What is an Energy? As it relates to nature-based spirituality, energy can be described as the material that makes up all things. It is the stars, the planets and the space between them, the air we breathe, the trees, animals, rocks, wind, water and ourselves. Though it can be altered or transformed, no energy can be destroyed or created, despite the illusion of death, decay, birth and change. Energy is all permeating and infinite. Energy is forever in motion, forever changing, although in some cases the motion is so minute that it is invisible in physical reality, such as with stones and other "inanimate" objects. All matter can be seen in subtle reality as a vortex of energy, with each moving at a unique rate of speed. It is this energy which some people see as colors and others sense as the aura. Chakras and Auras It is important when studying auras and chakras to understand the adage, "as above, so below." In other words, chakras do not stand alone, nor does the aura or the body. These are interactive and always communicating elements of the whole being. No one plane of existence is more important than another, nor can be sustained in a healthy manner without the other. Although some spiritual paths teach that one aspect of one's being needs to be forsaken for another, a healthy spiritual system will emphasize balance among the several planes of one's whole being. Each chakra affects and is affected by its "partner" layer of the aura, so that if an injury occurs to a chakra, it shows in the aura and likewise, if an injury or imposition falls upon a certain layer of the aura, the "partner" chakra will be affected. In turn, these affects will then become manifest in the body as distress, illness or malfunction of the areas of the body supported by the given chakra. Chakras and auras can tell us what is going on with the body and why, just as noting what is happening with the body can indicate where a chakra may be blocked and where there may be damage or interference in the aura. Healing one will, by their very inter-connectedness, heal the other. However, one must realize that any time you may wish to help a person, every aspect of the person being helped must be taken into consideration, as attempting to heal or treat what is obvious may leave another part of the entire whole untouched. Modern medicine is a good example of how treating one aspect of a person neglects another. Modern medicine typically treats symptoms instead of healing the ultimate cause of the condition, because the physical body is emphasized while other aspects of the whole person are generally disregarded or worse, actually disparaged. Chakras are the energy vortices of the human being which are actually located in the etheric body (see below). They are often described as "spinning wheels" of energy. The major chakras are generally depicted as being aligned approximately along the vertical midline of the body, though some models indicate the spleen chakra off toward the spleen, and some show two chakras in the vicinity of the throat or thyroid. Minor chakras are located in the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and at each joint, as well as at locations along the meridians of the body. Most Western metaphysical systems designate seven major chakras, while some of the Eastern systems designate eight and even twelve. The first seven are located at the root of the spine, the area of the spleen, the solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye (between the brows), the crown of the head. Some Western traditions place an eighth chakra approximately 8 - 12 inches above the crown chakra. These are the ones Western metaphysical traditions work with most often. Colors associated with these Chakras are: root, black/red; spleen, orange/brown; solar plexus, yellow; heart, green/pink; throat, light/medium blue; third eye, indigo blue/violet; crown, violet/white; eighth chakra, white/gold. I personally recognize eight chakras in red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, indigo, violet and white in my chakra meditations. However, I will use other associated colors and not use the eighth chakra when a person with whom I am working is more comfortable with a different system. No one chakra system is preferred over another within the Earthpath tradition. Each person is encouraged to investigate the different systems to discover which one is personally relevant. Each chakra is the energy center for different mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the individual, as well as being a connection between the physical body which it energizes and its coordinating plane of the subtle body. When a chakra is open, energy flows freely back and forth between the subtle and physical (or gross) bodies. If a chakra becomes blocked for any reason, it is said to be closed. The energy cannot flow through or past that area of the body or has difficulty in doing so. Generally speaking, energy flows from the root chakra up through the other chakras and out the crown chakra. However, in certain exercises, energy is drawn down from above, through the crown chakra, in the opposite direction, to flow out the root chakra. In addition, energy can be cycled in a circular motion through the chakras, around the body and back into the original chakra. Exercises at the end of the chapter will include each of these methods. Root The root chakra is the energy which grounds the spiritual or ethereal in the physical. Its energy assists one in being secure and at peace in both the physical and spiritual realms. As its element is earth and area of consciousness is the physical body, this chakra helps us with our connection to the Earth and living in a material world. The energy from this chakra is, literally, what keeps us alive. It is the residing place of the Kundalini or "life energy." An unbalanced here can cause vanity, an obsession with the material, or the tendency to see things in "black and white." Survival and instinct are also associated with the root chakra. When one's life situation is threatening or unstable, or if one is in a situation which will greatly influence her future, this chakra will either be wide open, so that the individual is obsessed with survival issues; or closed, leaving the individual unable to move or make life affecting decisions. Splee The spleen chakra is associated with sexuality and creativity, though not specifically with the sex organs. Rather, it is associated with the energies which inspire sexuality. It is with the energy of this chakra that we reproduce, physically, artistically, intellectually and socially. When this chakra is unbalanced, it can result in promiscuity, blind creative drive, or conversely