What types of feelings come up for you when you think about the topic of money? Does it make you feel good, bad or even taboo? What about when you think about your money? What feelings arise? Are they feelings of happiness? Of panic? Of ___________ (fill in the blank)? The way we feel about money tells a lot about our relationship with money, which has many of the emotions we identify with in our actual relationships such as love, hate, disgust, happiness, sadness, and the list can go on and on in both directions. Our family, our religion, our culture, as well as our own personal experiences influence the way we feel about money. When we see money for what it truly is, a form of energy we can take a step back from our emotional attachments around money and begin to reframe our feelings about it.

Everything is energy. You are an energetic being with electrical signals making your heart beat and sending messages through your brain. You are surrounded by an electromagnetic energy field known as an aura which has a big impact on your health, the types of people and situations you call into your life and it affects your energy levels, mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. The aura is its own topic that can generate a lot of discussion, I implore you to do some research on this topic if it interests you. Back to our topic. You are energy. Everything around you is energy. So, it makes sense that money too, is energy.

Money is energy because it represents a value of exchange. That value exchange is based on energy and not what we typically think of in terms of “value” because value itself is flexible and can change as our individual and societal needs change. Can you recall something you used to value as important that one day was just no longer a big deal? And indeed money itself has a changing value as the stock market, exchange rates, and economy shifts. We as a part of our society are who determine what the value of something is. People gave value to gold and silver the same way we assign value to money as a society but in truth when it was first discovered it was just a pretty metal that was only worth a lot of “oohs” and “ahhhs”, someone said “this is important” and someone else agreed and so the idea of gold and silver being precious and valuable began. What you hold in your hand today is either a piece of paper, some metal, or plastic, none of which have the inherent value they represent. Think about it, “money” is made up, the value assigned to it is made up. So what money really represents is energy. It is the standardized exchange of energy! As a society we used to barter to get the things we needed and wanted, but the time and effort to make a pair of shoes is not the same as milking a cow, therefore a system was put into place so that people could get the things they needed from each other in a way that represented an equal exchange of energy. This way the shoe maker could get milk for less than a pair of shoes, and rightfully so.

Hopefully you catch my drift on this idea, because now the really important part comes into to play. Since money is energy that means you have more control over your relationship with it and how it shows up in your life. Because money is energy and you are energy the two of you are made for each other, like attracts like! But, the question is: what is your energy doing to support this naturally beneficial relationship? Ask your Self, are you attracting money, repelling money, or the money comes but never stays? If your attracting money, well done, you can stop reading, sort of shocked you stayed this long… but, if your not attracting money there is good news, you can do something about it. And no, I don’t mean another job, unless your current job underpays you because you undervalue yourself. Which is my next point on this money energy thing, and where you can make a change, and that is simply this: You will never receive your value if you don’t value your Self. It’s really that black and white. Making money can involve working hard and putting in lots of hours but valuing your Self to be worth making (and keeping) the money is actually a much bigger piece. Recognizing your own value is a catalyst to investing in your Self, which in turn, gives you more skills and more marketable value as well as empowering you to request compensation in alignment with the value you are providing.

So far I hope you’ve gained some insight. There is still one more piece to this money is energy puzzle which is equally as important as embodying your Self worth. How you feel about money, the feelings on the surface as well as the ones deep down inside you that you don’t always acknowledge or even know exist, play a big role in how you interact with money. If you received conscious and unconscious messages that made money out to be the villain when you were a child or even in the womb, then chances are you made an unconscious agreement to have this same belief, after all we are an accumulation of our experiences and some of those are being impressionable babies and children. Getting to the core of your emotions and feelings of money takes a lot of work and can even be a bit icky, but the pay-off is incredible. If you are able to uncover those feelings especially the negative ones then you are able to examine and reframe those feelings and emotions into a healthier pattern, which is productive to attracting the money you desire into your life.

For some of you it may take some deep work to discover your thoughts and beliefs about money. Equally, it is no small task to uncover your true beliefs and build up your Self worth if it is less then ideal. But the truth is that even if it takes 1 yr. or 5 yrs. or even 10 yrs. to do this work, that time is going to pass by regardless of what you do with it. The only difference is what you have to show for it on the other side. I can promise that if you start this journey depending on where you are at it may be a slow payoff, but it will payoff.

