Chakra meditation evolves from a concept originating in ancient India. It involves understanding and freeing our natural energy systems, and using colors to create harmony and balance within the body.

Over the years, chakra meditation has been adapted in many parts of the world. At present, there are many people living in North America and Europe who are practicing this type of meditation technique to get rid of stress and heal their bodies from the effects of stress.

Chakra comes from the Sanskrit word “cakra,” which in English means “wheel” or “disk”. This refers to whirling vortexes of energy in our bodies. Each vortex is said to be in a specific spot, and blockages of energy cause specific, physical problems.

There are nine primary chakras involved in the common models, although some deal with many more. By working with your chakras, you can alleviate many physical symptoms and maladies you may be experiencing. An Ayurvedic doctor can determine much about you from examining your energy flow. TIP: For more information, you can conduct a search on chakras and find a wealth of information at your fingertips.

• First is the muladhara which is said to be centered in the tip of the tailbone and is associated with the basic drives - sex, survival and security.
• The second is the swadhisthana which is centered in the lower abdomen, and is said to be the center of unconscious emotions and of physical sensations.
• The third chakra is the manipura at the navel, which is the center for dynamism and is where you feel your direct feelings. This is where you will get a ‘gut’ feeling, whether good 9a hunch) or bad (gut-wrenching emotional pain).
• The fourth chakra, at the solar plexus, is the manas/surya, associated with thought, reasoning and reflection.
• The fifth chakra is the anahata, at the heart, which as you might expect is the seat of love, but also of respect.
• The sixth chakra is the vishuddha, located in the upper chest, and associated with a sense of structure or purpose.
• The seventh chakra is the lalata at the throat, and controls self-expression and personal sovereignty.
• The anja at the brow denotes wisdom and manifestation, and is the eighth chakra.
• Finally, the sahasrara, divided into three parts, is uppermost, extending from your head into your surrounding life force, and is rarely worked on in chakra meditation, for the simple reason that the vast majority have so many blocks in the lower chakras that they rarely reach the uppermost chakras in meditation work. Reaching this chakra is said to involve your higher consciousness and feels like utter bliss.

Chakra meditation has been passed from generation to generation for more than four thousand years, practiced as described in the ancient Indian literature of the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Sat-Chakra-Nirupana.

The Sat-Chakra-Nirupana which came out sometime in the 16th century described in details the chakra meditation system. It is this literature which has the most influence in the current practice of the chakra meditation. In the 1920s, the practice of chakra meditation came to the west through the book of Arthur Avalon, The Serpent Power. More recently, you will have heard of this through many sources, including practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine such as Deepak Chopra (see his wonderful book on the carousel below).

Tantric Chakras

There are a number of styles of chakra meditations being practiced around the world today. One of the more esoteric chakra meditations involves the tantric chakras, mystically thought to emanate from the consciousness of Brahman in the spiritual realm.