~What is a Chakra?~
You will normally hear of the “7 main Chakras” (or sometimes 8 main Chakras) referred to when researching Chakras.
The body (and beyond) actually has thousands of Chakras which are energy centers that allow you exchange energy with the world around you. Pronounce the “Ch” of this word as you would say “chalk” or “chocolate”.
Here is a great Chakra Chart that gives some of the basic characteristics of each of the 7 main Chakras. If you are having pain or health issues in a certain area of your body, look to see which Chakra it corresponds to! There you will see what qualities are ruled by that Chakra.
For example, if you are having physical issues in the area of the Throat Chakra, you can ask yourself “Am I unable to express my creativity? Am I holding back communication for some reason, being stifled by others or stifling what needs to be said, not speaking my truth?”
Note that the “Root Chakra” is also called the first Chakra, and is always depicted at the bottom of the group, to coincide with its location on the body. As we move up the chart, or the body, we come to the second, third, and eventually seventh Chakra located at the top of the head.
This image shows how the Chakras extend outward from our physical bodies. Most of the Chakras extend forward and backward, as a spinning cone-shaped vortex of energy. The root Chakra extends downward, connecting us to the earth while “grounding” us. The crown Chakra extends upward to our higher self and the spiritual planes, connecting us to the divine!
Chakra Directions
These energy extensions are how we exchange with others in our environment, and also help make up our own auric field. At times, our energy (or that of others) can be more expanded or more contracted, depending on how open we are. This is also part of what helps us sense positive and negative energy…those “good vibes” or “bad vibes” you feel from other people!