Something you can do starting right now to shift your money energy is to find a mantra that is positive and feels good to say. Here are a few I enjoy using:

“The Universe supports me and abundance flows to me”

“I am always taken care of in all things and in all ways”

“Money flows to me with ease”

Wishing you more ups then downs in this journey of life. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think! Namaste.

Sahasrara, Crown Chakra

The Crown Chakra is the 7^th chakra of the seven major chakras. Sahasrara is the Sanskrit name for this chakra meaning “Thousand (Spoked or Petalled (Lotus))” because this chakra radiates like the rays of the sun, extending our soul up into the cosmos and connecting us with our Divine Source when it is healthy, balanced and open. The main function of this chakra is “To Know” as it is our connection to Spirit and to our innate wisdom. The Crown Chakra is known as the seat of liberation allowing us to dissolve our attachment to ego resulting in the union of our truest and highest selves. The lower six chakras are a journey through the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of being, coming together and building up to the shifts needed to allow our Crown Chakra to fully open. When our Crown Chakra is healthy and balanced we experience feelings of unity, wisdom, bliss, understanding, and an awareness of our own divinity. When this chakra is blocked or out of balance we may be spacy, suffer from mental illness, have depression, learning disabilities, or apathy, as well as feeling as though we are alone and separate.

Along with opening, strengthening, and balancing the other six chakras here are ways to work with the Crown Chakra:

• Violet & White are the colors most associated with this chakra. Color can be utilized by wearing violet or white clothing, visualizing one of the colors as a radiant ball above your head where the crown chakra is located, or eating violet/purple colored foods such as purple kale, mulberries, grapes, and any other naturally colored purple food.

• OM/AUM is the seed sound of the Crown Chakra. Om can be chanted to strengthen and balance the connection to all. Additionally, because the Om seed sound also has a symbol, quieting the mind while gazing at the symbol is of benefit.

• Crystals are wonderful tools to work with the chakras. They can be worn, used in meditation, placed around your home in areas where you relax and also placed under your pillow while you sleep. The following crystals are beneficial for the crown chakra: diamond or Herkimer diamond, amethyst, clear quartz or any other purple, white or clear gemstone you feel called to work with.

• Essential oils that support this chakra are frankincense, myrrh, and sandalwood. These oils can be diffused in your home or car, or can be worn diluted.

• Affirmations are a powerful tool to shift your thoughts to bring in healthy balanced qualities you wish to nurture. The following affirmations help focus good energy to the crown chakra:

“I am one with ALL”

“I am wise and share my wisdom”

“Bliss is my true nature”

• Yoga is a way to bring balance into our entire being. The following yoga asanas or postures can be practiced to bring vitality to the Crown Chakra:

Headstand

Rabbit Pose

Corpse Pose

I invite you to explore any or all of these tips to work with your Crown Chakra. Each of these suggestions is powerful tool when used with intention to help you create the life and experience you desire. Trust that what you are drawn to is because it will have benefit for you.

Ajna, Third Eye Chakra

The Third Eye Chakra is the 6^th of the seven major chakras. Ajna, the Sanskrit name for the 3^rd Eye Chakra means “Command” due to its function as our command-center and is the key to accessing our higher perspective. The main function of this chakra is “To Perceive” as it is the gateway to our intuition or inner knowing. When this chakra is open and balanced we experience insight, clarity, a connectedness and belief in our intuition, vision to imagine our lives the way we desire it, and it gives us a deeper perception to the larger picture of our lives and relationships. When the 3^rd Eye Chakra is closed or out of balance we can experience a disconnection to our intuition, headaches/migraines, hallucinations, nightmares, sleep disorders, and sinus problems.

Ways to bring balance to the 3^rdEye Chakra:

• Indigo is the color most associated with this chakra. The indigo color can be utilized by wearing indigo clothing, visualizing indigo light at the center of your forehead where the chakra is located, and eating foods that resonate with this chakra such as grapes, blackberries, plums, eggplant, and any other naturally indigo/purple colored foods.

• OM/AUM is the seed sound of the 3^rd Eye Chakra. Om can be chanted to strengthen and balance the seat of our intuition. Additionally, because the Om seed sound also has a symbol, quieting the mind while gazing at the symbol can be used as a meditation to bring vitality to this chakra.

