Chakras
Each of us has chakras. All over the body and head. The very small chakras are the acupuncture points which we know of from the Chinese and Japanese medical systems. Yoga, however, deals with the largest chakras, which start in the perenium and finish inside the head at the top of the spine. In between this are four other chakras within the spinal cord; near the tailbone, behind the navel, behind the sternum, and in the neck. Strictly speaking, the crown of the head is the culmination of ALL the chakras, although some regard it as the seventh chakra.
Most people have heard of chakras, but what are they really? Lots of people have had some experience of chakras and they would answer according to their own knowledge, or maybe from what they've heard or read. Certainly the discoveries about chakras are similar:
They exist in the energy field surrounding the body. At this level they look like little tornadoes. With the exception of the lowest chakra, they go into the front of the body at specific points, then through the body into the spine and out of the spine.
Each chakra has a specific range of experiences. These are realised at particular levels of energy and consciousness. With each chakra experience the personal power for that particular chakra starts to unfold. Each chakra has its own inner sound. The first 5 have an element (e.g. earth, fire) and an animal archetype.
Chakras are symbolised on the internal level in lotus flower form with a specific number of petals and colour for each lotus. Within the centre of the lotus is a picture which is directly involving the realised qualities of that chakra. Each chakra relates to its own gland and nervous plexii.
But most importantly, chakras are utilised, always. Whether it's on an unconscious, stimulated, blocked energy, or awakened levels. Because they contain our deeper natures, High and Low aspects, and these aspects are part of the reason for our incarnations, part of our reasons for Being, reacting, striving, enjoying. All of us. Sometimes we're high, sometimes we're low. And on an everyday level, chakra work or practices bring us to a point of realisation about our tendencies, especially those which create problems, and cause angst. We can then do something about these tendencies. However the truth really is that chakra practices subtly transform the chemical nature of the brain, the hormones, neurotransmitters, etc. so that our established workings of the brain are "blocked". It's like alchemy. Rather than repeatedly thinking, feeling, reacting in ways which do not resolve our problems, we start feeling happier, coming from a different set of brain chemicals and brain waves, and with an appropriate set of practices we can have these beneficial effects gradually improve our state of being. What a boon!
There are many different chakra techniques. A good rule for learning about chakras is to learn from someone who has practised them for a long period of time, someone who recognises and understands the different levels of perception and energy that you have, and can guide you to what's appropriate for you.
Because one thing is for sure. Chakras are many things, but definitely they are levels of perception and energy. And the only proven way to increase these is to actually do something regularly and systematically. Techniques which have stood the test of time and are guaranteed to work will do the trick.
|
 |
