Chakras: a Quick Guide

If you are new to, or only cursorily exploring, the spiritual world and its practices, you may have heard of Chakras but don’t know too much about them. This is a simple guide to what they are and what each one represents. There are many sources, available widely, to give you more information, but I wanted to give a succinct rundown so that you could have a working knowledge, since I have and will reference them from time to time. I will only be covering the 7 major Chakras in this piece. 

Chakras are the energy centers in our body, and each one relates to a different set of characteristics. When they are in poor health, it can create emotional and even physical imbalances. Reiki deals with these energetic centers to promote healing, using a universal life energy that surrounds us all. Reiki practitioners (like myself) are attuned to move this energy where it is needed or where your higher self decides it is needed. There are also things you can do on your own to improve their health and live a more balanced and happy life.

Here is a summary of each chakra, their associated color, what characteristics it relates to, and tips to improve their health.

Root Chakra- Red

Relates to material world, stability, security, survival, action 

This chakra is located between your legs. While most of the chakras have a front and a back, this one does not. This chakra is your connection to the earth.

This chakra is healthiest when you are feeling safe and secure in your surroundings. Even if your life seems chaotic to others, if it’s a chaos that you have designed and can work within, that’s great. It just means you feel safe and happy in whatever surroundings you exist within. You don’t spend your days worried about how to survive until tomorrow; you don’t have a consistent fear of the world or any aspect of your life. We all worry about things from time to time, that is natural, but if you feel in fear of some aspect of your life or the world most of the time, this chakra is probably unbalanced. Also, if something is wrong, you spring into action to fix it when this chakra is healthy. You don’t sit there and hope for the best as you wait to see what happens. 

One way you can improve the health of this chakra is to have healthy boundaries in your life. If you don’t want to do something, then say so, if you need some alone time, say so, etc. Another thing that helps is exercise; when you regularly experience physical movement that makes you more aware of your body this helps quite a bit. Walking, running, dancing, working out. Walking in natural surroundings is a very major way you can help this chakra, as well. This chakra is where our connection to the earth starts, so being in nature is a wonderful technique for restoration to this area.

Sacral Chakra-Orange

Relates to emotions, relationships,control,pleasure,desires,creativity 

This chakra is located in the area of your lower intestine and internal reproductive organs. It also has a rear opening which is in the lower back area.

This chakra is the healthiest when you are pursuing your dreams. You may work a normal job, but there is something else you have always wanted to do that brings you joy, and you are going for it. You have a happy and healthy relationship with your friends. Intimacy is about connection and the sharing of pleasure and love between you and your sweetheart, in a way that’s meaningful and fulfilling. You don’t feel the need to control everything in your life.

If you want to improve the health of this chakra, you can work on something you love, some creative project that sets your heart ablaze. Even if you only have a small amount of time to work on it, do it. Also, getting to know your sexual needs can help. What you like or don’t like, what makes you feel loved and fulfilled, and what will allow you to open up to give and receive with love and pleasure. Finally, spoil yourself! Take some time to yourself for self care, indulge in something that makes you happy and restores you.    

Solar Plexus Chakra-Yellow

Relates to intellect, ambition, personal power, confidence/self worth 

This chakra is located in your midsection, under the rib cage, right around the area you get butterflies when you are excited or nervous. It has a rear opening, as well, that comes out around the middle of your back.

This chakra is where your confidence is located. When it is healthy, you are confident or at least not afraid to push through when you are not. You know who you are, and you tend not to let people bully you or walk all over you. You are self assured and really go for your goals.

If you want to improve the health of this chakra, try to keep an open posture, don’t cross your hands across your body as if you are protecting yourself from something (unless there is actual danger or projectiles of course); this sends the message to your body that you need protection even when you don’t. If you have this posture most of the time, your body starts to believe it is always in danger and adjusts accordingly. 

Also, keep tabs on your accomplishments; when you do something you are proud of, write it down in a journal. If you’re having a particularly bad day, go back and read it, to remind yourself that you are awesome.

Heart Chakra- Green

Relates to love,compassion,emotional balance 

This chakra is located in the center of your chest, where the typical superhero emblem would sit. It has a rear opening that is just beneath the shoulder blades.