apathy or withdrawal from creative endeavors or sexual expression. The spleen chakra assists one with personal self esteem. The chakra's element is water and its area of consciousness is emotional. As such, it governs compassion and the ability to fall in love. When this chakra is balanced, one will feel connected to others while having the ability to allow time for herself. When it is out of balance violent energies such as fear, anger, and jealousy come into play. Solar Plexus Where the spleen chakra influences compassionate love and companionship, the solar plexus chakra influences the more fiery emotions as well as free will, physical power, and the ability for manifestation, for its element is fire. The solar plexus chakra is where we get our "gut feelings," and that "cognitive dissonance". (When one is "called on the carpet, the uneasy feeling in the gut is cognitive dissonance.) Its area of consciousness for is the mental or intellectual body. A balanced solar plexus chakra will result in a sense of personal power, a well-developed persona, and achievement. An unbalanced solar plexus chakra will result in being underdeveloped, immature, overly sensitive, in blind rage and raw animal-like emotions, i.e. chaotic, out of control power. When we feel stress and our digestion suffers, we are sensing an imbalance in the solar plexus chakra Heart Being the "center" chakra of the seven-chakra system, the heart chakra is the balance point between the three lower chakras and the three upper chakras. It is the place where harmony and balance are reached between the physical and the intuitive, the etheric and the spiritual. Air is the element of the heart chakra and its area of consciousness is the astral body. It influences the heart, lungs, and circulatory and immune system. A balanced heart chakra results in a loving person who is in tune with herself and her feelings, and is able to wait for the "right partner." she is friendly and outgoing, with a love for and desire to nurture her environment, whether human or nature. When this chakra is unbalanced, the result can be a demanding, possessive nature, especially in love or one who is paranoid and codependant. An unbalanced heart chakra can lead to breathing, and circulatory problems, heart attack, high blood pressure and cancer Throat The throat chakra is the first of the higher chakras. Here, the psyche begins to associate with more spiritual attitudes and ideals. This chakra's element is sound and it is associated with communication, internally as well as externally, though the internal aspect is often overlooked. When this chakra is balanced, the individual will be able to communicate comfortably, is honest with herself, is at home with meditation, and has a real desire to talk with others about her experiences, especially spiritual ones. Humor comes easily, even when it pertains to self and spiritual matters. As this chakra's area of consciousness is the etheric body. All things manifest in the etheric body before they manifest in the physical body, so it is extremely important to maintain balance in the throat chakra. This is also why speaking aloud what we wish to manifest is so important. Speaking our desires out loud directly impacts the etheric body which manifests that desire and brings it into the physical plane. When this chakra is out of balance, a person may be overly aggressive and dominant, talk too much, use speech to attack and hurt others, or be egotistical (telling herself she is, perhaps, more than she is); or in the inverse, be too timid to speak up for her rights or express her own thoughts, or live in denial of things which or situations which are harmful to her (not communicating with self). Third Eye The third eye chakra is the psychic center. It is here that one receives inner knowledge of all things, for it is here where one is able to "see" with the complete vision of both darkness and light. This chakra's element is light and its area of consciousness is the celestial body. It provides the illumination and power for healing others and allows for astral projection. This chakra, when balanced, brings the inner peace of spiritual connection and acceptance of all things being sacred. With the balancing of this chakra comes the knowledge of the interconnectedness of all things. When unbalanced, it can lead to psychic overload and mental breakdown, dogmatism, spiritual fanaticism and/or isolation; or in the inverse, insensitivity toward others, closed-mindedness, bigotry and intolerance. Crown The crown chakra is our connection to the higher self and the point at which white light of the Source enters one's energy field. It is the gateway to other planes and worlds, and is the connection to guides and higher spirits. The crown chakra element is thought and its area of consciousness is the ketheric body. It represents deep wisdom that makes the "quantum leap" beyond what can be learned through earthly means. It is the foundation of faith and the source of imagination and inspiration. When this chakra is open, it works with the throat chakra, as what is learned is then expressed. When balanced, it assists in transcending the laws of nature and allowing access to the subconscious and super conscious. When it is unbalanced, one may lose touch with reality, become mentally unbalanced, or feel spiritually "abandoned." Eighth to Twelfth Chakras The other five chakras shown in the chart above are not commonly included in Western chakra systems as major chakras, though I do use the ninth chakra. However, I have included them for information's sake. The eighth, or silver chakra is the feminine balance to the ninth chakra. This chakra holds the transformational energy found in nature and the power to shape shift. The ninth, or gold chakra is the masculine balance to the eighth chakra and the connection to the Divine. When this chakra is open, one transcends the personal and opens two-way communication with the All that Is. One is "filled with the light" and the thinking process is expanded. This chakra sustains the power needed for one to move into other dimensions. The tenth or white chakra is located in the dominant hand and is the projective (masculine) energy. It has the power to shield, deflect negative energy and to project energy for healing. The eleventh or clear chakra is located in the non-dominant hand and is the receptive (feminine) energy. This chakra helps define truth and clarity for us, both in our environment and of self. The twelfth chakra or black chakra is the place of "neutral space." It is the Tao, the place of both incoming and outgoing. It is that quiet center where all times are now and all places are here, yet where there is neither time or space.