Tag Archives: Swadhisthana

Chakra Quiz

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Try this fun quiz to determine which of your chakras are low in energy and in need of an extra boost. Please see my previous blog to find ways to energise weak chakras.

In the questionnaire you will see that there are 7 options for each question.  Jot down the number of each reply on a piece of paper. You can choose more than one option if appropriate.

At the end of the quiz, see how many times you recorded each number.  Each number refers to a chakra, ie. 1 = root/base chakra, 2 = sacral chakra, 3 = solar plexus, 4 = heart chakra, 5 = throat chakra, 6 = third eye and 7 = crown chakra.  You will be able to see where most of your energy is focused. In other words, if you have a dominant number 3 recorded, your solar plexus chakra needs the most attention and healing.  Similarly if you record a particularly low score with a particular chakra, that chakra may also need healing and energising.

Question 1:  Which area(s) of your body do you dislike?

  1. Feet and legs
  2. Between waist and hips
  3. Waist
  4. Chest
  5. Neck and shoulders
  6. Face
  7. Head

Question 2:  Which area(s) of your body are you proud of?

  1. Feet and legs
  2. Between waist and hips
  3. Waist
  4. Chest
  5. Neck and shoulders
  6. Face
  7. Head

Question 3:   Which area(s) of your body are most affected by health issues?

  1. Feet and legs
  2. Between waist and hips
  3. Waist
  4. Chest
  5. Neck and shoulders
  6. Face
  7. Head

Question 4:  Which colours do you like the most?

  1. Red
  2. Orange
  3. Yellow
  4. Green
  5. Blue
  6. Dark blue/indigo
  7. Violet

Question 5:  Which colours do you like the least?

  1. Red
  2. Orange
  3. Yellow
  4. Green
  5. Blue
  6. Dark blue/indigo
  7. Violet

Question 6:  Which are your favourite foods?

  1. Meat/fish/pulses
  2. Rice/orange fruits
  3. Wheat (bread)/yellow fruits
  4. Green fruit and veg

Question 7:  Which sorts of exercise/interests attract you?

  1. Fast action
  2. Dancing/painting
  3. Crosswords/puzzles
  4. Outdoor activities
  5. Drama/singing
  6. Mystery/crime novels
  7. Doing nothing

Question 8:  What sort of people do you look up to or admire?

  1. Sports people
  2. Artists/musicians
  3. Intellectuals
  4. Conservationists
  5. Speakers/politicians
  6. Inventors
  7. Mystics/religious figures

Question 9:  What sort of person do you think of yourself as?

  1. Get on with things
  2. Creative
  3. Thinker/worrier
  4. Emotional
  5. Chatterbox
  6. Quiet
  7. Daydreamer

Question 10:  What emotions do you consider are uppermost in your life?

  1. Passionate
  2. Easy-going
  3. Contented
  4. Sharing/caring
  5. Loyal
  6. Helpfully distant
  7. Sympathetic

Question 11:  What emotions do you have that you would like to change?

  1. Temper
  2. Possessiveness
  3. Confusion
  4. Insecurity
  5. Needing things to be black or white
  6. Feeling separate from others
  7. Not saying ‘no’

Question 12:  If you get angry, what is your most common reaction?

  1. Rage/tantrums
  2. Sullen resentment
  3. Get frightened
  4. Blame yourself
  5. Keep quiet
  6. Withdraw
  7. Imagine nothing happened

Question 13:  What are you most afraid of?

  1. Dying
  2. Lack of sensation
  3. Things you don’t understand
  4. Being alone
  5. Having no-one to talk to
  6. Losing your way
  7. Difficult situations

Question 14:  Which of these describes the way you prefer to learn?

  1. Fast
  2. Slowly
  3. Quickly but forget
  4. Through feelings
  5. By rote
  6. Instinctively
  7. Can’t be bothered

Question 15:  What best describes your reaction to situations?

