What Are Chakras? A Modern Guide to the Ancient Energy System
The chakra system is one of the most well-known yet misunderstood spiritual models in the world. To some, chakras are mystical wheels of energy. To others, they’re metaphors for the evolution of consciousness within the human body. Like the blind men describing an elephant by touching only one part, our individual experiences shape our understanding of what chakras are.
Chakras are a spiritual concept found in various Indian traditions, especially within Hinduism and Tantra, and refer to energy centers or points of spiritual power within the human body. The Sanskrit word “chakra” means “wheel,” and these centers are often envisioned as spinning vortexes of subtle energy. While not scientifically proven, many believe that chakras play a role in influencing emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Practices like breathing exercises, yoga poses, and chakra meditation are commonly used to explore and balance these energy centers.
To explore a powerful symbol connected to these energy centers, check out this introduction to the Shri Yantra and its energetic significance.
Origins of Chakras
The origins of the chakra system can be traced back to ancient Indian texts, particularly the Vedas—sacred scriptures composed over 3,000 years ago. The concept of chakras was further developed in later Hindu and Tantric traditions, including texts like the Upanishads and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Over time, various schools of thought, including Buddhist and yogic lineages, expanded on this foundation, introducing different symbolic representations, colors, and practices. Despite these differences, the core idea has remained consistent: chakras are focal points of spiritual and energetic power that exist within the subtle body, offering a map for self-awareness, transformation, and holistic well-being.
The Seven Chakras: Names, Meanings & Locations
Despite cultural variation and symbolic differences, most traditions agree on seven primary chakras—also called the main chakras. These energy centers form the foundation of an energetic map that supports our mental health, physical health, and overall well-being.
1. Root Chakra
- Sanskrit Name: Muladhara (“root support”)
- Location: Base of the spine, perineum
This is the foundation of the chakra system. The root chakra, or muladhara chakra, relates to safety, groundedness, and survival. It governs our relationship to the physical body, the Earth, and ancestral memory. A strong muladhara supports resilience and security, while imbalances may show up as fear or disconnection from the physical world. To support your practice, try this guided session for activating the muladhara.
2. Sacral Chakra
- Sanskrit Name: Svadhisthana (“one’s own base”)
- Location: Lower abdomen, just below the belly button
Known as the second chakra, the sacral chakra governs creativity, sensuality, and emotional expression. It’s associated with the water element and emotional fluidity. When activated, this chakra fuels joy, playfulness, and passion. If you’re exploring this energy center further, check out these tips for working with the sacral chakra.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra
- Sanskrit Name: Manipura (“city of jewels”)
- Location: Upper abdomen, above the navel
The manipura chakra is the seat of personal power and self-esteem. Associated with fire, it governs our drive, autonomy, and digestion. Located in the upper abdomen, this energy center fuels confidence and direction. For insight into this energy center’s role in transformation, watch this video focused on the third chakra.
4. Heart Chakra
- Sanskrit Name: Anahata (“unstruck sound”)
- Location: Center of the chest
The heart chakra, or anahata, is the energetic bridge between the lower chakras (physical) and upper chakras (spiritual). It governs love, compassion, and forgiveness. Representing air, this chakra opens us to emotional healing, connection, and empathy. Chakra healing in this area often leads to increased emotional resilience and a deeper connection to others.
5. Throat Chakra
- Sanskrit Name: Vishuddha (“purification”)
- Location: Throat
The throat chakra supports communication and authenticity. Associated with the ether element, it is the voice of the chakra system. A balanced vishuddha allows us to speak our truth and listen deeply. To support your practice, try this session on opening the throat chakra.
6. Third Eye Chakra
- Sanskrit Name: Ajna (“command”)
- Location: Between the eyebrows
Also known as the ajna chakra, the third eye chakra governs intuition, insight, and perception. It influences the nervous system and is often associated with clarity and vision. This yoga practice for the sixth chakra can help activate this center and enhance inner awareness.
