What is a chakra anyway?
With love from Christina Alexa
Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning wheel or disc and refers to dynamic and concentrated energy systems in the body and beyond the body. The Sanskrit language is one of the most ancient in the world, Eastern in origin and profound in depth. Woven throughout sacred texts, this language was used to communicate deep and poetic teachings regarding the spiritual and energetic makeup of our human experience as connected with the divine.
While there are several different explanations of chakra systems (as well as the number of chakras that exist), in Enjoy the Journey Retreats we work primarily with the main seven. These subtle nerve centers, each located in areas corresponding to physical nerve centers in the body, also correspond to specific states of consciousness. When all chakras are balanced, we feel vital, connected, inspired, present, balanced, open, intuitive. However, in this complex earth walk, we understandably suffer imbalances in one or more chakras, leading to disconnection and confusion. This is on purpose, providing the tension we require for growth.
Our Enjoy the Journey Retreats provide an explanation of how to discover, excavate and enliven each of these energy centers, one at a time, one retreat at a time. This is accomplished through physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual practice, connection and play in a highly safe container that amplifies love. For those who are called to move through all seven chakras in a measured pace, consider attending each retreat that addresses the chakra space you are called to dive into.
1st chakra – Muladhara
Located in the anal region, legs, bones, feet and corresponding to identity, ground and the security.
2nd chakra – Svadhisthana
Located in the sacral region and corresponding to creativity, pleasure and the birthing of one’s life.
3rd chakra – Manipura
Located at the navel and corresponding to will and the power principle, including right relationship to power.
4th chakra – Anahata
Located at the heart and corresponding to compassion and vulnerability as the portal to knowing love.
5th chakra – Vishuddha
Located at the throat and corresponding to voice, knowing when to speak up and stay silent, sharing wisdom.
6th chakra – Ajna
Located at the third eye, the point between the eyebrows, just above the brow line and representing the juncture between the finite mind and the infinite including intellect as well as intuitive knowing and vision.
7th chakra – Sahasrara
Located at the crown of the head and representing cosmic consciousness and connection to the divine.
Our consciousness normally fluctuates among the first three chakras, ruled by the drive for security, pleasure and power. Most of our energies are consumed in seeking validation as we struggle to know ourselves on our growth journey. The first three chakras are extremely developmentally significant and when in balance, represent grounded identity, safety and security, creativity, inspiration and a healthy sense of personal power. When this energy is dissipated in the search for security, passion and power, we become the victim of our own self-destructive fears and indulgences; when these chakras are flowing, we experience a freedom of energy leading to kundalini rising, opening the bridge of the heart and upper chakras and leading to higher states of consciousness. Yoga, contemplation and meditation are examples of practices that balance these foundational energy centers and expansion into intuitive realization.