  1. Enthusiastic
  2. Go with the flow
  3. Think things through
  4. See how things feel
  5. Ask a lot of questions
  6. See the patterns then act
  7. Drift along

Question 16:  If you are criticized or reprimanded, what is your usual response?

  1. Anger
  2. Resentment
  3. Fear
  4. Self-blame
  5. Verbal riposte
  6. Think about it
  7. Denial

Question 17:  How would you describe your favourite books, films, video games?

  1. Combat action
  2. Art
  3. Skill/intellectual
  4. Romances
  5. Courtroom dramas
  6. Detective stories
  7. Spiritual or self-development

Question 18:  Which category best describes your friends?

  1. Competitive
  2. Creative
  3. Intellectual
  4. Loving
  5. Idealistic
  6. Rebellious
  7. Spiritual

 

 

Energising the Chakras

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A weak, under-active chakra can be brought back into balance in a variety of ways.  This ensures stability and wellbeing of the individual at every level of body, mind and spirit.

Base Chakra

Imbalances in this chakra can manifest as a chronic lack of energy, exhaustion, problems with stiffness and painful movement particularly in hips, legs and feet. Healing and energising is also needed when someone is uncomfortable with their body which can lead to a sense of confusion or unreality, lack of drive or motivation and an aversion to dealing with practicalities and taking physical exercise.

To energise the base chakra:

  • A warm bath.
  • Massage, aromatherapy or reflexology.
  • Walking, running, drumming, dancing or jumping.  Just stamping the feet can improve circulation, co-ordination and our link to the earth.
  • Gardening for extra grounding.
  • Attend to practical matters.
  • Meditation to bring you back to the present and increase focus.
  • Eating, especially high protein foods. A good mineral supplement can also help. (Shortage of zinc is one of the most common causes of ‘spaciness’ and lack of mental focus.)
  • Haematite crystal for increased focus and grounding.

Sacral Chakra

This chakra is concerned with balance and flow including the ebb and flow of the emotions. Any imbalances in this chakra can manifest as poor balance of fluids and lack of flexibility such as irregular or painful menstruation, constipation, lower back pain, sciatica, fertility problems, arthritis and rigidity of joints.  Imbalances can arise when we become fixated on something that is unrealistic or inappropriate which can lead to unhealthy emotional dependency, lack of emotional flexibility and repression of feelings. Adults who display sacral chakra imbalances may have experienced a lack of close physical contact as young children.

To energise the sacral chakra:

  • Tai chi, chi kung, hatha yoga or belly dancing to increase sense of movement and balance and increase chi in the tantien.
  • Creative pursuits such as painting, drawing, writing or making music to help blocked energy start flowing.
  • Moonstone, rose quart and clear quartz crystals placed over the sacral chakra.

Solar Plexus Chakra

This chakra is associated with the element of fire. Fire can bring comfort and warmth but can also bring fear and terror when out of control, echoing the emotional breadth of this chakra.  Imbalances in this chakra can manifest as anxiety, digestive disorders, lack of personal power, victimhood or dominating others.

To energise the solar plexus chakra:

  •  Seated spinal twist hatha yoga pose.
  • Visualise a golden sun in your solar plexus chakra.
  • Learn to accept yourself for who you are.
  • Meditation without form or Vipassana/still point meditation to take you beyond your sense of who you are.
  • Spiritual development including recogising that people and situations are a reflection of ourselves to stop you taking things so personally.
  • Citrine and calcite crystals.

Heart Chakra

This chakra governs our interactions as we reach out to touch and embrace others. It continually strives to bring balance between external stimuli and internal emotions. The state of this chakra indicates our capacity for joy, compassion and tolerance.  Imbalances can manifest as feeling remote and isolated from the world around us or living your life according to other people’s rules. When you listen to your heart, you will be directed along a path which allows you to achieve your maximum potential.