• Gemstones such as sodalite, lapis lazuli, and azurite, as well as any other deep blue/indigo/deep purple crystals you are called to work with can be worn as earrings, used in meditation, or simply placed in spaces of your home where you relax to bring in vibrations that heal the 3^rd Eye Chakra.

• Essential oils that support this chakra are clary sage, rosemary, and ylang ylang. These oils can be diffused in your home or car or can be worn diluted. (With strong oils such as rosemary always use small amounts if applied to the skin and test for sensitivity.)

• Affirmations are a powerful tool to shift your thoughts and bring in health, balanced qualities that you wish to nurture. The following affirmations help to strengthen the 3^rd Eye Chakra energy:

“My intuition is strong and clear”

“I trust and follow my inner guidance”

“I see the bigger picture in relationships and situations”

• Yoga is a practice to bring balance to our entire being. The following yoga asanas or postures can be practiced to bring more vitality and awareness to the seat of our intuition:

Child’s Pose

Wide-Legged Forward Fold

Dolphin Pose

I invite you to explore any or all of these tips to balance and strengthen your 3^rd Eye Chakra. Each of these suggestions is powerful tool when used with intention to help you create the life and experience you desire. Trust that what you are drawn to is because it will have benefit for you.

 Vissudha, Throat Chakra

The Throat Chakra is the 5^thof the seven major chakras. Vissudha is the Sanskrit name for this chakra, meaning “Purity” and is related to the need to balance and open the lower chakras 1-3 and the 4^thchakra in order to fully activate, open, and balance this chakra. This is because the throat chakra is about expressing your truth with honesty and purity, most especially to yourself, requiring a lack of fear (1^stchakra), creativity (2^ndchakra), personal power (3^rdchakra), as well as compassion and love (4^thchakra). The main focus of the throat chakra is “Self Expression & Life Purpose”. When our throat chakra is open and balanced we can experience our truth, purpose, our expression and communication is compassionate, and we experience synchronicities in life. When the throat chakra is blocked one can experience teeth and gum issues, hearing problems, and thyroid imbalances, as well as habitual lying, a fear of speaking and a lack of purpose.

Ways to help bring balance to the Throat Chakra:

• Blue is the color of the throat chakra and can be used by visualizing a ball of color at the throat area, wearing blue clothing, and eating blue colored foods such as blueberries, blue-green algae and blue potatoes.

• HAM is the seed sound of the Throat Chakra and can be chanted to strengthen and open this energy center of personal truth.

• Gemstones such as lapis lazuli, turquoise, blue kyanite or any other blue stone you are drawn to can be worn as a necklace or earrings. Additionally, these crystals can be meditated with or simply kept nearby in relaxing areas of the home.

• Essential oils that support the throat chakra becoming fully expressed are jasmine, lavender, and frankincense. These oils can be worn diluted or diffused in the home or car.

• Affirmations, a powerful tool, can be used to shift your thoughts and bring in the healthy, balanced qualities that you wish to nurture. The following affirmations help to strengthen the throat chakras energy:

“I live my truth by speaking my truth”

“I am guided to live my purpose”

“I express myself with compassion”

• Yoga is a practice meant to bring balance into the entire being. The following yoga asanas or poses can be used to focus on the throat chakra:

Lion’s Breath Pose

Shoulder Stand Pose

Plow Pose

I invite you to explore any or all of these tips to balance and strengthen your throat chakra. Each of these suggestions is powerful tool when used with intention to help you create the life and experience you desire. Trust that what you are drawn to will have benefit for you.

Anahata, Heart Chakra

The Heart Chakra is the 4^th of the seven main chakras. Anahata is the Sanskrit name for this Chakra meaning “Unstruck” referring to the Vedic concept of unstruck sound, encompassing a calmness which is without violence. The main focus of this chakra is “Love & Connection” and it is the well within us that compassion and serenity flow from. When this chakra is open and balanced we experience deep love, trust, connection, balance, an ability to surrender our control, and equanimity in our lives and relationships. When the heart chakra is blocked or stagnant ailments of the heart, lungs, and breasts can arise, as well as feelings of loneliness, disconnectedness, and anti-social behaviors.

Ways to help keep the Heart Chakra balanced:

• Green is the color most associated with the heart chakra, however pink is also a color that resonates with this love-energy center. Color can be used to contribute to a healthy heart chakra by visualizing it in the physical heart/sternum area where the chakra is located and by eating green foods brings.

