About Reiki and our Chakra Systems
Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a technique used for stress reduction, relaxation and chakra balancing that promotes healing. The meaning of Rei- is universal and the meaning of Ki – is Life energy. Therefore, Reiki can be defined as universal Life energy. Universal life energy is the non-physical energy that gives life to all living things. As long as something is alive, it has life energy circulating through it and surrounding it; when it dies, the life energy departs.
If your life energy is low, or if there is a restriction in its flow, you will be more vulnerable to illness and dis-ease. If your life energy is high it is flowing freely you are less likely to get sick. Life energy plays an important role in everything we do. It gives life to the body and has higher levels of expression. It is also the primary energy of our emotions, thoughts and spiritual practice. If you have positive, healthy thoughts, your energy becomes stronger. If you have negative, unhealthy thoughts your energy becomes weakened.
For those unfamiliar with the chakra system, if you imagine the subtle energy body (made up of chakras, linked to meridians and contained in the aura} as being like a car engine, and the physical body is the actual vehicle which the engine drives, it is not difficult to see that when the car starts to perform less effectively or even breaks down, that it’s the engine which needs repairing or re-tuning and not the car bodywork. It’s the same with the subtle energy body. When we re-charge/realign the chakras – get them spinning in harmony and at the correct rate – you get the physical body running smoothly once again.
What do chakra colors mean?
While the chakra colors reflect different frequencies of light and energy associated with each energy center, their meaning may be related to the function of its associated chakras and general symbolism. When you see or use the following colors, you could make the following associations:
- Meaning of the red chakra color: Red is the color of the root chakra (first chakra); it symbolizes safety, survival, grounding, nourishment from the Earth energy. Note that in chakra healing practices, red may denote inflammation at the physical level.
- Meaning of the orange chakra color: Orange is the color of the sacral chakra (second chakra); it carries meanings associated with emotions, creativity, sexuality, and is associated with water, flow.
- Meaning of the yellow chakra color: is the color of the solar plexus chakra (third chakra); it symbolizes mental activities, intellect, personal power, will.
- Meaning of the green chakra color: Green is the color of the heart chakra (fourth chakra); it is connected with love, relating, integration, compassion.
- Meaning of the blue chakra color: Blue is the color of the throat chakra (fifth chakra); it symbolizes self expression, expression of truth, creative expression, communication, perfect form and patterns.
- Meaning of the purple chakra color (or deep indigo blue): Purple (or deep indigo blue) is the color of the third eye chakra (sixth chakra); it evokes intuition, extrasensory perception, inner wisdom.
- Meaning of the white chakra color (or purple): White is the color of the crown chakra (seventh chakra); it’s associated with the universal, connection with spirituality, consciousness.
You can look at symbolic associations and the chakra system chart to determine the meaning of a specific color.
More about the Chakras!
| The Root (base) Chakra | also referred to as the muladhara chakra, and is located at the base of the spine, in the perneum {the area between the anus and the genitals}. It has four petals and bears the yellow square of the earth element. The color associated with this chakra is red. It is concerned with how grounded you are, and how good your connection with the earth is, or “how firmly you have your feet on the ground”. When balanced it allows you to function well in the material world, dealing with physical needs and the basics of survival. For example – a dreamy person may become more grounded through base chakra healing. |
| The Sacral Chakra | also called navel or svadhisthana chakra, is located in the pubic region, between the navel and genitals. It has six red petals, bears a white lunar crescent and is associated with the water element. It represents sexuality, creative energy and sensual emotions. For example – a person who is frigid, or who suffers from chronic cystitis, menstrual problems or chronic lower back pain may benefit from sacral chakra healing. It is associated with the reproductive organs, bladder, large and small intestines, appendix, sacrum and lumbar vertebrae. The energy of the sacral chakra is about enjoyment of life, creation and pleasure. |
| The Solar Plexus Chakra | is also called the manipura chakra, and is located in the auric body directly over the physical solar plexus (pit of the stomach). It has ten blue-grey petals and bears the red triangle of the fire element. The associated color of the solar plexus chakra is yellow. The solar plexus chakra is concerned with personal power and control, what it means to be a unique individual in this world, and how you make connections with others. For example – someone who lacks control over their life and who is angry, domineering or abusive may benefit from solar plexus chakra healing. It is associated with the stomach, pancreas, liver, gall bladder, spleen, adrenal glands and general digestion. |
| The Heart Chakra | also called the Anahata chakra, and is located in the auric body directly over the heart. It has 12 red petals and bears the blue-black six-pointed star of the air or wind element. The heart chakra is concerned with the sympathetic and harmonious coexistence of body and spirit, and is associated with the heart and chest. It represents unconditional love, forgiveness, compassion, and love of god or spiritual and divine love. When your heart chakra is balanced and strong, it is easy to express love to others. For example – someone who is emotionally immature or a person with heart disease or breast cancer, may benefit from heart chakra healing. |
| The Throat Chakra | also called the vishuddha chakra and is located in the auric body at the throat. It has 16 purple petals and bears a white circle representing the full moon of the space element. The color associated with the throat chakra is blue-green. The throat chakra is concerned with meaningful communication and self expression. It is also the center of the will. It is associated with the mouth, vocal cords, trachea and thyroid glands. For example – when someone has physical difficulty and is emotionally lacking in self expression at the same time they may benefit from throat chakra healing. When the throat chakra is strong and balanced, it is easy to express higher spiritual truths. |
| The Third Eye Chakra | is also called the Ajna chakra and is located in the auric body in the middle of the forehead, above and between the eyebrows. It has 2 grey-white petals and bears a pure white circle symbolizing the subtle essence of consciousness. The third eye chakra is concerned with intuition, wisdom and focusing on inner spiritual development. Regular meditation is an ideal way to “open the third eye.” This chakra is associated with the pineal and pituitary glands, the spinal cord, eyes, ears, nose and sinuses. For example – a spiritually unevolved person who is only concerned with materialism may mature spiritually through healing of the third eye chakra. |
| The Crown Chakra | also called the sahasrana padma, or ‘thousand-petaled lotus” is located at the crown of the head. The thousand petals are pink or white and bear the 50 Sanskrit syllables. The thousand-petal lotus arises at the end of the central psychic channel, in the pure realm where Kundalini and Shiva unite. Violet is the associated color of this chakra. It is concerned with the spiritual quest for enlightenment or awakening. Meditation and spiritual searching for the meaning of life help awaken this chakra, which represents mystical, divine states and higher consciousness. The cerebral cortex and nervous system are associated with it. |
For example – someone who has lost the meaning of their life may benefit from crown chakra healing.