Heart Chakra

Photo from: HowToOpenChakras

The fourth chakra - anahata in Sanskrit - hovers around the area of the heart and is represented by a lotus flower with 12 petals. These petals represent feelings of lust, indecision, repentance, hope, anxiety, longing, impartiality, arrogance, incompetence, discrimination and defiance. The heart chakra governs these feelings and keeps them balanced within our hearts. It governs the sense of touch and thus primarily rules the hands and the skin. The color green, also a very potent color for growth and healing, represents the heart chakra.

When this chakra is balanced, we feel unconditional love and compassion for those around us and for humanity. We strive for peace with all of our actions and we interact easily and naturally with other people. If your heart chakra is blocked, however, you will feel vengeful and unnecessarily mean or harsh towards others. You will feel overwhelming guilt and paranoia, and ultimately you will either drive others away or rely on others for happiness, rather than feeling it deep within yourself. This emotional turmoil may be physically manifested through heart problems, trouble breathing, and upper back pain.

To unblock your heart chakra, learn to give and share more generously and love others for their flaws as well as for their positive qualities. For some tangible exercises to open this energy center, try practices yoga poses such as the Locust, the Fish, and the Camel. Carry around emerald or rose quartz gems and fill your house with poppy and holly flowers. Donate to a charity or give some unused clothes to the Salvation Army. Next time you want to criticize someone, try to give them positive feedback instead and remind yourself to love them. If you feel jealous or paranoid, try deep breathing technique and press your palms together to stimulate energy flow between them, which links back to the heart chakra. Some mantras to practice daily:

• "I do not need others to be happy, but I am thankful for the love that others bring to my life." 
• "I will think about each action I take and make sure it leads to peace."
• "I love those around me." 
• "I am strong and I respect myself and others."
  
  

Solar Plexus Chakra

Photo: Oracle and Tarot Goddess Blog

The third chakra is called Manipura in Sanskrit and is located a few inches above the navel. It is best represented by the color yellow and is symbolized by a lotus flower with 10 petals. Also known as the solar plexus chakra, it governs the liver, the stomach and the intestines. 

When balanced, the sacral chakra helps to strengthen our discipline and self-control, as well as keep our egos in check. An open third chakra will make us feel organized and at ease, both with ourselves, others, and the world around us. But when this chakra is blocked, we become manipulative and egotistical, believing that we are superior to everyone else. We may have difficulty concentrating or completing tasks, and as a result of a sluggish mental state, we may make poor decisions.

In order to open and balance this chakra, try yoga breathing techniques. Breathe from your diaphragm, not from your stomach. With each deep breath, try to get in touch with your feelings. Consider peppermint or lemon grass scents and oils, or start carrying around topaz or tiger's eye gems. Try belly dancing or exploring in the warmth of the sun to give yourself a sense of renewed freedom.

Most importantly, we must try to release our emotions. Stop holding in your anger or your sadness; let it all pour through you and out of you. Don't be afraid to show happiness or love, and don't let fear hold you back. Of course, this isn't easy and takes a lot of work, so try some positive affirmations, such as:

• "I will feel everything and express my feelings honestly.."
• "I am open to learning new things."
• "I know that I can do whatever I set my mind to."
  

Sacral Chakra

Photo from: Purengery Vibrational Healing

The second chakra, called Svadisthana or Swadhisthana in Sanskrit, is also known as the "sacral chakra" because of it's location in the sacrum, the large triangle-shaped bone at the base of the spine and upper back part of the pelvis. It is symbolized by an orange lotus with six petals and governs the sexual organs, the kidneys, the liver, and adrenal glands. It helps inspire our creativity and gives us the strength to see our relationships clearly.

When the sacral chakra is balanced and open, we feel creative and mentally "awake." It gives us a drive to achieve what we want in live and helps us let go of objects, ideas, and relationships that are detrimental to our well-being. In those relationships we do keep, the sacral chakra helps us keep them balanced and equal. Given it's dominance over the reproductive organs, a balanced sacral chakra can also lead to more fulfilling sex. When the sacral chakra is blocked, however, we can suffer physically from stomach pains and sexual diseases. Emotionally, a blocked sacral chakra can lead to either breakdowns and frequent, overly dramatic outbursts or a sense of listlessness and apathy.

If you want to work to balance your sacral chakra,  try wearing orange or lighting candles that have lavender and sage scents. If you think your chakra needs to be opened further, try bolder scents like ylang-ylang, grapefruit, or patchouli (one of my favorites). Use carnelian gems to garner emotional health and balance. With this chakra, the key is to learn to love yourself in order to build your relationships with others and gain a sense of confidence that is neither inflated or malnourished. 


Some key mantras to repeat are: 

• "I am creative and bold."
• "I love and approve of myself and my actions."
• "I only need what is inside of me."
• "I trust that life will work out."

 

Root Chakra

Photo from Spiritual Healing Portal

The first chakra, also known as the "root" or "base" chakra because of its location at the base of the spinal cord, is called Muladhara in Sanskrit. With four petals on its lotus symbol, the root chakra governs the physical aspects of the body. It helps us to properly ground ourselves and it inspires practicality and a love of life. The root chakra is associated with the color red, a good thing to remember if you (like me) are into color therapy.

When the root chakra is balanced and open, we feel receptive to others and we take good care of our minds and bodies. When the root chakra doesn't receive enough energy or stimulation, we feel doubtful, listless, and unworthy of love. In a relationship, we are clingy and possessive. This chakra is linked to lower back pain, gynecological problems and a weakened immune system.

So how do we open, or balance, our root chakra? For aroma therapy relief, try burning sandalwood or patchouli candles. For color therapy, try to add a little bit of red to your outfit each day. For gem  and crystal healing, try carrying around a ruby, red jasper, or obsidian. The key is to focus on activities that help ground and center: cleaning, planning schedules, and gardening are some good examples. Walk barefoot to help bring yourself closer to the earth.

If that doesn't sound very fun, you can try mantra repetition. Maybe you won't believe in the mantra when you first start, and that's okay. As you speak aloud the mantra several times each day, try a little more to believe it with each repetition. Some key affirmations for the root chakra are:

• "I am here." (Physically, mentally, emotionally, and in the sense that you want to be here)
• "I love life." 
• "I am open to the spirit of life."
• "I am a part of the earth."