Tag Archive: Chakras/Auras


Signs of Chakra Imbalance

Copyright Soul Arcanum LLC. All rights reserved. :)
 

Dear Soul Arcanum:

Could you tell me the difference between balancing chakras and unblocking chakras, and aligning and cleansing chakras? Also, is there a simple way to determine if we’re in or out of balance? In Love and Light!
– Pam

Dear Pam:

When I refer to a block in a chakra, I mean that something is getting in the way of the free flow of energy through that vortex. It’s sort of like having an artery that is clogged with plaque, only instead of a physical block, this is a metaphysical block that is composed of stagnant emotional energy.

When I speak of cleansing a chakra, it’s sort of like angioplasty: we clear away whatever debris is preventing free flow through that channel. This can be done through various types of therapy or energy healing, but it’s usually more effective if whatever issues created the block to begin with are brought into one’s conscious awareness so they can be consciously processed, healed and released. This can be achieved via psychic reading work, though hypnotherapy may be more powerful and effective, for in my experience, what we realize ourselves affects us far more deeply than anything anyone else could tell us.

When I talk about balancing the chakras, I’m not talking about a one-time cure. Like cultivating physical health and well-being, this is a lifelong process. Just as the state of our physical health largely depends on our habits, so does the state of our chakra balance. For example, if we tend to be far more physical than spiritual, our root chakra will be much more developed than our crown chakra. For a sense of health and well-being, we want to be a well-balanced, well-developed person on every level.

People tend to develop from the lower chakras up, which makes sense if you think about it. We begin as primarily physical creatures and become more and more sophisticated in our approach to life. However, it’s easy to neglect whatever we’re not really into at the moment. Thus we often see highly “spiritual” people who are in terrible shape physically because they neglect their bodies.

Since an imbalance in the chakras is caused by emotional imbalance, you don’t have to be psychic to evaluate the state of your chakras or anyone else’s. Below is a quick guide to some of the symptoms of chakra problems. Please note that when I refer to the overdevelopment or underdevelopment of a chakra, I mean in relationship to the rest of one’s being.

Root Chakra: (red) governs all matters physical Symptoms of overdevelopment: greed, recklessness, hyperactivity, carelessness, diarrhea, wasting away Symptoms of underdevelopment: poverty, low energy, listlessness, clumsiness, constipation, obesity, chronic fatigue Someone with good balance will be healthy, fit, grounded, prosperous, centered and strong.

Sexual Chakra: (orange) governs creativity and procreation Symptoms of overdevelopment: sexual addiction or promiscuity; romantic, sexual or creative obsessions; fetishism; STD’s Symptoms of underdevelopment: Puritanism, frigidity/impotence, creative blocks, sexual repression, infertility Someone with good balance will be sexually well-adjusted, have a strong libido, know how to set healthy boundaries in relationships, and be able to use their creativity constructively.

Solar Plexus Chakra (yellow) governs will Symptoms of overdevelopment: high stress, aggression, willfulness, control issues, inability to relax, arrogance, ulcers Symptoms of underdevelopment: indifference, passivity, complacency, victim mentality, disempowerment, indigestion Someone with good balance will be productive, cooperative, flexible, focused, empowered, successful and well-adjusted.

Heart Chakra (green) governs emotions Symptoms of overdevelopment: too trusting, smothering, effusive, codependent/enabling, too nice, too giving, heart problems Symptoms of underdevelopment: distrusting, cold, aloof, reserved, uncompassionate, heartless, self-centered, selfish, weak immune system Someone with good balance will be loving, warm, affectionate, accepting, tolerant and equally loving of self and others.

Throat Chakra (blue) governs self-expression Symptoms of overdevelopment: talking or saying too much, not listening well, being argumentative, acting like a know-it-all, being critical, sore throats, overactive thyroid Symptoms of underdevelopment: trouble expressing yourself, inability to speak up, lack of confidence in your opinions, shyness, under-active thyroid, asthma Someone with good balance will be expressive, eloquent, a great communicator and a good listener.

Third Eye (indigo) governs intellect Symptoms of overdevelopment: racing thoughts, hung up on logic, too abstract in thinking, living in your head, endlessly planning but not doing, hallucinations, headaches/migraines Symptoms of underdevelopment: unconscious, illogical, unable to think abstractly, acting without thinking, forgetfulness, inability to remember dreams, vision/eye problems Someone with good balance will be intelligent, clear-headed, alert, thoughtful, have a good memory, have good eyesight and be generally insightful.

Crown Chakra (violet) governs spiritual life Symptoms of overdevelopment: out of touch with reality, ungrounded, unable to manifest material needs, feeling like you don’t belong here on Earth, Messiah complex, schizophrenia, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s Symptoms of underdevelopment: lack of spiritual awareness, lack of a sense of higher values or higher purpose, lack of spiritual beliefs, depression, fear and cynicism Someone with good balance will know how to live in the world but not of it, have a fulfilling spiritual life, be able to enjoy physical pleasures without getting addicted, love life but not dread death, have a deep sense of connection to the Divine, and regularly tune in to determine the right course of action.

If you discover you have too much energy flowing through some chakras as opposed to others, it’s best to simply focus on developing the higher qualities of the underdeveloped chakras, for this will both counteract that imbalance and lead you to channel your energy in the overdeveloped areas in wiser ways.

For example, if Bill is far more spiritual than he is physical, he probably often feels spacey and out of touch with reality. Thought he may like it that way, he probably also has health problems, is out of shape, and has trouble manifesting money and other practical needs. To create better balance, he doesn’t have to become “less spiritual, ” he just needs to spend more time taking care of his body and putting his house and his finances in order. If he dives into this, soon he may begin to feel like all he does is take care of physical concerns, which would be a sign that he’s swung too far in this new direction and needs to reevaluate his personal balance.

