by Alexander MacKenzie: Our chakras are energy that resides in different areas of our body…
This energy can have it’s own life force and even influence aspects of our lives. This influence is when we’re in or out of harmony with ourselves. If out of balance, we can become blocked to one of these areas or struggle in our day-to-day life. Alternatively, when we establish balance we’re able to overcome obstacles and have a deeper insight to ourselves.
Chakras govern our body’s well-being. This is the wellbeing of the mind, body and spirit. In total, there are seven chakras throughout our body that are responsible for various areas. Although, separate chakras, they interact with one another to establish a sturdy foundation and sense of peace.
What Are Chakras?
For us to better understand how to open our spiritual chakras we must identify what each chakra is. This will help us know how to better serve ourselves to the corresponding needs of the chakra.
Muladhara – Root Chakra
It makes sense that our root chakra is the very first, at the base of our spine, as it is responsible for our foundation. This is because the root chakra intertwined with our need of survival and security. Participating in activities for the physical body serve to balance this chakra.
Svadhisthana – Sacral Chakra
The sacral chakra relates most to our desire for pleasure. It rests within our lower abdomen. To best serve this chakra we must reflect on what best serves us. Ask yourself questions about your dreams? Claim them and make them a reality. This chakra is best served when being authentic to ourselves and fulfilling what we’re passionate about.
Manipura – Solar Plexus Chakra
The solar plexus chakra is similar to the sacral chakra as it is what gives us the power to fulfill our passions and pursue our dreams. With a healthy solar plexus chakra, we feel in control of our destiny and feel that we’re capable of accomplishing our dreams. When out of balance we may feel compelled to take control compulsively, or become anxious.
Anahata – Heart Chakra
Most people are aware of this chakra as it resides close to our heart. And, it’s no surprise what it’s known for. The heart chakra’s association is with our capacity for love and compassion. To bring balance to this chakra, cultivate relationships with friends and family and practice acceptance.
Vishuddha – Throat Chakra
The throat chakra relates to our inner truth. We benefit this chakra when practicing speaking our truth and communicating this truth to the world. We can practice this by breathing exercises, singing or chanting to enhance the power of this chakra.
Ajna – Third Eye Chakra
Insight, and intuition are the primary properties of this chakra. Situated on our foreheads, in-between our eyebrows, we have the reminder to turn inwardly for guidance. The answers we seek are already within ourselves. We can benefit this chakra by seeking awareness through meditation exercises and being self-reflective.
Sahasrara – Crown Chakra
Sahasrara represents our spiritual connection. This is a chakra that is often tapped into by practitioners as it is the chakra that represents our union with all that is around us. It’s about reminding us that we are one with our surroundings and those we interact with. This chakra benefits from us recognizing this trust and being at peace with its frequency.
How To Expand Chakra Energy In Ten Steps
As the chakras are powerful with their energy, it’s important to always keep them in a balance. When out of balance we must recognize what in yourself has changed in our behavior or mannerisms and which change must happen by opening up what corresponding chakra. To open and expand chakra energy consider the following ten steps:
1. Appreciate Your Relationships
The heart chakra helps us to identify the importance of healthy relationships. This chakra’s benefit is to help remind us to be compassionate and open to loving relationships. If underactive, you may feel cold towards others and be less kind, whereas if this is an overactive chakra you may experience ‘suffocating’ some of those close to you. This can become an issue as some may see this behavior as selfish. When in balance, the heart chakra encourages long lasting relationships and helps us to demonstrate acts of kindness to others.
To open the heart chakra, sit with legs crossed as if you were to do the lotus pose. Let the tips of your thumb and middle finger touch. This makes the Shuni mudra that helps to encourage patience and compassion. Let your left hand remain in the mudra and rest on the left knee while the right hand comes up in front of the heart chakra. Concentrate on what this chakra represents and the important people in your life. Consider the circumstances and opportunities you have and express gratitude.
2. Start At The Roots
As the root chakra is about being physically aware this is a natural start. If you feel content and stable within your day-to-day and feel present then this chakra is most likely open. If not, then there’s potential that this chakra may be underactive. If this is the case, you may experience anxiety or become nervous easily. if overactive, you may be experiencing materialism or uneasy change.
First take note of how you’re feeling by practicing exercises that help us become in-tune with our physical being. Try taking a brief walk or doing some yoga poses as this will give us enough time alone with ourselves to recognize some of the deeper meanings to our thoughts. Try to ground yourself to the earth. For instance, stand up straight with feet slightly apart. Bend knees. Moving your pelvis slightly forward, distribute your weight evenly into your feet. Lean the body forward for several breathes.
3. Express Yourself
When balancing the throat chakra you feel that letting your true self shine comes easily. You have no trouble communicating your values to others. If overactive you may have a tendency to speak or share too much or you may have difficulty listening to those around you. If underactive, you may have a tendency of being shy or insecure.
