7 chakra meanings & a simple balancing meditation
There are 7 main chakras that run along the spine, and each chakra has a meaning which aligns with our bodies organs and nerves, so when the chakras are open and evenly balanced, they have restorative properties for physical and emotional well being.
This, 7 chakras meanings & a simple balancing meditation guide will give you the confidence to practice balancing chakra energy.
You might also like to read my Beginners guide to 10 chakra crystals blog.
What are chakras?
Chakras originated in India and were mentioned in the Vedas, which are sacred texts dating from 1500-1000BC.
We have come to know them in the Western world as chakras are associated with yoga. According to yoga tradition, the chakras are part of the subtle body, a part of you that you can’t see or touch.
Chakras are swirling discs of energy, which should be evenly balanced and each one has a specific name, colour and health focus. When chakras are blocked or weak health issues are likely to ensue.
See the overview video by Clark Kegley below:
How can I balance my chakras?
Use this mindfulness meditation to balance your chakras. You will be working with the subtle chakra energies, and don’t worry, ‘you can’t go wrong – as a positive approach is your first step.
I guess the only heads-up I’d give you is to pay attention to grounding yourself and at the end of the practice seal it with a protective layer, all will be revealed below:)
Chakra meditation
- Sit comfortably and visualise putting some ‘roots down’. Think plants and let the roots grow:) You are doing this to keep you anchored to the earth plane.
- Visualise the light of the universe shining down on you. I think of it as a ray of sunshine. The pure white healing light will enter your body at the top of your head and flow through you to each chakra in turn.
- Take your thoughts to the Root / Base chakra, which is a deep red colour. Visualise a red light switching on, at your root/base. Breathe in to bring more of the healing light and let it travel through your body to the chakra and visualise the light getting a little brighter.
- Repeat this for the Sacral chakra which is an orange light.
- Solar Plexus chakra which is a yellow light.
- Heart chakra which is a green light.
- Throat chakra which is blue light.
- Third eye chakra which is a violet light.
- Crown chakra which is white light.
- Now check in with your chakras to see what you have achieved, are any of your ‘lights’ are not quite as bright as the others? Then send some of that healing light their way, until they all look as bright.
Note: I have added links to the colours so you can reference back to my crystal pages and find a corresponding crystal that you like to meditate with.
Chakra protection - always seal off your practice
Seal off the practice by surrounding your whole body with the healing light and visualise a bubble of energy around you, so you are protected, in this permeable layer.
Well done, that was so simple, wasn’t it? I can do this little exercise in 2 minutes, which is not an ego thang, it just means I can boost myself in the morning. I often walk to work and do the visualisations as I go. When you seal off the practice at the end, you can have some fun and if you are perhaps about to head to work to a meeting with some real sharks, then visualise your bubble as a suit of shining armour and make it less permeable! I often ask the universe to show me the protection layer that I need for the day – it makes me laugh all day when I get the Bunny onesie!
Another idea for the protective layer is to visualise the crystal you are working with and pop yourself inside it for the day. See my Beginners guide to 10 chakra crystals blog.
Root chakra
Root chakra meaning: When the root chakra is open and aligned we will feel secure and grounded. Our root chakras are associated with the basic needs that we have as human beings, for our well-being – which is to be secure and nourished.
I liken the root chakra to the footings of a house, when they are not strong, the house stays strong – we similarly need the root chakra to be nourished to give us a firm base.
Root chakra colour: Red
Root chakra health issues: Arthritis, constipation, and bladder or colon problems.
Root chakra crystals: Brown Jasper, Red Jasper, Smoky Quartz, Hematite, Cuprite, Mahogany Obsidian, Black tourmaline, Rhodonite, Garnet and Bloodstone.
Sacral chakra
Sacral chakra meaning: When the sacral chakra is not balanced it will manifest as low self-esteem, and less able to enjoy pleasure.
As a creative person, I can relate to this, as I find I can’t sit and enjoy the simple pleasures of reading a book or sewing when this chakra is weak.
Low self-esteem can also reduce our enjoyment of our sexuality too, which can result in feeling frigid.
Sacral chakra colour: Orange
Sacral chakra health focus: Urinary tract infections, lower back pain, genital/gynaecological issues and impotency.
