The word chakra comes from Sanskrit and means "circle or a revolving wheel."

It is called so because it looks like a vortex that spins around a specific area in our subtle body.

Chakras are therefore the main chakra energy centers in our body and they accumulate and distribute energy throughout it.

Imagine the human body as a house through which electricity is conducted.

To turn on the lights it is necessary to have energy, but also cables and switches.

Chakras are those "switches" which are in our subtle body, and there are lots of them, in the areas of palms, feet, the face, etc.

However, only the seven major chakras are the most important. They are analogous to the endocrine glands in our physical body.

Five of them are located on the inner walls of the spinal canal, and they are formed in the areas of the five plexus, while there are two chakras located in the head.

Each chakra looks like a lotus with various colors and a number of petals.

They are the center and storage place of various types of psychological and physical energy, and they rule certain parts of the body.

They correspond to characteristics and behaviors as well as to degrees of spiritual development.

Chakras also vibrate at certain frequencies and transmit energy throughout the body and mind.

The vibrations of the chakras affect the functioning of certain glands, organs, metabolism and the whole body.

Chakra activation

For most people these centers are dormant.

You can activate them by using certain exercises and meditation.

Chakras can be activated by directing the prana into it or by concentrating on the very chakra itself, on its location and shape.

Chakra activation awakens different abilities in the psychology and the mental body and so allows an individual to awaken one’s mental potential.

As the chakras are associated with the brain, they need to be activated in order to awaken the dormant centers in the brain.

Chakras can be seen as wheels which produce the desires within us.

Desire, like a wheel, is actually a big driving force.

Types of goals and desires which we aspire to really depend on the frequency of our mind, or the chakras which are at that moment most active.

When there is an awakening of the chakras, a person begins to manifest more personality traits because that activates certain parts of the brain.

1. Muladhara chakra (root chakra)

Muladhara or root chakra in men is located midway between the testicles and anus, a little above the perineum.

In women the Muladhara chakra is located on the inside of the cervix.

Mul in Sanskrit means root and Adhara means place.

The element that is dominant in this chakra is the earth element.

Muldahara chakra:

•     regulates instincts and sexual organs
•     controls the reproductive organs and glands
•     affects the whole system of excretion
•     is associated with the sense of smell

In the traditional symbolism of this chakra we find a snake wrapped around lingam.

The snake represents the primary life energy Kundalini.It is the basis of all energy in man and the universe: sexual, emotional, psychological, mental and spiritual and awakening it is very important.

When awakening energy in this chakra, one begins to exercise their human nature.

Muladhara chakra is actually the source of all our sexual feelings and frustrations and as long as it does not wake up, life is only about the instinctive level of existence.

Some mystics believe that this chakra is the supreme chakra in the animal world, as the supreme chakra Sahasrara is for man.

So, we can say that the Muladhara Chakra is actually the starting chakra in man's spiritual evolution.

2. Swadhisthana chakra (sacral chakra)

The domain of Swadhisthana chakra corresponds with the urinary and reproductive system, and it is physiologically related to the prostate and the sacral plexus.

The actual location of this chakra is basically the spinal column, at the coccyx. It can be felt as a small bone ball above the anus.

The element with which the Svadhisthana chakra is the associated element of water, as this element is usually associated with our emotional body.

As the sense of taste is dependent on smell, so is the Swadhisthana dependent on the Muladhara.

Swadhisthana represents:

•     subconsciousness
•     unconscious
•     collective consciousness
•     the memory of our ancestors

Swadhisthana chakra is actually the seat of our subconscious and our individual.

At about the seventh or eighth year of life, this chakra begins to vibrate, and there emerges a need for the assembling of relationships regardless of upbringing or the will of the parents.

Through these relationships children begin to explore their power of choice and build their own personality.

When this chakra is activated by meditation or other spiritual techniques, there is an expansion of experiences from the unconscious part of the mind.

All the hidden and unconscious desires then rise to the surface, memories and impressions, both from this and from past lives.