• YAM is the seed sound of the Heart Chakra and can be chanted to help strengthen and balance this center of compassion.

• Crystals such as emerald, green aventurine, and rose quartz, as well as any other green or pink stones which you feel called to can be worn as pendants, meditated with or kept nearby in areas of your home where you relax to bring in the loving and healing vibrations of the heart chakra.

• Essential oils which support the heart chakra are rose, rosewood and neroli. These oils can be worn diluted or diffused in your home or car.

• Affirmations are a powerful tool to shift your thoughts and bring in the healthy, balanced qualities that you wish to nurture. The following affirmations help to strengthen the heart chakras energy:

“I am a being of love, both loving and lovable”

“I am compassionate”

“I am calm and balanced”

• Yoga is a practice to balance our entire being. The following yoga asanas or postures bring more vitality into our heart centers:

Camel Pose

Upward Facing Dog

Wheel Pose

I invite you to explore any or all of these tips to balance and strengthen your heart chakra. Each of these suggestions is powerful tool when used with intention to help you create the life and experience you desire. Trust that what you are drawn to is because it will have benefit for you.

Our lung function and ability to breath are rarely things we think about unless something happens where these essential functions become compromised. If you’ve been unfortunate enough to have an experience where breathing has become difficult for you such as an asthma or allergy attack, or a chest cold, pneumonia, collapsed lung, or the new and present reality of the corona virus known as COVID-19, then you know that this experience can become very scary, very quickly.

We live in a world were air pollution has become common place, adding its own impact on lung function and ability to breath. In fact there is a direct correlation between asthma in children and living in areas with traffic and/or industry pollution, and unfortunately this is just about all medium to larger cities and even some of the smaller ones. In conjunction, chosen and forced sedentary lifestyles due to careers which require large amounts of stillness and sitting, children who are required to sit the majority of the day in schools, (and employers and school systems who are behind the times in providing a healthier work spaces such as standing desks) the prevalence of shallow breathing, and habits such as smoking all adds up to a potential decrease in lung function over time.

Thankfully there are actions we can take to maintain and improve our lung function.

One easy way to help our lungs is to have Good Posture by sitting up straight. Sitting with our spine erect in its natural upright position verses hunched forward or rounded is the best position for all of your internal organs and aids in their optimal functioning. Particularly for the lungs, exercising good posture allows your lungs to inflate fully and helps prevent loss of function, especially in the lower lungs which are more prone to disease process such as pneumonia. If you currently suffer from poor posture it will most likely feel equally good and uncomfortable to shift into a practice of maintaining a good posture. Until a good, upright posture becomes your habit, you will most certainly revert to the previous posture and not even realize it, to help you with this you can place post-it notes in areas of work and home to remind you, ask a friend or family member to remind you, or you could even set a repeating alert on your phone.

A few easy ways to promote better breath intake and lung capacity is by the following breathing practices. Developing a practice takes effort and time but the rewards will continue to have a positive impact long after these practices become habit.

Belly Breathing is the way we naturally breathe when we are born. Over time as we become adults we often unknowingly transition to a shallower breathing pattern which does not give us the robust oxygen and therefore energy that belly breathing has the ability to give us. Belly breathing helps to strengthen our diaphragm, which has an important role in the physical action of breathing. Belly breathing can be practiced laying down and then and you become more accustomed to how it feels in your body you can begin to practice it up-right and while being active. To begin, lay on your back in a comfortable position, with one hand on your chest and one hand on your belly (this is to feel the movement). As you inhale imagine the air moving down into your lungs and allow your belly to lift with each breath. As you exhale imagine the air moving out of your lungs while allowing your belly to soften and sink in. You can repeat this breath for 5-10 minutes daily and allow your practice to grow in time or frequency. While practicing this breath do your best to be engaged in the activity without forcing it by allowing your body to remain relaxed and the rising/falling of the belly to be a natural action of the breath moving in and out and by avoiding actively pushing out or pulling in your belly.

Pursed Lip Breathing is simple and easy to do. To practice pursed lip breathing you simply breath in through your nose and breath out through your mouth for twice as long as the amount of time you inhaled with your lips “pursed”, as if you’re going to kiss someone. For example, breathe in for 4 counts, and with pursed lips to slow the exhale breathe out for 8 counts. Pursed lip breathing can be done anytime and is a great way to aid recovery from exercise or activity, especially if it induced shortness of breath.

