There are seven main chakras in the body, starting from the base of your spine through to the crown of your head. To visualize a chakra in the body, imagine a swirling wheel of energy where matter and consciousness meet. This invisible healing energy, called Prana, is vital life force energy which keeps you vibrant, healthy, and alive. These swirling wheels of energy correspond to massive nerve centers and major organs in the body, as well as our emotional, psychological, and spiritual states of being. To keep our chakras balanced and healthy, it’s essential that our seven main chakras stay open, aligned, and fluid. When blockages occur, the energy flows are restricted and can cause emotional disruptions, as well as illness or dis-ease. Since the mind, body, soul, and spirit are intimately connected, awareness of an imbalance in one area can help bring all the chakras back into balance. 
First Chakra: (red) The Root Chakra is your sense of stability and security, and houses your basic survival needs. It encompasses the first three vertebrae, the bladder, and the colon. When this chakra is open, you feel safe, secure, and fearless. Imbalances include feeling like you're stuck and can't move forward in life. You may also feel ungrounded and lack inspiration and motivation. Physical symptoms include lower-back pain, sciatica, digestive issues, water retention, and problems with your hips, legs, and feet. Second Chakra: (orange) The Sacral Chakra is our creativity and sexual center. It is located above the pubic bone, below the navel, and is responsible for our creative and artistic expressions. If the sacral chakra becomes unbalanced you may feel lethargic and extremely low in energy. You may even experience a feeling of loneliness and mild depression. Physical symptoms include, kidney problems and urinary tract infections, chronic lower back pain, sexual disorders, infertility, irregular menstrual cycles, and issues with the intestines, spleen, and gallbladder. Third Chakra: (yellow) The Solar Plexus means lustrous gem and it’s the area from the navel to the breastbone. The third chakra is our source of personal power, self-esteem, and overall sense of confidence. If the solar plexus chakra becomes unbalanced, you may often feel stressed, anxious, and powerless to gain control, leaving you feeling emotionally and mentally exhausted. You may also experience a lack of concentration, poor memory, insomnia, as well as feeling fearful and uncentered for no apparent reason. Physical symptoms include digestive and intestinal disorders, food allergies, poor metabolism, eczema, and other stress-related skin conditions such as hives. Fourth Chakra: (green) The Heart Chakra is the connection between Matter and Spirit and is located at the heart center. It serves as a bridge between our body, mind, emotions, and spirit. The heart chakra is our source of love and connection. If the heart chakra becomes unbalanced, you may feel a sense of detachment from the world and from those around you. You may lose sight of love, empathy, and compassion and have feelings of hopelessness and distrust. You may also find that you are not able to easily forgive yourself, or others, and you tend to hold grudges for long periods of time. Physical symptoms include asthma and respiratory problems, breast problems, as well as upper-back and upper-arm pain, and issues with your shoulders. Fifth Chakra: (blue) The Throat Chakra is located in the throat area. This is our source of verbal expression and communication and offers us the ability to speak our highest truth. The fifth chakra includes the neck, thyroid, jaw, mouth, and tongue. If this Chakra is blocked you may experience fear, anxiety, and have poor communication and coping skills. Physical symptoms include sinus issues, sore throat, TMJ, as well as thyroid problems and ailments of the esophagus and tonsils. Sixth Chakra: (indigo) The Third Eye Chakra is located in between the eyebrows and is referred to as our centre of intuition. If the third eye chakra becomes unbalanced, you may feel overwhelmed by your own thoughts and unable to process them effectively. Your judgment may also be clouded causing you to make poor or rash decisions. Physical symptoms include eye and ear problems, headaches and migraines, nightmares, and neurological disorders. Seventh Chakra: (purple or white) The Crown Chakra is located at the crown (top) of the head. This is the chakra of enlightenment and spiritual connection to our higher selves, to others, and ultimately, to the divine Universe. If your crown chakra isn't balanced you may experience feelings of confusion, being mentally disconnected, and even depression. Physical symptoms include light sensitivity, headaches, chronic fatigue, and neurological disorders. The crown chakra affects the health of our brains and therefore our entire mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. 
