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You’ve probably heard of the word “chakra” as it has been in popular parlance for years now and for good reason. Chakras are energy wheels or vortices positioned vertically along our energy bodies. The word itself means “wheel”, “turning”, or “circle” in Sanskrit. Chakras are a basic part of most metaphysical studies and traditional Eastern schools of thought. There are various models of the chakras system, with the number of chakras varying from seven to nine and even 12, some systems even adding a whole other set of chakras below the primary set. The best-known system in the USA is the seven-chakra model, and there is a color, name and organ associated with each of the chakras. The seven-chakra system usually uses the light spectrum (colors of the rainbow) for its color order, and associates each chakra with a component of the Endocrine System:

• 7. The Crown Chakra is located on top of the head, it’s color is mostly depicted as white (the color that contains and therefore unites all colors) or violet (the color of spirituality and transformation.) It is associated with the pineal gland, and with our connection to Spirit and to the Universe.

• 6. The Third Eye Chakra is located in the center of the forehead, it’s color is said to be indigo, and it is associated with the pituitary gland, and with having foresight, clear vision and developed intuition.

• 5. The Throat Chakra is located at the throat, and it’s color is blue. It is associated with communication, right speech, and the ability to reach others via words. Physically, it is associated with the thyroid gland.

• 4. The Heart Chakra is located in the center of the chest, and its color varies between green (when it hasn’t been activated) and pink (when it is activated). This chakra is said to be the bridge between the “higher” chakras (top three) and the “lower” chakras (bottom three) so that, if your “heart” is activated, higher functions such as cerebral or thought processes will be aligned with lower functions such as sexual or hunger impulses. Here is where you think, say and do in unison. Key words here are compassion, humanity, and love. Physically, the Heart Chakra is associated with the thymus gland, which, interestingly, “shrinks” as we grow older although it is a site of T-cell differentiation for the immune system.

• 3. The Solar Plexus Chakra is located in what most would call the stomach area, and it is usually shown to be yellow in color. Because it is the third chakra (chakras are counted from the bottom up), it is said to be much pronounced for mankind living in a third-dimensional existence (an interesting thing to recall is that scientists now call our digestive system our “second brain”.) The Solar Plexus is associated with will power and with the pancreas.

• 2. The Sexual Chakra is located in the lower abdomen and its color is usually depicted as orange. It is associated with the sexual glands – testicles and ovaries – and it is said to be the center of our sexual energy.

• 1. The Root Chakra is located at the level of the tailbone and its color is depicted as red. It is associated with our basic needs, survival and stability, and therefore with the adrenal glands.

Each chakra is also associated with a symbol (a flower with a certain number of petals is a common symbol) or geometric shape but these vary so much that it would be difficult to pick one system over the other. Most schools of thought do agree on the Crown Chakra being represented by the Thousandfold Lotus. The Star of David, a symbol of the unity between body and spirit and male and female, is also commonly used for either the Heart Chakra or the Third Eye Chakra. Chakras are also associated with musical notes.

Knowledge of the chakra system – the colors, organs, concepts and symbols associated with it – is important for holistic health. It is said that chakras are points in our ethereal body where energy flows in and out, and it is up to us to maintain the proper size, resonance, clarity and flow of each of these energy centers. Everything from nutrition (feed each gland and the system it belongs to properly), to thoughts/feelings/emotions and colors we either see in our environment or wear as clothes (or eat as fruits and vegetables!) will have a harmonious or harmful effect on the balance of our chakras. The power of intention is huge in restoration of size and spin of each chakra, and doing a meditation in which you visualize each chakra in equal size (see picture above) and circular shape, clear and brilliant in its proper color, is said to help restructure any imbalance. Our hands are also said to be energy points, and using your intention and right hand to “spin” each chakra clockwise about two or three inches from its location is another technique. Various practices that tie the mind and body and take meridians into account, such as yoga, can help either activate or balance a chakra as well.