If you have been following my blog , or have ever experienced me live, you know I am a big fan and believer of chakra wisdom tools.

Chakra comes from Sanskrit and translates to energy “center,” “wheel,” or “turning.” It has been a part of the Vedic wisdom traditions for thousands of years. Ancient seers put the pieces together long ago – putting forth devoted studies into the many threads of frequencies that connect our emotional, intellectual, and spiritual energies and the effects that these energies have to our overall health and constitutional well being.

Every thing in this sweet existence of ours is energy – every word, thought, sound, view, physical sensation… our responses to the world around us, our actions and our interactions.

Every text, bark, email, church bell, whisper, gaze, breath, car engine, rainbow — all the ripples of nature — from the warmth of the sun, the blowing of the breeze, the waves in the ocean, the changing of the leaves, the light from the stars in the night sky, and it goes on and on. Everything is energy.

We have seven main energy centers, known as chakras, that run in a straight line along our spine – starting at the base and up to the crown of our head. They can be thought of as the junction points of mind and matter. When activated, these brilliant energy vortexes swirl and form magnificent spiral bundles that contribute to the achievement of higher states of consciousness.

When our chakras are open and vibrant we are abundantly rich in the vital life force, known in Sanskrit as “Prana.” We feel grounded, inspired, energized, loving, kind, grateful, intuitive, and connected to source. When energy becomes stagnant in one or more of these vortex wheels, we are prone to experience emotional congestion fueled by fear, limiting beliefs, and lack of self-love – thus opening ourselves to emotional, instinctual, and spiritual blocks of pain. (Take the chakra test here!)

The ancient wisdom traditions teach that for every emotional response there is a correlating physical response. David Simon, MD, was known to say that ninety percent of our physical toxicity is emotionally derived. Energized and alive chakras promote healthy cellular growth. We experience “free flowing” energy and information that moves in alignment within the natural rhythms of our bodies and, the rhythms of nature. When these energy centers are blocked, our internal rhythms literally “shut down” – moving into protective mode. Over a prolonged, unattended period of time, this can carry the same effect as toxic emotional suppression – resulting in physical illnesses like lower back pain, chronic fatigue, and digestive challenges.

When we are making healthier, more conscious choices, we exist in a state of grounded, energy awareness. Perhaps, you have heard me express the saying, where attention goes, energy flows.

It’s true…try it and observe the results. By eating cleaner, tapping into our elevated emotional intelligence, applying daily balancing and emotional releasing techniques, and opening ourselves to stillness through a daily meditation practice, we feel, witness and LIVE a life full of vitality, healthy discernment, positive progression and purpose-driven fulfillment.

Tapping into the chakra energies is another wisdom tool for us to gauge where we are currently falling on the well being scale. Since our chakras are expressions of various levels of our consciousness and represent specific areas within our instinctual, mental and spiritual realms – feeling more connected to our individual energies – whether open or blocked – brings us closer to the fulfillment of our needs, dreams, and a stronger sense Self. Through the self-identification of stagnancies and frequencies, positive attributes begin to shine through and negative characteristics begin to diminish.

Some examples of chakra enlivening techniques:

• chakra tuning using the correlating wheel sounds (listed below)
• chakra chanting
• guided chakra meditations
• color therapy
• aromatherapy
• sound healing or music
• physical movement, and
• daily chakra affirmations.

Here’s some info regarding the first chakra known in Sanskrit as the Muladhara (pronounced moolah-darah).

The First Chakra: Muladhara
Meaning: root, foundation or support
Location: tip of your tailbone
Color: red
Impact: family, community, work team
Characteristics: groundedness, stability, security,
Vibration: LAAM (as in llama)
Emotion: fear (false evidence appearing real)
Affirmation: We are connected

When this chakra is open, we are strongly rooted in our work, home, & intimate relationships; connected to our loved ones; grounded; centered; empowered; and feeling safe. When this chakra is closed, we are disconnected, reclusive, unstable, and fear-based.

Happy exploring and remember the power of your energy ripples! People feel it, take it in and distill it just like you do with their energy, so be conscious of how you treat yourself and others in this crazy, beautiful world!

We transform the world by transforming ourselves. @davidji_com (Click to Tweet!)

davidji is a certified Vedic Master and a teacher of stress management, emotional healing, and conscious choice-making. He is the author of the best-selling Secrets of Meditation: A Practical Guide to Inner Peace & Personal Transformation and the creator of the award-winning guided meditation CD Fill What is Empty; Empty What is Full. Visit davidji.com for free tools, tips, and techniques to take your practice to the next level and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Learn more about chakras and chakra enlivening techniques at my 4-day retreat “Awakening Your Inner Healer.” Fuel yourself with strength, courage & grace!