Chakra Balancing / Chakra Healing

Flowing within our bodies is the energy that drives and maintains our life functions. This energy flows not only within our bodies, but also through the very fabric of the universe. In Asian traditions, people call this energy ki, chi, or prana. It is the basic life force that permeates all things. Many ancient cultures believe that there are seven major points of intersection for the flow of this energy in the human body, located along the spine at key branches of the human nervous system. These points ascend upward from the tail bone to the top of the skull. They are called chakras.

Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning wheel or circle. This name is appropriate because energy tends to swirl in a circular motion as it gathers in the chakras, like a vortex. Chakras are often described as “wheels of light.” They are often depicted as lotus flowers with a different number of petals for each one. Various traditions also associate a specific color with each chakra. According to many cultures, balancing this energy flow (i.e. chakra balancing) is integral to one’s overall physical, emotional, and mental health.

Although chakras cannot be seen or even revealed in autopsies, their existence is well documented in the ancient healing and spiritual disciplines of the Far East. In traditional Indian medicine, each chakra in the spinal column is believed to influence or govern the bodily functions near its region of the spine. Each chakra is also associated with a specific kind of energy related to various human attributes, from the most primal to the most spiritual. The lower chakras govern the more primal, physical aspects of human existence, while the upper chakras are associated with one’s spiritual growth and evolution of consciousness.

Chakra balancing refers to a number of different techniques used to clear or release stagnant or excessive energy in the individual chakras, so that the body’s entire energy system flows smoothly. These techniques can also be used to increase energy in a chakra when it is depleted, thereby strengthening its ability to function properly. When your chakras are balanced, your energy (life force) circulates freely throughout the body’s entire meridian system (or energy pathways). When all seven chakras are functioning well and in balance, we are healthy in body, mind, and spirit.

The concept of chakra balancing or chakra healing is central to many body-mind-spirit healing therapies. The subtle energy of the chakras is explored through various practices such as aromatherapy, mantras, meditation, Reiki, hands-on healing, flower essences, sound therapy, color/light therapy, and crystal/gem therapy, to name a few. Many popular Asian healing modalities such as acupuncture, acupressure, shiatsu, tai chi, and qigong focus on balancing the flow through the energetic meridians that are an integral part of the chakra system.

In the ancient Korean body-mind-spirit discipline of Shin-sun-do (Way of the Divine), there is a system for achieving spiritual completion through the chakras. The goal is to become consciously aware of one’s soul and act to nurture its growth. Chakra balancing and chakra healing training, developed by author Ilchi Lee, is a modernized version of this ancient system adapted for modern times. The chart below offers a brief summary of the individual chakras and their primary characteristics, as explained in Lee’s book, Healing Chakras: Awaken Your Body’s Energy System for Complete Health, Happiness, and Peace.

Human Chakra System & Symbols