Posts Tagged chakras

An Exploration of the Chakras

In Norse mythology, there is a rainbow bridge called Bifrost that links the world of Men and the realms of the Gods, but there is another rainbow which bridges the physical and the Divine, and that is the system of the chakras.

Chakras are spinning vortexes of energy that sustain our spiritual bodies, as food and water sustain our physical ones. There are seven of them in number, though some traditions add to that number by also naming additional chakras at the feet and hands.

These vortexes are further connected to lines of energy called nadis, which create a network throughout the body. These vortexes and lines are vital to existence and good health, for “the freedom with which energy can flow back and forth between you and the universe is in direct correlation to the total health and well-being you experience,” and so any blocks in this energy flow in your chakra system will be “expressed as disease, discomfort, lack of energy, or an emotional imbalance.” 1

The first chakra is known as the root chakra and it is associated with survival needs, with the element of earth and the color red. Some people downplay this chakra, preferring to focus on the “higher” chakras, but it is from this chakra that the need to have the basic necessities of life comes, necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, protection and even the desire to procreate.

As any successful undertaking needs to stand on a strong foundation, so the root chakra must be in order and stay in order so that the rest may be built upon it. It is through the root chakra that you remain in touch with what is necessary and “real.” It is our connection to physical reality and mother earth and it is through the root chakra that excess energy can be grounded out.

This can be done through normal grounding exercises that most pagan traditions teach, or it can be done through physical activity such as walking, dancing, or even cleaning. This chakra is all about feeling alive and self-reliant. It is our anchor to the earth, without which we can feel lost or run the risk of living only in our heads.

When this chakra is unbalanced, a person is insecure about having their basic needs met. And, until your basic needs are met, it will be difficult to concentrate on other pursuits, including those of spiritual exploration and growth. You may also be uncomfortable with your own body and its needs or continually feel tired or clumsy.

It is the root chakra that is stimulated in some religious traditions in order to waken the kundalini, also known as the serpent power since it is depicted as a snake coiled at the base of the spine. When the kundalini is aroused, energy shoots up through the chakras and you feel an incredible rush of power and strength, strength enough to perform physical miracles and face incredible hardships. You feel intensely alive and aware and wildly creative for as long as this “rush” lasts.

But there is a danger to rousing this energy without proper preparation, because if any of your chakras are blocked or damaged in some manner beforehand, then this rush of energy—especially if you are not really ready for its effects, or if it is not grounded out properly afterwards—can further damage them or even leave them unnaturally wide-open. All of which can lead to mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion and other health problems, depending on which chakras are involved.

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