We must remember that we are part of nature, so as we flow from one season of life to the next, we must ever adjust our sense of balance in order to maintain our well-being.

– Soul Arcanum

If you’d like to balance all your chakras, you might like the Chakra Clearing and Charging Meditation at Soul Arcanum.

What Blocks a Chakra?

Copyright Soul Arcanum LLC. All rights reserved. :)
 

Dear Soul Arcanum:

I’m always reading about how to clear “blocks” in the chakras, but what causes blocks to begin with?
– Andrew:

Dear Andrew:

Thanks for this excellent question!

Basically, blocks in our chakras/auras stem from fear. When we feel afraid, we are resistant to what is happening or what we think might happen in the future. This causes us to try to prevent it from happening, and to do that, we constrict our energy, which prevents it from flowing freely. When we make a habit of this, over time blocks develop.

As for where all this fear comes from in the first place, we must remember that life in the physical is an experience in contrast. In fact, just the drive for physical survival generates all kinds of fear. From the time we are newborn babies, we are constantly struggling to get our needs met, whether those needs are for food, physical comfort, love, etc. When our needs aren’t met, we experience fear and pain, and begin to develop all sorts of beliefs and habits designed to avoid further suffering.

Let’s say that when Alice was very small, her mother left her for some reason. Maybe her mother died, maybe she got sick and had to be hospitalized for a long time, or maybe she just ran off with the mail man. Assuming this was a really traumatic experience for Alice, and she didn’t get the help or support she needed to process this experience and heal from it, she may forevermore carry “abandonment” issues. Where is she “carrying” these issues? Most likely, they can be found right in her aura. In this case, I’d expect to find a “sore spot” or a hole in her rear heart chakra, which indicates pain or trauma in a past relationship.

Someone who carried a block or energy issue from a childhood experience like this might cope by deciding that they don’t really need anyone else anyway, and choose never to become dependent on another person. They may believe that people can’t be trusted, or if they internalized their wound and blamed themselves, keep others at a distance because they believe they are intrinsically unlovable or unworthy of having someone they can really lean on.

Entire books have been written about chakra/energy healing, but with a bit of thought and imagination, you can work out for yourself the infinite number of experiences that could cause someone to constrict their energy flow and develop a habit that leads to blocks or stuck energy in their aura. Further, it’s easy to imagine what may be happening in our auras based on what we’re experiencing. For example, if we feel like we just “can’t think straight,” odds are good that the state of our sixth chakra will reflect our confusion. If we are having trouble swallowing, there may be something in our life experience that we are having a hard time accepting. If we feel powerless or unmotivated, our solar plexus chakra will probably look dull, dim, blocked or unbalanced.

We must also remember that the appearance of the chakras is just one more symptom, not the ultimate problem. If a healer notes a block in a chakra, it doesn’t mean that the chakra is the cause of whatever may ail us, but rather that there is a problem of some nature (physical, emotional, mental or spiritual) that needs to be healed and cleared.

Because we naturally repress conscious awareness of our own personal issues, I think it’s helpful to compare the aura of the human body to the energetic life of a relationship. Bring to mind a very close, intense, personal relationship you have with someone like a lover or a best friend. (Using a lover or spouse is ideal, because romantic relationships tend to stir up all sorts of fears, and thus challenge many deep-seated emotional habits and issues.)

If you are at all a reflective person (and if you are reading this, you are!), you can see how when you are open and loving and honest in that relationship, the energy flows freely between you, but whenever you close yourself off, lash out in anger or fear, or lie in order to avoid something, the energy constricts or stops flowing. Then there are walls between you and a sense of emotional distance that is hard to bridge.

The more you make a habit of finding the courage to be open and honest, the closer you two will be. The more you react from fear based on old emotional habits, the more tension and emotional distance there will be in the relationship, and the less healthy and fulfilling it will feel.

In order to clear the blocks to balance and intimacy in the relationship, those issues you are stuck on must be healed, and a new and better approach to them must be adopted. This is done by opening up about how you really feel. This first step toward new awareness and understanding is what you need in order to consciously create positive change.

The healing process is the same with our bodies. Where we have repressed, denied, avoided or resisted anything, we will remain pinched off or in unhealthy relationship to that issue until we bring it up, consciously face it, and choose to adopt a new belief, attitude or approach.

Since it is wise to work with the law of attraction, let’s shift from focusing on what blocks chakras to what creates health, balance, and flow.

As what we don’t want is to be blocked, it’s easy to figure out that what we do want is to be “open.” When we don’t view anything or anyone as being apart from us or against, but rather as a part of us, then we are open. When we really think about the word “open,” for that matter, it’s easy to see that when we are open to something, someone, or some experience, we are not resistant to it. Being figuratively open means our auras are literally open and receptive.

The ultimate in being open is to be at one with everything we encounter. One who is fully open identifies with ALL. She recognizes that she creates her own reality, and the world she observes around her is thus “her” world. This leads to natural acceptance, openness and trust. To keep our chakras (and thus all of our beings) flowing smoothly, we must keep our minds open, our hearts open, our spirits open, and our arms open to life and every being we encounter.

This does not mean we lack discernment or discrimination, try to hug Grizzly bears, or literally say yes to everything or everyone who crosses our path. On a higher spiritual level, however, we are neither saying “yes” or “no” but rather something more like, “This is interesting.”

Being open means that we trust that everything happens for a good reason; we know that every experience comes to bless us in some way, even if it is just to teach us; and we remember that nothing can victimize us or oppress us, because we are constantly creating our personal realities based on what we give our attention to and how we decide to interpret our experiences.

