A Summary of the Chakras

THE CHAKRAS

Sahasrara, the Crown Chakra - represented by a violet-colored, thousand-petaled lotus; associated with pure consciousness and unity with the Source

Ajna, the Brow Chakra (or 'third eye') - represented by an indigo-colored, two-petaled lotus; associated with access to magical energies and intuition

Vishuddha, the Throat Chakra - represented by a blue-colored, sixteen-petaled lotus; associated with communication, emotional expression, and maturity

Anahata, the Heart Chakra - represented by a green-colored, twelve-petaled lotus; associated with passion, devotion, and love for ourselves and others

Manipura, the Solar Plexus Chakra - represented by a yellow-colored, ten-petaled lotus; the emotional center of the body

Swadhisthana, the Sacral Chakra - represented by an orange-colored, six-petaled lotus; the magical center of the body

Muladhara, the Root Chakra - represented by a red-colored, four-petaled lotus; associated with instinct, raw emotional energy and basic human potentiality

SEED SOUNDS

Each of the seven chakras has a bija mantra, which is Sanskrit for seed sound. These are simple vowels you can chant during meditation to access the corresponding chakra. The seven chakras are also associated with the seven notes in the musical scale.

CHAKRAS LOCATION ON THE BODY

Our physical body's energy highway is located in the spine, running upward from the tailbone to the brainstem. Citations differ on exactly where the chakras correspond on the spine. Below lists the most commonly cited areas.

The spine is divided into four parts, from bottom to top: the sacral curve, the lumbar curve, the thoracic curve and the cervical curve. Each of the vertebrae on the spine have a letter and number corresponding to the curve they're in.

The root chakra is at the tailbone, just below the S5 vertebra.
The sacral chakra is on the sacrum, near the S1 vertebra.
The solar plexus chakra is on the top of the lumbar curve, between the L2 and L1 vertebrae.
The heart chakra is at the center of the thoracic curve, on the Th7 vertebra.
The throat chakra is on the bottom of the cervical curve, between the C7 and C6 vertebrae.
The third eye chakra is on the back of the skull.
The crown chakra is on the top of the skull.

Practicing meditation with seed sound mantras helps to unlock the chakras and the features of our being they correspond to.