Chakra Colors And Meanings: A Beginner's Guide

There are seven chakras: Muladhara, Svadisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddi, and Ajna. Each chakra correlates to a specific location on your body, starting from your coccyx, to just below your navel, above your navel (your belly), your heart, your throat, and the top of your head (your crown). 

What Is A Chakra?

Many cultures believe that energy travels through the body, similar to how our blood flows. This energy moves much like the wind, or a stream, and is continuously in flux. 

A chakra is an energy center or a point in the body where life-energy tends to form and gather. In Hinduism, this energy is called Prana, and in traditional Chinese culture, Qui. 

Balance vs. Imbalance

Balanced chakras can be a source of some of our most noble feelings, and allow us to express our Higher Self.

Imbalanced chakras can cause excess fear, anger, confusion, chronic pain, and even a loss of self. This happens when a chakra is wounded (your heart, for example). An imbalance can also often show up in the form of a physical health condition.

However, you can learn how to identify an imbalanced chakra and heal it in various ways, including meditations and healing crystals.

1 Muladhara - The Root Chakra - The Pillar

Like your Solar Plexus, your Root Chakra brings energy into the body. The Root Chakra is a pillar of raw life force and power. This chakra deals with courage, passion, strength, and sex. The Root Chakra is located at the base of your spine (called the coccyx). 

Balanced: 

Your Root Chakra is your foundation. With a balanced Root Chakra, you will find yourself feeling more viral, and you will have enough energy and willpower to stay disciplined while still expressing yourself to the fullest. You're able to balance courage with self-preservation and survival. A balanced Root Chakra is key to becoming physically, spiritually, and emotionally well. 

Imbalanced: 

If you don't have a foundation, you will experience fear. To cope, some people turn into narcissists, shutting out all higher emotions and functioning on a base level. Or, you may simply turn into a constant worrier. 

Physical signs of an imbalance: 

A weakened immune system; problems with the legs and feet; reproductive difficulties; arthritis; eating disorders; knee pain.

Crystals that you can use to help heal: 

• Black Tourmaline
• Tiger's Eye
• Hematite
• Bloodstone
• Hematite
• Black Obsidian
• Zircon
• Garnet
• Smoky Quartz.

2 Svadisthana - The Sacral Chakra - One's Own Place

Svadisthana is the name of the Sacral Chakra, which, in Sanskrit, means One's Own Place. The Sacral Chakra is all about joy and pleasure, both spiritual and physical. This chakra is located right below the navel. 

Balanced: 

If your Sacral Chakra is balanced, you are joyful, not afraid to create or take a risk, and sensual. You have a good relationship with life and yourself.

Imbalanced: 

An imbalance in the Sacral Chakra can cause a person to have poor boundaries, including (and perhaps especially) with regards to things that are sexual. They will have poor self-control. Or, at the other extreme, they may become repressed, fearful, mistrustful, and closed-off. 

Physical signs of an imbalance: 

Troubles with sexual and reproductive health; urinary or kidney issues; pain in the hips, pelvis, and lower back.

Crystals that you can use to help heal: 

• Carnelian
• Citrine
• Orange Calcite
• Vanadinite
• Copper
• Topaz
• Moonstone
• Coral

3 Manipura - The Solar Plexus - Yellow - The Sun Jewel

When you are feeling motivated or empowered, do you feel it in your gut? That's your Solar Plexus when it is active. This chakra is located above your navel. The Solar Plexus is sometimes called our seat of power. This is where we summon and bring forth energy, Pranna, or Qui. 

As such, it is also at the core of our self-respect, self-control, and willpower. 

Balanced: 

If you have a balanced Solar Plexus, you do not feel the need to control others, and you have mastered self-control. You are independent, optimistic, warm, and youthful. You spend a good amount of time developing your talents, and you can easily assert yourself. You are hopeful. 

Imbalanced: 

If your Solar Plexus is imbalanced, you are likely to suffer from a lower energy level. You may also be prone to depression, chronic fatigue, and a sensation of a lack-of-power in general. You may experience deep-seated anxiety, self-doubt, and fear. Some will cope with this through anger, excess competitiveness, or a need for control.

Physical signs of an imbalance: 

Chronic fatigue; digestive trouble; disorders of the pancreas and gallbladder.

Crystals that you can use to help heal: 

• Calcite
• Malachite
• Citrine
• Yellow Jasper
• Yellow Apatite
• Amber

Also, try spending some time near a fire or in the sun. Do so safely.

