Improving Your Life By Understanding Your Chakras

Knowledge of the chakras has been around for thousands of years, since before 500 BC. If you don’t know, chakras are wheels of energy that run along the spine. There are seven wheels (also sometimes referred to as “spinning discs”), each of which affects the health and strength of a part of your body or spirit.

By understanding the seven chakras, individuals are able to send strength to them to achieve balance, which improves overall health. Achieving a balance between the chakras has been a major goal in spiritual medicine practices for millennia. When the body, mind, and spirit, are in harmony, it greatly improves one’s life and allows one to thrive to their fullest.

To balance your chakras, first, you must understand each chakra and how it relates to your body and mind.

The Seven Chakras

The First Chakra: Muladhara, The Root, The Red Chakra

The first chakra is Muladhara, also known as the root Chakra or the red Chakra. This first chakra is a physical chakra and is connected to one’s sense of basic safety and connection to the earth.

When the root chakra is out of balance, one can feel the effects both physically and spiritually. If your root chakra needs more power, you may feel out of balance or afraid that the world will not provide your basic needs (like money, shelter, or food). You may also experience physical symptoms, like pain or problems in the legs, feet, tailbone, or immune system.

When your first chakra is balanced, you will feel a sense of support from the universe, as well as a feeling of being grounded and connected to the earth.

The Second Chakra: Swadhisthana, The Sacral Chakra, The Orange Chakra

The second chakra is Swadhisthana, also known as the Sacral Chakra or the orange Chakra. The second chakra is a physical chakra that is connected to one’s creativity and sexuality.

If your second chakra is out of balance, you may experience physical or emotional issues. Physically, a lack of balance in the second chakra can lead to sexual issues, reproductive issues, or pain or problems in the kidneys, hips, pelvis, and lower back. Emotionally, you may have trouble expressing your emotions, having fun, or thriving in your relationships.

When the second chakra is balanced, you will feel creative, ready to take risks, passionate, outgoing, and committed.

The Third Chakra: Manipura, The Solar Plexus Chakra, The Yellow Chakra

The third chakra is Manipura, also known as the solar plexus chakra or the yellow chakra. This physical chakra is connected to wisdom and one’s personal power.

If your third chakra is out of balance, you may feel experience physical pain or problems in the liver, blood, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, colon, or digestive tract; you may also experience chronic fatigue. Emotionally, signs of an imbalance in the third chakra include poor self-esteem, harsh self-criticism, feeling powerless, and being afraid of rejection.

When the third chakra is balanced, you will feel self-love and self-respect. You will feel confident, assertive, and in charge of your life.

The Fourth Chakra: Anahata, The Heart Chakra, The Green Chakra

The fourth chakra is Anahata, also known as the heart chakra or the green chakra. This chakra is the bridge between the body and the spirit and is connected to love.

If your fourth chakra is unbalanced, you may feel physical symptoms like asthma, heart disease, lung disease, pain in the breasts, issues with the lymphatic system, or pain in the arms, wrists, or upper back. Emotionally, you may feel jealousy, fears of abandonment, anger, envy, fears of loneliness, codependency, or bitterness.

When the fourth chakra is balanced, it allows the individual to feel joy, trust, forgiveness, compassion, and gratitude.

The Fifth Chakra: Ajna, The Throat Chakra, The Blue Chakra

The fifth chakra is Aina, also known as the throat chakra or the blue chakra. This spiritual chakra is located in the throat and is connected to verbal expression and being able to express your inner truths.

If your fifth chakra is out of balance, you may feel emotional imbalances like fearing self-expression, feeling like you don’t have the power of choice in your life, and feeling out of control. You may also experience physical symptoms like problems in the throat, ears, face, neck, and shoulders.

When your fifth chakra is balanced, you’ll feel freely able to express yourself and will feel a sense of power, goodwill, and authenticity in your self-expression.

The Sixth Chakra: Vishuddha, The Third Eye Chakra, The Indigo Chakra

The sixth chakra is Vishuddha, also known as the third eye chakra or the indigo chakra. Vishuddha, located at the third eye, is a spiritual chakra that is connected to one’s awareness, good judgment, and openness.

If your sixth chakra is out of balance, you may experience issues with bad moods, poor self-reflection, and the inability to see the truth. You may also experience physical issues that include headaches, eye issues, sinus issues, hearing issues, or problems with the hormones.

When your sixth chakra is balanced, you will feel clear-minded and able to see the difference between truth and illusions. You will also be open to receiving wisdom and insight from others.

The Seventh Chakra: Sahasrara, The Crown Chakra, The Purple Chakra

The final chakra is the seventh chakra, Sahasrara, also known as the crown chakra or the purple chakra. Sahasrara is connected to spiritual enlightenment and mindful living.

If your seventh chakra is unbalanced, you may experience depression, trouble learning or thriving, and problems coping with your environment. You may also experience being prejudiced, being confused, over-thinking, fear of alienation, and a lack of connection to your greater self-knowledge and power.

When your seventh chakra is well-balanced, you’ll feel connected to your spirituality, trusting of your inner voice, and a sense of living in the present moment.

Balancing The Chakras

When one chakra is out of balance, every chakra is affected. The body has a specific amount of energy; when one chakra has less energy, the others will grow in power, which harms your overall spiritual and physical health.

So, how do you regain your chakra balance? You must do this by sending energy to the chakra— or chakras— that need it. One of the most common and trusted ways to send energy to a chakra is through the use of color.

Each chakra has a vibration that gives off a color. The first chakra is red, the second chakra is orange, the third chakra is yellow, the fourth chakra is green, the fifth chakra is blue, the sixth chakra is indigo, and the seventh chakra is purple. If you need to send energy to your chakra, surround yourself with more of that chakra’s color to help amplify its vibration. Color can be added to your life to affect your chakras in many ways, but one of the most common and practical ways is by wearing chakra charms.

Chakra charms are pieces of jewelry that are designed to help you focus on your chakras and amplify their power. Colored chakra charms, like these Chakra bracelets from Valla Jewelry, bring more of your desired chakra’s energy into your life. By wearing a chakra charm on your wrist or neck, you will amplify your desired chakra’s vibrations. You will also be reminded throughout the day to think of that chakra and send more energy to it. Thoughtful use of charms like these can help you achieve chakra balance and improve your life.