Both of the above exercises are recommended by the American Lung Association to help to rid the lungs of stale air, which gets trapped in our lungs from inactivity and shallow breathing, making room for fresh oxygenated air, building better lung capacity and a stronger diaphragm in the process.

Another breath I invite you to practice is Square Breathing or a modification of square breathing to increase and build your lung capacity. To perform square breathing you inhale, hold, exhale, hold and repeat for the same count. For example, inhale for 4 counts, hold your inhale for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts, and then hold the 4 counts before inhaling again. When performing this breathing exercise the idea is to start with a count which is easy to maintain, and then gradually keep adding 1 count to your practice until you reach your maximum count. An alternative to this is doing the same for the inhale and exhale but skipping the holds, so you are breathing normally but for the same count both inhaling and exhaling. This breathing exercise has the additional benefit of helping to shift your thoughts and emotions positively since you are placing your attention on your breath to keep the count rather than allowing your attention to be focused on a person, feeling, or situation.

With all of these breathing exercises it is important to have an awareness of how you physically feel while practicing them. If you have feelings of light-headedness, anxiety, tension, or any shortness of breath it is best to stop your practice and go back to your normal breathing pattern. Give yourself a break and try again later or the following day with a different count or length of breath, you may have to play with this several times to find your baseline.

Hopefully over time you will be able to implement some of these practices into your lifestyle giving you the biggest benefits over time. Making good posture and breathing practices as some of your habits will help you to have a healthy and balanced life.

Manipura, Solar Plexus

The Solar Plexus is the 3^rdof the seven main chakras. Manipura, which is the Sanskrit name, means “Lustrous Gem” which, is representative of the precious nature this chakra’s role plays. The main focus of the Solar Plexus is “Power and Identity” and indeed is the foundation of our personal power, which informs and shapes our identity. A healthy, open Solar Plexus fill us with confidence, humor, mental clarity, will power, and the personal strength (power) to be able to act on our passions and ideas. In essence it allows us to show up authentically and fully in our own lives. When the Solar Plexus is out of balance a person may experience low self-esteem, rage, timid-ness, chronic fatigue, and issues related to the digestion and processing of nourishment.

Ways to keep the Solar Plexus balanced:

• Yellow is the color associated with this chakra. Yellow can be used by: visualizing a vibrant yellow color below the ribcage, above the navel in the diaphragm area, by wearing the color yellow, and by eating yellow colored foods such as: yellow squash, melon, and golden delicious apples.

• RAM is the seed sound of the Solar Plexus and can be chanted to help balance and strengthen your Lustrous Gem.

• Gemstones especially resonate with the energy of the Solar Plexus and can be worn as jewelry or carried on your person. Meditating while holding your crystal or placing it nearby can also be a powerful way to bring this energy into your Solar Plexus. Some gemstones to use are: citrine (natural), tiger’s eye, and honey calcite, however any yellow colored crystal you are attracted to will work nicely.

• Essential oils that can be worn (diluted) or diffused in your environment are: bergamot, ginger, or lemon.

• Affirmations are another powerful tool to work with your chakras. When we begin an affirmation with “I am” we bring the words following into our experience. Here are a few to help with the Solar Plexus:

“I am powerful”

“I can do anything”

“I live my life authentically”

• Yoga is a tool that we can use to help keep our Solar Plexus strong and balanced with the added benefit of contributing to a balance in our whole being. The following asanas or postures are beneficial for the Solar Plexus:

Boat Pose

Reverse Plank

Warrior 3

Implementing any of these tools is a great way to help bring stability and balance into your Solar Plexus. You can choose one or two or you can combine many of them to fit what resonates with you and trust that what you are called to include is because it is the most beneficial for you.

Svadhisthana, Sacral Chakra

The Sacral Chakra is the 2^ndof the seven main chakras. Svadhisthana, the Sanskrit name for the chakra means “One’s Own Place” and is representative of our emotional body, encompassing our sexuality and creativity. The main focus of this chakra is “Emotions and Intimacy” and it governs our connection to our partners and the creative force in our lives present through the act of creating another life as well as the creative expression found in passions such as making music, art, food, and other form of expression. A healthy, open Sacral Chakra leads to a sense of joy, sensuality, creativity, fertility, and ability to indulge in pleasure. When the Sacral Chakra is out of balance a person may experience issues around sexuality and fertility, fear and insecurity, jealousy, disorders of the sexual organs, rigidity, and a lack of inspiration or creative expression.

