The Healing Chakras

7 Centers of Energy
Chakra balancing is based on the ancient Indian belief in a series of seven chakras, or energy centers. Chakra is the Sanskrit word for wheel. These energy centers are believed to be located at specific points between the base of the spine and the top of the skull. Some esoteric systems include additional chakras, said to extend beyond the physical body into the human auric field. Each chakra is believed to relate to particular organs of the body, ailments, colors, elements, and emotions. However, different systems or sources that use the idea of chakras may disagree about the details.

The concept of chakras plays a key role in two ancient Indian healing systems (ayurvedic medicine and yoga) that are popular today. In recent decades, however, many modern therapies (like polarity therapy , therapeutic touch , process acupressure, core energetics, and color therapy ) have also incorporated the idea of chakras into their own visions of healing.

Chakras are part of the ancient belief system associated with yoga. These traditions were handed down orally for thousands of years before being codified by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras, several centuries before Christ.

The ancient healing science of ayurveda is based on a collection of scriptures known as vedas (a Sanskrit word meaning knowledge or wisdom). Ayurveda literally means "life knowledge." It remained the predominant form of health care in India until the British colonial government tried to suppress it during the nineteenth century. Over the last half-century, however, a modernized form of ayurveda has gained considerable popularity in India. More recently, traditional ayurveda has been popularized in the West by such high-profile advocates as Deepak Chopra.

Benefits

Balancing the chakras is believed to promote general health and well-being by ensuring the free flow of life energy (also known as prana or qi) throughout the body. It is believed that blockages in the flow of this vital energy will eventually result in mental, emotional, and/or physical illness. By removing such blockages and maximizing energy flow, practitioners are said to enable body, mind, and spirit to function optimally. Some alternative practitioners, such as medical intuitives, say they can "read" a patient's chakras to detect imbalances and diagnose problems. This is also sometimes done using a pendulum.

Today we know that living cells from humans, animals and  plants give off invisible energies. Simple groups of living tissue issue a sort of light (aura) that can be seen on a Kirlian photo. Specialized groups of cells that make up physical organs create more organized energy patterns. The human body's system consists of sensory, breathing, circulation, digestion, reproduction and secretion. There are six corresponding chakras for these bodily functions. The brain and the whole being also has one chakra, making a total of 7 major chakras. These chakras are situated at the top of the head, forehead, throat, heart, solar plexus, the navel and at the bottom of the pelvis.

The chakras and the physical body
Every chakra has a corresponding organ in our physical system. Various approaches may be used to "balance" the chakras. Chakra balancing is believed to promote health by maximizing the flow of energy in the body, much as a tune-up enables a car to operate at peak efficiency.

The root chakra belongs together with the large intestine and the rectum. It also has a certain influence on the function of the kidneys.
The navel chakra belongs to the reproduction system, the testicles and ovaries and also the urinary bladder and kidneys.
The solar plexus chakra is in relation to the liver, gall bladder, stomach, spleen and the small intestine.
The heart chakra belongs to the heart and the arms.
The throat chakra relates to the lungs and the throat.
The third eye (forehead) chakra belongs to the brain, face, nose, eyes etc.
The crown chakra does not have a corresponding organ but is related to the whole being.

There is a clear connection between the condition of a chakra and the condition of the corresponding organ. A chakra can be over active, under active or in balance. Using Reiki can give the chakras balance and the organs health.

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Each of the seven chakras is said to have specific physiological and metaphysical functions that relate to both the nature of the associated blockages and to the physical problems they produce.

• Base/root chakra (muladhara).
• The first chakra, located at the base of the spine, is linked with basic survival and with the adrenal glands. It is associated with the color red and the earth element.
• Second chakra (svadisthana).
• Thought to reside in the genital region, this chakra is linked with sexuality and with the reproductive system. It is associated with the color orange and the water element.
• Third chakra (manipura).
• Situated near the navel, this chakra is linked with the pancreas and the solar plexus. It is associated with the color yellow, the fire element, and power in the world.
• Heart chakra (cnahata).
• The fourth chakra, associated with the heart and the immune system, is believed to be the seat of love and compassion. It is associated with the color green and the air element.
• Throat chakra (visuddha).
• The fifth chakra, situated in the throat area, is associated with the thyroid gland, the color blue, and communication.
• Brow/forehead chakra (ajna).
• The sixth chakra, also known as the "Third Eye," is said to reside in the forehead. It is associated with hormonal production, the color indigo, and intuition.
• Crown chakra (saha srara).
• The seventh chakra, located at the top of the skull, is associated with elevated spiritual consciousness, the pineal gland, and the color violet.

Chakras and the endocrine system
The chakras change energy from one level to another by distributing Ki (also called Chi, Prana, Mana depending on belief system) to the physical body. This is partly done through the endocrine system that regulates other systems in the body. According to tradition each chakra also corresponds to one of the major glands in the body. The Reiki hand positions not only cover the chakras but also major organs and glands.

The root chakra is in relation to the adrenal gland.
The navel chakra to the ovaries or testicles.
The solar plexus chakra is related to the pancreas.
The heart chakra belongs together with the thymus.
The throat chakra corresponds to the thyroid gland.
The third eye chakra has a connection to the pituitary gland.
The crown chakra is usually connected to the pineal gland.

The endocrine system plays a major role for the body's daily health. The glands release hormones directly into the blood stream and control all aspects of growth, development and daily activities.

Physical problems are often the result of a blockage in the energy flow in the system made up of meridians and chakras causing the organs or glands to not function properly.

Just as the various forms of yoga attempt to mediate between the physical and spiritual realms, so the chakras are believed to operate as energy transformers. They are often shown as circles, spaced at intervals along the spine, or sometimes as funnels of energy. Specific chants or sounds associated with the different chakras are used in some yogic meditation practices as tools for healing and spiritual evolution. To the left are the common musical notes or keys associated with the healing of each chakra.