Welcome to the Ask,
Learn,
Heal podcast.
I'm Mary Jo Feeley,
And in this episode,
I'm going to be taking a closer look at the chakra system,
Particularly what is referenced as the seven chakra model.
Now,
The chakras or energy centers,
Not to mention the entire human energy field,
Is a really vast subject.
And there are so many ways and so many different philosophies of how to explain the human energy field and the chakra system.
And these numerous ways really vary widely from culture and wisdom traditions.
So I want to be clear right away that what I'm doing in this particular episode is taking a look at that seven chakra model,
And we're going to go into that.
There will be other episodes where I will take a deeper look into some of the other aspects of the human energy field in the chakra system.
But today,
We're just going to stick with these seven chakra system models.
I think it's really helpful because it is a system that we are most familiar with in the West,
And it's easily accessible,
And it is easy to make the connection between what's happening at an energetic level,
And what's happening within our physical experience in human life.
A little bit later in this episode,
I'm actually going to walk you through a guided meditation where you can begin to discover for yourself how to connect with your own energy centers or chakras.
So to start with,
The term chakra is a Sanskrit word for wheel,
And it refers to a vortex of energy that connects up and converges at various points within our physical body.
So our human body,
We're going to be talking about seven major energy centers,
But there are tremendous number of vortexes or chakras found throughout the body,
From the very,
Very small chakras that are found along the vertebrae to the seven larger ones that we are going to be working with today.
So I do use the term energy centers and chakras interchangeably,
And it can seem sometimes a bit complex or even mysterious as to how it all works.
And I think it's important to remember that whether we are consciously aware of how the chakra system interacts and interferes with our physical body or not,
The fact that our chakras are continually working with us to be able to support our physical,
Emotional,
Mental,
And spiritual health needs is what's most important.
Each chakra is aligned with a specific hormone or endocrine gland,
And I'm going to be walking through these chakras and going to mention that so that you begin to get a little bit of a sense of how it is that these energy centers connect up with our physical body and in turn how they influence health and well-being.
So let's take a brief look at these seven major energy centers.
We're going to start at the very base of the spine,
And if you're not at all familiar with the chakras,
I'd like you to imagine that we're going to be walking up from the tailbone all the way up to the very top of your head,
And we are going to be essentially building a column of colored energy centers that build all the way up.
And the very first one is located at the base of the spine,
And it's like a vortex,
But in this particular location,
It actually goes down between your legs and down into the earth.
And so that's the root chakra.
I'd like you to envision that it's red,
And this particular root chakra is also known as the muladhara.
So the muladhara or root chakra is about grounding and belonging and feeling safe and secure.
It supports the adrenal glands,
And the adrenal glands are responsible for stress response.
It also supports our feet and our legs and our hips.
So when we're thinking about having some strong stability beneath our feet,
That is the root chakra.
When we're feeling kind of wobbly,
A little bit unsure of what's going on,
Not so grounded,
We're concerned about our safety,
That would be an example of when that root chakra is working on balancing.
So that's the root chakra,
Red,
And that particular vortex spins down into the ground.
The next one is the sacral chakra.
So I'm going to ask you to bring your awareness to your lower abdomen.
This is an orange vortex,
And it spins outward both in front and in back of your body.
And this particular sacral chakra is also known as the swadhisthana.
So this sacral chakra is a vortex that helps us connect with creativity and intimacy and sexuality,
And this kind of fiery energy.
It connects with our emotions,
And it is aligned with our reproductive system and our lower abdomen.
So when you're thinking about those organs and body systems that are found in the lower abdomen,
This would be an example of when the sacral chakra supports that health.
Moving up to the upper abdomen,
Above your navel,
Slightly below your rib cage,
Where the bottom of your rib cage is,
Is the solar plexus chakra.
This is a yellow vortex that,
Again,
Spins out in front of you and also out directly behind you.
And this is known as the manipura chakra.
And this is the seat of our personal power,
Integrity.
It is the seat of our mental processing.
So while the sacral chakra has to do with emotions,
This has to do at the solar plexus level with the thought processing.
It supports the pancreas,
It supports the stomach and liver,
Gallbladder,
All of those organs in the upper abdomen.
So this is a great awareness that when maybe we're nervous,
Maybe we have our tummy is acting up,
That can be an indication that that solar plexus is working on becoming balanced.
Moving up again to the heart chakra.
This is a green vortex,
Again,
Spinning out in front of you,
Spinning out behind you.
This is also known as anathata.
This is our center of love and compassion,
Of grace,
Of peace,
And it supports the thymus.
Now the thymus gland is really responsible for immune support.
So when our immunity is low,
We're more likely to get sick and we don't feel very well.
