CHAKRAS

The concept of chakras originated in India and although Mikao Usui

(who discovered Reiki in Japan) did not base his Reiki practice on the

system, they work well together.

Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘wheel’ and is an apt name for these spinning vortexes of energy. They are located within our etheric body and are centres of force through which we receive, transmit and process life energies

The form of energy drawn in by a single chakra depends on the chakra

in question. There are literally hundreds of chakras, most of which are

referred to as ‘minor chakras’.

In Reiki however, there are seven main chakras and two pairs of minor ones.

These chakras are the Crown, Brow (Third Eye), Throat, Heart, Solar Plexus, Sacral and Base Chakras and the Palm and Foot chakras

The chakras form a network through which body, mind and spirit interact as a complete holistic system.

The major chakras correspond to specific aspects of our consciousness and have their own individual functions and characteristics. Each chakra has a corresponding relationship with one of the glands comprising the body’s endocrine system, as well as being associated with a specific colour.

Indeed there are a whole range of associations related to each chakra, many

of which will be covered in this course.

When all the chakras are ‘whirling’, open, bright and clean, then our chakra system is balanced. However, if a chakra becomes blocked, damaged or muddied with residual energy, then our physical and emotional health can be affected

Interestingly, this often occurs habitually as the result of negative or incomplete belief systems. In other words, the effects of our habits, feelings, beliefs, thoughts, fears and desires can be found in our chakras

By realizing that the energy created from our emotions and mental

attitudes runs through the chakras and is then distributed to the cells,

tissues and organs of the body, we gain an insight into how we affect

our own bodies, minds and circumstances

When chakras are open, balanced and free of blockages, the more energy can flow through our system and this energy is essential for our vitality, health and continued growth on all levels

The following tables list the main characteristics/traits that can be

seen in people when each chakra is ‘open’ or spinning in a balanced

manner, or ‘closed’, spinning in a sluggishly, spinning too fast, rotating

the wrong way etc.

Base – Emotionally needy, low self-esteem, self-destructive

behaviour, fearful.

Sacral – Oversensitive, hard on oneself, feels guilty for no reason,

frigid or impotent.

Solar Plexus – Overly concerned with what others think, fearful of

being alone, insecure, needs constant reassurance.

Heart – Fears rejection, loves too much, feels unworthy to receive

love, self-pitying.

Throat – Holds back from self-expression, unreliable, holds

inconsistent views.

Third Eye – Undisciplined, fears success, tendency towards

schizophrenia, sets sights too low.

Crown – Constantly exhausted, can’t make decisions, no sense of

‘belonging’

Base – Demonstrates self-mastery, high physical energy, grounded,

healthy.

Sacral – Trusting, expressive, attuned to one’s own feelings, creative.

Solar Plexus – Respects self and others, has personal power,

spontaneous, uninhibited.

Heart – Compassionate, loves unconditionally, nurturing, desires

spiritual experience in lovemaking.

Throat – Good communicator, contented, finds it easy to meditate,

artistically inspired.

Third Eye – Charismatic, highly intuitive, not attached to material

things, may experience unusual phenomena.

Crown – Magnetic personality, achieves ‘miracles’ in life,

transcendent, at peace with self.

Base – Bullying, overly materialistic, self-centred, engages in physical

foolhardiness.

Sacral – Emotionally unbalanced, a fantasist, manipulative, sexually

addictive.

Solar Plexus – Angry, controlling, workaholic, judgmental and

superior.

Heart – Possessive, loves conditionally, withholds emotionally to

‘punish’, overly dramatic.

Throat – Over-talkative, dogmatic, self-righteous, arrogant.

Third Eye – Highly logical, dogmatic, authoritarian, arrogant.

Crown – Psychotic or manic depressive, confused sexual expression,

frustrated, sense of unrealized power

Opening the Foot Chakra.

In order to open the foot chakra, imagine that this chakra looks like a

flower, with four or eight large petals that can flap open and shut on

four/eight sides of the energy centre within the sole of the foot.

Contract your Hui Yin and use your fingers to brush open each petal

several times in turn, as if you were gently brushing aside an insect

from someone’s face. Since you are focusing your intent here, the

exact hand movements are not vitally important.

Once the chakra has been opened in one foot, hold your hand over the

sole of the foot and channel energy for about 10 minutes, visualizing

the energy travelling higher and higher up the person’s leg. Then open

the chakra on the other foot and channel energy for another 10

minutes exactly as before

Chakra

Element

Colour

Organ / Gland

Purpose

Base (Root)

Muladhara

Earth

Red

Ovaries / gonads

Survival & prosperity. Raises energy. Earths the healer. Good for people who are spaced out or living in their heads. Foundation of the chakra system & home of the Kundalini

Sacral

Swadhistana

Water

Orange

Bladder / intestines / kidneys / lymphatic / adrenals

Physical & sexual health. Release energy. Helps with sexual problems including impotence & loss of sex drive. Personal sacred dwelling place. Emotional & physical feelings

Solar Plexus

Manipura

Fire

Yellow

Pancreas / stomach / spleen / liver / adrenals

Personal power & emotions. Gives feelings of power, confidence & self esteem. Can give some degree of immunity to pain. Puts you in touch with what you are feeling about yourself. Purifies toxicity on all levels within the surface bodies

Heart

Anahata

Air

Green

Heart / lungs / thymus

Love. Feelings for others. Makes you aware of your feeling for others & opens you up to vibrations of love. Centre of our energy system, our true resting place, where the flow of energies from the spirit self & the earth self meet.

Throat

Vishuddha

Ether

Blue

Upper lungs / thyroid / parathyroid

Communication. Improves intellect & powers of communication with others. Develops the rational mind. The bridge between our inner self & outer creation.

Third Eye

Anja

Light

Indigo / Purple

Medulas oblongata / pituitary

Intuition. Develops intuition, psychic abilities & detachment. Opens the identity of the soul. A vehicle for self-reflection & self knowledge to bring the light of wisdom.

Crown

Sahasrara

None

Violet / Brilliant White Light

Cerebral cortex / pineal

Spirituality. Faith. Astral contact with other dimensions. God consciousness. Liberate consciousness by surrendering to our universal identity

Chakra Balancing

Chakra balancing can be done with the client sitting, standing or lying whatever feels right to you at the time. One method is to start at the Base chakra with a hand in front & the other behind the client’s body. Move slowly up the body stopping to give Reiki wherever you sense it is needed, this may take 2 or 3 minutes at each chakra. Once you have reached the crown chakra smooth out the aura & start at the base chakra again to ensure all chakras are in balance. Working on one chakra can unbalance the others. Repeat process until you are happy that all chakras are in balance.

Here is an alternative method for chakra balancing & re-balances the energy in the aura. With client lying down place one hand over the 1st (base) chakra & the other over the 2nd chakra (sacral). Feel for energy imbalance & move on when the energy feels the same in both hands. Next place one hand on the 2nd chakra & the other on the 3rd chakra (solar plexus) & once the energy feel balanced move on. Repeat this process with the 3rd & 4th chakra (Heart), the 4th & 5th chakra (Throat) & so on. Finish the process by placing both hands over the crown & sweep slowly down the body as if brushing snow away. Repeat entire process twice.

A similar method to this & the one I tend to use is balancing the 1st (base) & the 6th (crown) chakra at the same time, then the 2nd (sacral) & 5th (throat) chakra & then the 3rd (solar plexus) & 4th (heart) chakra.