The Seven Chakras: What Are Their Purposes? – Part 1/7

The Seven Chakras: What Are Their Purposes? – Part 2/7

The sacral chakra. Credit: Dreamstime.com

Written by Wes Annac, September 4, 2014 – http://tinyurl.com/q92o8ra

Continued from Part 1

Now, we’re going to move on to chakra #2: the sacral chakra. I’m interested in this chakra because of its connection to our emotional and sexual expression, and we need to take care of it as much as any other chakra if we want to reap its flowing creative benefits.

The sacral chakra has a lot to do with our creativity, and something tells me this chakra provides a needed ‘umph’ to our creative works, which is one of many reasons we should keep it healthy and balanced.

Eclectic Energies tells us about the benefits of a healthy, aligned sacral chakra.

“The Sacral chakra is about feeling and sexuality. When it is open, your feelings flow freely, and are expressed without you being over-emotional. You are open to intimacy and you can be passionate and lively. You have no problems dealing with your sexuality.” (1)

We’re also told about the emotional stiffness that results from an underactive sacral chakra, as well as the overemotional and hypersexual nature of an overactive one.

“If you tend to be stiff and unemotional or have a ‘poker face,’ the Sacral chakra is under-active. You’re not very open to people.

“If this chakra is over-active, you tend to be emotional all the time. You’ll feel emotionally attached to people and you can be very sexual.” (2)

Kellie Jo Conn describes the sacral chakra, telling us exactly where it’s located.

“The second chakra is often referred to as the belly or sacral chakra. It is located two inches below the navel and is rooted into the spine. This center holds the basic needs for sexuality, creativity, intuition, and self-worth. This chakra is also about friendliness, creativity, and emotions.

“It governs peoples sense of self-worth, their confidence in their own creativity, and their ability to relate to others in an open and friendly way.” (3)

There’s a reason creativity and our sense of self-worth seem to go hand in hand: the same chakra governs both of them. When our creativity seems depleted, we tend to feel down on ourselves; as if we don’t have ‘what it takes’ to be creative like we really want to, and in the same vein, our self-confidence is strong when our creative flow is strong.

Of course, we don’t have to hinge our sense of self-worth on how strong our creative flow is, but some people naturally do. The human mind is very concerned with being ‘good’, and sometimes, the desire to simply exist and enjoy the wonders that are all around is trumped by this perceived need.

We tie our emotions into our creative successes and ‘failures’, and our positive perception of ourselves tends to be based on the things we achieve. This is because these functions are aligned with the same chakra, and if our self-confidence is naturally strong, it can allow us to create great things.

Our sacral chakra is influenced by the things we experienced as children, Kelly tells us. She also affirms what we learned from Mind Body Green about the nature of the sacral chakra.

“It¹s influenced by how emotions were expressed or repressed in the family during childhood. Proper balance in this chakra means the ability to flow with emotions freely and to feel and reach out to others sexually or not. If this chakra is blocked a person may feel emotionally explosive, manipulative, obsessed with thoughts of sex or may lack energy. (4)

I can say from experience that the ability to let our emotions and expressions flow freely is a gift from the divine. It feels great to be open and receptive to the influence of spirit, enthusiastically using spirit’s ‘voice’ to assist with various helpful creative projects, but when the sacral chakra’s blocked, the shadow self can kick in to a very strong degree.

Like a lot of channeled sources and spiritual teachers have said, the ‘shadow self’ is really a product of our reception to lower energies and thought forms, and it doesn’t actually exist. We bring forth the illusory shadow self (and essentially become it) by being receptive to negativity, but we won’t have this problem if our chakras are open and balanced.

We won’t have to worry about the seemingly overbearing influence of negative thought forms, because they won’t be around us anymore. In their place will be self-created angels, guides and helpers who’ll love and support us as they funnel energy through our ever-opening and expanding chakras.

Kellie then outlines the physical problems associated with the sacral chakra, and she also tells us about the gemstones that energize it and balance it out.

“Physical problems may include, kidney weakness, stiff lower back, constipation, and muscle spasms. Belly body parts include sexual organs (women), kidneys, bladder, and large intestine. The main color used with this chakra is orange. The gemstones are Carnelian Agate, Orange Calcite and Tigers Eye.” (5)

In some articles about chakras, we’re encouraged to visualize the color of a specific chakra in an effort to strengthen it. In this case, we’d visualize a bright, burning orange merkaba a couple inches below our belly button, which is responsible for our creativity, our sexuality, and a wealth of other important functions.

We can strengthen this and every other chakra with visualization, and the practice of visualization will render a lot of other positive effects that haven’t yet been discovered. In this case, visualization helps us solidify our perception of any particular chakra we focus on, and the work we do in visualizing balance actually helps the chakra(s) it’s aimed at.