We could also say that one who is fully open lives in the world but not of it. By this, I mean he is aware that there is a greater reality, and he derives his sense of ultimate identity and security from that greater reality. He still engages in life and plays at manifesting his dreams here, but he does so lightly, for he knows that he doesn’t truly need anything beyond that which can never be taken away from him – his own innate divinity.

A simple way to determine how open you are is to examine how you feel. If you’re feeling anything negative like tired, ill, depressed, anxious, stressed, pessimistic, angry, jealous, etc., then you are closing off from something because you fear it and want to resist or avoid it. If you’re feeling energized and healthy, happy, cheerful, alert, hopeful, etc., you’re open, my friend.

– Soul Arcanum

Primer on Chakras

Copyright Soul Arcanum LLC. All rights reserved. :)
 

Dear Soul Arcanum: I often read references to the “chakras,” and while I’ve done some research on this term, there is so much out there I’m overwhelmed. I love your simple writing style. Can you offer some basic information on the chakras, such as what they are and why they’re important?
– Suzanne

Dear Suzanne:

I understand why you’re feeling overwhelmed. I plugged “chakras” into Altavista to see what kind of information a web surfer might come up with, and got more than a million hits.

The word “chakra” comes from the Sanskrit word for wheel. It refers to the energy vortices that run along our spines, through which life force energy is channeled into the physical dimension. There are a number of articles in our archives regarding the various specific properties, colors, etc., associated with each chakra, so here I will focus more on general chakra information.

The nature of everything in the Universe is energy. The slowest/densest form of this energy that most of us can perceive is what we experience with our physical senses. There is a great deal of energy, however, that can not generally be physically perceived. Some sensitive people like psychics and healers can use extrasensory perception to consciously tune into some of this energy before it slows down enough to manifest in physical form. Everyone is actually aware of these subtler energies more or less, however, for it is from this dimension of perception that intuition arises.

Here’s a simple metaphor: before it rains, humidity is building in the atmosphere. We can’t see that humidity as water, nevertheless, it is there. As it gets heavier and heavier, we may begin to “feel” or sense it, but we still can’t see it until it builds to a point where it actually becomes drops of rain. Someone who is very sensitive can feel that humidity building before others can, and can perceive it in the air when others can not. Someone who is very sensitive and wise or spiritually conscious can further recognize the signs of an impending “storm” or other weather manifestation based on past experience. In this example, a psychic is sort of like a trained meteorologist.

This is similar to what happens with energy. We all have physical bodies that can be seen, felt, etc., but we also have etheric bodies that can be seen and felt by sensitive people. These etheric bodies are composed of life force energy that is in the process of flowing into the physical dimension. It is from the reports of those who can see and otherwise perceive etheric energies that we glean our understanding of the chakras. (Please note that references to chakras can be found throughout the world’s cultures and religions, which indicates that this is not an abstract model for understanding our human nature, but rather a universal truth.)

Our bodies are in a state of constant change; in fact, life itself is the constant flowing of energy. When energy stops flowing from the non-physical into the physical, we are “dead” in this dimension. It is through our chakras that this ever moving energy flows.

The chakras/auras of people of great youth and vitality tend to look brighter and more vibrant, where people who have ill health or who lack “energy” tend to have dimmer auras and less vibrant chakras. The energies of every person are unique; there is a wide range of possible manifestations here. Even within the same individual, some chakras will be seen to be highly developed, while others are smaller or dimmer. Some chakras may appear to be clear, open and “healthy,” while in others, problems or issues may appear like rips or tears, blocks, clouds, shadows, etc.

Further, as we develop spiritually, our chakras grow and expand. In someone undeveloped, they may look like dim, small circles. In someone of great spiritual development, they will appear huge, vibrant, open and swirling. The “halo” of angels, Jesus and the Buddha are crown chakras that are so developed, even ordinary people could perceive them. (The crown chakra governs our connection to Spirit – to all that is – so those of tremendous spiritual development are seen to have glowing “halos” or rings of light around their heads.)

By observing the condition of the aura/chakras, sensitives can determine many things, from health problems that have manifested or are about to manifest, to how someone is feeling emotionally, to how developed they may be spiritually. Further, by working at a conscious level with our chakras, we can move toward greater well-being and personal development.

Somewhere along the way I picked up a model of the chakras being divided into three classifications, the lowest governing more physical matters such as our physical bodies, the middle governing more personal matters such as our desires and feelings, and the upper chakras governing more spiritual matters such as our outlook on life and our sense of connection to the Divine. There are no distinct demarcations, however – one level flows into the next.

The more evolved we become spiritually, the higher we tend to be centered in terms of our chakras. If we reflect on cultural history, I believe we can see a shift upward in terms of society’s general focus. A century and more ago, we as a race were more centered in the middle chakras, as life was a lot of hard work. With technology and evolution, we’ve moved upward, and recently been more focused in the intellect.

Beyond the intellect of course lies Spirit; that is where we are heading as a race right now. Individuals throughout history have focused in certain areas, of course – I’m referring to overall population trends.

Ideally, we are never focused solely on one aspect of life or centered in one chakra; instead, all our chakras are radiant, open, and in healthy balance with each other. As we progress or evolve on one level then, we must bring the other areas of our being up to speed. Someone who focuses a great deal on intellectual development (the fifth and sixth chakras) will tend to neglect other aspects, such as their physical well-being, and end up “out of shape.” Someone who is very spiritually focused, who meditates a lot, etc., can become so “top heavy” in their chakras that they lose touch with the physical. We say that they are “out there,” by which we mean that they are not “all here” – grounded in their physical bodies.

