Chakra Meanings – The 7 Chakras Explained
Chakras are the energy centers in our body. We have seven chakras in the human body and each of the chakra meanings are different. Below are the 7 chakras explained.
Chakras Explained
The word chakra comes the word Sanskrit word cakra, meaning “wheel” or “disc”. Chakras are energy centers in our body that act as a portal to bring energy in and out of the body.
We have 7 chakras in the human body. They are stacked on top of each other vertically, beginning at the base of the spine, and ending at the top of the head.
Each chakra is connected to a specific point in the body and each is associated with specific glands and organs. This causes them to have their own unique chakra meanings, and colors associations.
They are wheel shaped, and spin to facilitate the flow of energy. Healthy chakras spin in a clockwise motion, while unhealthy or blocked chakras spin counterclockwise.
These energy vortexes all work together to create a healthy chakra system. The chakra system is the primary system that makes up our energetic body.
Energetic Body vs. Physical Body
Let’s think about the physical body for a minute. Our physical body has many systems that help it function properly, for example, the skeletal system, muscular system, circulatory system and respiratory system.
These physical systems work together without too much thought on our part. The circulatory system is a great example! It circulates blood around out body and regulates our body temperature without us having to tell it to do so.
While we do not often consciously think of our body pumping blood – there are many things we do that help to keep our circulatory system healthy. We take care of our circulatory system (aka our heart health) by doing thing like incorporating exercise into our lives, eating healthy food, maintaining a healthy weight and refraining from smoking.
We do these things to keep our physical body healthy, yet we often forget our energetic body. That is where the chakra system comes into play.
Blocked Chakras
If there is a problem with one of our physical systems, it negatively affects the other systems. The same is true for our chakra system. If a chakra is blocked, it can result in problems in the physical body.
Take note if a physical problem has manifested with no apparent cause, there’s a chance that it may not in fact be a physical problem, but an energetic problem.
Each chakra corresponds to different energetic and physical properties. So a blockage in each chakra will present differently. The key is identifying the blockage and resolving it.
When all chakras are working properly they facilitate the flow of energy throughout the entire system. Different cultures call this life energy by different names. In the Hindu philosophy it is known as Prana, literally translating to breath, or life force. In Chinese culture it is called Chi or Qi.
It is vital for the human body for this life energy to be able to move through the chakras unobstructed. When a chakra is blocked, it stops the unimpeded flow of energy through the chakras and can present in physical or psychological problems.
Chakra Meanings
Determining which chakra is blocked might be easier than you think. The first step is to look at your symptoms and decide which chakra correlates to those problems.
When you think about it, the chakra meanings are very logical. I’ll give you a couple of examples, but they are explained much more in depth further down in the article.
Some chakra meanings are quite literal. For example, the Heart Chakra corresponds to matters of the heart, like love, self love, compassion, and trust.
The the lowest chakra is the Root Chakra and relates to grounding and stability, just like the roots in a tree. While the highest chakra, the Crown Chakra is located on the top of the head (hence, crown) and relates to connection to a higher power, our higher selves and consciousness.
Once you understand the chakras and their meanings, it will be easier to determine which ones are blocked.
Chakra Healing
The energetic (and physical) body work best when all chakras are clear and able to spin freely. Chakra alignment creates balance flow throughout the body.
If you find that one of your chakras is blocked, don’t fear, there are ways to unblock your chakras. Using meditation, yoga and crystal healing are very effective in healing blocked chakras.
If you’re curious about meditation and looking for a place to get started, I have some beginner-friendly articles on the best times to meditate, and how long to meditate.
I recommend beginning any chakra healing session by smudging yourself and the space you’re working in. This clears any lingering negative energy before you begin your chakra work.
You can use meditation and crystal healing in two different ways – either to maintain alignment of the chakras in general, or to fix a blockage.
Remember to be patient with yourself in chakra balancing. Just as blockages do not appear overnight, they won’t be healed overnight. However, don’t fear, with consistent attention you can effectively heal your chakras.
7 Chakra Colors
Each chakra corresponds to a certain color. When choosing stones to meditate with for chakra healing, a good rule of thumb is to choose one in the respective color.
This doesn’t mean that other colors of healing stones won’t work with the chakras, it’s just a good place to start if you’re unsure of what stone to use.
Let your intuition guide you – crystal healing is different for each person and you should do what works best for you. Below are the colors of the chakras.