Ways to help keep the Sacral Chakra balanced:

• Orange is the color associated with the Sacral Chakra, visualizing this color in the area above the pubic bone and below the navel, wearing orange and eating orange colored foods can all contribute to a healthy Sacral Chakra.

• VAM is the seed sound of the Sacral Chakra and can be chanted to help strengthen and balance this sensual and creative chakra.

• Crystals the resonate with this energy center are: carnelian, peach moonstone, orange aventurine, and any other orange colored gems which can be worn or kept in your pockets.

• Essential oils that can be worn (always dilute before applying to your skin) or diffused in your space are cardamom, clary sage, and orange blossom.

• Affirmations are another powerful tool to work with your chakras. When we begin an affirmation with “I am” we bring the words following into our experience. Here are a few to help with the Sacral Chakra:

I am creative, and adaptable.

I am sensual and sexual.

I enjoy life’s pleasures.

• Yoga is a wonderful tool to help strengthen your Sacral Chakra energy center and contributes to an overall sense of wellbeing. The following asanas or postures are beneficial for our center of creativity:

Bow Pose

Low Lunge

Goddess Pose

Any or all of these tools can be used, individual or combined, to help bring strength and vitality into your Sacral Chakra. Trust your intuition that what you are most called to implement is the best choice for you.

Muladhara, Root Chakra

The Root Chakra is the 1^stof the seven main chakras. Muladhara, the Sanskrit name for this chakra means “Root Support” and is truly representative of our foundational needs to be rooted and supported, giving us a strong foundation which we can move forward inour lives with. The main focus of this chakra is “Physical Existence” and it governs our basic survival needs such as nourishment and shelter, as well as emotional interconnectedness.  A healthy, open, vibrant Root Chakra leads to a sense of stability and safety, vitality, prosperity, grounded-ness, and lack of fear in foraging ahead in life and overcoming obstacles. There is also a connection between our financial abundance and a strong healthy root chakra since we can move towards our goals in a supported and fearless way. When the Root Chakra is out of balance a person can experience disorders of elimination, anxiety, spaciness/ungrounded-ness, chronic fear, and financial problems.

Ways to help keep the Root Chakra balanced:

• Red is the color which is associated with the Root Chakra, visualizing the color red at the base of the tailbone, wearing red and eating red foods can all contribute to a healthy Root Chakra.

• LAM is the seed sound of the Root Chakra and can be chanted to help strengthen and balance this fundamental chakra.

• Gemstones that resonate with this energy center are: garnet, ruby, red jasper, and fellow red colored gemstones, all can be worn or kept in your pockets.

• Essential oils that can be worn or diffused in your space are vetiver, patchouli, and sandalwood.

• Affirmations are another powerful tool to work with your chakras. When we begin an affirmation with “I am” we bring the words following into our experience. Here are a few to help with the Root Chakra:

I am grounded, safe, and secure.

I make a good living doing what I love

I am stable, strong, and healthy

• Yoga can also not only help strengthen our Root Chakra energy center it can also help us find overall balance. The following asana or postures are beneficial for our foundational chakra:

Warrior 2

Forward Fold

Childs Pose

Bridge Pose

Implementing any of these tools is a great way to help bring stability and balance into your Root Chakra. You can choose one or two or you can combine many of them to fit what resonates with you and trust that what you are called to include is because it is the most beneficial for you.

As we are now well into 2020, many of you have already heard this term “Chakras”. Some of you may even already have some association with these metaphysical energy centers located throughout the body. 

The truth is that while most information focuses on the 7 major chakras, and indeed we will as well, there are actually hundreds of chakras located all over the body. There is however, good reason that the focus tends to fall on the 7 major chakras, and that is because those 7 have such a major role and impact on our overall well-being. 