It can be very helpful to make a habit of consciously assessing the state of the chakras at any particular time, and if one or more seems to be lagging behind the others in development, or reflects any sort of problem or issue, to work on bringing the corresponding area of one’s life up to speed. One can do this via personal meditation, or with the help of an energy healer or clairvoyant.

I had to rebalance my own chakras years ago when I began intensely exploring spiritual matters and meditating a lot. Through various experiences I figured out that I had developed my upper chakras (intellect and spirit) beyond my lower chakras (physical being and will). I was like a lot of “spiritual” people: out of shape and sort of drifting through life.

I then made a conscious decision to cultivate better balance by getting fit and adopting earthier spiritual practices. This helped to bring my lower chakras up to speed with my upper chakras. There are many ways to go about this. Yoga, for example, is a great way to bring spiritual energy through all of one’s being into the physical, and to balance your energy overall.

If you’d like to read more, I recommend you start with books by classic authors on the subject, such as C.W. Leadbeater, A.E. Powell, and Barbara Brennan.

– Soul Arcanum


Primer on Chakras

Copyright Soul Arcanum LLC. All rights reserved. :)
 

Dear Soul Arcanum: I often read references to the “chakras,” and while I’ve done some research on this term, there is so much out there I’m overwhelmed. I love your simple writing style. Can you offer some basic information on the chakras, such as what they are and why they’re important?
– Suzanne

Dear Suzanne:

I understand why you’re feeling overwhelmed. I plugged “chakras” into Altavista to see what kind of information a web surfer might come up with, and got more than a million hits.

The word “chakra” comes from the Sanskrit word for wheel. It refers to the energy vortices that run along our spines, through which life force energy is channeled into the physical dimension. There are a number of articles in our archives regarding the various specific properties, colors, etc., associated with each chakra, so here I will focus more on general chakra information.

The nature of everything in the Universe is energy. The slowest/densest form of this energy that most of us can perceive is what we experience with our physical senses. There is a great deal of energy, however, that can not generally be physically perceived. Some sensitive people like psychics and healers can use extrasensory perception to consciously tune into some of this energy before it slows down enough to manifest in physical form. Everyone is actually aware of these subtler energies more or less, however, for it is from this dimension of perception that intuition arises.

Here’s a simple metaphor: before it rains, humidity is building in the atmosphere. We can’t see that humidity as water, nevertheless, it is there. As it gets heavier and heavier, we may begin to “feel” or sense it, but we still can’t see it until it builds to a point where it actually becomes drops of rain. Someone who is very sensitive can feel that humidity building before others can, and can perceive it in the air when others can not. Someone who is very sensitive and wise or spiritually conscious can further recognize the signs of an impending “storm” or other weather manifestation based on past experience. In this example, a psychic is sort of like a trained meteorologist.

This is similar to what happens with energy. We all have physical bodies that can be seen, felt, etc., but we also have etheric bodies that can be seen and felt by sensitive people. These etheric bodies are composed of life force energy that is in the process of flowing into the physical dimension. It is from the reports of those who can see and otherwise perceive etheric energies that we glean our understanding of the chakras. (Please note that references to chakras can be found throughout the world’s cultures and religions, which indicates that this is not an abstract model for understanding our human nature, but rather a universal truth.)

Our bodies are in a state of constant change; in fact, life itself is the constant flowing of energy. When energy stops flowing from the non-physical into the physical, we are “dead” in this dimension. It is through our chakras that this ever moving energy flows.

The chakras/auras of people of great youth and vitality tend to look brighter and more vibrant, where people who have ill health or who lack “energy” tend to have dimmer auras and less vibrant chakras. The energies of every person are unique; there is a wide range of possible manifestations here. Even within the same individual, some chakras will be seen to be highly developed, while others are smaller or dimmer. Some chakras may appear to be clear, open and “healthy,” while in others, problems or issues may appear like rips or tears, blocks, clouds, shadows, etc.

Further, as we develop spiritually, our chakras grow and expand. In someone undeveloped, they may look like dim, small circles. In someone of great spiritual development, they will appear huge, vibrant, open and swirling. The “halo” of angels, Jesus and the Buddha are crown chakras that are so developed, even ordinary people could perceive them. (The crown chakra governs our connection to Spirit – to all that is – so those of tremendous spiritual development are seen to have glowing “halos” or rings of light around their heads.)

By observing the condition of the aura/chakras, sensitives can determine many things, from health problems that have manifested or are about to manifest, to how someone is feeling emotionally, to how developed they may be spiritually. Further, by working at a conscious level with our chakras, we can move toward greater well-being and personal development.

Somewhere along the way I picked up a model of the chakras being divided into three classifications, the lowest governing more physical matters such as our physical bodies, the middle governing more personal matters such as our desires and feelings, and the upper chakras governing more spiritual matters such as our outlook on life and our sense of connection to the Divine. There are no distinct demarcations, however – one level flows into the next.

The more evolved we become spiritually, the higher we tend to be centered in terms of our chakras. If we reflect on cultural history, I believe we can see a shift upward in terms of society’s general focus. A century and more ago, we as a race were more centered in the middle chakras, as life was a lot of hard work. With technology and evolution, we’ve moved upward, and recently been more focused in the intellect.

Beyond the intellect of course lies Spirit; that is where we are heading as a race right now. Individuals throughout history have focused in certain areas, of course – I’m referring to overall population trends.