7. Crown Chakra
- Sanskrit Name: Sahasrara (“thousand-petaled”)
- Location: Crown of the head, or top of the head
The crown chakra represents pure consciousness and spiritual connection. Sahasrara is beyond the elements and symbolizes unity, divine wisdom, and enlightenment. Its activation leads to the dissolution of ego and a feeling of oneness. For a guided experience, try this crown chakra yoga session.
Want to go deeper? The Kundalini Chakra Series offers a complete journey through all seven chakras with movement, mantra, and meditation.
Tantra and the Subtle Body: The Energetic Framework
To understand chakras, we must understand Tantra. Far from its sexualized New Age reputation, Tantra is a deeply spiritual tradition rooted in the Vedas and Kashmiri Shaivism. It teaches that everything in the universe is a manifestation of divine consciousness (Shiva) through dynamic energy (Shakti).
Tantric philosophy holds that the world is not to be escaped but embraced. Through ritual, mantra, yoga poses, and meditation, practitioners work with the elements—earth, water, fire, air, ether—to unlock spiritual evolution.
At the heart of this practice is the subtle body—an energetic reflection of the physical body. It contains:
- Nadis: Energy channels (like Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna)
- Prana: Life force
- Chakras: Energy centers that influence physical and mental health
This energy system is cultivated through focused practices, which encourage energy flow and transformation. As chakra activation increases, blockages clear and the practitioner moves toward wholeness.
The Tibetan concept of the Rainbow Body illustrates what may be possible through advanced energetic refinement and subtle body mastery.
Chakras in Action: Beyond Metaphor
Rather than rigid symbols or rainbow-colored disks, chakras are best experienced through direct sensation and awareness. Chakra meditation and breathing exercises can activate or balance specific centers. As subtle energy begins to move freely, it enhances intuition, emotional balance, and mental clarity.
To explore the chakra system’s role in our current age of transformation, watch this conversation on the Kali Yuga and ascension with Michael Cremo.
The chakra system is more than philosophy—it’s a practical tool for transformation. With consistent exploration, practitioners report a stronger sense of inner peace, improved physical health, and a profound connection to spiritual energy.
So gentle seeker—or perhaps, finder—consider this your beginner’s guide to a vast and subtle inner cosmos. Approach the journey with curiosity and kindness, and let your energy centers illuminate the path.
How can I tell if my chakras are blocked or unbalanced?
When your chakras are balanced, you may feel centered, focused, and emotionally steady. But when one or more chakras are blocked or out of alignment, the effects can manifest on multiple levels—physical, emotional, and spiritual. Here are some signs to look for:
Common signs of chakra imbalance include:
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, digestive problems, fatigue, or chronic tension
- Emotional instability like anxiety, irritability, sadness, or mood swings
- Mental struggles such as brain fog, trouble focusing, or lack of motivation
- Spiritual disconnect or feeling lost, stuck, or uninspired
Each chakra influences different aspects of the body and consciousness. For example:
- A blocked root chakra may manifest as fear or insecurity.
- An imbalanced sacral chakra could show up as lack of creativity or emotional numbness.
- A congested heart chakra might contribute to struggles in relationships or self-love.
How do you balance or align your chakras?
Bringing your chakras into alignment involves restoring the natural flow of energy throughout your subtle body. Fortunately, there are several accessible practices to support chakra balancing. These techniques can be used individually or in combination, depending on your needs and preferences.
Effective methods to balance your chakras include:
- Breathing exercises that stimulate parasympathetic relaxation and open energy pathways
- Chakra meditation focused on sensing and releasing tension in specific centers
- Bija mantras—vibrational seed sounds like “LAM” or “VAM” that resonate with each chakra
- Targeted yoga poses that stretch and activate energy flow in corresponding areas
- Visualization techniques using light or color to dissolve blockages
- Sound or crystal healing with tools like tuning forks, singing bowls, or chakra stones
Balancing your chakras is not a one-time fix but an ongoing journey. Consistency, awareness, and self-compassion will help you stay connected to your energy system and cultivate deeper well-being.