And so our heart chakra,
When it is strong and helps that thymus remain very healthy,
It helps us remain in better health.
It's also associated with the circulatory systems,
Our arms,
Our hands,
And our blood and our heart.
So you can,
Again,
As you were moving up the chakra column,
You're beginning,
I'm hoping to see that there are the physical location within the body where these chakras are located also are often associated with the physical organs in the organ systems within our physical body as well.
Moving up to the throat,
We have this beautiful,
Gentle,
Soft blue vortex that spins out of the throat,
Again,
Both directly in front and also directly behind us.
This throat chakra is also referred to as the Vesudha,
And it is a energy center that supports the ability to express ourself,
Whether it's literally using words,
Or maybe we're working on writing a story or creating a recipe or some kind of project that we're in the process of finalizing and getting that expressed,
That all is an example of throat chakra work.
The throat chakra supports the parathyroid and thyroid glands.
It supports the lungs,
Ears,
And vocal cords.
So when you think about speech and listening and speaking and communication,
That is a good way to also remember that those functions are influenced by the ability of the throat chakra to be balanced and open or have some compromise.
Moving up to the brow,
That very center of the forehead,
Right between the eyebrows,
You've got this indigo vortex coming directly out in front of you,
As well as directly out the back of your head.
This brow chakra is also referred to as the Ajna.
This is the energy center through which we have these kind of aha,
Clarity,
Insight,
Kind of visionary,
Dreaming kinds of experiences.
We get some intuitive information through that brow chakra.
It's associated with the pituitary gland and supports the nervous system,
Particularly of the lower part of the brain,
Where we have more of our lower or primal type of nervous system activity,
Such as fight,
Flight,
Freeze.
Are we feeling safe and calm?
Or are we concerned that we're not safe?
Those are some of those little switches that flip inside our brain,
Especially in that mid and lower part of our brain.
And that's influenced by the brow chakra.
The very top of your head,
You have a violet white vortex.
So I want you to imagine that you've got that vortex spinning.
And this one's coming straight up off the top of your head and directing up to the heavens,
Just like the root chakra spun down into the earth.
This very top of your head,
This crown chakra is also referred to as the Saha Sarara.
And this is where we fall into this place of bliss.
This is where we fall into this place of this divine grace that is showered down upon us.
Irregardless of what kind of a faith or wisdom tradition that we may practice,
We are constantly being graced with these higher spiritual energies.
And as they move through our energy field,
We're able to access them within our lived experience.
The crown chakra connects up with the pineal gland and also that upper aspect of the brain,
That higher functioning part of our brain.
So that's a real quick walkthrough,
So to speak,
Of the seven major chakras.
And in upcoming episodes,
I will explore more about those.
But right now,
My intent is to help you realize that there is an interconnectedness that these chakras have with each other,
And that they have with our physical,
Emotional,
Mental,
And spiritual bodies and our state of wellness.
When imbalances occur within these chakras,
And they do,
Then that can potentially lead to illness and a state of disease.
As humans,
We go in and out of balance all the time.
And so I'm hopeful that as you move into this guided meditation that I'll be offering in just a minute,
You will be able to get a better appreciation for how important it is to help maintain a balanced chakra system as much as possible,
Because it does help us maintain a state of equilibrium within our bodies,
So that we feel better and that we are healthier and that we're able to really engage in the world in a way that can be really helpful.
So as we get ready to move into this very gentle and short guided meditation of the seven chakras,
I will first of all,
Remind you that if you're driving and listening to this podcast,
I'm going to ask you to stop it at this time and then revisit it after you are not driving and are able to appreciate it and experience the chakra meditation without any distraction and from a place of safety.
So beginning to bring your awareness to your breath,
Simply closing your eyes and taking a few gentle breaths.
It really does help to be able to shift that nervous system into a state of calm and relaxation where we are able to more gently access healing.
So slowly,
As you bring your awareness to your breath,
Take two or three more gentle,
Slow,
Deep breaths.
And bring your awareness to the very base of your spine.
And I want you to envision or imagine that you have a red vortex of energy that is spinning and connecting with the earth.
And simply focus in on this red,
Vibrant energy that supports the grounding and that sense of safety and security within you.
It invites a stillness.
And simply focus in on your tailbone and begin to pay more conscious attention to your root chakra,
Allowing it to influence the way your body is handling stress in your life and how it's supporting your adrenal glands and your feet and legs and lower body.
Just focus on it and notice it and see what arises.
And allowing this red vortex to continue to spin and connect with the earth and connect with your lower part of your body.
Begin to bring your awareness at the same time up to your lower abdomen,
To your sacral chakra.