Ideally, we are never focused solely on one aspect of life or centered in one chakra; instead, all our chakras are radiant, open, and in healthy balance with each other. As we progress or evolve on one level then, we must bring the other areas of our being up to speed. Someone who focuses a great deal on intellectual development (the fifth and sixth chakras) will tend to neglect other aspects, such as their physical well-being, and end up “out of shape.” Someone who is very spiritually focused, who meditates a lot, etc., can become so “top heavy” in their chakras that they lose touch with the physical. We say that they are “out there,” by which we mean that they are not “all here” – grounded in their physical bodies.

It can be very helpful to make a habit of consciously assessing the state of the chakras at any particular time, and if one or more seems to be lagging behind the others in development, or reflects any sort of problem or issue, to work on bringing the corresponding area of one’s life up to speed. One can do this via personal meditation, or with the help of an energy healer or clairvoyant.

I had to rebalance my own chakras years ago when I began intensely exploring spiritual matters and meditating a lot. Through various experiences I figured out that I had developed my upper chakras (intellect and spirit) beyond my lower chakras (physical being and will). I was like a lot of “spiritual” people: out of shape and sort of drifting through life.

I then made a conscious decision to cultivate better balance by getting fit and adopting earthier spiritual practices. This helped to bring my lower chakras up to speed with my upper chakras. There are many ways to go about this. Yoga, for example, is a great way to bring spiritual energy through all of one’s being into the physical, and to balance your energy overall.

If you’d like to read more, I recommend you start with books by classic authors on the subject, such as C.W. Leadbeater, A.E. Powell, and Barbara Brennan.

– Soul Arcanum


Do We Need to Close Our Chakras After Working on Them?

Copyright Soul Arcanum LLC. All rights reserved. :)
 

Dear Soul Arcanum:

I read your chakra cleansing and charging exercise a while back, and I love it. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now. I just have one question. I’ve read other places that you should always close your chakras after working on them, but you don’t mention this. Isn’t it important to close the chakras after opening them?
P.

Dear P.:

Thanks for this question! I’ve received it in one form or another a number of times over the years, and it seems to be a matter of some controversy.

Chakras are energy vortices through which life force flows through our beings. There are seven major chakras, and each governs energy of a different range or vibration. The lower the vibration, the more “physical” the energy; similarly, the higher the vibration, the more “non-physical” or “spiritual” the energy. In this way, different chakras correspond to different aspects of our being, from our physical bodies to our feelings, thoughts and connection to the Divine. As I have only limited space here, I won’t go any further into basic chakra information, which can be found in abundance on the internet.

When chakras are “open,” they are freely channeling life force energy from the Universe through our beings. The more open they are, the more energy is flowing. Imagine that being “open” here is not an all or nothing state – we can be closed, open, and anywhere in between. When we feel very “open,” that is a good indication that our chakras are open – we are open to expressing ourselves, receiving input and experiencing whatever comes our way. When we experience fear or pain, we often “shut down” or close ourselves off from the potential for further discomfort, and in this way, we close down the chakras involved to various degrees.

We can consciously “open” our chakras, clear away the “baggage” and debris of “negative” experiences, and “charge” them up so that they channel more energy. This is what is meant by “working on chakras.” There are some spiritual teachers who say that we should always close the chakras after working on them, for when they’re open, we are “open to” negative energies in our environments. We may then be easily influenced by others, drained of our energy, or vulnerable to “psychic attack.”

My own views on this are based on my studies and training and also on my intuitive sense of truth. In my view, it is wise to simply open the chakras and to assume that one is always safe from negative influences. If you’re at a point in your spiritual development where you’re consciously working on tuning up your own energy, then you are probably intuitive enough to modulate your energy according to your needs as you move through life. Your vibration is probably also high enough to keep you above most negativity. I have never tried to close my chakras, and have not suffered any ill effects.

It is true that when we are open to everything, we have to process a great deal of energy and information. I call this being “awake.” Yes, discomfort and confusion will arise, but that’s preferable to sleepwalking through life. Instead of just shrugging off experiences we don’t understand, we chew on them, work through them and seek understanding of them. It’s a lot of work, but that’s the whole point: to be awake and evolving a sense of understanding about the nature of life.

Should you open your chakras and then not be able to deal with negative energies in your environment, you would experience pain and discomfort, and then your chakras would start to close down naturally. Keeping our chakras closed on purpose to “protect ourselves” from negative energies is a bit like walking around with our eyes closed, just in case something might blow into them.

Even people who have never even heard the word charka are naturally repairing and rebalancing chakras all the time. Let’s say that Mark was very focused on getting a Ph.D., and spending all his time thinking, studying, learning, etc. He’d start to feel unbalanced, like he needed more physical exercise and more love and emotional connection. His solar plexus, throat and third eye chakras would likely be far more developed and open than his root, sacral and heart chakras. If he told himself he didn’t have time to make changes, he’d get more and more uncomfortable. This is how disease and depression develop. As he honored his need for other experiences, the chakras would naturally balance.

When we are in balance, we experience a sense of well-being. Think about how it would feel to have the right amount of everything in your life: physical exercise, sexual fulfillment, personal accomplishment, love and support, creative expression, intellectual stimulation, connection to the Divine.

To get a feel yourself for how your chakras are functioning, just ask yourself the following questions. The more you answer “yes,” the more open the corresponding chakra probably is. If you see “weak” points here, you can simply focus consciously on developing that area of your life in order to achieve better balance.

Root chakra: Do I feel physically vibrant, healthy, and powerful in the world? Do I feel at home here? Do I feel like I belong? Do I have a strong desire to live? Do I love and appreciate my body as a wonderful treasure? Am I a high energy person, moving boldly through life?

Sacral chakra: Do I have a strong, healthy sex drive? Do I feel sexually confident and fulfilled? Can I express myself sexually, and give and receive pleasure? Does expressing myself creatively feel wonderful and fulfilling?

