Flying on the serpent of light, passing through initiation after initiation at each energy plexus, the rainbow colors activate and bring new layers and levels of consciousness to the one who opens the gates.
To many cultures and in various mystery schools across the globe, information regarding the mystical rainbow in the spine has been cloaked and hidden Over the past several decades this information has been coming “out of hiding” and made itself readily available to the masses. This article offers an introduction to what is now considered elementary and foundational spiritual wisdom. If you are not as yet familiar with the energy vortexes in the spine, join me on this journey and begin to open the gates - the gates where your awareness awaits.
Bundled up
Just like the body has nerve plexuses which bundle together hundreds of nerves in order to distribute them to various regions of the body, so too does the body have energy plexuses, also known as vortexes or Chakras, which allow one to “step down” energy from the higher realms into the physical body. There are 7 main chakras in the body situated along the spine, as well as several “outside” the body which connect a person to the earth and to higher dimensional planes, including universal awareness.
Mind and Body
The various chakras in the body are intimately related to the level of consciousness one is able to access as well as the degree to which areas of the body are able to maximize their potentiality.
For example, the first chakra in the body, situated at the base of the spine, is the “gauge,” if you will, which allows varying degrees of safety, security and lack or abundance consciousness to be accessed. When switched all the way “off” or prior to awakening/activation, the person with a closed 1st Chakra would feel a lack of safety in the world, be worrisome about basic needs such as food and shelter – to the point of obsessing over them – and would live in what could be termed “lack mentality.”
At the same time, there could be issues with the colon/lower intestine and the process of elimination, as well as with the legs – both intimately connected to the first chakra of the body.
Instead, or on the “other end of the spectrum” one with an awakened first chakra knows trust in Universal Abundance and that all needs will be provided for. There is no concern for basic safety as the trust in a higher power has anchored into their consciousness, allowing full access to prosperity consciousness.
A Brief Intro of Names and Functions
Here is a list of the seven main chakras in the body and their function and related body parts:
1- Moolandhara Chakra – located at the base of the spine/perineum (in women – located around the G-spot area within the yoni). This Chakra governs attitudes of safety/security, grounding, lack/abundance, basic instincts/needs, trust and primal creative urges. It feeds the legs, gonads and intestines, as well as the process of elimination. It is associated with the Earth element, the square, Lord Ganesha, the color Red and the sound “LAM.”
2 – Swadisthana Chakra – located about 2 inches above the tailbone and about ½ inch to an inch inside the body, this chakra governs attitudes of passion, desire, satisfaction, sexuality and sensuality. It is the “karmic center” of the body – meaning, all ancestral karma comes through the 2nd chakra for processing. It is how we “pass down” information and patterns through DNA.
This chakra, when open and activated, helps us feel satisfied with our lives on a very mundane level, as well as sexually in our bodies. It is the center from which our personal passion begins to sprout. When we are disconnected from this center, or it is still closed up, we might feel dissatisfied, disconnected and even ashamed of our bodies or our sexuality and muddled about our life's passion. It is in the process of opening this vital center that we experience the proverbial “dark night of the soul.”
Body parts related to this center are the reproductive organs and glands (ovaries and testes), kidneys and bladder. It is associated with the Water element, the circle with a crescent, Lord Vishnu, the color Orange and the sound “VAM.”
3- Manipura Chakra – located at the navel center. The third chakra, Manipura, means in Sanskrit “The City of Jewels” and it is said that once consciousness has risen above the first two chakras it will not fall again into their grasp. By this it means that once the third chakra of awareness has been pierced and opened, one will be able to access their own “inner jewels” and start discovering the truth of who they are above the consciousness of the first two centers.
Manipura rules motivation, creativity and empowerment. When it is shut down, fear and insecurity arise. It brings energy to the stomach and digestive system and helps in the assimilation of nutrients to the body. Manipura also governs the adrenal glands. It is associated with the Fire element, downward pointing triangle, and the color yellow or gold. Surya or Lakshmi governs this center and the sound is “RAM.”
4- Anahata Chakra – located in the heart center. This chakra is also called the “wish-fulfilling tree” as once one’s consciousness is lifted to open the heart chakra all one's wishes are bound to come true. This is also a warning that if your heart is not open and you are still experiencing the disempowered version of this center, you may manifest instead your fears and judgments. An opened heart center feels compassion and unconditional love as well as self-nourishment and self-love. It is here that one contacts their inner healer. Anahata also rules the physical heart and lungs as well as the cardiovascular system and the thymus gland in the chest – king of the immune glands.
The color of this center is green, the element is air and the shape is the six pointed star. It is associated with Krishna and Radhaa – the manifestation of Divine Love – and the sound is “YAM.”
