What are chakras? They are the electromagnetic and Quantum energy centers along the central axis of the human body that give rise to our endocrine glands, organs and tissues. Each chakra (energy center) relates to a particular endocrine gland, a set of organs and tissues in the area. With focus and intention we can shift the energy in these centers to up-regulate the bio-chemistry of the body. We know thoughts cause chemical reactions in the brain and bio chemical responses in the body. Think of how the body responds to a sexual fantasy and you get it. Energy shifts in response to living attention, cellular structure and function responds to energy shifts. The ancients understood this powerful relationship and pass this knowledge to us through teaching things like chakra meditation. Learn more about your energy centers in this blog.
The first energy center governs the area around the pelvic floor; your sex organs, perineum, bladder and lower bowel. This energy center manages procreation, elimination, sexuality, and sexual identity. The hormones testosterone in men and estrogen and progesterone in women are related to this center. The nerve plexus in this center is the Inferior Mesenteric Plexus. This center is the seat of creative power; the creation of new life happens here! When this energy center is in balance we feel empowered to create, grow, expand, and we are grounded in our sexual identity. In Sanskrit this energy center is called Muladhara.
The second energy center is behind and slightly below the navel. It governs the ovaries and uterus, pancreas, intestines, colon and lower back. It relates to consumption, digestion, elimination and the transformation of food into energy including the enzymes and hormones that balance blood sugar level. The nerve plexus in this center is the Superior Mesenteric Plexus. The second center is also related to our social networks, family, personal and intimate relationships. We can think of it as the center for holding on and letting go. When this center is in balance we feel connected and safe in our environment and the world. This is the Svadhishthana Chakra
The third energy center lies just below the diaphragm. It governs the stomach, small intestines, spleen, liver, gall bladder, kidneys, and adrenal glands. The associated hormones include adrenaline, cortisol, the kidney hormones and liver enzymes as well as stomach enzymes. The nerve plexus related to this energy center is the Solar Plexus – also called the Celiac Plexus. This center is associated with our will power, self esteem, directed intention and competitive drive. When the third center is in balance we use our will and power to manage and thrive in our environment. This center is activated when we feel unsafe and need to protect ourselves or loved ones. This center is also active when we want something and need to use our body to get it. This is the Manipura Chakra
The forth energy center is located in the space behind the breast bone and includes the heart, lung and thymus gland – the body’s main immunity gland. The hormones associated with this center include growth hormone, oxytocin and cascade of over 1400 chemicals that stimulate the immune system. The nerve plexus this center governs is the heart plexus. This center is associated with emotions of compassion, caring, appreciation, unity, universal love, inspiration, trust and wholeness. It is our sacred center where divinity and humanity come together. When the 4th center is in balance we care about others, we feel love for life and want to work in cooperation with others. We feel whole and know our own goodness. This is the Anahata Chakra
The 5th energy center is located in the center of our throat and governs the thyroid, parathyroid, salivary glands and tissues of the throat. The hormones associated with this center include the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, thyroxin, the parathyroid chemicals that govern our body’s metabolism and circulating calcium levels. The nerve plexus this center governs is the Thyroid Plexus. This center is associated with expressing the love we feel in the forth center, expressing our truth, and enhancing our lives with language and sound. When the third energy center is in balance, you voice your present truth and allow the energy and emotions of the heart to rise through voice and sound in order to share them with others. This is the Vishuda Chakra
The 6th energy center is located in the center of the brain near the back. it governs the pineal gland – the third eye. It is associated with seeing beyond linear time and evoking our visionary power. When this center is open it acts like a radio antenna allowing us to tune into frequencies beyond our 5 senses. This is where the alchemist, the dreamer, the vision seeker in each of us awakens. The pineal gland secretes hormones like melatonin and serotonin which are responsible for our circadian rhythms of feeling wakeful in light of day and sleepy in dark of night. The pineal gland is sensitive to all electromagnetic fields, not just visible light and can create chemical and energetic shifts that change our view of reality. When this center is balanced our brain works in a clear manner and we are more conscious of both our inner and outer worlds. This is the Ajna Chaknra
The 7th energy center is located in the center of our crown. It manages the pituitary gland. This gland has been called the master gland because it governs and creates harmony in all the other glands. In a downward cascade it regulates and tunes all endocrine glands below. This center is where we experience ourselves as pure eternal energy – a divine expression of Source Energy. This is where our highest level of consciousness originates. When this center is in balance we are at peace with life and its temporal nature because we are deeply seated in our eternal nature as pure consciousness.
Sitting quietly and breathing into each energy center with gratitude for all the ways the energy and tissues of the area serve you, is a wonderful way to enhance your physical and mental well being. Just a few minutes at each energy center, breathing in and out with quiet appreciation is enough to shift the energy centers and up-regulate the biology in the area.