Chakra Colors and Meanings
The Colors
There are seven main energy centers (chakras) of the body. These chakras are like spirals of energy, each one relating to the others. Using the seven colors of the spectrum, Color Therapy aims to balance and enhance our body’s energy centers/chakras and also to help stimulate our body’s own healing process. Color Therapy uses color to re-balance the Chakras that have become depleted of energy.
Color therapy can be shown to help on a physical level; however, there are deeper issues around the colors on the psychological and spiritual levels. Color has a profound effect on us on all levels, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. If our energy centers become blocked or depleted, then our body cannot function properly and this, in turn, can lead to a variety of problems on any level.
Our well-being is not purely a physical issue Many more practitioners are now treating patients in a holistic manner. That is to say, we are body, mind and spirit and none of these areas function entirely alone; each has an effect upon the other This is why Color Therapy can be so helpful since color addresses all levels of our being.
All life experiences have an effect upon us. Some experiences will be positive and some negative. It is these negative experiences which can manifest themselves physically over time as dis-ease. For example, perhaps over the years we have been in a situation where we have felt unable, for one reason or another, to speak our mind, or to express our needs and feelings. This can manifest as a problem in the throat chakra. The throat chakra relates in the spiritual aspect to self-expression. Thus, if our self-expression has been blocked, the energy in this area will not be free flowing. Working with the appropriate color/colors can help to dispel negative feelings, free blocks and re-balance the body. Listed below is each of the spectrum colors and the chakra which it relates to.
positive aspects of violet
– a reverence for all life
– self-sacrificing in the service of others
– idealism
– an ability to see the appropriate route for the benefit of the higher self
negative aspects of violet
– no concern for others
– feelings of superiority
– lack of contact with reality
positive aspects of indigo
– highly intuitive
– faithful
– clear sighted
– integrity
– orderly mind
negative aspects of indigo
– inability to trust intuition
– scattered mind
– inconsiderate
– blinkered vision
positive aspects of blue
– loyal
– trustworthy
– tactful
– calm
negative aspects of blue
– unfaithful
– untrustworthy
– self-righteous
– cold
positive aspects of green
– compassion
– generosity
– harmony/balance
– loving
negative aspects of green
– indifference
– jealousy
– miserly
– bitterness
positive aspects of yellow
– confident
– alert
– optimistic
– good humored
negative aspects of yellow
– feelings of inferiority
– over analytical
– sarcastic
– pessimistic
positive aspects of orange
– sociable
– creative
– joyous
– independent
negative aspects of orange
– withdrawn
– destructive
– despondent
– over-dependent
positive aspects of red:
– security
– courage
– strength of will
– pioneering
negative aspects of red:
– insecurity
– self pitying
– aggressive
– fearful
MEDITATION
There are many ways of meditating and meditation means different things to different people. Meditation is part of normal daily practice for a great number of people within some religions. Whatever the word ‘meditation’ means to you the practice can be enormously helpful as a way of calming the mind and finding your own inner peace. This place of inner peace is where we can open up to our higher self – without the ‘interference’ of the ego or intellect – where we can find our higher intelligence and knowing.
Meditation can be achieved by focusing the mind on a particular object, for example a flower, or on a simple shape, on a sound, on an image (visualization), or by focusing on the breathing. (Color breathing exercises can be done lying down or sitting and can be a very helpful form of meditation.) There are many very helpful tapes and CD’s around to help with meditation as they will talk the listener through the stages of relaxation, and some will help to build a ‘picture’ in the mind’s eye of tranquility. With practice, you will find it becomes easier and easier to meditate and to be able to ‘switch off anytime, anywhere, when you are feeling the need for some peace.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
BREATHING
Breathing is very important – and as obvious as that sounds, it is surprising how few of us actually, do breathe ‘properly’. Breathing is something we all take for granted and are inclined to forget about. However, shallow breathing can often be a symptom of stress. Similarly, shallow breathing can result in fatigue and stress due to the intake of insufficient oxygen. Shallow breathing can also result in dizzy turns as insufficient oxygen is getting to the brain. Since approximately 90% of our energy is created by oxygen and nearly all the body’s actions regulated by it – it is rather important that we get enough of it!
Go somewhere quiet and lie down or sit in a chair with good back support so that your body is straight, allowing you to breathe deeply and comfortably. Make sure you are not wearing any tight clothing. Tell yourself to relax. Work on every part of your body from the top of your head to your toes, consciously relaxing each part. Concentrate on your breathing, taking deep in-breaths, through the nose, letting the breath fill your body, and calming. Then breathe out through your nose or mouth, exhaling all negativity and stress and ridding your body of the toxins which build up there. Repeat this a number of times – if you can only manage 10 minutes that is fine. Eventually you will be able to practice this anywhere, anytime, when you are feeling stressed. Try not to hunch your shoulders as you breathe in – try to consciously relax the shoulders and neck and breathe from the abdomen – watch your tummy expand as you breathe in.
There are a number of breathing techniques which are taught by practitioners of different disciplines, either on a one to one basis or in a group, such as a workshop perhaps. If you have a particular medical problem, then a good place to start is with your doctor, who will be able to advise you.
COLOR BREATHING
A lovely and very helpful exercise is Color Breathing – or breathing in the rainbow. The purpose of this is to heighten our awareness of color and to encourage a balance of all the seven main chakra colors for our well-being.
Stand with feet slightly apart and arms by your side, relaxed with palms turned to the front. Relax the shoulders, and concentrate on your breathing, consciously relaxing all of your body from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Breathe deeply in through the nose, holding for a few moments and then breathing out through the nose or mouth. As you
breathe out, imagine expelling all the stress, negativity and toxins from your body. If you can do this exercise outside all the better, and, weather permitting, stand on grass with bare feet.
Affirmations, either spoken out loud or as a concentrated thought, can be helpful too to help us focus and avoid our minds from wandering. For example, red is the Color of courage and strength – we could say to ourselves – the energy of red fills my body and I have the strength and courage to move forward along my life’s path. It doesn’t matter how we word our affirmations – they will be unique to each individual – but remember the positive aspects of the colors and make sure your statements are positive.
First breathe in red from the earth, imagine it rising up through your whole body giving you strength and courage. Make an affirmation to suit your situation as you breathe in and experience the color filling your body. Allow the color to travel up through the body and out of the top of the head and then back down again to the earth. Repeat with orange and an appropriate affirmation, then yellow. These first three colors are absorbed from the earth. Then green. This color is absorbed horizontally through the solar plexus, let it fill your body, thinking or speaking your affirmation, and let it leave through the back. Then blue which is absorbed from the sky, through the top of the head and out again going back up to the sky, similarly with the indigo and violet.
If this exercise is done daily, you will notice how your color awareness develops and you will be able to visualize the colors much more strongly as you do this exercise regularly, balancing and enhancing your body’s energies.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]