into the physical body.
2. The emotional (astral) body
- the seat of feeling and desire and has an aura
-capable of leaving the other bodies for an out-of-body experience known as astral projection.
3. The mental body
- it extends beyond the physical and emotional bodies

-concerned with thought, knowing, discernment, beliefs, concepts and higher psychic abilities
4. The spiritual body
- it begins where the mental body ends

- the spiritual layer is the place where the mental body connects to the Divine, where some have psychic experiences.

In addition, there is a complex energy system working, which the physical body cannot exist without. This energy system consist of energy bodies, namely:

1. the chakras the (or energy centers)
2. and the nadis (also known as energy channels)

Prana is the primal source of all forms of energy, which manifests itself in various frequencies. Our level of consciousness determines the frequencies of prana we are capable of receiving and storing. One form of prana exists in the air, and one way we can retrieve it is through proper breathing.


THE CHAKRAS

Each chakra is connected with the elements of earth, water, air, ether and mind, wherein mind is an instrument of consciousness.

Chakra is a Sanskrit word, which means "wheel." The human chakras exists on the surface of the etheric human body.  A "stem" branches out from the central stem which is our spine forming the shape of a lotus flower.

Most people's chakras extend about four inches in all directions from their point of origin. When undeveloped, they look likesmall circles about two inches in diameter, but when awakened, they are blazing whirlpools like miniature suns several inches in diameter. As one's development advances, their chakras will extend further from the body, its frequency vibrations will increase and its corresponding colors will become clearer and brighter.

Depending on the sex of the individual, the chakras rotate either clockwise or counter-clockwise. For instance, when a chakra in a man is rotating clockwise, the same chakra in a woman will rotate counter-clockwise and visa versa. This enables the energies of man and woman to compliment each other. Every clockwise rotation is primary male, which is in accordance with the Chinese teaching, Yang; and every counter-clockwise rotation is female, or Ying.

Each chakra represents particular functions within the body and corresponds to specific life issues and the way we handle them, both inside ourselves and in our interactions with the world. As centers of energies, these wheels can be thought of as sites where we receive, absorb, and distribute life energies. Through external situations and internal habits, such as long-held physical tension and limiting self-concepts, a chakra can become either deficient or excessive—and therefore imbalanced.

These imbalances may develop temporarily with situational challenges, or they may be chronic. A chronic imbalance can come from childhood experiences, past pain or stress, and internalized cultural values. A deficient chakra neither receives appropriate energy nor easily manifests that chakra's energy in the world. The deficient chakra needs to open.

THE SEVEN CHAKRA CENTERS


1. Root Chakra

Base of Spine

Red

Seed mantra = Lam

Symbol = Square 

Earth

Survival / Grounding / Stability

Sense = smell

Suprarenal glands, prostate

Kidneys, bladder, spine

Gem = Coral 

Planet = Mars

Spiral pair = crown chakra 1/7

Excessive: overly possessive;

fearful parent

Deficient: homeless; ungrounded; victim 

2. Sacral Chakra

Slightly below naval

Orange

Seed mantra = Vam

Symbol = up-turned crescent

Water

Relationships / Sexuality / Empathy

Pleasure / Well-being 

Gem = Amethyst 

Planet = Mercury 

Sense = taste 

Spiral pair = third eye 2/6 

Excessive: manipulative,

controlling, lustful, addictive 

Deficient: co-dependent, martyr, submissive, doesn’t feel anything,

shut down

3. Solar Plexus

“Illustrious gem”

Slightly above the naval 

Yellow

Seed mantra = Ram

Symbol is a descending triangle

Fire

Will / Power / Joy / Motivation

Pancreas, stomach, liver, gall-bladder

Gem = Emerald Planet = Jupiter

Sense = sight 

Spiral pair = throat chakra 3/5

Excessive: egotistical, self-absorbed; ambitious self-driven warrior, desire to take control 

Deficient: poor self-worth; sensitive servant; feels disliked; martyr; needing to “do” all the time 

4. Heart Chakra

“Un-struck”

Center of chest

Green / Pink

Seed mantra = Yum

Symbol is intertwined descending and ascending triangles

Air

Compassion / Love / open-hearted 

Thymus, heart, liver, lungs, 

blood circulation 

Gem = Ruby Planet = Venus

Sense = touch 

Spiral pair = the center 4/4

Excessive: inappropriate emotional expression; poor emotional boundaries

Deficient: ruthless, no heart, can’t feel emotions

5. Throat chakra 

Throat 

Light Blue 

Seed mantra = Hum 

Symbol is a circle within a descending triangle

Ether

Communication / Creativity

Sound / Intuition / Synthesis 

Self expression / Desire to speak and hear the truth 

Thyroid gland, throat, upper lungs, arms, digestive track 

Gem = Sapphire Planet = Saturn

Sense = Hearing 

Spiral pair = solar chakra 5/3 

Excessive: willful, controlling, judgmental, hurtful speech 

Deficient: lacking faith, unable to creatively express, silent child

6. Third Eye Chakra

Forehead 

Indigo 

Seed mantra = Aum 

Symbol is a descending triangle within a circle 

Light Knowingness / Intuition / Perception

Pituitary gland, spine, lower brain, left eye, nose and the ears

Gem = Diamond Planet = Sun 

Sense = Sixth sense, higher mind

Spiral pair = sacral chakra 6/2

Excessive: overly intellectual; overly analytical

Deficient: unclear thought; deluded

7. Crown Chakra

Top of the head 

Violet

Symbol is the thousand-petaled lotusSpirit 

Shiva/ Consciousness 

Unification of colors

Intelligence / Bliss of

Divine Wisdom 

Pineal gland

Upper brain and right eye

Gem = Pearl Planet = Pluto

Spiral pair = root chakra 7/1

Excessive: cult leader, ego maniac

Deficient: no spiritual inspiration/aspiration

In order for us to be in full realization and in harmony with our physical and spiritual nature; our denser lower energies need to be harmonized with the lighter energies of the upper centers. Our survival and base tendencies have to be raised to incorporate a heart-felt spiritual focus expressed in all areas of our being. Indeed, each of the upper-level energies improves a lower level counterpart: 7th with 1st, 6th with 2nd, 5th with 3rd. The center of our being seats in full integration into the heart.

KEEPING YOUR CHAKRAS ALIGNED

An energy healer trained to keep the chakras' energy flow in balance can help in getting a misaligned chakra function properly again. It takes one or more appointments for a healer to get your energies to sync again. You may take healthy measures afterwards to keep the balance.

SOURCES:

http://www.yogajournal.com/basics/898

http://www.rickrichards.com/Chakras.htm

http://www.expressionsofspirit.com/yoga/chakras.htm

http://www.crystallotus.com/TheNewLightBody/04.htm

http://www.spiritual-experiences.com/articles-spirituality/subtle-body-seven-bodies.php

http://www.thenaturalrecoveryplan.com/articles/the-mental-body.html

http://www.skepdic.com/astralbody.html

http://www.well-being-oasis.com/spiritual-body.html

Other Pictures from:

http://www.reiki-for-holistic-health.com/chakra-aura-picture.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/chakras.html