Solar plexus: Do I know what I want, and feel confident about being able to manifest it? Can I make decisions and act upon them? Am I aware of my emotions and able to control them? Am I able to mentally sort through and resolve my feelings? Am I emotionally fulfilled?

Heart chakra: Do I have fulfilling, healthy relationships? Do I love myself, friends and family, and have a strong sense of compassion for all living beings? Can I accept others as they are, without needing them to change? Do I expect the best from people, and look for the best in them? Am I good at cooperating? Can I stay in the moment and surrender outcomes to the Universe?

Throat chakra: Can I express myself with skill and ease? Do I do the practical things I need to do in order to be healthy, happy and successful? Do I take responsibility for my life instead of blaming others for my problems and expecting others to take care of me? Do I strive to do my best, and do I feel worthy of rewards or compensation for my efforts? Do I have enough faith in myself to take risks, embrace challenges, and create avenues for fulfillment?

Third eye: Am I mentally sharp and able to figure things out? Do I have lots of creative ideas, and the habit of taking the necessary steps to make them reality? Do answers or insights come to me as I mentally try to understand things? Am I able to visualize my goals and dreams? Do I set realistic, attainable goals? Do my experiences support and validate my beliefs about life?

Crown chakra: Do I feel like I’m part of something vast and wonderful? Do I feel connected to God/ Spirit/ the Universe, and feel that my life has a purpose? Am I able to view myself honestly, and to ferret out the lessons in my experiences in order to develop wisdom?

As you work with your chakras, I encourage you to do whatever your intuition tells you is best for you. If you assume that your higher self will naturally guide you in maintaining balance, then you can focus on just opening up to life and developing an ever greater capacity for joy, well-being and personal power.

Finally, there is a great guided Chakra Clearing and Charging Meditation in Soul Arcanum’s Spiritual Toolbox that you may want to check out.

– Soul Arcanum

Do We Need to Close Our Chakras After Working on Them?

Copyright Soul Arcanum LLC. All rights reserved. :)
 

Dear Soul Arcanum:

I read your chakra cleansing and charging exercise a while back, and I love it. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now. I just have one question. I’ve read other places that you should always close your chakras after working on them, but you don’t mention this. Isn’t it important to close the chakras after opening them?
P.

Dear P.:

Thanks for this question! I’ve received it in one form or another a number of times over the years, and it seems to be a matter of some controversy.

Chakras are energy vortices through which life force flows through our beings. There are seven major chakras, and each governs energy of a different range of vibration. The lower the vibration, the more “physical” the energy; similarly, the higher the vibration, the more “non-physical” or “spiritual” the energy. In this way, different chakras correspond to different aspects of our being, from our physical bodies to our feelings, thoughts and connection to the Divine. As I have only limited space here, I won’t go any further into basic chakra information, which can be found in abundance on the internet.

When chakras are “open,” they are freely channeling life force energy from the Universe through our beings. The more open they are, the more energy is flowing. Imagine that being “open” here is not an all or nothing state – we can be closed, open, and anywhere in between. When we feel very “open,” that is a good indication that our charkas are open – we are open to expressing ourselves, receiving input and experiencing whatever comes our way. When we experience fear or pain, we often “shut down” or close ourselves off from the potential for further discomfort, and in this way, we close down the chakras involved to various degrees.

We can consciously “open” our chakras, clear away the “baggage” and debris of “negative” experiences, and “charge” them up so that they channel more energy. This is what is meant by “working on chakras.” There are some spiritual teachers who say that we should always close the chakras after working on them, for when they’re open, we are “open to” negative energies in our environments. We may then be easily influenced by others, drained of our energy, or vulnerable to “psychic attack.”

My own views on this are based on my studies and training and also on my intuitive sense of truth and what Spirit tells me. In my view, it is wise to simply open the chakras and to assume that one is always safe from negative influences. If you’re at a point in your spiritual development where you’re consciously working on tuning up your own energy, then you are probably intuitive enough to modulate your energy according to your needs as you move through life. Your vibration is probably also high enough to keep you above most negativity. I have never tried to close my chakras, and have not suffered any ill effects.

It is true that when we are open to everything, we have to process a great deal of energy and information. I call this being “awake.” Yes, discomfort and confusion will arise, but that’s preferable to sleepwalking through life. Instead of just shrugging off experiences we don’t understand, we chew on them, work through them and seek understanding of them. It’s a lot of work, but that’s the whole point: to be awake and evolving a sense of understanding about the nature of life.

Should you open your chakras and then not be able to deal with negative energies in your environment, you would experience pain and discomfort, and then your chakras would start to close down naturally. Keeping our chakras closed on purpose to “protect ourselves” from negative energies is a bit like walking around with our eyes closed, just in case something might blow into them.

Even people who have never even heard the word charka are naturally repairing and rebalancing chakras all the time. Let’s say that Mark was very focused on getting a Ph.D., and spending all his time thinking, studying, learning, etc. He’d start to feel unbalanced, like he needed more physical exercise and more love and emotional connection. His solar plexus, throat and third eye chakras would likely be far more developed and open than his root, sacral and heart chakras. If he told himself he didn’t have time to make changes, he’d get more and more uncomfortable. This is how disease and depression develop. As he honored his need for other experiences, the chakras would naturally balance.

When we are in balance, we experience a sense of well-being. Think about how it would feel to have the right amount of everything in your life: physical exercise, sexual fulfillment, personal accomplishment, love and support, creative expression, intellectual stimulation, connection to the Divine.

A clairvoyant can tell you about your chakras with just a glance; I can “see” mine mentally. To get a feel yourself for how yours are functioning, just ask yourself the following questions. The more you answer “yes,” the more open the corresponding chakra probably is. If you see “weak” points here, you can simply focus consciously on developing that area of your life in order to achieve better balance.