5- Vishuddhi Chakra – located in the throat. Consciousness at this level has to do with the voice and the ability to speak one's personal truth. A closed Vishuddhi chakra would not be able to do this and might resort to fabrications, lies or simply a resistance to speaking what they know to be true for them. An open throat chakra creates a bridge of communication between self and others and allows for the vocalization of one's passion into the world. The throat center also rules the physical throat/neck and the thyroid and parathyroid glands. The associations with this center are the Spirit/Akasha element, an upward pointing triangle, the color blue, Lord Shiva and the sound “HAM.”
6- Anja Chakra – located in the center of the brain – the pineal gland, often shown as the space between the eyebrows. The function of this chakra is to allow one to see from a detached perspective and to step into the “observer” viewpoint and witness one's life. An open Anja chakra brings greater intuition and inspiration, where a closed brow center might find one trapped in the ego mind and functions of intellectualism. The brain is affected by this chakra as are the eyes and pituitary gland. The shape associated with this center is the two-petaled lotus and the color is indigo or purple. The deity usually matched with this center is the half man, half woman (Shiva/Shakti) image of androgyny. The sound is 'OM.'
7- Sahasara Chakra – located in the crown of the head. Another name for this center is the thousand-petaled lotus. It is associated with higher consciousness and a connection to all that is. This is where one either can access universal awareness and connectivity of all-that-is, or not. A rainbow light is usually associated with this center as is the Buddha. It is here that one realizes liberation or Samadhi. The sound associated is “AUM.”
That Which Animates
When an individual has the experience of awakening one or numerous chakras, it is because the kundalini shakti – or universal cosmic energy – has started to rise through the spinal cord, bringing awareness to each one. This kundalini energy is often depicted as a serpent or snake, which initially is lying dormant at the base of the spine prior to awakening. If not awakened by other means earlier in life, this generally begins to happen around age 40 – also referred to as “a mid-life crisis.” The word “kundalini” literally means “coiled one.”
Upon awakening, there are three main spinal channels (nadis) which need to be purified and “cleansed” in order to allow the kundalini energy to travel unencumbered through the spinal channel. These three nadis (meaning river, or “to flow”) represent the positive, negative and neutral poles. They are called, respectively: pingala, ida, and sushumna nadi.
Ida
The feminine pole in the spine is seen as blue and “negative” - like the yin energy of the yin/yang. This energy flows from the base of the spine, intersects and crosses over at each chakra point ending at the pineal gland or Anja chakra. The regulation of this energy can be detected and controlled, to an extent using Swara Yoga – the Science of the Breath – whereby the air in the left nostril of the nose is observed in association with Ida Nadi.
When one's breathing is dominant through the left nostril of the nose, Ida Nadi is dominant. Ida domination means more access to the feminine attributes of intuition, inspiration, receptivity, passivity, creativity, timelessness and nurturing.
Pingala
The masculine pole in the spine is seen as red and “positive” - like the yang energy. As the energy flows from the base of the spine, Pingala too intersects and crosses Ida at each spinal center all the way to the third eye center. The regulation of Pingala is likewise detected in the nose by observing the right nostril breathing.
When breath is dominant in the right nostril one can know that Pingala Nadi is active and so are the masculine qualities of dominance, action, planning, structure, dynamism, aggression and linearity.
Sushumna
The central channel in the spine, around which wraps Ida and Pingala, is known in Sanskrit as Sushumna Nadi. After Ida and Pingala are thoroughly purified and cleansed, then the central column begins to take more of the cosmic energy and kundalini is sent straight up the spine. Sushumna is the neutral energy in the spine and can be detected when both nostrils are breathing equal amounts of breath in simultaneously. Kundalini takes its fast track up Sushumna, but can only do so once all three nadis and all the chakras have been purified through yoga, meditation, pure intent, surrender, and the release of karma.
Other Chakras
Once all the chakras have been opened and activated there is the opportunity to reach other chakras located outside of the body such as Lahun chakra – located about a foot above the head. This chakra is the one often depicted as a halo in paintings and when activated enlarges to encompass all the other chakras to work together as one.
Other chakras include a high-heart chakra, an Earth Chakra, a Chakra to access Akashic Records, a Universal Chakra and Chakras in the hands, to name a few. In reality, there are chakras all throughout the body;these are simply some of the main chakras with “bigger jobs” acting as hubs for the universal energy in the cosmos to be down-stepped into our bodies for use in both the physical and in how we interact with this dimension.
In Conclusion
This has been, in effect, a general introduction into the basic chakra system in the body. Each chakra will be explored to greater depths in the forthcoming series on the chakras to follow this introduction. I look forward to sharing deeper insight and discovery into each vital center and how to work with each chakra to your greatest advantage.
Photo Credit: "Thou Art Divine" by new 1lluminati is licensed under CC BY 2.0
