You walk into your first yoga class or drop into a crystal shop, and someone starts talking about chakras. Seriously, what even IS a chakra? How many chakras are there? What does each chakra represent?
Let’s break it down.
What is a Chakra?
The term Chakra is derived from the Sanskrit cakra, meaning "wheel". Chakras are spinning energy centers in our bodies that correspond to different parts of our physical, emotional, and spiritual being.
There are several different chakra systems, ranging from 7 to 114 chakras. Most traditions agree on 7 main chakras.
Each chakra has its own color, symbol, and function.The 7 Chakras
The 7 main chakras are located along the spine, starting at the base (near the tailbone) and moving upward toward the top of the head.
Starting at the base of the spine, the chakras are located in the following order: Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third Eye, and Crown Chakra.
Root Chakra (Muladhara)
The first chakra, known as the Root Chakra, is located at the base of the spine. It is associated with survival instincts, survival, and basic trust.
Sanskrit Name: Muladhara
Feeling grounded, safe, secure, and comfortable
Sacral Chakra (Swadhisthana)
Creative, capable of enjoying pleasure, passionate
Lack of creativity, fear of intimacy, low libido
Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
Balanced Expression:
Confident, energetic, productive
Heart Chakra (Anahata)
The fourth chakra, known as Heart Chakra, is located above the heart. It is associated with love, compassion, and healing.
Sanskrit Name: Anahata
Location: Center of chest
Color: Green
Function: Love & Healing
Affirmation: "I love"
Balanced Expression:
Compassionate, love for self and others, trust
Lack of trust, lack of empathy, anger, jealousy
Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
The fifth chakra, known as Throat Chakra, is located (you guessed it!) in the throat area. It is associated with truth, expression, and communication.
Sanskrit Name: Vishuddha
Expresses personal truth, strong communicator, good listener
Difficulty communicating, dishonest
I mean, what good is a crown chakra if you can’t tell anyone about the fantastic visions you’re having? And what’s the use of a root chakra if you can’t explain to others that your sense of security and survival is all tied up in the dining room table your grandfather made when he was in his 20s?
Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)
The sixth chakra, known as Third Eye Chakra, is located behind the forehead. It is associated with intuition and spiritual awareness.
Balanced Expression:
Intuitive, healthy imagination
Lack of focus, poor imagination
Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
The seventh chakra, known as the Crown Chakra, is located at the top of the head. It is associated with enlightenment and bliss.
Sanskrit Name: Sahasrara
Balanced Expression:
Enlightenment, self-realization, wisdom
Lack of faith, disconnection
Chakra Balancing
As humans, we will all have moments of one or more chakras being out of balance. To function at their best, the chakras need to remain balanced. Imbalances in chakras may cause physical or emotional symptoms relating to that chakra.
There are many ways that you can work with your chakras. Yoga, meditation, breathwork, Reiki healing, and working with crystals are just a few that come to mind. Do some research and follow what feels good.
If you’re looking to learn more about how to use crystals for chakra healing purposes, check out our guide The 7 Chakras And Their Corresponding Crystals here.