THE THROAT CHAKRA – known as Vishuddha

Colour: Blue

Musical note: G (soh)

Location: throat area

Primary function: creativity, communication, expression of ideas, eloquence, intuition, hearing, self expression.

Physical function: When working properly it allows us to express ourselves vocally.  A spiritually aware person who is happy being alone with their thoughts etc.  Philosophers.

Parts of Body affected: Thyroid gland, vocal and bronchial areas.

Positive:  The person is sensitive and has the ability to hear quiet sounds or sounds from other dimensions – ie spirit world, etc.  Associated with clairaudience.

Negative:  Difficulty in expressing themselves.  Often withdrawn.  Sometimes can be interfering, getting involved with things that are nothing to do with them and have no relevance.  Difficulty motivating themselves.  Sore throats and ear problems are common.

Congested : Problems communicating and creating.  Difficulties with practicalities.

Over-stimulated:  This can lead to fear or paranoia.

Unbalanced:  This can cause bouts of intense emotion and difficulty getting needs met.

Gemstones: turquoise, lapis lazuli, chrysocolla, green aventurine.

Essential Oils: aniseed, blue chamomile, cypress, tea tree.

THE HEART CHAKRA – known as Anahata

Colour: Green

Musical note: F (fah)

Location: heart area

Primary function: love, wisdom, stability, pleasure, compassion, caring, bridge between spirit and body.  Considered to be the seat of the soul.  Connection with all things, healing ability.

Physical function:  Good general health if positive.  Good understanding and co-operation.

Parts of Body affected: Heart, lungs, circulation, thymus gland.

Positive: Appreciation for simple things in life.  Value what you have.

 Negative:  Can manifest as being overtly reserved and over-cautious.  Afraid to participate in life fully.

Congested:  This can lead to indecision, self confidence and narrow focus in life.  Primarily concerned with the needs of self.

 Over-stimulated :  Over stimulated can make us be more concerned with helping others and taking little or no interest in our own lives.

 Unbalanced:  Blockage can manifest as immune system or heart problems, or a lack of compassion.  Feelings of life being unfair and that you have a bad deal.

 Gemstones:  emerald, tourmaline, rose quartz

 Essential Oils – jasmine, rose  Basil, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Geranium, Peppermint

THE SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA – known as Manipura

Colour: Yellow

Musical note: E (me)

Location: stomach area

Primary function: will, determination, self assertion, personal power and confidence, laughter, joy.  Self esteem, Seat of Emotions. It regulates our life force, energy and mental activity.

Physical function: Will display a sense of being in control.  Have good physical co-ordination and general good health.

Parts of Body affected: Nervous system.

Positive: Expresses achievement.  Warm hearted and enjoys being centre of attention.

Negative: Lack of power and feelings of helplessness.

Congested:  We can feel emotionally suppressed, confused and aimless.

Over-stimulated:  This can make us feel too competitive to our detriment.  Burnout can occur.  Also self centred behaviour is often exhibited

Unbalanced: This can manifest as anger or a sense of victimization.

Gemstones:  amber, topaz citrine quartz, tiger eye.

Essential Oils – cassia, peppermint, Lemon grass, Lemon Balm, Juniper, Amber. Chamomile, Lemon, Cypress, Thyme

THE SACRAL CHAKRA – known as – Svadhisthana

Colour: Orange

Musical note:  D (ray)

Location: Spleen, just below the navel

Primary function: creativity, desire,  pleasure, stability, self-confidence, well-being, taste, immunity from disease, unity with others, acceptance into society, the seat of psychic ability

Physical function: Encourages joy, fun and pleasure.  Happy interest in life and what goes on around.

Parts of Body affected: Gonads, sexual reproductive organs, spleen.

Positive: Displays courage and confidence.  Ability to interact with others freely.

Negative: Can be expressed as timid, afraid and shy.  Can try too hard and feel under pressure and not able to measure up to others’ perception of you.

Congested: Blockages can manifest as emotional problems or sexual guilt.  There can be feelings of aloneness and isolation.  Also may be a dependency.

Over-stimulated : This can lead to bouts of intense emotion and a need to get attention from others.

Unbalanced : Associated with a tendency to over-indulge

Gemstones:  carnelian, coral, agate.

Essential Oils – Rose, Jasmine, Bergamot, Cardamom, Orange Blossom, Sandalwood, Rose Maroc, Ylang Ylang, Petigrain, Jasmine

THE ROOT CHAKRA – known as Muladhara

Colour: Red

Musical note: C (doh)

Location: Base of spine

Primary function: basic survival, grounding, sexuality, stability, connection to earth, vitality, energetic, full of life, passion, willpower and self preservation.

