“Chakras”, which means “wheels” in Sanskrit, are points of energy running along our spine. Ancient Hindus formulated that there were seven of these energy wheels, each a different color and spinning in a clockwise direction. Interestingly enough, the spacing of chakras actually match major nerve or endocrine centers in the body.
The chakras can become easily blocked, making us feel sick or out of balance. You can clear the chakras by visualizing cleansing light pouring into them.
The first chakra: also called “the root chakra.” Located at the base of the spine. It is linked to survival instincts and our ability to ground ourselves in the physical world. Blockage manifests as paranoia, defensiveness.
The second chakra: located just beneath the navel, and related to our sexual and reproductive capacity. Blockage manifests as emotional problems or sexual guilt.
The third chakra: located behind the solar plexus, which gives us a sense of our personal power in the world. Blockage manifests as anger or a sense of victimization.
The fourth chakra: the heart chakra, which gives us the ability to express love. Blockage can manifest as immune system or heart problems, or a lack of compassion.
The fifth chakra: located in the throat, directly tied to creativity and communication. Blockage manifests as problems like laryngitis or sore throats, creative blocks or general problems communicating with others.
The sixth chakra: “the third eye.” Located between the eyebrows, this chakra is the seat of intuition and awareness. Blockage manifests as sinus or eye problems.
The seventh chakra: “the crown chakra”, located at the top of the head. This is related to one’s personal spiritual connection to the universe. Blockage manifests as psychological problems.
(7) Crown Chakra – Violet
Thought, Universal identity, oriented to self-knowledge
This is the crown chakra that relates to consciousness as pure awareness. It is our connection to the greater world beyond, to a timeless, spaceless place of all-knowing. When developed, this chakra brings us knowledge, wisdom, understanding, spiritual connection, and bliss.
AMETHYST – Aids spiritual wakefulness, quietens the mind. Links to reverence for all life and high ideals.
AMETRINE – Yellow/violet for inner well-being. Enhances autonomic nervous system.
APOPHYLLITE – Aids conscious connection between physical and spiritual. Calming, helps overcome uncertainty. Helps rid negative thought.
PREHNITE – Helps overcome fears, nightmares and phobias. Encourages serenity, dignity and service to others. Encourages contact with higher self.
(6) Brow Chakra – Indigo
Light, Archetypal identity, oriented to self-reflection
This chakra is known as the brow chakra or third eye center. It is related to the act of seeing, both physically and intuitively. As such it opens our psychic faculties and our understanding of archetypal levels. When healthy it allows us to see clearly, in effect, letting us “see the big picture.”
DIAMOND – Encourages spiritual freedom. Helps develop clear insight, integrity and justice. Enhances our qualities and fortifies control in the body.
SODALITE – Also for throat chakra.
LAPIS LAZULI – For wisdom, honesty, reveals own inner truth. Helps to open higher awareness, thus aiding understanding of ancient wisdom.
SMOKEY QUARTZ – Increases stress tolerance. Relaxing, encourages sobriety, pragmatism and realistic consideration. Can help pain relief.
ANGELITE – Sometimes known as the awareness stone. Can enhance telepathic communication, aids attunement.
(5) Throat Chakra – Blue
Sound, Creative identity, oriented to self-expression
This is the chakra located in the throat and is thus related to communication and creativity. Here we experience the world symbolically through vibration, such as the vibration of sound representing language.
SODALITE – Brow and throat chakras. Helps us find our ‘own truth’. Calming. Helps dispel rigid thought patterns, phobias.
MOONSTONE – Helps composure and emotions. Calming.
AQUAMARINE – Harmonizes thyroid. Helps hay fever, immune system, allergies. Enhances relaxed disposition. Encourages foresight.
SAPPHIRE – Throat and brow chakras – aids communication with higher self. Helps to expel fears, bringing peace. Enhances ability to listen and understand as well as communication.
TURQUOISE – Bestows inner calm. Helps with control of viral infections, anti-inflammatory, relaxes cramps. Powerful healer strengthening entire anatomy and in absorption of nutrients.