Root chakra: Do I feel physically vibrant, healthy, and powerful in the world? Do I feel at home here? Do I feel like I belong? Do I have a strong desire to live? Do I love and appreciate my body as a wonderful treasure? Am I a high energy person, moving boldly through life?

Sacral chakra: Do I have a strong, healthy sex drive? Do I feel sexually confident and fulfilled? Can I express myself sexually, and give and receive pleasure? Does expressing myself creatively feel wonderful and fulfilling?

Solar plexus: Do I know what I want, and feel confident about being able to manifest it? Can I make decisions and act upon them? Am I aware of my emotions and able to control them? Am I able to mentally sort through and resolve my feelings? Am I emotionally fulfilled?

Heart chakra: Do I have fulfilling, healthy relationships? Do I love myself, friends and family, and have a strong sense of compassion for all living beings? Can I accept others as they are, without needing them to change? Do I expect the best from people, and look for the best in them? Am I good at cooperating? Can I stay in the moment and surrender outcomes to the Universe?

Throat chakra: Can I express myself with skill and ease? Do I do the practical things I need to do in order to be healthy, happy and successful? Do I take responsibility for my life instead of blaming others for my problems and expecting others to take care of me? Do I strive to do my best, and do I feel worthy of rewards or compensation for my efforts? Do I have enough faith in myself to take risks, embrace challenges, and create avenues for fulfillment?

Third eye: Am I mentally sharp and able to figure things out? Do I have lots of creative ideas, and the habit of taking the necessary steps to make them reality? Do answers or insights come to me as I mentally try to understand things? Am I able to visualize my goals and dreams? Do I set realistic, attainable goals? Do my experiences support and validate my beliefs about life?

Crown chakra: Do I feel like I’m part of something vast and wonderful? Do I feel connected to God/ Spirit/ the Universe, and feel that my life has a purpose? Am I able to view myself honestly, and to ferret out the lessons in my experiences in order to develop wisdom?

Karen, as you work with your chakras, I encourage you to do whatever your intuition tells you is best for you. If you assume that your higher self will naturally guide you in maintaining balance, then you can focus on just opening up to life and developing an ever greater capacity for joy, well-being and personal power.

– Soul Arcanum


copyright Soul Arcanum LLLC, 1998, 2007

 

This meditation is helpful whenever you need to get recentered in clarity and well-being.

Lie or sit in a relaxed and comfortable position, as you would for any meditation. Your spine should be straight and your head in alignment with your body. This meditation is in script mode, should you want to tape it and listen to it while performing the meditation. A free audio recording of this meditation can be found here.

It is preferable to learn about energy and the methods of balancing, cleansing and charging the chakras, and allow one’s own inner voice to lead the meditation. The following is just one way of performing energy balancing. Allow your meditations to evolve and to reflect your individual values and beliefs. If taped, a slow, deliberate pace should be used with a soothing voice and the appropriate pauses. The body should already be relaxed and the mind tranquil when beginning this meditation. Eyes are closed.

“Now that you are relaxed and feeling very much at peace, take a moment to ground yourself here in this moment, in this body, in this place, in this time. Take some deep breaths…In….and out….In….and out….Follow the breath as it flows toward your nostrils, as it enters your nose, as it fills your lungs and then as it is expelled. That’s right…just relax into this quiet, peaceful moment. Breathe in, following your breath…and let it go. In…and out. With every breath that you let go, you find yourself going deeper and deeper into a profound state of relaxation.

Feel the sweet heaviness of your body as it sinks into perfect relaxation. Become aware of your body from head to toe, of your weight, of the heaviness of your limbs.

Now focus on the area at the base of the spine, the area between your legs. This is the root chakra. Its energy is red, and it governs your physical body, your physical health and vitality. In your mind, study the appearance of this chakra. Note its color and vitality. Mentally envision the chakra and note any symbolic symptoms of dis-ease. Have you been caring well for your body? If your chakra is dusty, dirty, torn, or otherwise less than a perfectly brilliant red whirling vortex, imagine your hands or those of a guide working on the chakra. If it is dirty, clean away the dirt and throw it into an imaginary pail with a lid. Allow those hands to repair any imperfections, and when the chakra is beautifully clean, mentally take the pail and hurl it into the sun. Watch it as it travels through space and then bursts into a billion bits of energy upon solar contact. Know that the sun will recycle this energy back into the universe.

Now turn your attention back to the root chakra. It is a clean and red. You are surrounded by brilliant, beautiful red root energy. Imagine the room glowing red with this energy, and feel its strength and power. See red swirls of energy flowing to your root chakra. You may even feel this as a tingling as the energy fills your root chakra. As the energy swirls in, your chakra grows large and deep red and strong. Allow the energy to fill your chakra until it is so immense that it extends several feet from your body. In your mind you can see your root chakra: it’s a brilliant red swirling vortex of physical power and energy. You feel healthy, fit, strong, grounded and powerful!

Now shift your focus up to your abdomen, to the area of the womb (or where the womb would be if you’re male). This is the orange chakra, which controls clear thinking and creativity. Take a moment to observe this chakra. Note its color and vitality. Is it clean and strong or is there work to be done here? Allow those invisible hands to cleanse the chakra, to repair or heal it. Discard any imperfections in the pail, and send the pail to the sun to recycle that energy. Now focus on the orange chakra again. It is now clean and whole and a bright, energizing orange. Call out to the universe for orange creative energy, and feel the space around you begin to glow orange. With a tingle, you feel the energy begin to swirl into your chakra, charging it with vitality, with creativity, with clarity. Watch as your orange chakra grows and whirls until it extends out from your body for several feet, just as the red root chakra is still whirling and strong. You feel passionate, creative, clear and confident in your ability to come up with answers and solutions to any problem.