Believe it or not, everyday events, activities and people you meet have a great influence on your subconscious, and subtly shape your character throughout life.

This is one of the reasons that your dreams can sometimes be very turbulent, as this is how the subconscious empties itself.

When you master the energy of this chakra, you begin to have healthy and natural relationships with the people around you.

3. Manipura Chakra (Navel Chakra)

In Sanskrit "Mani" means jewel, and "Puri" city, which literally translates as "the city of gems".

But this definition has a much more symbolic meaning.

The Manipur chakra covers the area of the solar plexus and, all the organs which are located in the abdomen, that is, all the vital organs of the body.

On a physical level it is closely associated with the adrenal glands, which are of great life importance. They stimulate the activity of the defensive forces of the body during stress and hypersensitivity.

They exert a strong tonic effect on the body, and adrenaline, the hormone that is secreted, actually encourages you to react in a timely manner in stressful and risky situations but also in everyday ones.

It is associated with the element of fire - giving action, strength and purification.

So people who are intensely active, have a strong personality and notable health are said to have a strong Manipur.

This chakra is the center of energy, the will, dynamism and achievements.

Manipura Chakra:

•     carries pranic energy throughout the body
•     activates and regenerates organs and systems

If this chakra is not strong, the person lacks energy, is lifeless, sick, and has no motivation or determination. This chakra is compared with the sun and its power.

By bringing awareness to this chakra, the person gets an insight into higher states of consciousness.

The perception ceases to be limited to the material, and life begins to seem endlessly nice and positive, with infinite possibilities.

4. Anahata Chakra (heart chakra)

Anahata or heart chakra is located in the area of cardiac plexus - in the spinal column, directly behind the center of the chest.

"Anahata" means steady, which is associated with a constant heart rate.

It is responsible for the functions of the respiratory and circulatory systems.

It is connected with the center in the brain which controls creativity, and those in whom it has been awakened very easily find inspiration for works of art.

An element dominated by air.

At this level selflessness and universal love appear.

This chakra is very open among women, especially mothers, and people who tend to spirituality become inspired and endlessly devoted to an idea to which they are committed.

It is believed that it is in this chakra that the pulse of the universe and human existence meet, and that those who meditate on the lotus of the heart are extremely wise and full of noble deeds.

Their words inspire and their senses are under complete control.

The symbol of this chakra is an antelope, which actually signifies vigilance.

Ancient writings tell us of how in this chakra thoughts and desires begin to materialize.

Whatever you think becomes truth and reality.

This, however, may pose an obstacle and if you have not cleared up personal problems and negative thoughts and habits.

As attractive as this chakra seems, it can also be problematic.

When it awakens, a person must know well what he wants and have a very positive mind.

It is therefore always recommended to first deal with the other chakras, especially those lower chakras, before moving on to the heart chakra.

This chakra is also largely responsible for the selection of one’s life journey.

As long as the Kundalini energy resides in the lower chakras, it is believed that the person is in some way influenced by his own destiny.

It is only when this energy breaks through and enters the heart chakra that people are aware that their life may evolve beyond the boundaries which society, the media, education and so on constructed.

There is a saying that a person becomes a yogi only when he awakens the Anahata chakra and until then the person has actually only practiced yoga.

5. Vishuddi chakra (throat glands)

"Vi" in Sanskrit means something big or something that cannot be measured, while "Shuddi" means purification.

In many traditions, this center is called the center of purification.

This chakra is located in the throat area wells, namely the cervical plexus.

On the physical level it is directly related to the thyroid, larynx, vocal cords, and parathyroid and it prevents the accumulation of toxins in the body.

The thyroid gland, also known as the thyroid, plays a very important role both in this chakra and in everyday life.

In modern medicine it is known that this gland is responsible for the overall control of the metabolism, as well as the process of normal growth and maturation.

A dysfunction of the gland causes numerous physical and psychological problems.

Element dominating the Vishuddi chakra is air.

