How you can let the energy flow in your body again

Hindu and Buddhist teachings often speak of the seven chakras. But what are they all about, and how can you personally benefit from this Far Eastern teaching?

A small disclaimer up front: Even if you don't personally identify as a spiritual being and such things sound a bit far-fetched to you, I think you too can take something from the chakra teachings and integrate them into your life. I find it incredibly fascinating to see how ancient Far Eastern teachings and modern psychological theories, as well as science and medicine, often aim to convey very similar things, yet each discipline does so in its own unique way. For example, the chakra teachings were also developed by C.G. Treated young. So just let it sink in; maybe you'll actually get something out of this blog post.

What are chakras?

In addition to our physical body, which we can see and touch, we also have an energetic body. We receive and transmit energy through the human aura that surrounds each of us. Perhaps you know situations in which the mere presence of a person triggers good or bad vibes in you.

According to chakra theory, there are seven main energy centers (= chakras) that control the flow of energy and are therefore responsible for the absorption and transmission of our life energy.
They are arranged symmetrically in our body like a column from the base of our spine up to the top of our head. Each chakra represents a specific area of ​​our life and has its own color. In the next section, I'll discuss the seven chakras in more detail.

Incidentally, the chakra theory has been around for 1500 years v.Chr. handed down through the Upanishads, it is therefore very ancient. It spread from India and Hindu culture throughout East Asia.

The 7 main energy centers

Illustration by taohealth.de

Root chakra

The first chakra is the root chakra (Sanskrit: muladharaIt represents our energetic connection with the earth. Like the strong roots of a tree, it provides stability and security in our lives, symbolizes the satisfaction of our basic needs, and releases physical energy. Thus, it forms the basis for all other chakras. It is located at the level of our tailbone, at the very base of the spine. It is associated with the color red.

Those who are well developed at this level have a healthy, resilient body. Those who show weaknesses here, on the other hand, are often lacking energy, sluggish, and have a weak immune system.

Sacral chakra

The second chakra is the sacral chakra, also svadhisthana In a rich orange hue, it symbolizes creativity, sensuality, and sexuality. It is of great importance for new creation and lies two finger-widths below the navel. This chakra also processes our feelings and releases emotional energy.

Those who are well developed here have their emotions under control, enjoy life, and are emotionally balanced. If the sacral chakra is blocked, one feels unfulfilled, listless, and depressed.

Solar plexus chakra

Next comes the solar plexus chakra, which manipuraIt is located in the solar plexus area, in the soft space between our ribs. From the center of our body, it radiates out into the rest of our body like a sun. Therefore, the solar plexus chakra is also associated with a bright yellow color. It represents willpower, determination, and self-confidence. This chakra empowers us to take action.

Those who are well-developed in this area know exactly what needs to be done and put it into action with enthusiasm. These people are brimming with drive and want to achieve their goals, no matter what. If you have problems in this area, you talk a lot but don't follow through, tend to be lazy, and often complain about your own life.

Heart chakra

Next comes the heart chakra (Sanskrit: anahataIt sits in the center of our chest and represents our ability to feel compassion, humanity, and love. In bright green, it symbolizes the social dimension that connects everything.

People whose heart chakra energy flows smoothly are experts at maintaining contact, making friends, and having deep relationships. However, when this level is blocked, they often feel unaccepted and alone.

Throat chakra

The light blue throat chakra, also Vishuddha called, represents the level of communication. It represents our individual expressiveness and our ability to communicate our feelings and thoughts. It sits in our throat and connects the heart chakra with the brow chakra, creating the connection between thought and feeling. This is what makes this level so important.

If you have weaknesses in this area, it often manifests itself in difficulties expressing yourself clearly and you are often misunderstood. In other words, your "soul expression" is blocked in a certain way.

Brow chakra

The sixth chakra is also third eye or ajna and represents the mental level. It is located directly above the eyebrows, in the center of the forehead. It is indigo blue in color, and this is where our thoughts originate, which determine all our actions. Our visions of the future are forged into a viable plan here: Through constant repetition and the formation of new thoughts, we attract the life we ​​envision in our inner eye. Furthermore, the brow chakra is the source of our self-knowledge, intuition, and inner wisdom.

Crown chakra

The seventh and final level is the crown chakra, which sahaswara, which sits above our vertex on the head. The color of this chakra is purple or violet. It represents the infinity of collective consciousness and thus forms the gateway to the universe. Spiritual energy arises here, which you can perceive in the form of belief. Belief represents the reality you experience, who or what you are, what you can or cannot do, and what you believe yourself to be. All of this forms into deep-seated beliefs that determine your entire behavior.

So whatever you believe, it determines your life.How often do we believe we're too bad, untalented, or too weak for something? Through stronger self-belief and a fulfilled crown chakra, we can realize our full potential and follow the path that fills our lives with meaning.

What does the chakra theory bring to my life?

The model of the seven levels of consciousness or main energy centers is a great visualization that can help you grow personally.

We strive for balance in all seven chakras, and all seven levels are considered equally important. However, many people are blocked on more than one of the levels and therefore cannot reach their full potential in some areas of life. Therefore, by engaging with the chakras and opening them, you contribute to your personal development and create more balance in your life.

So how do I know if my chakras are flowing freely or are blocked?

We usually recognize ourselves when things aren't going quite right in one area or another of our lives or when something is bothering us - be it our belief system, unhealthy relationships, our career, our living situation, or our financial situation. If we feel neglected or unfulfilled in one or more of these areas, that's a good indication that the energy in that area or chakra isn't flowing freely. Often, things go better in the areas of life that we've spent the most time working on. This is where we know ourselves best. But the more unbalanced your chakras are, the more you can ultimately learn about yourself and your life.

If you would like to find out more about the balance of your chakras, you can here a chakra test Of course, this isn't the key to solving all your problems, nor is it a truly sophisticated scientific questionnaire. But the test can give you some guidance and perhaps some further food for thought.

What techniques can I use to resolve these blockages?

Chakra theory offers many different ways to open or heal your chakras. For example, you can start with your diet or balance specific areas using healing stones and medicinal plants. Often, however, it helps to simply delve deeper into the affected levels.

But you can also use meditation to engage with your chakras and open them one by one. It's not for nothing that chakra meditations are among the most popular. There are meditations that focus on a single chakra. This is useful if you know you have a blockage in that particular chakra and want to improve the energy flow in that area.

There are also chakra meditations that go through each chakra one after the other and connect each with an affirmation for that area. I would like to introduce you to such a more general (but no less effective) chakra meditation in my next blog post, as part of the series Meditation techniques for beginners.

If you would like to learn more about mindfulness, healthy eating or sustainability, take a look here over.

Photo by Simon Rae on Unsplash