Now shift from the red chakra, up through the orange chakra to the solar plexus. This is the heart of the yellow chakra, which governs will power and ambition. It’s the channel through which we interact with other people and the world. Take a few moments to examine this chakra, and note its color and appearance. Have you been lazy lately, or perhaps too driven? Have you been too passive or controlling? Examine your will through this chakra. Allow the invisible hands to cleanse the chakra and heal it, discarding any imperfections or impurities in the pail. Send the pail to the sun for recycling.

Now return your attention to the yellow chakra, the center of your will power. It is now clean and a bright yellow. With your heart, ask the Universe to send you yellow energy: “Universe, strengthen my will so I can achieve my goals and manifest my desires!” Feel the yellow energy surrounding your body, and with a tingle, feel the energy swirl into your solar plexus. In your mind you can see your red/root chakra glowing, whirling, your orange/womb chakra pulsing brilliantly, and your yellow/solar plexus chakra glowing strongly, extending several feet from your body. You now feel relaxed, confident, flexible, empowered, productive, competent and successful.

Now turn your attention to the middle of your chest, to the heart chakra, the green chakra. You may feel an instant wave of emotion as you focus your attention here, for this chakra governs your feelings, your emotional connections to others and to the universe, to life itself. Examine this chakra. Note its color, vitality and any impurities. Gently allow those invisible hands to cleanse and purify your heart chakra. Reflect a moment on how you’ve been feeling emotionally lately. Are there bindings holding onto old pain? Is the chakra tight and hard with anger? Is your heart open with love and acceptance of yourself and others? Release any tensions, imperfections or impurities to the pail. Send them to the sun for recycling. You can always reclaim them later if you should want to, but for now, you can release any pain or anger, and set your heart free.

Now focus back on the heart chakra. It is clean and a beautiful green color. It whirls strongly and evenly. “Universe, send me green energy for my heart! Open my heart to the world, to all beings great and small with compassion for our shared life journey. Fill my heart with love energy, so that I may give love to others and receive it in return.” Feel the green energy whirling into your heart. Watch the chakra grow and glow and spin with this new energy. From the red chakra through the orange chakra through the yellow chakra through the green chakra, your chakras are cleansed and charged and immense with energy. You now feel loving, tolerant, understanding and compassionate. Your heart is open to life, love and happiness.

Now focus on the throat chakra, the blue chakra which governs communication and personal expression. Examine the chakra, noting the color and any imperfections. Perhaps you haven’t been honoring your own truths and speaking up when you should, or perhaps you’ve been talking over others, or not listening well. Perhaps you’ve been feeling shy and afraid to extend your energy in communication. Allow the hands to heal and cleanse the chakra, and when finished, send the impurities to the sun for recycling. Now the chakra is clean and strong and bright blue. Feel the air fill with blue universal energy. Feel the throat open as this energy swirls into the throat chakra. This energy charges your aura with magnetism, drawing others to you. Feel your throat open with this swirling, strong blue energy. You feel confident in your ideas and your ability to express them well. You are ready to both express yourself and truly listen to others.

Now focus on the middle of your forehead, on the third eye. This chakra is indigo and governs intellect, psychic vision and intuition. Examine the chakra for imperfections. Perhaps it is locked up due to fear. Perhaps it no longer spins out of neglect/stagnation. Or maybe it’s chaotic due to racing thoughts. Allow the hands to cleanse the chakra, to heal any imperfections and recycle them in the sun.

Now look at the chakra. It is a beautiful deep indigo, clean and whirling. There is psychic energy available to you beyond measure. Feel it charge the air, swirl in and around and fill your third eye chakra with deep, soulful indigo energy. Feel the third eye open, and note any mental visions as this occurs. Now is a good time to pray for greater psychic power. You feel clear-headed, insightful, intuitive and keenly aware of all levels of reality.

Note the red/root chakra, the orange/womb chakra, bright, strong, big! Move your attention up to the yellow/solar plexus chakra, to the green/heart chakra, open and brilliant, to the blue/throat chakra and the indigo/third eye chakra. Your chakras are huge, whirling, and fully charged.

Now focus your attention at the crown of your head. This chakra is violet near the body, fading to white further away. This chakra governs your connection to the Universe/God/Spirit/Source. This chakra is like an umbilical cord to “home.” Reflect on your spirituality of late as you examine the chakra and allow any healing needed.

In my experience this chakra generally needs much less work than the others. Allow the hands to heal, to cleanse, and recycle the discarded energy in the sun. Now examine the chakra. It is brilliantly violet, glowing white around the outside. Mentally reach out to the Divine, and feel the response, the energy flowing back to you. Pray for the peace and joy of a strong crown chakra connection. Feel the violet energy flowing in, a loving embrace of your whole self, of your soul. See the crown chakra grow enormous, and the white energy surrounding your body. You feel calm and centered in your higher self, with a deep faith that all is well.

All your chakras are now clean, charged and in balance. From the red/root chakra, to the orange/womb chakra, to the yellow/solar plexus chakra, to the green/heart chakra, to the blue/throat chakra, to the deep purple/third eye to the violet/crown, your chakras are spinning and whirling, full of energy and vitality. See the white energy that extends up and out from the crown chakra enveloping your whole body in a egg of white energy.

You are completely refreshed, calm, and peaceful. Your energy is balanced. You are full of vitality. As you arise from this meditation, you will feel wonderful in every way: energized, confident, open, clear-headed, peaceful and ready for some wonderful new adventures!