KYANITE – Strengthens the throat and larynx, but can actually helpful for all chakras, especially the throat, brow and crown as it aids connections with Universal energy.
(4) Heart Chakra – Green
Air, Social identity, oriented to self-acceptance
This chakra is called the heart chakra and is the middle chakra in a system of seven. It is related to love and is the integrator of opposites in the psyche: mind and body, male and female, persona and shadow, ego and unity. A healthy fourth chakra allows us to love deeply, feel compassion, have a deep sense of peace and centeredness
EMERALD – Encourages harmony and justice, friendship and unconditional love. Can help to strengthen the respiratory tract and immune system.
JADE – Balancing, calming for irritability. Can be helpful for encouraging tranquility, kindness and nurturing.
ROSE QUARTZ – Gentle but firm helpfulness for openness, sensitivity and empathy. Encourages proper self-love and ability to love others unconditionally. Aids calming of stress.
AVENTURINE – For relaxation, patience, tolerance. Regenerates heart energies.
AGATE – Good overall healing stone – all chakras. Acts as a bridge between the physical and etheric/spiritual.
DIOPTASE – Links solar plexus and heart energies. transmutes negative energies to positive.
(3) Solar Plexus Chakra – Yellow
Fire, Ego identity, oriented to self-definition
This chakra is known as the power chakra, located in the solar plexus. It rules our personal power, will, and autonomy, as well as our metabolism. When healthy, this chakra brings us energy, effectiveness, spontaneity, and non-dominating power.
AMBER – Encourages a sunny nature, self confidence. Can help problems with the stomach and spleen, liver and gallbladder.
CITRINE – Encourages self confidence and self realization free from oppressive influences. Can help to stimulate digestion.
MALACHITE – Can be helpful for the liver, travel sickness, dispelling inhibitions, encouraging quick thinking and de-tox.
topAZ Can help to strengthen the solar plexus chakra.
RHODONITE – Restores energy depleted by trauma or shock. Helps heals wounds both emotional and physical and aids forgiveness. Heart/solar plexus chakras.
RHODOCHROSITE – Symbolic of re-birthing. Helps to bring painful events to the front so they can be cleared and we can move on. Can also aid emotional stress and the circulatory system. Helpful in heart and solar plexus chakras.
(2) Sacral Chakra – Orange
Water, Emotional identity, oriented to self-gratification
The second chakra, located in the abdomen, lower back, and sexual organs, is related to the element water, and to emotions and sexuality. It connects us to others through feeling, desire, sensation, and movement. Ideally this chakra brings us fluidity and grace, depth of feeling, sexual fulfillment, and the ability to accept change.
BLOODSTONE – A member of the Jasper family, it improves sense of creativity and intuition.
CHRYSOPRASE – Enhances feelings of trust, security and independence and our sense of contentment with ourselves. Can help sexual problems, fertility and de-tox. Can help us to ‘let go’ and ‘move on’.
ORANGE CALCITE – Fortifies the body, balances emotions, and aids feelings of stability. Gall bladder and reproductive organs. (Lower three chakras.)
CARNELIAN – Encourages a spirit of community, lifts emotions, dispels apathy. Can be helpful for rheumatism, arthritis, neuralgia, infertility and depression.
(1) Base Chakra – Red
Earth, Physical identity, oriented to self-preservation
Located at the base of the spine, this chakra forms our foundation. It represents the element earth, and is therefore related to our survival instincts, and to our sense of grounding and connection to our bodies and the physical plane. Ideally this chakra brings us health, prosperity, security, and dynamic presence.
RUBY – Fires enthusiasm, courage, drives away sadness and melancholy. Useful for adrenals and circulation and for protection.
HEMATITE – Restores strength, regulates blood flow, strengthens will, vitality. Can aid pain relief.
GARNET – Fortifies inner flame, strength of character, stimulates metabolism.
JASPER – “Grounding”, Stimulates determination and courage and stimulates the circulation.
APATITE – Aids motivation and drive, enlivens, helps dispel apathy and lack of incentive.