Connecting with The Chakras

By Alison Kay

In many ways, archetypes—those collectively inherited primordial patterns that help to define the individual psyche—link to the chakra system. In addition to working with the premise that there is one dominant charka for each individual in a lifetime, understanding how archetypes (such as the mother, father, hero, etc.) work in conjunction with chakras ultimately yields an informative, thorough system that can help us understand Self from the soul level with the ultimate goal of balancing and healing our subtle energies.

The word chakra is Sanskrit for wheel. Chakras are centers of activity that receive, assimilate and express life force energy.

The ancient Hindu chakra symbols represent these circular centers of energy, and they correspond to the nerve plexuses and organs in the physical body. By focusing on these energy centers, and understanding the function of each and the archetypes each draws upon, we are able to balance our entire mind-body-spirit system, augment all areas in our lives, and facilitate healing.

More specifically, chakras are responsible for our physical, mental, spiritual and energetic functions. Each chakra connects to a specific domain of human experience, say spiritual awareness or love or sexual energy expression or self-worth and it expresses through the choices we make in the physical world.

Thus, the chakra system is able to serve as a psychology tool for soul growth because it functions at such a fundamental level of existence, within the subtle energy and archetypal realms.

This is also why the concept of each person having one dominant chakra per lifetime is even more informative about the psychology of a person’s soul. It yields information about particular life issues within each of the realms of human experience: physical, mental, emotional and energetic (or spiritual). This information then filters into our daily life experiences within our work, family, relationships, finances, our community.

The Physical Facts
Letʼs back up, and make this more tangible and linear to follow. Chakras are energy centers that run along the spine, or the central nervous system. There are studies that have validated the chakra system on the spine; Candace Pert has discovered that the key nodal points—clusters of huge numbers of neurotransmitters receptors that serve as the main center of communication exchange between the mind and body—are located on the points of the ancient Hindu chakra system.

The chakras are now also understood to correspond with the endocrine system—which is the master command center and regulator of the human body for our hormones—which run everything in our bodies not considered a part of the nervous system.

The chakra system covers the two major command centers for all mechanical processes within the human body. It is so much more than what has previously been considered within our culture!

On the level of less dense or subtle energy, chakras also provide access to soul information, energy and power—and this is not only limited to the individual’s system. The chakras also connect with the external environment, interacting with others and the environment. Think power struggle issues, for example, or a strong feeling to stay away from someone. Specifically, both the second chakra, located at the sacrum, and the sixth chakra, located in between the eyebrows and frequently referred to as the “third eye,” are considered intuitive centers within the chakra system. The lower abdomen connects to our concept of “gut instincts” or a bodily knowing, while the “third eye” senses out intuitive information that is more on the realm of mental, or consciousness, and relates to seeing into a situation with intuition/insight/psychic abilities.

If either of these chakras is dominant, then it usually means a person will have a fine sense of intuition, and this will impact the way he or she interacts in the world. If someone’s second chakra is shut down, then this means that their sense of “gut knowing” or “instinct” is also going to be shut down, or not provide reliable information. This could lead to relationships with others who are dangerous or unhealthy, for example. At this level, we are talking about more patterned, habitual behavior, or situations, using the chakra system to help better inform us in a holistic and complete way and help is better understand the roles, or archetypes, we play out in life.

This is a more encompassing psychology than working with just the conscious and subconscious mind, as it addresses how we operate on different levels using archetypal patterns. In this case, we are moving into a level of “ourselves” where individuation from a higher source begins. It’s not only soul psychology because it is a system that is solidly interacting with and linked into the physical body’s systems. The chakra system runs at such a foundational level of existence that it affects every plane above it—emotional, mental, physical and spiritual.

So again, when we work within the chakra system, we are working at a baseline of the human being, gaining understanding of what is contributing to life situations and archetypal patterns they represent.

By keeping our chakra system aligned, balanced and flowing with life force energy up and down the spine and throughout our central nervous system and sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, we can hum along with a vitality that perpetuates longevity and resplendent mental health.

Alison J. Kay, PhD is a Holistic Life Coach, an India-trained YA Yoga and Meditation teacher, an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, and an energy healer/shifter with 16 years of experience. Her nickname is “the lightning bolt” due to the power of her energy healings and clearings with clients around the globe.  Alison’s blend of credentials, use of multiple modalities, plus the wealth of experience she acquired during her 10 years living in Asia studying subtle energy practices, is what makes her work uniquely transformative.  She is both a speaker and trainer at various workshops and global events. In addition, she hosts the insightful radio show, “Create Your Best Life Ever! What Else is Possible?” on the 7th Wave Channel at World Talk Radio. She is also the author of What If There’s Nothing Wrong? published by Balboa Press, a Division of Hay House.  www.AlisonJKay.com

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