To energise the heart chakra:

  • Join groups/classes or do community work to meet people and make new friends if you have been feeling isolated.
  • Gomukhasana hatha yoga pose to open the heart centre.
  • Find a balance between your personal needs and the needs of others.
  • Examine your values and beliefs to see if they are really yours. If not, identify your own and start to live by them instead.
  • Pink and green crystals to strengthen and energise the heart chakra.

Throat Chakra

This chakra is associated with communication, self-expression and finding a path of inner peace.  Individual expression can be stifled by overbearing discipline. When that happens, energy is either directed upwards where it is locked in a fantasy world of imagination or downwards to distort the lower three chakras as aggression or excessive manipulation and dominance over others. Imbalances here manifest as lack of inner peace, communication difficulties and understanding the communication of others, difficulties swallowing or breathing, throat and thyroid disorders, metabolic disorders, neck and shoulder tension

To energise the throat chakra:

  •  Singing, chanting a mantra or toning to release physical and emotional tensions.
  • Release and purifying hurt, angry feelings by writing them down and burning the piece of paper.
  • Creative/artistic expression such as drawing or painting.
  • Ustrasana (camel pose) from hatha yoga.
  • Examine core beliefs and see where there are conflicting viewpoints.
  • Don’t tell lies; try to practice open, honest communication.
  • Blue crystals such as blue lace agate, lapis lazuli and turquoise to assist self-expression.

Third Eye/Brow Chakra

This chakra governs perception, understanding, interpretation, perspective and thought processes.  It interprets information received by the brain. Imbalances here manifest as confusion, poor vision, jumping to conclusions or a closed mind.

To energise the brow chakra:

  •  Creative visualisation with images of light.
  • Cultivate a sense of detachment from strong emotional involvement to increase possibility of flashes of intuition and inspiration arising in the mind.
  • Send distant healing regularly to increase inner vision/clairvoyance.
  • Practice psychometry, with an open mind and sense of fun!, to receive impressions about an object, its history and owner.
  • Practice tratak (candle-gazing) meditation to strengthen third eye.
  • Indigo or violet crystals such as lapis lazuli or amethyst.

Crown Chakra

This chakra relates to spirituality understanding and concept of oneness or unity. The crown chakra is also the main co-ordinating centre of the body and connects the individual to universal sources of energy. Imbalances here manifest as limbic system disorders (body temperature, appetite, sleep patterns, emotions and movement), chronic fatigue syndrome and ME, lack of co-ordination, dyslexia, detachment and isolation or over-dependence on a person or way of living.  If the crown chakra is weak or prevented from working normally, it cannot provide all the energy and information required by the other chakras.

To energise the crown chakra:

  •  Physical exercises such as cross crawl (right elbow to left knee etc) to improve co-ordination.
  • Adho mukha svanasana (downward dog) hatha yoga pose to balance energy between feet and crown.
  • Improve body-mind co-ordination with activities such as juggling and rubbing your stomach while tapping your head.
  • Practice meditation and develop an interest in spirituality.
  • Reiki or other energy healing attunements.
  • Practice yoga nidra to visualise flow of energy and information throughout the body.
  • Clear quartz crystal to energise whole auric field and selenite crystal to live more in tune with higher self.

 

Helen Shortland is a Reiki Master Teacher, Meditation Teacher and Holistic Therapist based at Little London Herbal Stores on Kings Walk in Nottingham city centre. For further information about her courses, workshops and therapies, please visit her website at http://helenshortland.com.

 

The Chakras: Their Purpose and Vibration

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What are they?

‘Chakra’ is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘wheel’ which describes their spinning motion while absorbing, giving out and distributing life force energy (ki) throughout our subtle and physical bodies.  The chakras are the major energy centres of the body: when they are functioning correctly there is good free-flow of energy throughout the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies, resulting in balance and harmony.  Chakras should be open to let energy flow freely in and out and between the different auric levels.  The more energy that flows, the healthier we are.  Illness in the system is caused by an imbalance of energy or a block in the flow of energy: in other words, lack of flow in our energy system eventually leads to disharmony and dis-ease.