So to begin, the word Chakra is Sanskrit for “wheel” or “disk” and this has much to do with the perceived shape of the chakra and the fact that when healthy and vibrant it spins much like a wheel in motion. The idea of the chakra being a disk however, is true only to the extent of a particular perspective. When facing a person (if you can see or sense energy) their Chakras do in fact appear as a disk, they are, none the less funnel shaped smaller at the body and larger as they move away from the body somewhat like a tornado. This funnel actually allows us to exchange energy in both directions, to our benefit as well as to our detriment. Additionally 5 of the Chakras found on the front of our body also have a corresponding Chakra which is on the back of our body, these are the 2nd-6th Chakras with the 1st and 7th Chakras being funnels which extend up and down, the 7th toward the sky and the 1st toward the earth. 

So as you might have already caught on, the main Chakras are numbered, 1 through 7. And, much like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid, each Chakra builds us up on the physical, emotional, mental, and energetic levels to get us to a place of self-realization and connection with our true-selves, leading to a sense of one-with-all. Unfortunately, the converse is true as well, when our chakras are unhealthy, stagnant, and blocked they can lead to unconnectedness and dis-ease in our physical, emotional, mental, and energetic selves.  

The first Chakra is the Root Chakra, also known by it’s Sanskrit name Muladhara which means “Root Support”. This Chakra is connected to the Earth element and is a masculine energy. The color red is associated with this Chakra, that represents our sense of safety, stability, security, and having our basic needs – such as food/water, shelter/safety, as well as support/interconnection, met. The Root Chakra located at the base of our tailbone is our essential survival center and governs our physical existence. 

The second Chakra is the Sacral Chakra, known as Svadhisthana in Sanskrit meaning “One’s Own Place”. Orange is the color of this Chakra which represents our creativity, sensuality/sexuality, and emotions. This Chakra is connected to the water element and is a feminine energy. The Sacral Chakra, located between the navel and pelvis governs our emotions and intimacy. 

The third Chakra is the Solar Plexus, known in Sanskrit as Manipura, meaning “Lustrous Gem”. A fire element, this Chakra is also masculine. The color yellow is the hue associated with this Chakra. The Solar Plexus represents your willpower, self-esteem, and warrior energy. The Solar Plexus is located just under the rib cage, above the navel and governs our personal power. 

The fourth Chakra is the Heart Chakra, Anahata in Sanskrit with the meaning of “Unstruck”. The Heart Chakra is an air element, and is a feminine energy. Green is the color most commonly associated with this Chakra, however Pink is also connected to the Heart Chakra. The Heart Chakra is associated with balance, compassion, affection, and love. Located in the actual heart center/sternum area this Chakra governs our love and connection. Additionally, this Chakra is the bridge that connects our three lower Chakras (first, second and third) which are tied to our physical aspects to our three upper Chakras (fifth, sixth, and seventh) which connects us to our spiritual aspects.  

The fifth Chakra is the Throat Chakra, known as Vissudha in Sanskrit which means “Purity”. The Throat Chakra is the element of sound, and is a masculine energy. The color blue or sky blue is most closely associated with this Chakra. The Throat Chakra represents our ability to speak our truth (to ourselves and others) and share creative expression. The Throat Chakra located at the throat governs our self expression and our life purpose(s). 

The sixth Chakra is the Third Eye Chakra, known in Sanskrit as Ajna which means “Command”. The Third Eye Chakra is a feminine energy, and represents the element of light. The color Indigo is the color associated with this Chakra. The Third Eye Chakra represents connecting to our wisdom and insight also known as our intuition. Most cultures regardless of their knowledge or belief in the Chakra system, have some sort of collective belief about the Third Eye and its role in connecting us to our inner knowing. The Third Eye Chakra located in the center of the forehead governs our clear perspective and psychic awareness and abilities. 

The seventh Chakra is known as the Crown Chakra, Sahasrara in Sanskrit, meaning “ Thousand-spoked”. This Chakra is the unified energies of masculinity and femininity and resonates with the element of thought. The colors violet, and sometimes pure white or gold are the colors associated with this Chakra. The Crown Chakra represents our divine connection and unity with all beings and all elements. The Crown Chakra located on the very top of our head governs our connection to Spirit and wisdom. 

Just knowing about these energetic centers in the body empowers us to take the steps to live our best lives. Knowing what each Chakra represents and relating it back into your personal being will help you discover which, if any of your Chakras are unbalanced. Developing a personal practice of working with your Chakra system can help ensure you are giving and receiving healthy, beneficial, supportive energy to and from your environment, which includes the people you interact with. The Chakra system is a powerful tool to help you find balance, well-being, and connectedness in your life.