chakra, since color is, in fact, simply a physical manifestation of a vibration. The entire rainbow spectrum of colors is carried collectively within the seven chakras. Each chakra is associated with and responsible for a color resonating with its vibration; however, that does not mean that each chakra is limited to one color only. The color of a chakra will give information about the state of the chakra and its vibration. An easy way to remember the color associations is to think about the colors in a rainbow starting from the bottom upward (root chakra: red to crown chakra: lavender).
CHAKRAS AND THEIR ELEMENTS
The chakras are connected to color, archetypes, and also the elements of nature and the cosmos. Each chakra embodies some aspect of an element, with the lower body chakras taking on significantly “coarser” physical elements than the upper body chakras, which integrate elements that are not apparent to the naked eye. The root (first) chakra, with its association to being grounded and stable, appropriately carries the solid energy of the Earth and all her embodiments: soil, deep molten lava, rock. The sacral (second) chakra represents the water element, taking on its fluid, dynamic ability to create through life, being yielding and passive, yet strong and forceful at the same time. The solar plexus (third) chakra signifies the fire element, powerful and ready to ignite with confidence and the quality of “presence.” These three chakras carry within their energies the symbolism and characteristics of physical elements (Earth, water, and fire). As you will read further, this association parallels their connection with these same elements found in the major components (macronutrients) comprising foods: the root chakra and its anchor to earth through protein; the sacral chakra capturing the movement inherent within water through its resonance with fluids and fats; and the solar plexus chakra honoring the fire quality of carbohydrates, a fuel source that is preferentially burned for energy in its variety of forms (everything from quick simple sugars to sustained complex starches).
As we travel up the chakra circuit into the upper body chakras, the elements become less tangible and more ethereal. The heart (fourth) chakra draws us to the elemental essence of air, which allows us to be part of the human experience. We can do for weeks without food, days without water, but only minutes without air. Ancient traditions revere the breath, or oxygen, and equate it with being our life force (chi, prana). Think of the word in-spire, which in Latin means “to breathe.” We relate it to becoming exalted and infused with emotion and nourished. The throat (fifth) chakra's element is even finer than air—ether, the element of the heavens, or that space beyond the Earth. We communicate to the heavens and move beyond into space by air flowing through our throat chakra, creating sound, a vibration that travels through Earth gases, solids, and liquids into the substance that envelops the Earth. Up in the realm of the third eye (sixth) chakra resides the multidimensional element of light, or photonic, rainbowed particles and waves. This center provides our insight, or “lights the path” before us. Physiologically, it is very sensitive to the rhythms of light appearance and disappearance. It feeds off of the sunlight and the Divine light that shines from within everyone. Finally, the crown (seventh) links us to the element of oneness and wholeness of Divine energy and universal consciousness. It is the complete part of who we are and with this element in place, our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls are sustained.
CHAKRA HEALTH
A healthy chakra will be responsive to both internal cell messages and to external environment signals. It will open and close, like a flower responding to sunlight, bringing in and releasing energy, and creating an overall movement that translates into a vibration. Chakras take in energy or signals and direct them to the appropriate body systems. Health is determined by this flow of energy from the chakras through the energy circuits and into the metabolic network of the body. For example, if your boss tells you what a good job you are doing, your root chakra, responsible for survival and trust, may take in the message and create a supportive vibration. The root chakra is connected to the other chakras to give them this message, spreading the vibration throughout the body, allowing each chakra to filter what it needs to take in.
A chakra can also become blocked or obstructed, causing the internal or external messages to not get through or to become distorted. If we take the example of the boss's message, an unhealthy root chakra may distort the message and construe it as “The boss has been watching me” or further to “My job is in jeopardy,” especially when the foundation of the root chakra has fear as one of its layers. Alternately, a child could receive a message from his parents at a very young age that children are to be seen and not heard. Such a message could create a block or a shutting down of the throat chakra, responsible for personal expression and truth speaking. Therefore, external input can make our chakras unhealthy, and it can also add to the dysfunction of the chakra. Sometimes, we have messages passed down to us from our DNA. These can be more challenging, since they are more hardwired than our immediate environmental input. However, with the proper healing tools and techniques, we can heal ourselves. Part of the journey to do so requires that we believe we can.
Malfunctioning chakras can become deficient or excessive in energy.
Malfunctioning chakras can become deficient or excessive in energy. When a chakra is clogged, it means that the upward energy flow to that center has become congested or stopped. Since the chakras act as spinning wheels, dispersing energy throughout the body, blocked chakras can restrict the entire energy flow to that area. Blockages often correspond to emotional, mental, and/or spiritual issues. For example, grief or anger could lodge in the heart chakra, giving rise to heart disease. Low esteem and anger could impact the solar plexus chakra, causing digestive complaints.
Chakras are energy deficient due to either a blockage or depletion of energy into that center—that is, the chakra is not being nourished by chi or prana to the extent that is required for adequate functioning. One simple, basic approach to restoring energy is to work on the center directly, using a variety of methods, including specific foods, dietary supplements, and lifestyle changes. The idea is to restore the vibration of the chakra with an external source that carries that same vibration or higher. Sometimes, stimulation of the chakra with physical touch (for example, acupressure, hands-on healing) is effective for releasing blocked energy. Chakras can also be restored by altering thought and emotional patterns.
Chakras can hold and process excessive energy, usually due to a blockage in the chakras above or below them or from external circumstances. Therefore, the chakras work in a domino-like fashion. They are interconnected to each other, and as a result a change in one chakra commonly influences the others in varying degrees. One way to balance energy into an overactive site is to work on spreading the energy to the chakras above or below it through foods, meditation, visualization, and so on. If there is overactivity in the sacral chakra, for example, it could be balanced if the chakra below (root chakra) and above it (solar plexus chakra) were worked on as well. Often, the higher chakra is stimulated in order to reduce the activity of the lower one, since energy tends to travel upward. In the case of the overactive sacral chakra, it may be best to work primarily on the solar plexus chakra.
All the chakras relate to each other in a weblike manner. However, they form particular groupings. The typical connection between the chakras is that the root chakra (first) is supported by the solar plexus (third) chakra. The solar plexus chakra, in turn, is supported by the throat (fifth) chakra, which is ultimately supported by the crown (seventh) chakra. In a similar fashion, the sacral (second) chakra has an intimate relationship with the heart (fourth) chakra, which then connects with the third eye (sixth) chakra. Therefore, an issue of an overactive heart chakra would best be addressed by working on the third eye chakra and supporting the sacral chakra. The odd-numbered and even-numbered chakras are special individual circuits: the odd-numbered chakras represent the masculine part of us, encompassing the dynamics of tribe, power, and expression; and the even-numbered chakras reflect the feminine aspects of our being, including emotions, sensuality, giving and receiving, and intuition.
The chakras work in a domino-like fashion. They are interconnected to each other, and as a result a change in one chakra commonly influences the others.