chakra 101: a basic chart
Chakras, literally translated as "wheels," are symbolic representations of energy centers within the body. Energy flows up and down from one chakra to another as a person lives, breathes, thinks, feels and acts. This flow of energy, or shakti, is called kundalini.
Below is a listing of the seven chakras (top to bottom), their sanskrit names, traditional graphical representations, and symbolic associations:
name |
symbol |
organ |
description |
| |
Sahasrara
सहस्रार |
 |
crown
pituitary |
the crown chakra is the interface between the physical human body and the ethereal or astral energy universe. It is represented by a thousand petaled lotus. It is the highest expression of our spiritual selves, the god within. |
|
Ajna
आज्ञा |
 |
third eye
pineal |
the third eye balances perspective between our spiritual and animal selves. It achieves clarity via intuition. |
|
Vishuddha
विशुद्ध |
 |
throat
thyroid |
the throat chakra represents our voice and ability to use it via conversation and song. |
|
Anahata
अनाहत |
 |
heart
thymus |
passionate action: unbridled love, empathy, compassion, courage, devotion. Avalokiteshwvara. |
|
Manipura
मणिपूर |
 |
solar plexus
adrenals |
a sensual sense of knowing; fire; hunger, desire, willpower, core strength, digestion; where food is converted into prana |
|
Swadhistana
स्वाधिष्ठान |
 |
sacral
testes / ovaries |
sexuality; water; pleasure, creativity, joy, enthusiasm; without conscious effort, this is the highest point that kundalini shakti is raised to. |
|
Muladhara
मूलाधार |
 |
root
|
stability; security; fight or flight; earth, grounding, root primitivism of our being; seed; from whence we come. |
|
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