Sacral chakra crystals: Unakite, Carnelian, Snowflake Obsidian, Orange Calcite, Red Jasper, Citrine and Sunstone.
Solar Plexus Chakra
Solar plexus chakra meaning: Personal power – In a world driven by perfectionism it’s hard to feel totally at peace with how we look and who we are, we often settle for who we feel we should be. When this chakra is weak self-criticism is your limiting factor, so you need to accept all parts of yourself to move forward. Self-acceptance will be the catalyst for you to find inner peace.
Solar plexus chakra colour: Yellow
Solar plexus chakra health focus: Digestive issues like ulcers, heartburn, eating disorders, and indigestion.
Solar plexus chakra crystals: Citrine, Amber, Calcite, Tigers Eye, Pyrite, Yellow Jasper, Yellow Topaz, Agate, Yellow Tourmaline, Lemon Quartz, and Sunstone.
Heart chakra
Heart chakra meaning: Putting others first to the extent that it hurts you means that you’ll be left feeling isolated and alone.
The heart chakra is about love, and long ago when I read The Celestine Prophecy, the part that really resonated with me was that “if you don’t love yourself first you won’t accept love from others”. I knew it, I understood it, but have I lived it? Not necessarily, it has taken me years to live it.
Heart chakra colour: Green
Heart chakra health focus: Heart problems, asthma, and weight issues.
Heart chakra crystals: Rose Quartz, Emerald, Green Aventurine, Rhodonite, Amazonite, Green Jade, Malachite, Rhodochrosite, Prehnite, Chrysoprase, Green Tourmaline, Green Calcite, Kunzite, Green Moldavite, Moss Agate, and Peridot.
Throat chakra
Throat chakra meaning: Either speaking without thinking or not speaking up when it’s needed are signs that the throat chakra is not aligned.
As a shy person, especially when I was young, I can totally relate to the above but as long as you speak with compassion and listen to other people’s expressions too, you’ll start to feel more confident and with me, it has built over the years.
I find wearing a blue crystal as a necklace really helps, so choose one from the lovely crystals below.
Throat chakra colour: Blue
Throat chakra health focus: Voice and throat problems as well as any problems with everything surrounding that area, such as the teeth, gums, and mouth.
Throat chakra crystals: Aquamarine, Lapis Lazuli, Amazonite, Sodalite, Blue Lace Agate, Angelite, Blue Apatite, Chrysocolla, Blue Chalcedony, Blue Kyanite, Celestite, Azurite, Larimar, and Blue Calcite.
Third Eye Chakra
Third eye chakra meaning: Listen to your intuition, it’s part of you.
Turning away from intuitive thought or becoming a know it all, won’t get you where you want to be in life.
Human beings often lose touch with intuition when things are going well, but this narrow vision doesn’t take in the full situation, so when it fails, you only have yourself to blame.
Third eye chakra colour: Purple
Third eye chakra health focus: Headaches, issues with sight or concentration, and hearing problems.
Third eye chakra crystals: Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli, Labradorite, Sodalite, Azurite, Black Obsidian, Citrine, Clear Quartz, Iolite, Lepidolite, Moonstone, Purple Fluorite, Black Tourmaline, Kyanite, and Turquoise.
Crown Chakra
Crown chakra meaning: If you are reading this blog, this is probably not you;) as you have a connection with your spirituality.
Occasionally though we lose track of our ‘life purpose’ and perhaps become sceptical, which means we won’t achieve enlightenment.
I feel that on most occasions, working to balance your other chakras makes this one healthy too.
Crown chakra colour: White
Crown chakra health focus: This chakra is linked to all the others so imbalances can affect all the organs and the brain and nervous system.
Crown chakra crystals: Lepidolite, Scolecite, Indigo Gabbro, Selenite, Rutilated Quartz, Clear Quartz, Clear Apophyllite, Clear Calcite and White Agate. Some more rare crystals for the crown chakra would be Hypersthene, Charoite and Seraphinite.
I’m sure you will have found one or two of the chakras that you might need to work on, but remember it takes time. By just taking the step to begin your spiritual journey, your self-esteem will be boosted, and then you can take more and more steps.
I have had multiple ups and downs in my life, and usually, they have been when I have fallen off my spiritual path – literally and metaphorically!
May the healing light of the universe find you x
