It took me ages to get on board with Chakras. I thought there wasn't much more to them than colors that matched with a vague set of emotions (maybe glands?) and were related to a part of the body. I couldn't have been more wrong! As I started to actually learn about them, I realized they are much more than dry correspondences, they are a tool that helps structure and empower meditations that change your life.
I am passionate about yoga, but am by no means an expert. Christopher Wallis is one of the leading experts on Sanksrit and has studied and translated lots of Tantric texts. His insights into the Chakras really changed the game for me, and I highly recommend his work!Â
Here's a snippet of the deeper meaning of the Chakras...
What are they?
- Most commonly, we see a map of 7 chakras, though some texts use 3, 5, 12, or even 108! This isn't a discrepancy, though. You simply pick the chakra system that makes sense for the kind of work you want to do. If you want to install the 5 elements into your chakras, use the 5 chakra system. If you want to install the 7 colors, use the 7 chakras, etc!Â
- The color-system itself is relatively new and was invented by a Westerner. It was first described in a book called Nuclear Evolution in the 70s. So if the 7 colors don't make sense to you, know that you don't need to use them to work with chakras!
- Chakras can be thought of as both real, subtle energy centers that swirl in the body (you can feel them with practice), and/or as symbolic of certain states of mind.
- Physically, in the energy-body, or pranamaya kosha chakras are made up of thoughts (brain-generated), feelings (generated by the endocrine system), and subtle impressions (generated by your sense organs).
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Symbolically, they represent levels of awareness or differing mindsets that you encounter along your spiritual path. Each one expanding on the last.
- All emotions exist in every chakra. For example, anger can be felt in any chakra! The higher it raises, the less personal identification there is, though. Anger in the Ajna, or "control center" chakra will feel much more useful, focused, and informative than anger in the Muladhara or "root" chakra which can feel like the need to immediately attack something (or someone) to protect yourself.
-  Chakras are both descriptive, meaning they can describe centers where emotions are felt in the body, and prescriptive, meaning they can be used as a map to know where to install different sets of things such as elements, animals, colors, mantras, deities, etc.
Working with the Chakras
- Nyasa is the practice of installing symbols into the chakras, and is the usual way to work with them. You can install any symbol you want from color to deity to crystal. Do be aware of what you're installing, why, and the possible side-effects. For example, if you install the element of Earth into your Heart Chakra in order to be more committed, but then start feeling heavy-hearted, it might be time to install the element of Air instead. This self-knowledge comes with time and practice. Be brave, be curious!Â
- In some texts, Kundalini, the energy which rises from the root chakra to the crown chakra, has a twin which also descends! These kundalinis meet typically either at the heart or at the brow chakra.Â
- As your center of awareness goes down from the crown, you experience Pravritti, or the "path of descent." This is the process of individuation, what Ram Dass might call "becoming". It involves creation of personality, limiting your scope of awareness, concealment of the divine wholeness, inventing and upholding boundaries.Â
- Nivritti is the "path of rising." This is when you feel yourself releasing old boundaries, becoming more free, dropping limitations, and uniting with a larger presence, sometimes called "god", "universe", or "unconditioned consciousness"
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There is SO much more to these practices! If you want to learn more, please check out Christopher Wallis's books, or book a Spiritual Mentorship session with me!