There are 7 major chakras – crown, 3rd eye or brow, throat, heart, solar plexus, sacral and root/base.  Each is positioned along a central channel called the sushumna which runs from the base chakra to the crown chakra.  The base and crown chakras form our connection to earth and spirit.  The sushumna is encircled by two energy channels called Ida and Pingala which spiral upwards in opposite directions from the base chakra.  The points where they meet along the central channel are known as the chakras.  Chakras can be likened to multi-dimensional gateways that allow us to access different experiences and states of consciousness.

Each chakra relates to a different colour, note, element, endocrine gland and auric layer, which I will address is more detail in the next two blogs.

Purpose of the Chakras

The chakras have three main functions:-

1. To vitalise each auric body and therefore the physical body.

2. To promote the development of different aspects of consciousness.  Each chakra relates to a specific psychological function.

3. To transmit energy between the auric layers.

Why do they vibrate at different frequencies?

Everything in the universe consists of vibrations occurring at different frequencies.  The colours we see all around us are different frequencies of visible light as perceived by our physical senses and interpreted by the brain.  Beyond this range lies ultra-violet light, radio waves and other light waves.

In eastern esoteric literature, each chakra is seen as having a certain number of petals.  These appear to be small rotating vortices spinning at very high rates.  Each vortex metabolizes an energy vibration that resonates at its particular spin frequency.  For example the base chakra has 4 small vortices and metabolises 4 basic frequencies of energy, vibrating at the colour red.  Four vortices is a relatively small amount of energy being metabolized and so this chakra relates to the physical, material world and issues of survival and security.  The 3rd eye chakra has 96 vortices and corresponds to the colour indigo.  Now consider that the crown chakra has 972 vortices and vibrates at the colour violet-white.  This seventh chakra metabolizes the greatest amount of energy out of all the 7 major chakras and carries a very high spiritual vibration.

The chakras vibrate at different frequencies according to the spiritual qualities that govern each chakra:-

Root/base chakra – security and survival – colour red

Sacral chakra – relationships with others, power and control – colour orange

Solar plexus chakra – sense of self, self-esteem and self-worth – colour yellow

Heart chakra – compassion, tolerance, joy and love for others – colour green or pink

Throat chakra – self-expression and communication – colour blue

Brow/3rd eye chakra – vision, direction, understanding and mental processes – colour indigo or violet

Crown chakra – sense of connection, oneness and spiritual awareness – colour violet or white

Personal Variations

Each chakra deals with particular functions but the quality of the energy in the chakra can vary from person to person.  For example, a strong red root chakra indicates someone who is well grounded with strong physical energy and vitality.  If this chakra was dull in colour or weak, it would indicate an imbalance in the corresponding mental/emotional qualities such as lack of stability and financial security.

For most people the heart chakra vibrates at the colour green but in those who have developed greater compassion and universal love, it vibrates at the higher vibration colour pink.  Similarly the crown can be violet, lavender or white, according to the level of spiritual development of the individual.  If the higher crown chakra, the seat of the soul, is activated, the crown area is likely to be white, indicating a person living in line with their higher self, and living by higher truths with a strong sense of oneness and spiritual connection to others.

Suggested further reading:-

‘Hands of Light’ by Barbara Brennan

‘Anatomy of the Spirit’ by Caroline Myss

 

This is the first in a series of 3 blogs looking in detail at the human energy system.  Part 2, The Chakras: Qualities, Correspondences & Stages of Development, will be available at the beginning of June.

 

Helen Shortland is a Reiki Master Teacher, Meditation Teacher and Holistic Therapist based at Little London Herbal Stores on Kings Walk in Nottingham city centre. For further information about her courses, workshops and therapies, please visit her website at http://helenshortland.com.