What Are Chakras?

In Sanskrit, the word “chakra” means “disk” or “wheel” and refers to the energy centers in your body. These wheels or disks of spinning energy each correspond to certain nerve bundles and major organs.

To function at their best, your chakras need to stay open, or balanced. If they get blocked, you may experience physical or emotional symptoms related to a particular chakra.

There are seven main chakras that run along your spine. They start at the root, or base, of your spine and extend to the crown of your head. That said, some people believe you have at least 114 different chakras in the body.

There are seven major chakras, each in a specific location along your spine. Let’s look at each one more closely.

What Are The 7 Main Chakras?

Root chakra:

The root chakra, or Muladhara, is located at the base of your spine. It provides you with a base or foundation for life, and it helps you feel grounded and able to withstand challenges. Your root chakra is responsible for your sense of security and stability.

Sacral chakra:

The sacral chakra, or Svadhisthana, is located just below your belly button. This chakra is responsible for your sexual and creative energy. It’s also linked to how you relate to your emotions as well as the emotions of others.

Solar plexus chakra:

The solar plexus chakra, or Manipura, is located in your stomach area. It’s responsible for confidence and self-esteem, as well as helping you feel in control of your life.

Heart chakra:

The heart chakra, or Anahata, is located near your heart, in the center of your chest. It comes as no surprise that the heart chakra is all about our ability to love and show compassion.

Throat chakra:

The throat chakra, or Vishuddha, is located in your throat. This chakra has to do with our ability to communicate verbally.

Third eye chakra:

The third eye chakra, or Ajna, is located between your eyes. You can thank this chakra for a strong gut instinct. That’s because the third eye is responsible for intuition. It’s also linked to imagination.

Crown chakra:

The crown chakra, or Sahasrara, is located at the top of your head. Your Sahasrara represents your spiritual connection to yourself, others, and the universe. It also plays a role in your life’s purpose.

Reiki healing and how it relates to the Chakra System:

The chakras were well understood at least 5,000 years ago in Hindu, Vedic, and Tibetan cultures.  Although Reiki and the chakras come from different spiritual and cultural traditions, they have many things in common. Traditional Chinese Medicine bases its entire practice of acupuncture on the (Etheric Energy Meridians) located throughout the body, as our chakras are related to our meridian system. Japan has been utilizing Reiki since the early 20th Century with great success! Today, many Reiki practitioners use the 7 chakras as an essential part of Reiki healing. Although some people find this confusing at first, Reiki and the chakra system have more in common than many people realize.  

Reiki assists to bring the chakras into alignment and balance. Chakras do not work independently, they are all part of the whole energy system. Each chakra has a role in balancing some aspect of our life physically, emotionally, mentally, energetically, ethereally and spiritually.

Reiki works on a spiritual level because it prepares the body and mind thus enabling the whole body to prepare for spirit.  Once your body and mind are prepared then you can see more clearly, know with certainty, feel with ease, and hear what you need to know.  Reiki can fast track you on your spiritual journey!

The Chakras & Physical Body:

Every chakra has a corresponding organ in our physical system. Chakras can be over active, under active or in balance. Utilizing Reiki as a healing therapy gives your chakras balance and keeps your organs functioning in a healthy way.

Crown chakra does not have a corresponding organ but is related to the whole being.

Third eye (forehead) chakra belongs to the brain, face, nose and eyes.

Throat chakra relates to the lungs and the throat.

Heart chakra belongs to the heart and the arms.

Solar plexus chakra is in relation to the liver, gall bladder, stomach, spleen and the small intestine.

Navel chakra belongs to the reproduction system, the testicles and ovaries also the urinary bladder and kidneys.

Root chakra belongs together with the large intestine and the rectum. It also has a certain influence on the function of the kidneys.

Chakras & Endocrine System:

According to tradition each chakra corresponds to one of the major glands in the body.

The Reiki healing hand positions not only cover the chakras but also major organs and glands by distributing Prana to the physical body.

This is partly done through the endocrine system that regulates other systems in the body.

Crown chakra is usually connected to the pineal gland.

Third eye chakra has a connection to the pituitary gland.

Throat chakra corresponds to the thyroid gland.

Heart chakra belongs together with the thymus.

Solar plexus chakra is related to the pancreas.

Navel Chakra to the ovaries or testicles.

Root Chakra is in relation to the adrenal gland.