My Definitive Guide to Chakras
(and How to Use Them to Heal Yourself)
Source: @sarahshakeel
What are chakras?
Chakras are primary organs of the body's energy. It's like a system of energy that corresponds to specific areas of your physical body. While this may sound a little woo-hoo and spiritual, chakras serve as proof that emotions are physical. Think of them like communicators that translate emotional and spiritual information to the physical cells of the physical body. In other words, chakras show us how emotions manifest in the physical body. If we can understand how emotions and experiences can either set us up for either healing or health problems, we can activate the mind-body connection to actually heal.
Each of the seven chakras is associated with both a specific physical system and specific emotional states. Emotions, fears, stress, and trauma target specific areas of the body. This is often why we have physical symptoms in the same areas (like acne/dry skin and headaches, or bad periods and constipation), or feel a change in symptoms when we go through emotional changes (like women who seem to "magically" heal their vaginismus after leaving toxic relationships).
How can we use chakras for healing?
Each chakra is associated with two extremes that result in bad health. The goal is not to be on either side, but rather to achieve a balance of the two extremes (yet another healing system that defines "health" as balance, just like Ayurveda, Taoism, etc.). Physical symptoms are really just our inner body's wisdom telling us that a chakra is out of balanced. If a chakra does not get back in balance, we cannot be as healthy as possible. Even worse, if we don't listen to what the inner body's wisdom is telling us now, it will come back louder (meaning with more serious problems or painful symptoms).
Identifying which area our pain is coming from can clue us into what emotional or stress-induced issues we have suppressed or need to be working through. Likewise, when we are aware of what emotional issues and imbalance we're suffering from, we can work to heal the emotions in order to prevent issues in that area or heal current issues in the area. When we get good at listening to the body, we can frequently check in with each chakra as a roadmap to see where we are both physically and emotionally, and what we may need to feel our very best. Try it right now: as you read through each chakra, imagine a bright light of energy in each section of the body. Close your eyes and ask this bright light what it's feeling. Identify if healing work needs to be done (whether you can identify physical or emotional imbalances) or if that chakra is balanced.
The Chakras
Chakra #1 (or The Root Chakra, Muladhara)
Where it's physically located: at your tailbone or the base of the spine
What parts of the body it affects: hip joints, spine, blood, immune system
Emotional symptoms of imbalance: lack of security or feeling unsafe (problems with when to trust people and when not to), lack of belonging, imbalance with fear (either feeling fearful when you don't need to be, or not feeling fearful when you should be)
Physical symptoms of imbalance: back pain, chronic fatigue, autoimmune diseases, arthritis
Quick ways to bring into balance: connect with the earth (go for a walk, garden, or try grounding), eat foods from the earth, practice nostril breathing, wear red, stretch your legs
Chakra #2 (or The Sacral Chakra, Svadhistana)
Where it's physically located: two inches below the navel
What parts of the body it affects: uterus, ovaries, vulva, vagina, cervix, large intestine, lower vertebrae, appendix, bladder
Emotional symptoms of imbalance: inability to express emotions and understand needs in relationships, fear of impotence or betrayal, imbalanced drive when it comes to sex, money, power, and relationships (either too much drive or too little), relationship dynamics (dependency vs. independency, lack of boundaries, etc.), lack of creativity
Physical symptoms of imbalance: pelvic or lower back pain, urinary problems (including UTIs), any OB-GYN issues: infertility, low sex drive, PMS, cramps, irregular periods, heavy bleeding, etc.
Quick ways to bring into balance: connect with water (drink a glass of water, go swimming, take a bath), dance or get in touch with femininity, wear the color orange, stretch your hips
Chakra #3 (or The Solar Plexus Chakra, Manipura)
Where it's physically located: three inches above the navel
What parts of the body it affects: abdomen, upper intestines, liver, lower esophagus, stomach, kidney, adrenal gland, spleen, middle of the spine
Emotional symptoms of imbalance: self-esteem issues, over or under competitive, fear of making decisions for self (or feeling overly responsible), fear of rejection or criticism, over focus on physical appearances
Physical symptoms of imbalance: substance abuse/addiction, digestive problems, liver dysfunction, stomach ulcers, colon diseases, ulcerative colitis, IBS, heartburn, constipation, chronic indigestion
Quick ways to bring into balance: connect with fire (meditate on a candle, light a bonfire), get out in sunshine, wear the color yellow, stretch and twist the core, eat foods that increase digestive fire (try ginger, turmeric, lemon, etc.)
Chakra #4 (or The Heart Chakra, Anahata)
Where it's physically located: at the heart, and center of the chest
What parts of the body it affects: heart and lungs, blood vessels, shoulders, ribs, breasts, diaphragm, upper esophagus
Emotional symptoms of imbalance: jealousy; abandonment issues; difficulty forming mutual, healthy, reciprocal relationships; imbalance between taking care of self and taking care of others; fear of loneliness
Physical symptoms of imbalance: asthma, heart disease, lung disease, breast cancer, shoulder pain, heart attack, hypertension, chest pain, pneumonia
Quick ways to bring into balance: connect with the air element (get outside, try deep breathing), wear the colors green or pink, stretch your chest, upper back, and shoulders, or get a shoulder massage
Chakra #5 (or The Throat Chakra, Visshudha)
Where it's physically located: at the throat, in between the chest and the chin
What parts of the body it affects: thyroid, throat, mouth, teeth and gums, neck vertebrae
Emotional symptoms of imbalance: communication issues (either cannot express emotions/thoughts well or over-expresses instead of listening), lack of timing awareness (having too much or too little time), fear of lack of willpower or feeling out of control
Physical symptoms of imbalance: recurring bronchitis, hoarse voice, chronic sore throats, neck pain, thyroid imbalance, TMJ, ear infections, constant mouth sores
Quick ways to bring into balance: sing or chant in the shower, drink lemon water, wear the color turquoise, listen to classical music
Chakra #6 (or The Third Eye Chakra, Ajna)
Where it's physically located: in the middle of the eyes and the center of the forehead
What parts of the body it affects: brain, eyes, ears, nose, pineal gland
Emotional symptoms of imbalance: moodiness, exaggerated imagination, inability to confront fears, confusion with morality (following the rules versus understanding that rules have exceptions)
Physical symptoms of imbalance: headaches, vision issues, seizures, dizziness, learning disability
Quick ways to bring into balance: keep a dream journal to record what your dreams are telling you, wear the color blue, tap into balance by balancing on one foot or doing yoga with your eyes closed
Chakra #7 (or The Crown Chakra, Sahasrara)
Where it's physically located: the space just above the crown of the head
What parts of the body it affects: can involve any organ system, but more related to spirituality (closest to the heavens, furthest from the earth's ground)
Emotional symptoms of imbalance: confusion or lack of trust in your intuition; difficulty with the balance of control over your life, versus trusting things happen as they should; lack of spirituality
Physical symptoms of imbalance: depression, genetic disorders, any life-threatening illness (that serves as a wake-up call)
Quick ways to bring into balance: meditate, volunteer, wear the color purple, keep a gratitude journal, practice inverted yoga poses (where your head is below your chest)
References: C.Dale, The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy; C.Northrup, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing; Chopra.com, "5 Signs Your Chakras Are Out of Balance and How to Test Them"
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