Chakra is a term having Sanskrit roots, which means wheel or circle. The chakra plays a very important role in religious philosophies and how it influences philosophical models, practices and beliefs. Because of its varied beginnings, its roots are drawn from things like spiritual energy practices,
personal discipline and religious observance. It is often believed that the human body and mind are often seen as a single, solitary unit known as the "bodymind".
The chakras act as a body's energy centers, communicating messages to you about what the body lacks and might need. For example, the feelings we get as human beings, like when we feel that sinking feeling of black doom at the pit of our stomachs, may represent fear. Thus, an issue with one of the
many energy centers of the body may be occurring. In this case, it would be the 4th energy center, which is the stomach organ in the area of the solar plexus. Once you are aware of this, you may identify the fear instead of becoming overwhelmed by it. There are a total of seven energy centers in the
body.
The first energy center is located at the coccyx, near the base of the spine. It symbolizes the color red and its lessons are connected to things in our material world in which we live. The primary fears associated with this are loss of physical order, abandonment and physical survival. Some
physical symptoms of dysfunction include rectal tumor/cancer, sciatica, chronic lower back pain, varicose veins and immune related disorders as well as depression. The mental and emotional issues associated with finding the balance of this chakra include feeling at home, security and family/group
safety and the ability to provide for life's necessities. The parts of body supported by this are the immune system, bones, legs, feet and the base of the spine.
The second energy center is located in the lower abdomen to somewhere around the navel area. It is symbolized by the color orange. Lessons related to this chakra are based on work, physical and sexual desires. Primary fears that occur when lack of this chakra is present are addiction, betrayal,
rape, loss of control, financial loss and impotence. Physical symptoms of dysfunction include OB/GYN problems, sciatica, urinary issues and sexual impotency. Metal and emotional issues associated with this energy center are blame and guilt, power and control, creativity, money and sex as well as
adequate ethics and honor in relationships. Organs that may be affected by this energy center are the large vertebrae, sexual organs, appendix, pelvis, bladder, hip area and large intestine.
The body's third energy center is located in the solar plexus and is symbolized by the color yellow. Its lessons are often related to self-esteem, ego and personality. Primary fears associated with this particular energy center include criticism, rejection, foolishness, irresponsibility and fears
related to one's physical appearance like of aging and obesity. Physical symptoms of dysfunction include gastric ulcers, intestinal problems, chronic or acute indigestion, eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, hepatitis and pancreatitis/diabetes. Mental and emotional issues associated with
this energy center include self-esteem and self-confidence, sensitivity to criticism, trust, intimidation and fear. Organs that may be affected by this chakra are the stomach, abdomen, liver, gallbladder, kidney, pancreas, spleen, upper intestine and middle spine.
The body's forth energy center is located in the center of the chest and is symbolized by the color green. Lessons from this chakra relate to compassion, love and forgiveness. Primary fears associated with this include emotional weakness, loneliness and betrayal. Loss of energy from within this
center displays bitterness, anger, hatred, jealousy and the inability to forgive others and oneself. Symptoms of physical dysfunction include heart failure, heart attack, asthma/allergy as well as lung and breast cancer. Mental and emotional issues impacting how one might feel in such a state
include the ability to feel love and hatred, grief and anger, self-centeredness, resentment and bitterness, hope and trust and finally, forgiveness and compassion. Organs affected by this energy center are the lungs and breast, shoulders, arms, ribs and the lung and circulatory system.
The fifth energy center is symbolized by the color blue and located in the throat. Its lessons relate to the power of self-expression. The primary fear attributed to this chakra is being out of control. Some symptoms of physical dysfunction include gum difficulties, sore and raspy throat, mouth
ulcers and swollen glands. Mental and emotional issues affecting this chakra are personal expression, choice and strength of will, use of personal power for creation, addiction and capacity to make decisions. The organs impacting this energy center include thyroid, throat, trachea, neck vertebrae,
esophagus, mouth, teeth and gums.
The sixth energy center is symbolized by the color indigo and located in the center of the forehead. Its lessons are related to the mind, intuition, wisdom and insight. Primary fears include looking deep inside oneself to feel, fear of discipline and realistic judgment. Some symptoms of physical
dysfunction are brain tumor/hemorrhage/stroke, neurological disorders, learning disabilities, seizures and spinal difficulties. Mental and emotional issues associated with the sixth forehead chakra include those concerning self-evaluation, feelings of adequacy and openness to ideas of others. The
organs impacting this energy center are the eyes, ears, nose, brain, pineal and pituitary gland as well as the nervous system.
Finally, there is the seventh and last energy center, which is located at the top of the head and symbolized by the color violet. The lessons of this violet-colored energy center relate to spirituality. Because of this spiritual connection, the primary fears include loss of identity and of
connecting with those around us. Physical dysfunctions are unique in this case and include chronic exhaustion unrelated to a physical disorder, extreme sensitivities to light, sound and other environmental factors as well as energetic disorder and mystical depression. Mental and emotional issues
include mainly those related to one's wholeness as a human being and tuning into one's spiritual core with faith, inspiration and devotion. The main organs affected are both the muscular and skeletal systems as well as the skin.
Lara Ameen is a junior at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in English with a double minor in Creative Writing and Disability Studies. She enjoys writing about her favorite paranormal television shows and is fascinated by the relationship between psychology, spirituality and the
paranormal. Her biggest aspirations are to be a fiction novelist and television screenwriter.
