| The chakras are the body's energy centers; they both generate and transport prana (life energy, also called ki, chi, kundalini, or pneuma) throughout the body. Depending on the philosophical and healing system you deal with, they number anywhere from 5 to hundreds. Seven are generally acknowledged as the most important, because they are the largest in most people, and run along the spinal column. They are pictured to the left, along with the chakras above the head, in the palms of the hands, on the soles of the feet, and at the knees. |
Above Head The Chakras, the Aura and Healing
Location: At top of aura, directly over crown chakra Color: Clear/White
Realm of influence: Matters of the spirit and of interaction with the divine; because it is not connected to the body itself, its physical influence is negligible
Crown
Location: Top of head Color: Violet
Realm of influence: The brain; the mind and memory; connection to the universe
Third Eye
Location: Above and between eyebrows
Color: dark blue
Realm of influence: The head, eyes and nervous system; learning, perception and sleep; insight, intuition, imagination and psychic ability
Throat
Location: Base of neck
Color: light blue/indigo
Realm of influence: The neck, throat and thyroid; speech; creativity, self-expression
Heart
Location: Center of chest
Color: green or pink
Realm of influence: heart, blood and circulatory system; love, acceptance, compassion, inner peace, forgiveness
Solar Plexus
Location: Between navel and sternum
Color: yellow
Realm of influence: upper back, digestive system; physical energy and food-related conditions; self-esteem, control issues, will, authority, self-control, warmth, humor, awakening
Sacral
Location: Between navel and genitals
Color: Orange/light browns
Realm of influence: lower back; sex drive; connection to others and sense of stability
Base
Location: Between anus and genitals
Color: red/black/dark brown
Realm of influence: bones and skeletal system; rootedness and groundedness, "common sense"; security, courage, beginnings and renewals
Hands
Location: In the hollows of both palms
Color: Clear/White
These chakras take in and release energy, and are not often used in diagnosis, other than to check on the exchange of energy through them.
Knees
Location: Behind kneecaps
Color: clear/white
Realm of influence: Stress and its influence on health; general appearance of the aura
Feet
Location: On soles of feet, slightly off-center, near arches
Color: white/clear
Realm of influence: legs and feet; motion, advancement, development and balance
Each chakra is linked to a series of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual states of health and dis-ease. They are also connected to various organs and regions of the body and to one another in such a way that while they can be viewed as separate in theory, they must be addressed as a single system in practice. When someone "heals" an aura, it is actually the chakras and the body that receive the healing; the healing energy travels along the rays to its goal. The benefits are reflected in changes in the aura, as are problems. This works in reverse, as well; physical treatment (with herbs, oils, medicines, massage, etc.) are reflected in increased vibrancy and balance in the chakras and aura.
People often describe certain colors in the aura, and systems are often presented for what they "mean." A healthy, balanced aura should actually appear as white light, because the chakras generate light from every color in the spectrum, and these combined appear white. Predominance of a color shows depletion, overactivity, congestion, or strong activity associated with a chakra. The aura is diagnostic; problems in it reflect disruption rather than causing it, just as a sneeze is a symptom of a cold, not its cause.