Body ScanOne of the best ways to recognize if you have any blockages in your chakra system is to perform an energetic body scan. To do this lay still in a quiet and comfortable position and in an area where you won't be distracted by external elements. Start by placing your hand on your crown chakra and hold your hand there for a few moments. Connect to the energy you feel in that area (it may be a very subtle sensation of energy) and then tune into the intuition of your body and ask yourself, is this chakra open, or is it closed? Listen for your answer. Once you have received your answer, move onto the next chakra. If you did not hear an answer, often times this may be an indication that there is an imbalance in that chakra. You can always go back and check again. Be sure to make a mental note of which chakras are blocked so you can begin to work on them with more directed focus and intention. Energy StonesMany people use energy stones/crystals to help balance and align the chakras. Each stone holds a unique energy frequency that when used on a particular chakra, it will resonate with the vibration of the chakra and work to balance it out. Energy crystals have been used for centuries to help with energy healing and spiritual health and wellness. Place the stone on the chakra, ideally during a Meditation practice or when sitting quietly and relaxing, and allow the energy of the stone to connect with your own energy. Use your intuition to know and to, feel, when the Chakra has become more in balance and in harmony with itself. 
Spend Time In NatureSpending time outdoors is a great way to feel more connected to the earth and it allows you to absorb the healing benefits of Mother Nature more deeply. It also helps to ground your energy and bring more peace and calm into your life. By tuning into elements of nature that have the same resonance as a particular chakra we can not only balance them, but we can also remove blockages, enhance our intuition, boost our immunity, as well as re-charge our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual state. Spend time in places such as a peaceful forest, beautiful gardens, by healing waters, in grassy fields, laying on your back looking up at the big blue sky, or take an evening stroll under the moon. And don't forget to embrace the morning sunrise if you can! All the wonderful colours and healing powers of nature will help to bring a better balance to your chakra system. By bringing nature into our lives we can also enhance our self-awareness, our sense of gratitude for life itself, and we can elevate our spiritual growth. Be at one with nature. 
Positive AffirmationsYou can use positive words and Affirmations to help balance your chakras and place them back into harmony. Our thoughts and beliefs can influence the flow of life force energy through the various energy centers. When your life force is flowing freely through these energy centers, it enhances your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. When things are open, you will feel a sense of "lightness" and freedom within. To use Affirmations to clear and align your chakras, place your hand over each one and repeat the Affirmations shared below. Continue to repeat the Affirmation until you feel a slight shift in your energy. Breath deeply during this process and speak the words slowly and with pure intent in order for you to absorb them fully and completely. 
Practice GratitudeThe word 'gratitude' is derived from the Latin word gratia, which can mean grace or gratefulness. When we consciously express gratitude the Universe automatically works to bring about more of the feeling that we are expressing. As The Law of Attraction states, like attracts like, and ultimately, our thoughts and actions become our truest reality. Therefor, using gratitude to balance and align our chakras is done by speaking positive and healing words of gratitude while we connect to each chakra. To do so, hold your hand over each particular Chakra and express something you are grateful for, be sure to speak right from the heart centre. Sink into the energy and vibration of your words so that they are felt on the deepest level possible. After expressing gratitude, breath in fully, and then release all the way out. Surrender to whatever emotions may arise during this time. All is what it needs to be. Essential OilsEssential Oils have many healing powers and some of their healing benefits are meant to help unblock and balance your chakra system. To use the oils you can either diffuse them or place a drop on each chakra, be mindful of the Third Eye Chakra when applying the oil so it doesn't end up in your eyes. Also be sure that the oil is suggested to apply on skin before use so that you avoid any skin irritations or reactions. As you use the oils, envision the colour of each chakra spinning in a clockwise motion and absorbing into your body and energy aura. Continue visualizing the coloured wheel until you intuitively feel a sense of clearing. Not only are the properties of the oils super healing, but the scents are divine and provide extra stimulate to your senses. 
Bonus suggestion!
Listen to a Chakra Meditation. I shared one below that balances all Seven Chakras. Enjoy! It's important to keep our vital life force energy flowing freely and fluidly so that we experience an optimal state of good health and over well-being. ♡ With love, Vanessa Sharing is caring! 
Vanessa Marie Dewsbury is an internationally known Reiki Master, Self Love & Spiritual Teacher, and Bestselling Author. She is also an advocate for Mind & Body Wellness. You can find her on Instagram at @soulalivebarrie
Vanessa has been a guest on well-known radio shows and podcasts and has appeared in news articles acknowledging her work in the spiritual and personal development community. Her acquired wisdom through her own life experiences and health issues combined with her training and certifications in various modalities allows her to offer powerful guidance as well as the vital tools required to enhance and promote inner-healing, personal growth, and self love. |
Vanessa Marie Dewsbury
Wellness Blog 
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