I use the chakras as part of my logo and to identify the different sections of my website. Energy awareness has been what I refer to as a learning edge, and a big part of my growth. Energy has its history in many homeopathic medicines and quantum physics theories support the existence of energy and energy fields. There are literally thousands of resources on the topic. This article provides a very basic overview of the information I found useful and some strategies to enhance the performance of your chakras. Like anything else I write about, I encourage you to explore a few resources until you find one that resonates with you.

You are a lattice work of energies. The enormous implications of this single fact are the basis of energy medicine. The body’s energy systems contain meridians, your body’s energy pathways, chakras, your body’s energy centres, and aura, your body’s energy atmosphere. All systems emit electromagnetic energy and light. Chakras push life energy, often referred to as chi or prana, through the body to ensure vitality. Chakra is an ancient Sanskrit word that means wheel and denotes the circular motion of energy they create. Most resources identify 7 chakras.

Let’s start at the root, often referred to as the first chakra or lowest. It is identified by the colour red and is located at the base of your tail bone/spine. Its primary drive is survival and safety, and it spins at the slowest rate. Anything that shakes your ground will impact your root chakra. You’ll know you are there when you lack focus, concentration, tend to break agreements and don’t feel good about yourself or your life. Don’t let worry strangle your roots!

Strategies to strengthen your root chakra:

• A 2 to 5 minute closed eye sitting on a red object (blanket, pillow, piece of clothing) and concentrate on your breath reaching your root chakra and bringing up the colour red.

• A walk in nature, placing bare feet in sand, ocean, lake, trail. I recommend finding a tree that calls to you and placing your tail/spine against it.

• Spend a few minutes staring at a flame or thinking about the colour red.

The second chakra is most often referred to as the sacral or playful chakra. It is orange and is located mid way between your navel and the base of your spine. Its primary drive is pleasure, and it spins at the second lowest rate. Denial of emotions, sexuality and sensuality will impact this chakra’s energy flow. You may be here if you are experiencing bloating, stomach discomforts, insomnia, and are feeling uncomfortable in your body.

Strategies to strengthen your playful chakra:

• Play – get outdoors, walk a local trail, create an adventure, and have fun! Joy is one sure way to enhance the functioning of this chakra.

• Create – this chakra is your creative ally. Paint, draw, write, blog, do whatever it is you love to do. Home renos and re-creating a space, moving furniture. All these small actions will help the flow of energy.

The third chakra is the last of what is referred to as the lower chakras. It is known as the solar plexus or will chakra and its primary drive is power. The colour yellow denotes this chakra which is located behind and a bit above the naval. This chakra houses our self-esteem, confidence, will, and inner power. Curious enough, some research associates will to ego. The will chakra is affected by anything that rocks your power or control. Uncertainty is sure to block this energy as will worry.

Strategies to strengthen your will chakra:

• Spend more time on all the items you control.

• Do the things that help you strengthen your personal power (I read letters and thank you cards to remind me of all the good deeds I have done – gives me a warm fuzzy and reinstates my faith).

• Meditate and allow your body and mind a time out – even 5 minutes a day will help.

• Move, do anything physical that allows you to get into your body and out of your mind. I have dance parties!

The fourth chakra is the first of what is referred to as the upper chakras. It is known as the heart chakra and is in the heart area. The heart chakra is green and houses love, balance, relationships, and intimacy. Its quest is for love. This chakra operates at medium to fast speeds. Thoughts and feelings about relationships, love, people, forgiveness, and attachment can create blocks for this chakra. Fears about receiving and giving love can clog the heart chakra.

Strategies for strengthening your heart chakra:

• Express gratitude every night when you go to bed, Name 5 things, experiences, events, people you are grateful for. Hold a piece of rose quartz or your favorite rock at your heart while you express your gratitude. Use the same rock and you will have blessed it repeatedly and it is guaranteed to bless you back.

