The Chakra System Part 1
Throughout history, the idea of a universal energy percieved throughout all of nature has been held by mystics, religious practices and more recently Western Scientists.  Think od the Indian spiritual tradition of prana; the Chinese calling vital energy Chi: the Jewish Kabala referring to astral light and the Christian religious paintings indicating a field of light or halo surrounding Jesus and other religious figures.
As I mentioned in my last blog,  human beings can be viewed as networks of complex energy fields that interact with physical and cellular systems.  The physical system resonates at a particular vibration and is an integral part vibrating at a lower frequency with the higher energy systems surrounding it. These higher energy systems referred to as our subtle bodies are composed of matter with quite different frequency characteristics than those of the physical bodies.  These systems are physically superimposed on one another in the same space and together they play vital  parts in the total functioning of the human being.
Various writings from the Indian Yogic teachings refer to special energy systems which exist within these subtle bodies. They are known as Chakras

The word Chakra comes from the Sanskrit meaning 'wheels or disks', and they resemble whirling vortices of subtle energies. These energy systems are associated with accessing universal energy and transmuting it into a useable form within the human structure.

The origin of the seven fold chakra system that is most commonly followed today,  has its roots in the Hindu culture.  The earliest mention of the term chakra is said to come from the Vedas, the four holy books of the Hindus, believed to date back before 2500 BC.  However, the notion of seven “maps of consciousness” for optimum well-being goes back much further.

Physiologically, the chakras are involved in the flow of higher energies via subtle energetic channels to the cellular structure of the physical body. Therefore, the chakra systems seem to function as energy transformers, stepping down energy from a higher frequency to a lower level of energy. This energy is then translated into the hormonal and physiological system to bring about cellular changes throughout the body.

Although the human energy system is said to have many chakras, and new ones are being discovered all the time, the traditional Hindu system names the seven major ones previously mentioned. The location of the seven chakras associated with the physical body corresponds with the major nerve networks. Each major chakra on the front of the body is paired with its corresponding one on the back of the body. Together they form the front and rear aspects of a chakra.  There are also  believed to be at least twenty-one minor chakras.

Energetically, the chakras are openings that allow energy to flow into and out of the aura. As this energy is associated with a form of consciousness, the energy exchange is experienced in terms of seeing, hearing, feeling, sensing, intuiting or direct knowing.

The tips of the chakras where they are connected to the Universal Energy Field (UEF) are referred to as the heart or root of the chakra. Within the heart of the chakra are seals which control exchange of energy between the layers of the auric field (subtle bodies).  To allow certain energy to flow from one layer to another through the chakra, it must pass through the seals in the heart of the chakra. This is most probably why the Yogic literature uses the flower analogy - a lotus flower opening and shutting to explain the chakra.

Even when we are perfectly still – as in a static yoga pose or sitting in silence doing nothing more than breathing, - the chakras are doing a dynamic dance.  They are opening, closing, shifting, spinning, expanding and contracting. 

The energy generated by the Chakras moves up and down the spine.  When flowing freely, that energy can connect us with the Earth at the same time that it connects us with the Higher Realms of existence.  The energy has the power to lift us out of fatigue, depression, illness and despair.  It has the ability to bring body, mind and soul together as one. It is therefore important to open the chakras and increase the flow of energy, the more energy flows through the system the healthier the human system will be.  

A brief look at the individual Chakras

The first chakra, Muladhara (Root Chakra) is situated near the coccyx and is associated with the adrenals, triangular shaped glands that cap each of the kidneys.  These glands secrete a variety of hormones including those that regulate the body’s metabolism.  These glands also produce adrenalin, the hormone essential for our fight or flight response.  The Root Chakra is associated with survival.
The second chakra, Svadisthana (Sacral Chakra) originates near the tip of the coccyx or sacrum.  It is associated with the male and female reproductive organs or gonads.  Our relationship with our own sexuality and issues of emotional balance concerning that is a key association of this chakra.
The third chakra, Manipura, (Solar Plexus Chakra) lies in the upper middle abdomen below the tip of the sternum. It is associated with the pancreas which lies behind the stomach and secretes a variety of substances essential for the effective digestion of food. 
The fourth chakra, Anahata, (Heart Chakra) can be found in the mid sternal region directly over the heart and is associated with the thymus gland. The thymus produces hormones that stimulate general growth, particularly in early life.
The fifth chakra, Vishudda, (Throat Chakra) is situated in the neck near the Adam's apple, directly over the thyroid gland. It has associations with both the thyroid and parathyroid glands.  The thyroid manufactures thyroxine, which controls the body’s metabolic rate, and the parathyroid gland controls the level of calcium in the blood stream. 
The sixth chakra, Anja, (Brow or Third Eye Chakra) in the mid-forehead above the bridge of the nose is situated over the pituitary gland.  This vital gland influences growth, metabolism, and general body chemistry. 
The seventh chakra, Sahasrara, (Crown Chakra) is located on top of the head over the pingland which produces melatonin, a hormone that affects the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and photoperiodic (seasonal) functions.

You've seen or heard me talk about energy and energy healing on my posts, my workshops and through my art.  So what is this energy that I'm talking about?  Below is part one of my article on the Human Energy Field.  I hope it answers some of your questions.  