Allow that orange vortex of energy to move both in front and back of your lower abdomen and allow yourself to experience that fiery creative energy.
Connecting with your reproductive system,
The organs of your lower abdomen,
Connecting with your emotions,
And simply feeling in.
To that space and noticing what you notice.
And allowing the sacral chakra,
Like the root chakra,
To continue to do their spinning work.
Bring your awareness to your upper abdomen,
At your solar plexus,
And imagine or envision a yellow spinning vortex both in front and back of your upper abdomen.
Bringing healing to your sense of integrity and personal power,
Bringing balance to your mental processing,
And nurturing the organs in your upper abdomen.
And again,
Simply noticing what may be arising in your solar plexus.
And allowing that center also to continue its work.
Bring your conscious awareness to your heart space.
This beautiful green vortex,
This beautiful green chakra that draws in compassion and love and grace,
Peace.
And allow that gift to radiate out throughout your chest and arms and hands.
Your entire circulatory system carries this divine compassionate energy throughout your body.
Simply allowing this chakra to transform and to heal.
And now allowing that beautiful green heart chakra to continue to do the work that it is doing.
Bring your conscious awareness to your throat,
And bringing your attention awareness to the vortex of blue that moves through your body.
Through the front and the backside of that chakra.
This beautiful ability to be able to express yourself from a place of compassion and integrity with full expression.
From a place of security and safety.
And allow the throat chakra to heal and balance your vocal cords and lungs and ears and the parathyroid and thyroid glands.
That whole space through which you speak and hear and breathe.
And now as you allow that throat chakra to continue to balance out,
Bring your awareness to your brow,
To the middle of your eyebrows,
Right in the center of your forehead,
Where this powerful indigo vortex spins both in front and behind your head.
Clearing,
Drawing in insight,
Intuition,
Allowing you to dream your dreams.
Clearing out that lower part of the nervous system and brain.
Allowing it to shift into a place of rest,
Where wisdom becomes more clear.
And simply notice what's arising as you bring your awareness to your brow chakra.
And now allowing the brow,
As you have all the other chakras before,
Allowing them to do their work,
Bring your attention to the very top of your head.
To this beautiful violet white crown chakra,
The vortex spinning up towards the heavens.
This connection with the spiritual wisdom and insight and knowing.
This great bliss that drops down from the heavens,
Entering the top of your head.
Nurturing your pineal gland and the upper parts of your brain.
And again,
Simply noticing what it is that you're becoming aware of,
As you focus on this beautiful violet white crown chakra.
And now as we integrate the various energies of the chakra column,
Bring your awareness to the crown chakra.
And slowly bring your awareness also down to your brow.
And down to your throat.
And down to your heart.
Down to your solar plexus chakra.
Your sacral chakra.
All the way down to your root chakra,
So that the connection between your crown and the energy flows down through your chakra column down to the root.
Just as the root energy moves up all the way through all of the chakras through the top of your head.
And it's this balance point within which healing happens.
And allow these chakras to continue to do the work that they do as you slowly begin to bring your awareness once again back to your breath.
Drawing in an easy breath and releasing it to help you shift back into present moment.
Gently begin to wiggle your toes a bit and your fingers.
As you feel the weight of your body become more pronounced as you shift your awareness back into this space of third dimension.
And taking a couple final deep breaths.
Slowly and gently opening your eyes.
Now as with all guided meditations that I offer,
It will be important for you to be aware of what you noticed.
What was arising for you?
During this particular chakra meditation,
Were you led or compelled to really spend some time more than,
You know,
At one chakra?
More than another?
I would invite you to continue to repeat this process over and over again.
So that you can not only develop a stronger connection with your energy centers,
But also you can begin to notice are there particular chakras that tend to need a little bit more support?
Are there certain chakras that seem to have the energy flowing more readily?
Notice the shifting and changing that's happening within you without judgment,
Because what you're noticing,
What you're paying attention to is helping you simply to focus on where you need the support.
Could be a physical issue,
It could be a mental or emotional issue,
It could be a spiritual issue.
So as you learn about the chakras and how they connect with the physical experience of life,
As well as those emotions and thoughts and feelings that we're able to do a deeper connection with the energy field and the physical body and lived experience.
So the beauty of this chakra meditation is that you can move through the entire chakra column.
You may find that you want to focus on one or two.
It is really up to you how you want to work with this.
So I really encourage you to continue to work with the seven major chakras.
Get to know them.
Learn where the areas that you tend to be a little bit weaker in,
Where the areas that you tend to be a little bit stronger in,
Because we all go in and out of balance an awful lot every day.
And for now,
I offer you many blessings.
Be well.
