By Marion Light, M.Ed, RPP, RPE
Each of us possesses an intellectual mind, a physical body and an unlimited spirit – but we’re more than that. We also have an emotional body and an energy system. Our energy systems are powerfully affected by our thoughts, feelings, actions and environment. When we tune in to them, they can guide us toward a deeper connection within ourselves and to the world around us.
According to Eastern medicine, good health is maintained by the flow of energy, and ill health is the result of energy stagnation. Good health includes a strong body, a quiet mind, balanced emotions and a joyous spirit. One of the keys to understanding our energy systems is to learn about the chakras.
Based on ancient yoga teachings in India, the word chakra means “disk” or “wheel” in the Sanskrit language. The chakras radiate out from the central nerves of the spinal cord and are located in seven areas, from the base of the pelvis to the crown of the head. Psychologically speaking, each chakra relates to an area of our lives:
Chakra One (Root Chakra) – Who we are, our roots and survival, security
Chakra Two (Sex Chakra) – How we feel, sexuality, sensuality
Chakra Three (Solar Plexus Chakra) – What you do, power, action
Chakra Four (Heart Chakra) – How we love, giving and receiving love, acceptance
Chakra Five (Throat Chakra) – What we say, communication, expression
Chakra Six (Brow Chakra) – What you know, imagination, intuition
Chakra Seven (Crown Chakra) – Our connection to a spirit or higher power, spirituality
When healthy and open, our chakras are constantly spinning. They register information about the health of the glands and organs connected to them. They correspond to different aspects of the body’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual state.
For example, you may have felt a lump in your throat when you needed to say something, but couldn’t. Or you may have felt a pain in your heart when you felt betrayed. If you’ve ever explored energy work, you may have felt other various physical sensations, including tingling and warmth.
These are your amazing chakras at work, registering your experience in your physical and energetic body. Our sensations provide us a wonderful tool that teaches us about how to live a healthy, joyous and creative life.
If we take it a step further, the chakra system is like a secret code that helps us connect our physical and spiritual worlds. At some time in our lives, we all seek the answers to who we are and what our purpose is here on Earth. We are more than our bodies, our thoughts and our actions. We are all part of something bigger than ourselves, yet we each possess our own individual spirit.
If you haven’t explored the chakras, I invite you to do so. There is much more to learn about you and the world around you. The more you live from the inside out, the more freedom you will attain.
Love and Light
Marion Light is a teacher, speaker and therapist in mind-body medicine and has had a vibrant practice in Scottsdale, Arizona for 15 years. Through her retreats, individual sessions and speaking, she fulfills her life’s passion to create a space for others to uncover their essential natures. Send your questions about energy work to submissions@greenlivingaz.com.