- Crown Chakra – Violet and White
- Third Eye Chakra – Indigo
- Throat Chakra – Light Blue
- Heart Chakra – Green (and Pink)
- Solar Plexus Chakra – Yellow
- Sacral Chakra – Orange
- Root Chakra – Red
Chakra Names
If you’ve heard the chakra names before you may be familiar with the names like “Third Eye Chakra” and “Heart Chakra”. Each chakra has a corresponding Sanskrit name. Sanskrit is a language of ancient India, dating back 3,500 years.
- Crown Chakra – Sahasrara
- Third Eye Chakra – Ajna
- Throat Chakra – Vishudda
- Heart Chakra – Anahata
- Solar Plexus Chakra – Manipura
- Sacral Chakra – Svadisthana
- Root Chakra – Muladhara
The 7 Chakras
Each of the chakra meanings are unique – just like the chakras themselves. Below are a list of the primary 7 chakras and a quick overview of the properties associated with them including their name, chakras meanings, location in relation to the physical body, colors of chakras, and (an abbreviated) list of crystals associated with them.
Crown Chakra
The Sahasrara, also known as the Crown Chakra is located at the top (or crown) of the head. It is at the highest point of our physical body, connecting us to our highest selves. It connects us to enlightenment and a higher power.
When the Crown Chakra is not blocked we are connected to our highest selves. We also have connection to our higher power (whatever that is be for you – God/the universe/the Divine/source energy/etc). We open ourselves up to enlightenment, peace and bliss.
When the Crown Chakra is blocked, we feel disconnected from ourselves and from our higher power. We have a hard time trusting our path. We feel unhappy with our life and often feel purposeless.
When the Crown Chakra is spinning freely, it connects us to the world around us, our highest selves, and our higher power. This connection runs down through all the chakras, so it is important to have a healthy Crown Chakra.
- Name: Sahasrara (The Crown Chakra)
- Location: It is located at the top of the head.
- Color: Violet or White
- Relates to: Connection to source energy/God/the Divine, connection to our higher selves, consciousness, enlightenment, peace, and bliss.
- Crystals: Clear Quartz, Amethyst, Apophyllite, Lepidolite, Herkimer Diamond, Moonstone, Selenite, Charoite.
Third Eye Chakra
The Ajna, also known as the Third Eye Chakra is located between the eyebrows, on our Third Eye. It corresponds with intuition and insight, wisdom and awareness.
When the Third Eye Chakra is in harmony, we have a clear path to access spiritual insight and wisdom. We listen to our intuition, and have heightened awareness of our senses. Our intuition guides us, and we are thoroughly able to listen to its guidance.
When the Third Eye Chakra is not in harmony, our intuition becomes blocked, and we are unsure of our inner vision. Nothing seems clear, and even if we do hear our intuition trying to chime in, we do not trust it.
In a perfect world, our intuition guides us to make the best decisions for ourselves. When our Third Eye Chakra is blocked, so is our intuition. It’s crucial to unblock this chakra so we can align with intuition, and receive wisdom from our spiritual guides.
- Name: Ajna (The Third Eye Chakra)
- Location: It is located between the eyebrows.
- Color: Indigo
- Relates to: Intuition, wisdom, awareness, spiritual insight, psychic powers, spiritual development.
- Crystals: Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli, Sapphire, Sugilite, Fluorite, Labradorite, Lepidolite, Tanzanite.
Throat Chakra
The Vishudda, also known as the Throat Chakra sits in the center of the throat. It correlates to truth, communication, expression, articulating thoughts and ideas.
When the Throat Chakra is clear, we freely speak our truth. We listen to our inner voice and express ourselves honestly and authentically. We communicate easily and effectively and advocate for ourselves.
When the Throat Chakra is not clear, we don’t speak up for ourselves. We lose sight of our truth, and can’t find the words to express our thoughts of feelings. We swallow our words and because we are not expressing our truth, and feel unfulfilled.
Communication is key to creating and maintaining healthy relationships – with other people and also with ourselves. A clear Throat Chakra facilitates healthy communication in all areas of life, and in understanding and expressing our truth.
- Name: Vishudda (The Throat Chakra)
- Location: It sits in the center of the throat, above the collarbone.
- Color: Light Blue
- Relates to: Truth, communication, voice, speech, authentic voice, expression, articulating thoughts and ideas.
- Crystals: Lapis Lazuli, Blue Kyanite, Sodalite, Blue Lace Agate, Chrysocolla, Turquoise, Aquamarine, Angelite.
Heart Chakra
The Anahata, also known as the Heart Chakra, sits in the center of the chest, near our physical heart. It’s no surprise that this chakra relates to matters of the heart.