This chakra is where your love and compassion are located. When it is healthy, life feels good; you are at peace with the world and humanity. You have compassion for others and are open to seeing the good in the world. Your relationships are balanced and happy. 

If you want to improve the health of this chakra, you can spend time with those you love, like friends and family. You can do nice things for others, spoil someone you love. Even a minor good deed to a stranger can help get this chakra healthy again. 

Also, relish what is good in your life; practice gratitude for the things you have that make you feel happy and supported. Take moments throughout your day to account for the good things in your life and the beauty in the world. Allow yourself to be loved, accept praise or gifts, and fight the urge to reciprocate with anything more than a thank you. Don’t worry about seeming ungrateful. Just accept the gesture, whatever it is. In other words, allow yourself to be loved.

Throat Chakra- Blue

Relates to communication, self expression, speaking one’s truth

This chakra is located in the bottom of your neck near your collarbone, right where most of us would imagine your voice comes from. It also has a rear opening, in the back of your neck. 

This chakra relates to communication and self expression in general: speaking your mind, speaking your truth, and standing up for what you believe in, whether it be a personal matter or more worldly. When this chakra is healthy, you have no problems communicating, not only in general but even in times of conflict. You are expressive and not easily bulldozed or dismissed, nor do you bulldoze or dismiss others, even  in conversations of a more tense nature. You claim who you are and what you believe proudly. 

To improve the health of this chakra, you can talk, sing, or express yourself in some other creative way.This could even be having a one person concert in your car, alone. Expression is the important thing here. Also, journaling about things that are bugging you or even talking to yourself in the car, alone, about it will help you. Write out how you feel about an issue in which you feel no one is listening, or even have a make believe conversation with the person you would like to talk to about the issue, or just yourself, as if you are talking to a friend. Talking to a friend is also a good idea, if they are willing to give you space to truly express yourself. 

Third eye Chakra- Indigo

Relates to spiritual awareness, insight, intuition, imagination 

This chakra is located between the eyes, just above the brow, which is why it is also sometimes called the brow chakra. 

This chakra relates to intuition, insight, and spiritual awareness. When this chakra is healthy, you can receive messages and guidance from your guides. Your imagination is active and healthy.You can envision the pathway to accomplishing what you most want. You feel connected to the universe and see the ways in which life just works out sometimes. Sometimes, you even feel as though things are aligning just for you.

To improve the health of this chakra, meditation is the best way, in my opinion. Even if you can only do it for 5 minutes, start there, and build up the time gradually. Also, daydreaming you are in a happy peaceful place and have no issues to worry about would be another good technique.

Crown Chakra- Violet/White

Relates to spirituality, energy, connection to the Divine

This chakra is located at the top of your head. There is no back to this one, much like the root chakra. 

If this chakra is healthy, you have a positive view of the world, and you feel connected to other people, nature, and the world in general. You may also feel like you need to contribute something positive to the world. You are at peace with your life most of the time, with a knowing that, even if things get hard sometimes, you can handle it, and it will get better. It is easy for you to feel at peace or even blissful. 

To improve the health of this chakra, you can pray in whatever way feels appropriate to you. Also, you could go somewhere in nature that brings you peace, just enjoy your surroundings or find a place that is quiet to rest, give yourself time and space to think and to appreciate what is good in the world. 

Bonus exercise! Now that you have learned about the chakras, it is time for you to connect with them yourself. Find a quiet place where you can focus, clear your mind, and center yourself. Once you feel relatively at peace, ask in your head, or out loud, what chakra needs the most healing. If it helps, you may keep your eyes closed. Give yourself a few minutes to receive an answer. It may come through as a color that relates to that chakra, a word may pop into your head, or you may feel a sensation in a certain part of your body. Write down whatever you experience after you are finished receiving, then, if you need to, refer back to the list. See if this answer makes sense to you and what you are experiencing in your life right now.

Your chakras are worth getting to know. Being intuned to the chakras can help you look at your life and figure out what’s holding you back. It can help you find a more balanced approach to things that will bring you more happiness. You can repeat this exercise as often as you like, whenever you feel you need to check in with yourself.

If you feel as though you need my help discerning the answer you received, feel free to leave a comment on the post or email me at

If you feel you need extra help bringing your chakras to a more healthy place, then schedule a Reiki session with me! 

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