This chakra contains the primary 8 cells that have all of the knowledge of creation and remain the only cells in your body that do not change in your lifetime. It grounds us in the physical world.

Physical function: Healthy and vibrating root chakra would be expressed in an individual that is full of life and energetic.

Parts of Body affected: Adrenal system, the spine, the kidneys.

Positive: This is expressed as warmth and friendship and passion without hang-ups.

Negative: Explosive passion, resentment, domineering and aggression.

Congested: Can lead to feelings of being ungrounded and weakness.

Over-stimulated: If this energy becomes over-stimulated you may feel overwhelmed with life and situations.

Unbalanced: Unbalanced energy in this area can indicate obsessed by material security or over sensitivity to personal and physical safely.  Inability to absorb basic life-force energy leads to tiredness and lethargy.

Gemstones:  Gems:  ruby, garnet, smoky quartz, obsidian, onyx, jet, hematite, bloodstone, red jasper.

Essential Oils – Clary Sage, Rosemary, Cedar wood, Clove,  Frankincense, Rosewood, Cypress,  Marjoram, Myhrr

Use of Stones, Crystals & Minerals

If you use crystals as a way of balancing your chakras, they should be carried, or worn for the day, if possible.  You can also put them in the bath with you or wear them or put them under your pillow when you go to sleep.  Gemstones can also be placed on a chakra centre when meditating.  Remember to always cleanse your stones that you use in Chakra work.

CHOOSING, CLEARING AND ENERGISING YOUR CRYSTAL

When buying a crystal you must first clear your mind, breathe deeply and balance yourself.  Focus on the purpose for which you will use the crystal and then look at all available crystals briefly, allowing yourself to be attracted by one of them. You will automatically be drawn to the crystal that is resonating with you for the purpose in mind.

Once the crystal has been chosen you will need to cleanse it of any negative vibration it can have collected.  Firstly wash the crystal thoroughly and rinse and dry carefully.  It is now ready to be cleansed.  There are different ways to cleanse a crystal and the following are a few.  Choose the one that appears right for you.

1. 1. Soak in a saline solution overnight.
2. 2. Cover with sea salt overnight
3. 3. Bury the crystal in the earth for one or more days.
4. 4. Use a visualization technique – visualize a pure white light filling and flowing through the crystal taking any negative vibrations with it
5. 5. Smudging.   Light some dried sage or cedar, blow out the flame and old the crystal the smoke turning it around to ensure all surfaces are smudged.

You can use any of the above methods as often as you feel you need to after use of the crystal.  The crystal can also be placed on an Amethyst cluster to remove negativity.

Once you have cleansed your crystal you are now ready to energise it.

TO ENERGISE YOUR CRYSTAL

Once the crystal has been cleansed it can be energised to undertake certain tasks or specific healing functions. There are various methods used to energise crystals.

1. 1. By resting in sunlight
2. 2. For a more feminine energy power rest in moonlight
3. 3. Held in a fast running stream or stretch of water/waterfall

Whilst energising the crystal in any of the above ways you will need to hold clearly in your mind the purpose for which the crystal will be used.  This focusing of energy will programme the crystal for it purpose.

Once you have completed this procedure you are ready to use your crystal for whatever purpose you bought it.  Always remember to re-energise the crystal from time to time and particularly after you have used it in chakra work.  This is because the crystal will absorb the negative emotions and you will need to clear this before you use it again, otherwise you will be using a crystal that has a negative emotion programmed into it!

Can we balance our chakras?

The short answer is yes we can! As you can see the chakras in our bodies do not work independently, rather they are part of a network of intricately woven energy systems.  Through them the energy is displayed in our everyday life.  The chakras are a reflection of everything that we think, feel and know.

Therefore, if the chakras are all working together and reflecting who we are and how we feel and think, if we change those values then we can change how the chakras are working.  How can we work with them?

Working with chakras

If, as we now understand it, chakras are energy centres, and energy follows thought, then it is clear that we must first of all work with thoughts, feelings and levels of consciousness within the chakras.  If this isn’t done then the chakras will continue to reflect the same issues, whether they be positive or negative.  Therefore, working on old patterns that have ruled lives for so long is imperative if you want a change to occur.

There are some things on earth that may share the energetic frequencies found in chakras. These include sound, colour, stones (crystals) and pure essential oils.  One method of working with the chakras may suit you more than another.  Feel free to experiment.