When the Heart Chakra is in alignment, we are able to fully love ourselves. This allows us to freely give love to others, and lean in to trust, compassion and joy. We are emotionally balanced and approach life from a place of peace and joy.
When the Heart Chakra is not in alignment, we have a hard time loving ourself and others. We are more distrusting, and feel less empathy and compassion towards others. We are emotionally unbalanced and can even experience depression from severe lack of self love.
Nurturing self-love by taking care of the Heart Chakra is crucially important. The more we embrace self-love, the more we can share love, compassion and foster connections with others.
- Name: Anahata (The Heart Chakra)
- Location: It sits in the center of the chest.
- Color: Green (and pink)
- Relates to: Love, self-love, trust, compassion, connection and emotional balance.
- Crystals: Rose Quartz, Green Aventurine, Kunzite, Emerald, Morganite, Rhodochrosite, Jade.
Solar Plexus Chakra
The Manipura, also known as the Solar Plexus Chakra, sits above the navel (near where the rib cage meets, in the center of the body). It correlates to our self-esteem, personal power and sense of worth.
When the Solar Plexus Chakra is spinning freely, we have a healthy relationship to our self-esteem and embrace our power. We feel confident, worthy, at peace, and have a sense of calm. We treat ourselves with respect and know we deserve the best in our lives.
When the Solar Plexus Chakra is not spinning freely, we feel inadequate, and unworthy. We don’t treat ourselves with respect and can even feel hatred towards ourselves. We feel powerless and undeserving of good things in our lives.
It is so important to know our value and worth. We set the standard for how we allow other people to treat us by how we treat ourselves. Having an unblocked Solar Plexus Chakra allows us to raise that standard.
- Name: Manipura (The Solar Plexus Chakra)
- Location: Two inches above the belly button, near where the rib cage meets.
- Color: Yellow
- Relates to: Power, confidence, self-esteem, personal power, sense of worth and personal will.
- Crystals: Citrine, Pyrite, Tiger’s Eye, Yellow Topaz, Honey Calcite, Amber, Yellow Fluorite.
Sacral Chakra
The Svadisthana, also known as the Sacral Chakra, sits between the reproductive organs, so there is no surprise that it relates to all aspects sexuality: fertility, pleasure, and relationship issues. It also correlates to creativity and creative expression.
When the Sacral Chakra is balanced, our creative drive is thriving and abundant. We desire sexual intimacy and are in touch with pleasure. We are able to create and nurture positive relationships in our lives.
When the Sacral Chakra is unbalanced it can result in infertility, shame around sexuality, a lack of intimacy in relationships and stunted creativity (lack of creative inspiration and drive).
We all deserve to be living a creative, passionate life. We deserve to enjoy pleasure, cultivate relationships (platonic and romantic), and explore all matter of sexuality with ease and without shame. Life is meant to be lived vibrantly and abundantly.
- Name: Svadisthana (The Sacral Chakra)
- Location: It sits about two inches below the navel, between the reproductive organs and lower abdomen.
- Color: Orange
- Relates to: Sexuality, creativity, emotion and reproductive activities.
- Crystals: Carnelian, Orange Calcite, Sunstone, Peach Moonstone, Orange Tourmaline, Amber.
Root Chakra
The lowest of the 7 chakras is the Muladhara, also known as the Root Chakra. It sits at the bottom of the spine and correlates to grounding and stability. Like the roots of a tree, the Root Chakra anchors us to the earth.
When the Root Chakra is not obstructed, we feel supported and secure. With our feet firmly on the ground we feel safe and are able to move forward in our lives with confidence.
When the Root Chakra is obstructed, we feel unstable. We worry about our basic needs being met. We feel stuck, and unable to create and sustain forward momentum in our lives. An unbalanced Root Chakra creates issues that bleed into the other chakras.
Think about the Root Chakra this way – when the foundation of a house is unstable, the rest of the structure is in danger too. This is why many Reiki practitioners and other energy healing practitioners start energy system healing from the bottom of the chakra system and work their way upwards.
- Name: Muladhara (The Root Chakra)
- Location: It sits at the base of the spine, right at the base of the tailbone.
- Color: Red
- Relates to: Balance, grounding and stability.
- Crystals: Garnet, Bloodstone, Red Jasper, Black Tourmaline, Smoky Quartz, Ruby, Onyx, Hematite, Obsidian.
Pin This Article on Chakra Meanings For Later
Mindfulness Boards on Pinterest.
