Chakras By Paul Connor

It is typical for chakras to be depicted in either of two ways: Chakra is a concept referring to wheel-like vortices which, according to traditional Indian medicine, are believed to exist in the surface of the etheric double of man. The Chakras are said to be "force centres" or whorls of energy permeating, from a point on the physical body, the layers of the subtle bodies in an ever-increasing fan-shaped formation (the fans make the shape of a love heart). Rotating vortices of subtle matters, they are considered the focal points for the reception and transmission of energies. Seven major chakras or energy centres are generally believed to exist, located within the subtle body. It is typical for chakras to be depicted in either of two ways: Flower-like Wheel-like In the former, a specific number of petals are shown around the perimeter of a circle. In the latter, a certain number of spokes divide the circle into segments that make the chakra resemble a wheel or chakra. Each chakra possesses a specific number of segments or petals. Much of the original information on Chakras comes from the Upanishads, which are difficult to date because they are believed to have been passed down orally for approximately a thousand years before being written down for the first time between 1200–900 BCE.

Death Process Chakra Matter Visual Mirage Root Chakra Earth (as Earth dissolves into Water) ▼ ▼ Smoke Navel Water (as Water dissolves in Fire) Fireflies Solar Plexus Fire (as Fire dissolves into Wind) Candle Flame Heart Air (as Wind dissolves into Space) Moonlit Sky Throat Ether/Space (as Space dissolves into Luminance) Sunlit Sky Third Eye Light (as Luminance dissolves into Radiance) Dark Sky Crown Energy (as Radiance dissolves into Imminence) Pre Dawn Twilight Sky (as Imminence dissolves into Clear Light)

Understanding and Will Crown Chakra Sahasrara is positioned above the head or at the top of it and it has 1000 petals which are arranged in 20 layers each of them with 50 petals. Sahasrara chakra symbolizes detachment from illusion; an essential element in obtaining supramental higher consciousness of the truth that one is all and all is one. Often referred as thousand-petaled lotus, it is said to be the most subtle chakra in the system, relating to pure consciousness, and it is from this chakra that all the other chakras emanate. It is often related to the pineal gland and the violet colour. Understanding and Will

Third Eye Chakra Imagination The Ajna chakra is positioned at the eyebrow region and has two white petals, said to represent the psychic channels before rising to the crown chakra, Sahasrara. These petals also represent the manifest and unmanifest mind, as well as the pineal and pituitary glands. Ajna is considered the chakra of the mind. When something is seen in the mind’s eye, or in a dream, it is being 'seen' by Ajna. In kundalini yoga, different practices are said to stimulate the Ajna chakra, including steady gazing, gazing at the space between the eyebrows, and some forms of breath exercises. Imagination

Throat Chakra Vishuddha is positioned at the neck region and it has sixteen petals corresponding to the Sanskrit vowels. Vishuddha is associated with the faculty of higher discrimination, between choosing what is right and wrong, and it is associated with creativity and self-expression. It is known as the 'poison and nectar' centre, closely related to the Bindu chakra, and the secret of immortality is said to reside there. When Vishuddha is closed, we undergo decay and death. When it is open, negative experience is transformed into wisdom and learning. Power

Heart Chakra The Anahata chakra is physically positioned at the heart region. Traditionally, this chakra is represented as a green flower with twelve petals which match the vrittis of lust, fraud, indecision, repentance, hope, anxiety, longing, impartiality, arrogance, incompetence, discrimination and defiance. Anahata is associated with the ability to make decisions outside of the realm of karma. In Manipura and below, man is bound by the laws of karma, and the fate he has in store for him. In Anahata, one is making decisions, 'following your heart', based upon one's higher self, and not from the unfulfilled emotions and desires of lower nature. The Anahata seed sound is yam. The wish fulfilling tree, resides here, symbolizing the ability to manifest whatever you wish to happen in the world. It is also associated with love and compassion, charity to others, and forms of psychic healing. Love

Root Chakra Muladhara meaning "root place" is the first of the main seven chakras according to Tantrism. It may be represented as red, although its root square form is usually coloured yellow. That 'lotus' of muladhara chakra has four petals, metaphorically referring to the four vrittis that find expression in this chakra: dharma (psycho-spiritual longing), artha (psychic longing), kama (physical longing) and moksha (longing for spiritual liberation). Life

Solar Plexus Chakra Wisdom It is positioned at the navel region and it has ten petals which match the vrittis of spiritual ignorance, thirst, jealousy, treachery, shame, fear, disgust, delusion, foolishness and sadness. Manipura is associated with dynamism, energy, and will-power, It is associated with the power of fire, and digestion. Manipura is said to radiate and distribute prana to the rest of the body. In this sense, it is roughly similar to the Chinese idea of the dantian in qigong. Wisdom

Naval Chakra Swadhisthana is positioned at the tailbone, two finger-widths above Muladhara. It has six petals which match the vrittis of affection, pitilessness, feeling of all-destructiveness, delusion, disdain and suspicion. Its corresponding point in the front of the body is at the pubic bone. Swadhisthana is associated with the unconscious, and with emotion. It is closely related to Muladhara in that Swadhisthana is where the different samskaras (potential karmas), lie dormant, and Muladhara is where these samskaras find expression. Order