• If you like baths, soak with Epsom salts and a rose quartz crystal and let the love energy fill your heart.

• Wear something green that reminds you to check in with your heart on important decision days.

The fifth chakra is known as the throat chakra. It is sky blue and is in your throat area, encompassing your Adams apple. It spins at a fast rate and houses communication and creativity. Its primary drive is the voice of creative expressing. Your throat chakra is most often impacted when you are not speaking your truth, have many outstanding communications and struggle to ask for support and your basic needs. You may have blockage in your throat chakra when you feel discomfort in the area. It may be a constant scratch, sudden coughing fits, or a nagging sense that swallowing is hard.

Strategies to strengthen your throat chakra:

• Sing out loud like no one is listening. I do this in my car on longer drives.

• Listen to om practices and start a few minutes per day.

• Write, journal, paint, move, anything creative that inspires the expression of what needs to be expressed. I like to write things out before my communications as it helps me get to the root of the issue and releases any unexpressed emotions or rants.

The sixth chakra is known as the third eye. It is indigo blue and is in the middle of the forehead. It spins fast and houses our imagination, dreams, insights, and intuition. Its primary drive is for transcendence. This chakra is often referred to as the eye of your true self or your higher self. The third eye chakra is most affected by feelings and thoughts about the past or the future. This chakra can often close in early childhood when dreams are broken, and imagination seems impossible.

Strategies to strengthen your third eye chakra:

• Dream a little – whatever that looks like for you. If you have a long term vision, when is the last time you took a good look and checked in? If you don’t have a long term vision, is now a good time to start creating one?

• Meditate and focus on your third eye for however long you can. Work towards fully opening your third eye so you can see through it. Practice is the only way to build in meditation. Journalling in silence is a form of meditation.

• Lie down and place an indigo blue crystal, gem of your choice, on your third eye.

• Consider doing a Merkabah meditation to align your energies.

The seventh chakra is the crown chakra. It is located at the top of your head much like a ceiling fan. It is denoted by the colours violet, royal purple and white. The crown chakra houses understanding and connection with the divine. Its primary drive is the surrender to spirituality. Any thoughts about God, religion, spirituality, divine guidance, or trust, whether positive or negative will impact the crown chakra’s ability to function at its peak. The crown chakra is essential to the ability to receive thoughts, information, and ideas from the collective unconscious. If you think all of this is way out there, then chances are high your crown chakra is operating at low levels. If you are holding onto negative emotions and bitter thoughts about divine guidance, God or negative religious experience, your crown chakra will be blocked.

Strategies to strengthen your crown chakra:

• Deal yourself in to some emotional work to release the negative experiences and let go of the bitterness. Any body work is helpful: breathwork, integrative energy work, movement, yoga practices, counselling, therapy, floats. Programs such as ReSet for MORE Excellence by Excellence Seminars International are ideal to set a strong foundation for your personal development. Find what works for you and most times it is a combination of several of the above!

• Read books that explore shadows, and the dark emotions we humans spend our lifetimes denying. The only way through a feeling is to feel all the feels and allow the emotion to run its course. Otherwise, we fill a basement full of unexpressed feelings, and that basement is like a time bomb ready to explode or slowly seeps back into your every day existence.

• Find strategies to express your emotions in a safe and supported manner. Journal, paint, write, sing, dance, express and be witnessed, share forgiveness and cultural rituals and ceremonies.

These are a few of my favorite ideas. If you wear jewelry and like crystals and stones, use them to help focus more energies towards chakras. I often wear lapis lazuli or moonstone around my neck to energize my throat chakra. I wear citrine when I want to attract more financial abundance. If you don’t have that jewelry, any gem store will have small crystals and stones for $5 each and you can select your favorites to match all 7 chakra colours. If you locate 7 flat stones, you can lie down and place the stones in alignment with the chakras and visualize the energy flow.

Have fun with this practice! And be sure to explore others and share your experiences.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at lucie@life-changesconsulting.com