Explore More
If you’re just starting your journey, a great place to begin is this introductory practice focusing on the lower chakras. You’ll find grounding, support, and the foundational understanding you need to activate and balance your entire energy system.
About the Author
Spiritual Cleansing Bath Rituals for Healing Your Aura
Regularly cleansing your aura and personal energy is an essential act. Whether or not you know it, you come into contact with various people and environments, all of which have their own energy vibrations. Not all of these frequencies are high and positive.
Thus, your energy field is constantly taking in and sending out vibrations. Some energy vibrations within your thoughts and external influences are low and will bring you down if left unchecked. While our energy body is constantly readjusting itself to bring our energy back into harmony, the negative energies can linger and build up over time. A monthly salt water bath is an easy and relaxing way to cleanse your aura of negative energy.
We’ve mentioned other methods before, so why a bath? It’s because it’s a great ritual that ties together the physical body with the inner spirit. When you immerse yourself in a ritual bath, you are participating in an initiation to open yourself up spiritually.
Ritual bathing cleanses you from physical and spiritual grime, thus purifying both your body and your aura. It signifies that you are willing to listen to your higher self and begin to trust something outside of your rational mind. It indicates that you are open to asking the universe to transform what you believe needs to be changed within yourself.
What Is a Spiritual Cleansing Bath Ritual?
A spiritual cleansing bath ritual is a sacred, intentional practice for releasing negativity, stress, and emotional heaviness while inviting balance, healing, and renewal. Unlike an ordinary bath, this ritual taps into the energy of natural elements—purifying salts, soothing essential oils, and gentle herbs or flowers like lavender or rose petals—chosen for their nurturing and cleansing properties. As you immerse yourself, you set intentions to let go of what no longer serves you, creating space for peace and clarity. Adding meditative touches, like mindful breathing or visualization, deepens the experience, allowing you to feel the water’s gentle energy carrying away worries. It’s a moment to honor yourself, cleanse from within, and step out feeling lighter, refreshed, and energetically renewed.
How to Perform a Cleansing Bath
A cleansing bath is a sacred, rejuvenating practice to clear your aura, release negative energy, and invite inner peace and well-being. Here’s how to get started:
- Choose the Right Time: Pick a bath time when you can be alone without interruptions. This powerful bath is best done once a month, ideally on a Friday close to a full moon for enhanced effects. Energy therapist Lidia Frederico advises against taking it around certain hours: avoid 6 am, 12 noon, 6 pm, or 12 midnight, as well as 30 minutes before and after these times.
- Prepare the Bath: Draw a warm bath and add unrefined salt. For an extra touch, add essential oils (like lavender or sage) and herbs such as rosemary or chamomile, known for their cleansing properties.
- Set Your Intention: As the tub fills, think about what you want to release or bring into your life. Light white candles and play soft music to create a peaceful environment.
- Immerse Mindfully: Step into the water slowly, immersing yourself fully. Visualize negative energy dissolving, replaced by a flow of positive energy. Deep breathing, meditation, or repeating affirmations can help deepen this experience.
- Conclude the Ritual: When you finish, let yourself air-dry if possible, or use a towel just for your head. Drain the bathwater, imagining it carrying away any residual negativity. Embrace the clarity and positive energy you’ve invited into your space.
Allow yourself to carry this renewed energy forward, feeling grounded, uplifted, and aligned with your highest self.
Physical Benefits
A spiritual cleansing bath ritual can benefit not only your spirit but also your physical well-being. Here are a few key benefits:
- Saltwater soaks help remove toxins.
- Minerals support overall health.
- Skin feels refreshed as impurities clear.
- Relieves aches and sore joints.
- Boosts circulation for a body refresh.
This ritual offers a harmonious way to nurture both body and soul, inviting healing and renewal from within.