Everything within and even outside of our universe vibrates with energy.  It has been accepted for centuries through many, many cultures, that the human body draws energy into itself from a universal energy field. The human energy field is the manifestation of this universal energy in and around the human body.  Its outer boundary can be described as a luminous egg-shaped cocoon surrounding the physical body. This energy field is constantly moving, ebbing and flowing, expanding and contracting and changing in intensity.  Throughout history, the knowledge of this universal energy present in all of nature and surrounding the human form as what we sometimes call the aura, has been recognised and illustrated by many traditions including the Indian spiritual tradition of prana; the Chinese energy chi; the Jewish Kabala reference to astral light and the Christian religious paintings indicating a field of light or halo surrounding Jesus and other religious figures.
In scientific terms, human beings can be seen as networks of complex energy fields that interface with physical and cellular systems. These energy fields or auras consist of layers, known as subtle bodies which resonate at higher vibrations than the physical body. To put it another way, these higher energy systems, (subtle bodies) are composed of matter with different or higher frequency characteristics than that of the physical bodies.  These systems are superimposed on one another in the same space.  Together they play a part in the total functioning of the human being.  Healers understand that the aura holds the key to a person’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual states.
Although many systems have been created over time, we generally refer to seven layers and these are defined by location, colour, density, form and function. These seven layers are grouped into three Planes, The Physical Plane, the Astral Plane and the Spiritual Plane. It is important to remember that because of the differing intrinsic frequencies, physical and etheric matter can co-exist harmoniously within the same space; just as radio and TV waves can exist in the same space without interference.
Each individual person has an aura unique to themselves, in intensity, size, colour and vibration. 
This field of electromagnetic energy can be felt and sometimes seen by people who are highly sensitive to different energies.  They may even be able to see or feel each layer separately.  So here is a quick description of The Energetic Layers.

Etheric Body
This can be viewed as the state between energy and matter and consists of tiny energy lines similar to the line on a television screen
The following aspects characterise this layer:

• It has the same structure as the physical body including all anatomical parts and organs
• This vital energy field forms the blue print for the physical matter of the body tissues
• Colour varies from light blue to grey
• It extends from one quarter to two inches beyond the physical body and pulsates at 15-20 cycles per minute 

Emotional Body
This is associated with feelings and follows the outline of the physical body but does not duplicate it.

• The following aspects characterise this layer:
• It tends to be coloured clouds of a fine substance in continual motion
• It extends one to three inches but also penetrates the physical body
• Chakras are associated with various colours
• Colours of this layer vary from bright clear colours to dark subdued colours

Mental body
The mental body extends beyond the emotional body and is associated with thoughts and mental processes.
The following aspects characterise this layer:

• It appears as a bright yellow light/aura around the head and shoulders
• It extends three to eight inches from the body
• This becomes bright when the person is engaged in mental processes
• Thoughts can be observed as blobs of colour with other colour superimposed
• This tends to be the emotional feelings associated with these thoughts.

Astral body
This has no fixed shape.  It is composed of clouds of colour similar to that of the emotional layer

• A rose pink colour tends to dominate
• This layer extends from six inches (15cm) to a foot (30cm) from the body
• This layer is the bridging plane between the lower three auric layers and the upper three spiritual layers
• The energy transformer between the two general levels is the heart chakra.

Etheric template body
This subtle layer is further removed from the first layer and contains the etheric template blueprint for the physical body.

• It extends from one and a half (45cm) to two feet (60cm) from the body
• This layer has an oval shape and contains all the chakras, body organs and body form in negative, like the negative of a photograph.

Celestial Body
This is referred to as the emotional level of the spiritual plane
It extends about two (60cm) to two and three quarter feet (85cm) from the body

• This is where spiritual ecstasy is experienced
• This is the experience level of unconditional love in that the heart chakra is connected through all the layers
• The Celestial body appears as a shimmering opalescent light
• There is no body shape, but light radiates from the body like a glow around a candle.

Ketheric template (casual body)

• This extends from two and a half (75cm) to three and a half feet (105cm) from the body
• The outer form is an egg shape of the subtle bodies and is strong and resilient
• Its colour is gold and it contains structure of the physical body and all the chakras
• The vibrations are at an extremely high rate.

So you can see that we are not just a physical body, but a complex integrated set of subtle energy fields, all vibrating at different rates.  These subtle layers extend beyond the physical and create a force field of energy and luminous colours.

Many scientific and technological researches from holographic patterning through to Kirlian photography, to different types of scanning have observed and recorded the human energy field in a physical way.  Kirlian photography was developed in 1939 by Russian electronics engineer Seymion Kirlian. It was discovered that when leaf was cut in two and photographed using this technology, the energy field remained intact and recorded the same shape as when the leaf was whole.  It is thought that this phenomenon may explain the “phantom limb” reports from amputees who  can still feel pain and sensation in the area where the missing limb used to be.  

More recently, the development of Polycontrast Interference Photography or PIP, by researcher Harry Oldfield became one of the major advances in detecting the body’s energy fields.  It is a complicated technology, but put in simple terms, the subject stands in front of a white screen and a form of digital camera photographs the different light intensities around the body while a computer translates this into a visual image, which can be “read” by a trained technician.  This is useful  in areas of diagnosis of imbalances and tends to validate the concept that all matter is energy and forms the foundation for understanding how human beings can be considered dynamic energetic systems.  Humans are beings of energy – the solid nature of physical matter is a perception of our physical senses.

Aura Photography is often available at New Age festivals and in many new age shops.  Aura photographs are taken by having the subject sit in front of a plain background and placing one hand on a sensor plate which detects the energy emanations from the subject.  The aura camera then translates this into a visual image and onto a photograph for the subject to take home with a reading from the photographer.  The colours that appear can be “read” to give an indication of personality traits, states of mind, and general health at the time of the photograph.  These photographs can be highly influenced by the subject’s mood and emotion at the time as the energy field is constantly changing. 

Next time we'll discover the Chakra System, it's purpose and function within the fields.

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