What is a chakra and how does it work?

When opening your chakra for spiritual development you are allowing more energy into the chakra thus increasing the vibration of the chakra.

In spiritual growth it seems like a slow process but the meditation exercises you do will slowly teach you how to control your link with spirit. Think of your body as being heavy and vibrating at say 100 compared with spirit who do not have bodies and therefore vibrate at say 1000. This leaves a vibration gap of 900 so it would make it easier to communicate with them if we learn to increase our vibrations. If we open our chakra and increase our vibration to 250 and spirit lower their vibrations to 500 then the gap is only 250 and this creates a stronger and more stable link.

This list is a simple breakdown of the chakra and how they are connected to the body:-

• Crown chakra – White Thought, universal identity, oriented to self knowledge.

This is the crown chakra that relates to consciousness as pure awareness. It is our connection to the greater world beyond to a timeless spaceless place of all knowing. When developed, this chakra brings us knowledge, wisdom, understanding, spiritual connection and bliss.

• Third Eye chakra – Indigo Light, archetypal identity, oriented to self reflection.

This chakra is known as the brow chakra or third eye centre. It is related to the act of seeing, physically and intuitively. As such it opens our psychic facilities and our understanding of archetypal levels. When healthy, it allows us to see clearly, in effect, letting us see the “big picture”.

• Throat chakra – blue. Sound, creative identity, oriented to self expression.

This is the chakra located in the throat and is thus related to communication and creativity. Here we experience the world symbolically through vibration, such as the sound representing language.

• Heart chakra – green. Air, social identity, oriented to self acceptance.

This is the heart chakra and is the middle of the system of seven. It is related to love and is the integrator of opposites in the psyche: mind and body, male and female, person and shadow, ego and unity. A healthy fourth chakra allows us to feel deep compassion, have a deep sense of peace and centred-ness.

• Solar plexus chakra – yellow. Fire, ego identity, oriented to self definition.

This chakra is known as the power chakra located in the solar plexus. It rules our personal power, will and autonomy as well as our metabolism. When healthy, this chakra brings us energy, effectiveness, spontaneity and non dominating power.

• Sacral Chakra – orange. Water, emotional identity, oriented to self gratification.

This second chakra, located in the abdomen, lower back and sex organs is related to the element water and to emotions and sexuality. It connects us to others through feeling, desire, sensation and movement. Ideally, this chakra brings us fluidity and grace, depth of feeling, sexual fulfilment and the ability to accept change.

• Base chakra – red. Earth, physical identity, oriented to self preservation.

This first chakra is located at the base of the spine. This chakra forms our foundation. It represents the element earth and is therefore related to our survival instincts and our sense of grounding and our connection to our bodies and the physical plane. Ideally this chakra brings us health, prosperity, security and dynamic presence.