Ancient writings tell us of how the Vishuddi chakras separate substances that enter into your system into those which are harmful and those which are helpful.

Vishuddi is actually the legendary Fountain of Youth.

From the Bindu, the little chakra at the nape, the so-called nectar of life is constantly dripping.

As long as the Vishuddi chakra is inactive, this nectar drip into the Manipur chakra, where it burns, leading to aging and deterioration.

By regularly practicing Kechari Mudra, this nectar is retained in it and there is a rejuvenation of the body and a constant feeling of bliss.

Vishuddi chakra brings about:

•     physical and mental purification
•     proper understanding of the duality of life

A person with an awakened Vishuddi chakra stops seeing the world through patterns of good and evil. That is why every life experience turns into bliss.

People with this active chakra usually radiate wisdom and prudence.

However, this state of consciousness arises from inner experience, not intellect.

The person begins to feel both his own and other people's thought vibrations, but by the mind, not by hearing.

At this level, the silence of the mind becomes increasingly intense, and people more frequently experience spontaneous silence and emptiness and overcome all fears and attachments.

6. Ajna chakra (third eye)

The term "third eye" is associated with this chakra, which is thought to represent the seat of human intuition.

When the Ajna chakra is awakened, a person gets very subtle insight into all aspects of life.

The powers that are attributed to this chakra (clairvoyance, telepathy and extrasensory perception) make it one of the most attractive and interesting chakras.

It is located in the space behind the eyebrows, the place where we find an interesting gland form - the pineal gland.

This is actually the first gland that starts to develop even while in the womb.

While other glands exchange energy with each other, the pineal gland receives power from the eyes.

By the eighth year of life, it works in its full force and develops further.

This is why young children are sometimes extremely intelligent and intuitive, and you are often surprised some of their observations and reactions.

However, with the entry into puberty, the energy goes into the lower part of the body, in order to develop the sexual organs.

Then the pineal gland begins to get scraggy and the body develops further while awareness stagnates.

Throughout life, you actually unconsciously try in various ways to reignite the pineal gland, the youthful spirit and understanding that you had as a child.

Through the Ajna Chakra one starts to develop so-called witness consciousness - all the experiences that you experience in your life, here are offered a higher meaning.

At this stage however the saying is "Whatever your vision, such is your world."

This is one reason why many esoteric schools mainly cultivate practices through which the Ajna chakra is first awakened.

And in that vein in Kundalini yoga there is a very well-known technique, Cobra breathing, that activates precisely this gland.

The pineal gland or the subtle body third eye is mentioned in almost all the writings of religious or metaphysical nature.

Mystics always knew that there was an inner eye on the skull that could see absolutely everything, all that was necessary was to awaken its vision.

7. Sahasrara chakra (crown chakra)

Sahasrara chakra, popularly called "lotus of the thousand petals", is located on the top of the head.

The term "thousand" actually represents its fullness and limitlessness.

It is at the same time also not considered a chakra, but location of consciousness.

Physically it fits the pituitary gland, which also controls every gland in particular and the entire system of the body.

It is the crown of the expansion of consciousness and the supreme chakra.

It is said that the power of all the chakras is not really in the chakras, but in the Sahasrara.

Chakras are actually only "switches" for igniting Sahasrara.

As long as all the chakras are not activated, Sahasrara remains incomplete, and thus is the person’s entire mental and life potential.

All chakras are part of Sahasrara, and Sahasrara is part of all the chakras.

Kundalini handles energy with the source from which it was created.

When this occurs, a person experiences self-realization.

As Muladhara chakra is the last chakra in animal evolution, so is Sahasrara Chakra the last in human evolution.

It is believed that the Sahasrara starts divine evolution and that above the head are divine chakras.

All mystical and religious systems describe the state of bliss in their own way.

Nirvana, Samadhi, enlightenment, heaven etc.

However, for the esoteric symbolism and terminology in ancient texts to be fully understood, they need to be read through a different state of consciousness.

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