To open the throat chakra, you sit on your knees as before and cross your fingers so they’re in the inside of your hands (towards the palms). Allow for the thumbs to be at the top. Concentrate on what this chakra represents and what you value. Relax the body and focus on these truths.
5. Gain Awareness
The third eye is all about gaining awareness of ourselves. When this chakra is open, you may have a tendency to dream a lot. If under active, you may idolize others or care deeply of how they view you. If it’s overactive, you may frequently daydream. The third eye helps encourage us to be authentic and not rely on the perspectives of others to define who we are.
To open the third eye chakra, we must sit cross legged like in lotus pose. Bring your hands together in front of the chest, touching the middle fingers and pointing them straight before you. Keep the other fingers bending towards you with thumbs pointed towards the body. Concentrate on the third eye and think of what it represents to you by self-reflecting on how you view yourself and how you feel.
6. Chakra Meditation
Another way to try and expand your energy is sitting down for a meditation that’s dedicated to your chakras. Channeling this energy can help you to focus on your breath and turn inwardly to identify what is open, what isn’t, and how to become balanced.
- To start a chakra meditation, sit in a comfortable position with your spine straight. Focus on your body and the energies of the corresponding chakras.
- Focus on breathing and let your breathing come to you naturally. Try not to focus too deeply on what specific aspect but instead, continue to focus on the air simply coming into your lungs and exiting your nose or mouth. Become aware of your body and just focus on breathing.
- Next focus on the sound of your heart. Visualize the beating heart and listen to it’s rhythm. Become aware of the life force that channels through your body.
- Next imagine an energy that surrounds your body. Think of this energy as your aura. Imagine your aura growing stronger. Focus on the brightness of it’s light.
- Next imagine that energy as you breathe in and out. Imagine it as if it were entering and exiting along with your breaths. Imagine this forming before you and focus on it.
- From here, we are going to move up from each chakra. Use this energy to start at the root chakra and move upwards. Don’t worry about spending more time in one than the other, just focus on that energy crawling upwards towards teaching chakra. Try to keep that focus one-by-one and and try to not skip from one to the other.
- Lastly, visualize all the chakras being illuminated at once. Breathe in and out, watching your aura become stronger and clearer from the chakra’s life energy and force. Try to focus this mediation for up to thirty minutes.
7. Recognize Your Emotions
The sacral chakra deals about our feelings with sexuality and emotions. When open this chakra demonstrates confidence, and passion. If overactive, you may experience sensitivity to your emotions or you may be very sexual. For chakras that feel underactive, you may tend to be passive and unemotional in your relationships.
To open this chakra, sit on your knees with palms facing the sky, one on top of the other. Keep the left hand underneath the right, let the thumbs touch gently. Relax and focus on the meaning of the sacral chakra.
8. Connect Spiritually
The seventh chakra, our crown chakra, is about connecting with the universe. This is when we remove our personal desires and realize we’re part of something bigger. If this chakra is underactive, you may not feel spiritually connected to anything. If overactive, you may overthink things.
To open the crown chakra, sit with legs crossed. Place your hands on your stomach and let your pinky fingers face downward while interlacing the fingers. Concentrate on your spirituality, think of the world around you and how you’re connected and part of something bigger. Breathe through the emotions that arise and sit for up to ten minutes with your thoughts.
9. Be Confident
Tapping into the navel chakra is about channeling your confidence. When you’re confident about yourself you have a good feeling about the world around you. When overactive, you may be more aggressive and alternatively, when underactive you may feel more indecisive.
To open this chakra, sit on your knees with a straight back and place your hands before your abdomen. Join the hands together and cross the thumbs while keeping your fingers straight. Concentrate on this chakra’s meaning and continue for several breaths until you feel relaxed.
10. Introduce Crystals
Crystals can help us feel more in-tune with our body’s energy. If you have crystals consider using them during your meditation or to assist you when opening your chakras. For each chakra there are different crystals that will help encourage the corresponding energies.
- Root Chakra tends to be black, brown and red stones. Consider Smoky Quartz, Red Jasper and Black Obsidian.
- Sacral Chakra tend to be orange, peach and brown stones. Consider Copper, Amber, and Fire Opal.
- Solar Plexus Chakra stones tend to be yellow and gold. Consider crystals like Tiger’s Eye, Topaz and Citrine.
- Heart Chakra crystals are usually of green or pink color. Consider Emerald, Malachite or Rose Quartz.
- Throat chakra crystals are usually colors of light blue or teal. Consider Celestite, Aquamarine or Blue Topaz.
- Third Eye Chakra crystals are generally indigo or violet. Consider Lapis Lazuli, Tanzanite, or Blue Tourmaline.
- Crown Chakra crystals are generally of violet, gold, or clear stones variety. Consider crystals like Amethyst, Clear Quartz, or Selenite.
As chakras represent our life force they hold a delicate responsibility in our lives. We must be cognizant of its role to help encourage it’s beneficial energy.