Footnotes:

1. Eclectic Energies: “Introduction to the Chakras” –http://www.eclecticenergies.com/chakras/introduction.php
2. Loc. cit.
3. Kellie Jo Conn: “The Seven Major Chakras” ibid.
4. Loc. cit.
5. Loc. cit.

Continued in Part 3 tomorrow.

The Seven Chakras: What Are Their Purposes? – Part 3/7

Continued from Part 2

Now, on to chakra #3: the solar plexus chakra (also called the navel chakra). Mind Body Green tells us that the solar plexus, like our root chakra, is tied to our self-worth.

“Solar Plexus Chakra – Our ability to be confident and in-control of our lives.

“Location: Upper abdomen in the stomach area.

“Emotional issues: Self-worth, self-confidence, self-esteem.” (1)

As Eclectic Energies tells us, we feel healthily confident in ourselves when our solar plexus is balanced.

“The Navel chakra is about asserting yourself in a group. When it is open, you feel in control and you have sufficient self esteem.

“When the Navel chakra is under-active, you tend to be passive and indecisive. You’re probably timid and don’t get what you want.

“If this chakra is over-active, you are domineering and probably even aggressive.” (2)

With every chakra, we can experience problems that are either caused by too much or too little energy flowing through. It might make sense at first glance to fill our chakras with as much energy as possible, but in reality, they have to expand to accommodate a greater amount and purity of energy before they can take so much.

Our ascension is a steady process of growth and refinement, and even though we might want to bring through as much energy as we can, as quick as we can, the best thing we can do is to realize that this energy already exists within, isn’t going anywhere, and will continue to come through.

Then, we can bring it through in a balanced way that doesn’t override our chakras.

The solar plexus has a lot to do with psychic development and our ability to receive the energy and information of our guides, Kellie Jo Conn tells us.

“The third chakra is referred to as the solar plexus chakra. It is located two inches below the breastbone in the center behind the stomach. The third chakra is the center of personal power, the place of ego , of passions, impulses, anger and strength.

“It is also the center for astral travel and astral influences, receptivity of spirit guides and for psychic development.” (3)

We hear a lot about opening our heart chakra and our third eye, but if we want to find spirit, opening the solar plexus is equally important.

As we’ll find, opening every chakra is important to our overall growth and development, and once they’re all open and receiving a proper flow of energy, our clarity of mind (and our general enjoyment of life) will be turned up.

We’ll find a greater sense of wellbeing when our chakras are open, and becoming aware that they exist is the first step to opening them and receiving our higher selves, our guides, and every other facet of the Company of Heaven who watches and assist us along this journey out of the lower vibrations.

Chakra health is important to receiving their energies and impressions, and if we’re willing to develop each of our chakras, our communication with spirit will be open and flowing.

Depression could result from an imbalanced Solar Plexus, Kellie advises.

“When the Third Chakra is out of balance you may lack confidence, be confused, worry about what others think, feel that others are controlling your life, and may be depressed. Physical problems may include digestive difficulties, liver problems, diabetes, nervous exhaustion, and food allergies.

“When balanced you may feel cheerful, outgoing, have self-respect, expressive, enjoy taking on new challenges, and have a strong sense of personal power.” (4)

When the solar plexus is healthy, we feel more empowered; more able to take on exciting adventures and challenges. We take on these challenges with a heightened level of enthusiasm, because we know in our hearts that we’re strong spiritual beings who are intended to use our spirituality to help all of humanity become aware and thrive.

We recognize that we’ve been endowed with a wealth of divinely inspired talents, and we enthusiastically use these talents to bring everyone around us into the light. Our influence will grow as our work increases, and our confidence and faith in where we’re going will grow as well.

Kellie then outlines the body parts and gemstones that are associated with the solar plexus.

“The body parts for this chakra include the stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, and small intestine. The main color for this chakra is yellow. The gemstones are Citrine, Topaz, and Yellow Calcite.” (5)

I’d pay attention to the gemstone recommendations if you’re interested in balancing out any particular chakra, because they can help restore balance and reintroduce us to what a healthy chakra feels like.

Again, we have to be committed if we want to do anything significant, such as clearing out one of our chakras, but the gemstones will respond to our willingness to find balance with the exact assistance that’s required.

Footnotes:

1. Mind Body Green: “The Seven Chakras For Beginners” Ibid.
2. Eclectic Energies: “Introduction to the Chakras” Ibid.
3. Kellie Jo Conn: “The Seven Major Chakras” ibid.
4. Loc. cit.
5. Loc. cit.

Continued in Part 4 tomorrow.

