A Journey Through the Chakras- Your Energy.Your Rules.
A grain of salt and a whole lot of soul: the recipe for creating your own energetic narrative.
What if everything you thought you knew about chakras was more like a Rachel Ray crafted recipe versus one handed down through countless generations? The older I get, the less I claim to know. And honestly? That’s kind of freeing. Here’s what I do know: The chakra system we hear about today is quite different from the ancient practices of the past. As with most concepts that delve beyond our senses, the idea of the chakra system has been adapted and re-adapted, filtered through the experiences and interpretations of countless individuals.
If you’re genuinely curious about the traditional understanding and history of chakras, I highly recommend starting with a blog post by Sanskrit scholar and leading expert Christopher Wallace (also known as Hareesh). As Wallace explains, “Okay, I'll give it to you straight: for the most part, Western yoga understands almost nothing about the chakras that the original tradition thought was important about them. You see, if you read a book like Anodea Judith’s famous Wheels of Life or suchlike, it's important to realize that you are not reading a work of yoga philosophy but of Western occultism…” He continues to provide an engaging overview of the ancient practice and explains how the chakra systems are meant to be prescriptive rather than descriptive.
The seven-chakra system we’re familiar with today really took shape between 1918-1970, drawing from Arthur Avalon’s (John Woodroffe’s) rough translations of Indian and Western texts, and Carl Jung’s association of chakras with psychological states. Many of the associations we recognize now stem from Anodea Judith’s book “Wheels of Life,” which, as Wallace points out, has no basis in traditional Indian sources.
So, what does all of this mean? Absolutely nothing…and everything. It’s simply an awareness that what’s being offered isn’t some mystical, ancient secret. It’s a collection of concepts that resonated with people, were creatively adapted to fit our culture, and now serve as a tool for self-awareness and self-improvement. Allow it to be your permission slip to empowerment and liberation to create the application and understanding that best works for you! In this freedom, you reclaim your own energetic authority and develop a recipe aligned with your personal and unique tastes. Both recipes serve up delicious plates whether they are a few years old or thousands of years old.
Bottom line: You are the expert on you. You already have all the information and tools you need. This is simply one organizational system to focus on different areas of healing and growth.
The concept of energy centers resonates deeply with me and I’m excited to share my insights into our Western conceptualization of the topic, along with meditations and reflections inspired by Caroline Myss
The images accompanying each chakra are my own artistic expressions, part of my fine art series “Sacred Symmetry.” They represent my personal journey of understanding and connecting with these energies. The thumbnail images reflect the traditional Western rainbow associations, while the blog images explore the Western elemental associations with each chakra. Consider them my own personal spice blend to a newer recipe.
Through exploration and contemplation, I’ve developed a deeper relationship with myself. I like simple organized concepts that are easily compartmentalized. I’ve peeled back layers of my thought patterns using color-coded lenses, elemental expressions, and somatic synergy.. For instance, when I feel drained, I focus on my solar plexus chakra and reflect on how I’m nourishing my life in body, mind, and spirit. I examine what I need to purify and add fire to. As my brilliant yoga trainer Samantha Leonard often reminded me, “There are many paths up the mountain.”
Think of the following pages as your basic recipe template for your energy. Take a relaxed, no-pressure stroll through each of the seven main chakras, starting from the grounding root and climbing all the way to the expansive crown. Maybe you uncover their potential impact on your life – how they might influence your emotions, your physical well-being, and even your spiritual connection.
Consider this your invitation to explore, experiment, and cook up what resonates with you. No dogma, no pressure – just a friendly guide to help you discover your own unique relationship with these potentially powerful energy centers. Have fun, and remember you already have all of the ingredients you need for your perfect recipe.
Bon Appétit, Dear Friends!
Hridaya Guha- Secret Cave of the Heart
The Secret Cave of the Heart symbolizes the spiritual space within the heart where one releases the stories of their mind (personal perceptions) and connects with Ultimate Reality, Divine Will, Higher Source, Life Itself. It is said to be the space of our essential nature and is another name for “The Witness Consciousness.” It is a metaphorical sacred space where the finite and infinite, personal and transpersonal, present and eternity merge into oneness Tantric Yoga refers to and duality ceases to exist.
