The word Chakra means wheel in Sanskrit. Chakras are vortexes of energy that regulate physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects in each of us. The chakras are part of the network through which body, mind and spirit interact as a whole system. There are seven major chakras and many minor chakras all over the body, especially along the arms and legs.

The seven major chakras correspond to specific aspects of consciousness and have their own individual characteristics and functions. Each has a corresponding relationship to one of the various glands of the endocrine system, as well as to different systems in the body. The chakras are doorways of consciousness through which your emotional, mental and spiritual forces flow into physical expression.

The energy from your emotions and mental attitude runs through the chakras and is distributed into your cells, tissues and organs. Being aware of this can bring tremendous insight into how you can affect your own body, mind and circumstances for better or for worse. The most powerful way to open, activate, energize, and balance all of your chakras and keep your mind and body healthy is to love yourself and practice meditation regularly. Another helpful tool is wearing Gemstone Jewelry and Chakra Jewelry to balance the energies in your body.

Each of the major chakras resonates with certain Sanskrit letters (bija or seed mantras) and with certain colors. Even though the ancient yogis perceived some of the colors of each chakra differently, in the West it is a general assumption that each chakra relates to one of the colors of the rainbow.

Following is a basic description of each of the Seven Major Chakras with some examples of Gemstones and crystals associated with each chakra.

Muladhara Chakra: Root Chakra, Seat of Kundalini
Location: Base of the spine (perineum)
Color: Red, Black (Yellow according to Vedic Science)
Element: Earth
Seed Letter: Lam
Function: Gives vitality to the physical body. Life force, self-preservation, survival, instincts.
Governs: back, feet, hips, spine, legs.
Meditation on this chakra brings: Knowledge of Scriptures, increased intellect.
Gemstones: Ruby, garnet, bloodstone, red jasper, black tourmaline, black obsidian, black onyx, black tourmaline, hematite, leopardskin jasper, red calcite, red spinel, red zircon, tourmaline (rubellite) smoky quartz.

Svadhisthana Chakra: Spleen or Sacral Chakra
Location: Navel area
Color: Orange (White according to Vedic Science)
Element: Water
Seed Letter: Vam
Functions: Procreation, assimilation of foods, physical force and vitality, sexuality, emotional balance, creativity, passion, abundance.
Governs: sexual organs, bladder, bowels, lower intestine.
Meditation on this chakra brings: Control of material desires and of water element.
Gemstones: Carnelian, garnet, coral, gold calcite, orange spinel, orange calcite, fire opal, sunstone, sheelite, amber, citrine, gold topaz, peach aventurine, chrysoprase.

Manipura Chakra: Solar Plexus Chakra
Location: Solar Plexus
Color: Yellow (Red according to Vedic Science)
Element: Fire
Functions: Vitalizes the sympathetic nervous system, digestive processes, metabolism and emotions. Personal power, strength, sense of self-worth.
Governs: stomach, upper intestines, upper back, upper spine.
Meditation on this chakra brings: Knowledge of internal functions of physical body.
Gemstones: Citrine, gold topaz, amber, tiger eye, yellow sapphire, gold, honey calcite, rutilated quartz, sunstone, yellow calcite, yellow aragonite, yellow carnelian.

Anahata Chakra: Heart Chakra
Location: Center of the chest
Color: Green and Pink
Element: Air
Seed Letter: Yam
Functions: Anchors the life force from the higher self. Energizes the blood and physical body with the life force (breath) and regulates blood circulation. Love, emotions, devotion.
Governs: heart, lungs, blood, circulation.
Meditation on this chakra brings: Material gains, knowledge.
Gemstones: Emerald, green and pink tourmaline, fluorite, green apatite, green calcite, peridot, rubellite, malachite, green jade, green aventurine, chrysoprase, kunzite, rose quartz, rodhochrosite, rhodonite, ruby.

Vishuddha Chakra: Throat Chakra
Location: Throat area
Color: Blue, Turquoise
Element: Ether
Seed Letter: Ham
Functions: Speech, sound, vibration, communication, truthfulness, expression of will power and creativity.
Governs: throat, thyroid, mouth, teeth, tongue, jaw.
Meditation on this chakra brings: Purification of physical body and mental attitude, knowledge, intense joy.
Gemstones: Turquoise, chrysocolla, celestite, blue topaz, sodalite, lapis lazuli, aquamarine, azurite, kyanite, amazonite, blue calcite, blue lace agate, blue tiger's eye, blue quartz (dumortierite).

Ajna Chakra: Third Eye Chakra
Location: Center of the forehead, between the eyebrows
Color: Indigo, Violet, Purple (White according to Vedic Science)
Element: Light (Manas-Tattva, Intelligence)
Seed Letter: Om
Functions: Vitalizes the lower brain and central nervous system. Regulates vision. Coordination, mental clarity, intuition, wisdom.
Governs: pituitary gland, pineal gland, skull, eyes, brain, nervous system, senses.
Meditation on this chakra brings: Unlimited vision, control of adverse circumstances.
Gemstones: Lapis, azurite, sodalite, clear quartz, sapphire, iolite, tourmaline, amethyst, purple fluorite, sapphire, dark blue spinel, sugilite, apatite, indicolite.

Sahasrara Chakra: Crown Chakra
Location: Crown of head
Color: Purple, White (Red according to Vedic Science)
Element: All
Functions: Vitalizes the upper brain. Spirituality, life force.
Governs: Brain stem, top of spinal cord, pain center, nerves.
Meditation on this chakra brings: Liberation
Gemstones: Amethyst, alexandrite, diamond, sugilite, purple fluorite, clear quartz, selenite, opal, apophyllite, chevron amethyst, clear calcite, herkimer dimond, moonstone, selenite, spodumene, iolite, euclase, purple scapolite.

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