The Seven Chakras: What Are Their Purposes? – Part 4/7

The Seven Chakras: What Are Their Purposes? – Part 5/7

Continued from Part 4

Now, for chakra #5: the throat chakra. As we’ll learn, this chakra is directly tied to our expression, and it’s an important one for anyone who wants to hone their creativity. The throat chakra is related to our ability to directly and vocally express ourselves, and I’m sure we also lean on the influence of the root chakra to express ourselves clearly.

Eclectic Energies draws the link between the throat chakra and our expression and creativity.

“The Throat chakra is about self-expression and talking. When it is open, you have no problems expressing yourself, and you might be doing so as an artist.

“When this chakra is under-active, you tend not to speak much, and you probably are introverted and shy. Not speaking the truth may block this chakra.

“If this chakra is over-active, you tend to speak too much, usually to domineer and keep people at a distance. You’re a bad listener if this is the case.” (1)

Mind Body Green tells us a lot about the throat chakra, including the foods we can eat to balance it out.

“The 5th Chakra, the Throat Chakra, represents our ability to communicate and express ourselves. Here’s what you need to know about Throat Chakra healing:

“Location of our Throat Chakra: Throat.

“Emotional issues affecting our Throat Chakra: Communication, self-expression of feelings, speaking the truth, holding secrets.

“Color: Blue

“Healing Exercises: Shoulder stand …, Singing, chanting

“Healing Foods: Juices and teas, Fruits (all kinds)” (2)

It makes sense that juices, teas and fruits are the best things we can consume to strengthen the throat chakra, because they’re all related to soothing the throat. Fruit can help us find a higher vibration, and our self-confidence could be turned up as a result, enabling us to use our throat chakra to express ourselves in a greater way than we would’ve thought possible.

Some momentum might initially be required to use our voice clearly and directly, but after we practice a little bit, our expressions will become as clear and pure as we’ve always wanted them to be. We’d all be comfortable enough with each other to use our voices if we came together, whereas currently, we’re too divided to find the courage to arise.

We can support each other, thus enabling everyone to stand up for what’s right and fair, but we have to be willing to use our voices and stand strong in the face of attempted silence from the interests who want to preserve our current paradigm. They can only stop us if we let them, and we have no more reason to let them in this transformative time.

Nobody will remain silent when everyone is awake, aware and willing to support each other. We won’t want to be silent when we see that everyone else is active, and the work a few people do now could motivate billions of others.

Kellie Jo Conn tells us that the throat chakra is the center for communication and implementing change.

“The fifth chakra is referred to as the throat chakra. It is located in the V of the collarbone at the lower neck and is the center of communication, sound, and expression of creativity via thought, speech, and writing. The possibility for change, transformation and healing are located here. The throat is where anger is stored and finally let go of.” (3)

We’ll feel ‘timid’ and we’ll keep ourselves from expressing our greater abilities when this chakra’s imbalanced, she tells us.

“When this chakra is out of balance you may want to hold back, feel timid, be quiet, feel weak, or can¹t express your thoughts. Physical illnesses or ailments include, hyperthyroid, skin irritations, ear infections, sore throat, inflammations, and back pain.” (4)

I’m sure most of us have experienced this inability or unwillingness to express ourselves or creatively soar, and an imbalanced throat chakra can apparently play a role in it. Like every other chakra, physical ailments can also result if this chakra’s imbalanced, and balancing it is just as important as the rest of our chakras.

If we want to enjoy our creativity, we’ll have to be willing to express ourselves without limits or hindrances. This can be difficult if our throat chakra is imbalanced, but by no means is it impossible. It’s far more possible than we’ve let ourselves believe, but we have to know about an issue (like the throat chakra being imbalanced) before we can mend it.

As usual, Kelly also tells us how we might feel when this chakra is balanced and names the accompanying gemstones.

“When this chakra is balanced you may feel balanced, centered, musically or artistically inspired, and may be a good speaker. Body parts for the fifth chakra are throat, neck, teeth, ears, and thyroid gland. The main color used is light blue. The gemstones are Aquamarine and Azurite.” (5)

I think it’s important for anyone who wants to hone their creativity to embrace this chakra, because we won’t express ourselves very easily without it. We might find a lot more difficulty expressing our inner creativity if our throat chakra’s imbalanced, and it could become very discouraging.

Therefore, letting our creativity flow from our balanced throat chakra is one of the best things we can do for ourselves, and when we look back on all of the amazing and inspired things we were able to do, we’ll be very glad we made an effort to balance it.

Footnotes:

1. Eclectic Energies: “Introduction to the Chakras” –http://www.eclecticenergies.com/chakras/introduction.php
2. Mind Body Green: “The Seven Chakras For Beginners” –http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-91/The-7-Chakras-for-Beginners.html
3. Kellie Jo Conn: “The Seven Major Chakras” About.com –http://healing.about.com/od/chakratheseven/a/study7chakras.htm
4. Loc. cit.
5. Loc. cit.

Continued in Part 6 tomorrow.