4 Anahata - The Heart Chakra - Green - The Unbroken

Poetically enough, Anahata means unspoiled, or unbroken. Our hearts are more resilient than we think. The Heart Chakra is about compassion for all. This is the chakra of vitality, healing, life, and love.

Balanced: 

A balanced Heart Chakra makes for a loving, friendly, and sincere individual. They are able to keep a healthy balance between love and self-love.

Imbalanced: 

When it comes to an imbalanced Heart Chakra, loneliness is its hallmark along with jealousy, fear of rejection, criticism, an inclination toward co-dependent relationships, and more. 

A severely wounded or inactive Heart Chakra may cause an individual to behave in a way that is callous, or outright cruel.

Physical signs of an imbalance:

Asthma; pain and discomfort in the shoulders or upper back.

Crystals that you can use to help heal: 

Jade, Vesuvianite, Lepidolite, Pink Danburite, Green Adventurine, Tourmaline, Green Calcite, Rose Quartz. 

Also, try a cup of tea or a nature walk.

5 Vishuddi - The Throat Chakra - Blue - The Truth Is Pure  

The Throat Chakra is about honest communication and about being creative and expressive. The Throat Chakra is about knowing yourself and your own mind and being brave enough to speak what you know.

Balanced: 

If your Throat Chakra is in balance, your voice will be resonant and clear. You will trust yourself. When the truth calls for a defender, you will not be afraid to speak.

Imbalanced: 

Those with an imbalanced Throat Chakra tend to be shy or inexpressive. You may become embarrassed easily or be reluctant to talk. You may find it difficult to sing with a wounded throat chakra, even if you are an avid singer. You second-guess yourself. On the other end of the spectrum, some will talk a great deal. They will not know how to listen. At worst, they are prone to gossip, dishonesty, verbal abuse, etc.

Physical signs of an imbalance: 

Sore throats; ear infections; thyroid issues; pain in the shoulder and neck. 

Crystals that you can use to help heal: 

• Aquamarine
• Turquoise
• Celestite
• Angelite
• Amazonite
• Sodalite
• Blue Kyanite
• Blue Lace Agate
• Lapis Lazuli

6 Ajna - The Third Eye Chakra - Indigo - The Doorway To The Spiritual

The Third Eye Chakra is located in the center of the forehead and sees beyond the physical. It is the source of true psychic ability, intuition, spiritual insights, and more. Use your Third Eye to pierce the veil. 

Balanced:

You are not so fooled by illusion and fear. You are perceptive, and you know yourself. Your mind is awake and clear. You may even be able to perceive ghosts and other entities or have a connection with the supernatural. 

Imbalanced:

With an imbalanced Third Eye Chakra, you will find yourself full of worry and fear. Your thoughts will feel foggy and slow. You will have trouble telling between truth and a trick. At worst, you may turn single-minded and completely lose sight of yourself. As a result, you can even become a narcissist or sociopath.

Physical signs of an imbalance: 

Headaches; sinus problems; eye strain; blurred vision.

Crystals that you can use to help heal: 

• Azurite
• Tanzanite
• Amethyst
• Moonstone
• Black Obsidian
• Black Tourmaline
• Lapiz Lazuli

7 Sahasrara - The Crown Chakra - Our Connection To Our Higher Self

The Crown Chakra is an object of some wonder. This chakra is the culmination of the energy from all those below, and some believe it is a direct connection to the Source as well. In essence, the Crown Chakra is our body's connection to the spirit realm, any extrasensory abilities we might have, or psychic insights we might receive. 

Balanced: 

If you have a balanced Crown Chakra, you will experience a blissful cosmic awareness. You will not be bogged down by trivialities or worries but will be able to see and understand the grand picture. This makes it much easier to choose a path in accordance with your Higher Self.

Imbalanced: 

With an imbalanced Crown Chakra, you may become detached from reality or the material realm. This can leave you vulnerable to mental disorders, delusions, and general confusion and fear. 

You will experience profound separation, spiritual crisis, inner pain, addiction, fragmentation, a loss of self, and, at worst, you may lose the will to live. Fortunately, an imbalanced Crown Chakra is certainly something you can heal.

Physical signs of an imbalance: 

Rigid thinking and behavior; fear.

Crystals that you can use to help heal: 

• Amethyst
• Selenite
• White Calcite
• White Howlite
• White Danburite
• Quartz. 

So, what do you think? Do any of your chakras need a little extra help or love? This is a worthy endeavor. Balancing yourself from Crown to Root is a sure path to your most enlightened life and Higher Self.

About the author: Matt Curran is an enthusiastic yoga teacher and life traveler. He strives to inspire conscious living and dialog — not just for others but for himself.