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The Chakras and Essential Oils
The
word chakra means "wheel" in Sanskrit, a sacred
and holy language of Hinduism and Buddhism. Chakra is pronounced
shock + ra with a "ra" sound as in oakra.
The first writings about the chakras
are dated at approximately 1000 B.C., and their origins are based
strongly within Hinduism, but the concepts of chakras and energy
centers is also fundamental within the Ayurvedic concepts of prana
and the Chinese practice of qi.
It is believed that we each have
seven primary chakras and 21 lesser chakras are thought to also
exist. Chakras are also sometimes referred to as energy centers
or vortices. Each chakra is thought to resemble a colored
wheel that spins in a clockwise direction, and the chakras are thought
to each spin at a different rate or frequency.
Chakras are invisible to the naked
eye and interconnect our physical and spiritual selves. Each of
the seven chakras is tied directly to a specific region and nerve
center of the body.
It is believed that each of the chakras
absorbs and filters the energy that we emit through our thoughts
and actions as well as through the thoughts and actions of all those
that we come into contact with. When one of the chakras is out of
balance as a result of negative energy flowing through it, it begins
to spin too slowly or too fast. When a chakra is not balanced, it
can effect that physical region of the body and also effect very
specific aspects of our spiritual and emotional selves.
Even if you question if the chakras
truly exist, the underlying principles of the chakras can still
play a special part during prayer, meditation or when trying to
improve your physical, spiritual or emotional outlook. My spiritual
foundation lies in Christianity, and I have found wonderful benefit
in integrating the principles of chakra balancing within my personal
spiritual practice. By using the principles of the chakras to help
me examine where my body and emotions are out of balance, I can
focus my prayers and use of essential oils to seek specific help
and guidance of my Heavenly Father - and I can play a more active
role myself in directly focusing my intent on trying to balance
the areas of my body and life that need it.
Methods of Balancing the Chakras
Using Essential Oils: Massage,
reflection, meditation and energy work using essential oils is thought
to help restore specific balance to each of the chakras. Look to
each of AromaWeb's individual Chakra pages listed below for information
on the essential oils associated with each chakra.
Go to AromaWeb's Balancing
the Chakras Using Essential Oils page to view a recipe for creating
your own chakra blends and information for diffusing essential oils
for chakra work.
Meditation/Prayer with Crystals:
Meditating with crystals that represent the color of a specific
chakra is thought to strengthen and balance that chakra. For instance,
the Throat Chakra is associated with
the color blue. Blue crystals like blue lace agate are thought to
help balance communication and bring harmony to the Throat Chakra.
Look to each of AromaWeb's individual Chakra pages listed below
for information on the crystals associated with each chakra.
Working with a Singing Bowl:
Tibetan singing bowls are generally made of brass. When struck with
a mallet, they emit a melodic tone representing a note of a musical
scale. When the side of the mallet is rubbed against the lip of
the singing bowl, the bowl sings in that same musical frequency.
If you are familiar with making wine glasses "sing" at
different musical pitches by adding or subtracting water, it's very
much the same principle. Each of the chakras has an associated musical
sound (i.e. the musical note "D" and the sound "Ohm"
for the Sacral Chakra). Look to each
of AromaWeb's individual Chakra pages listed below for information
on the musical notes and tones associated with each chakra.
The Seven Primary Chakras
The Root Chakra centers upon
our core needs for survival, security and livelihood. When the Root
Chakra is unbalanced, you will feel ungrounded, confused and lack
the ability to move forward. Without a balanced Root Chakra, it
is impossible to fully balance the other chakras. Read
More About the Root Chakra and Associated Essential Oils
The Sacral Chakra influences
personal creativity ranging from artistic expression to creative
problem solving. Healthy sexual desire and expression is also controlled
by the Sacral Chakra, though communicating sexual desires is also
directly affected by the Throat Chakra. Read
More About the Sacral Chakra and
Associated Essential Oils
The Solar Plexus Chakra strongly
influences your identity and sense of self worth. Imbalances can
take on polar opposites ranging from low self-esteem all the way
to arrogant, selfish behavior. Read
More About the Solar Plexus Chakra and
Associated Essential Oils
The Heart Chakra strongly
influences the ability to give and receive love in a healthy way.
The Heart Chakra also influences our ability to cope with the sadness
of betrayals of a loved one or losing a loved one due to breakup,
abandonment or death. Read
More About the Heart Chakra and
Associated Essential Oils
The Throat Chakra strongly
influences our ability to effectively communicate our thoughts,
opinions, desires and feelings - and just as importantly, our ability
to hear, listen and understand those in our daily lives. The Throat
Chakra not only influences what we hear and say through verbal communication,
but it also influences body language and written communication methods.
Read More About the
Throat Chakra and
Associated Essential Oils
The Third Eye Chakra influences
the areas of our mind that control our common sense, wisdom, intelligence,
memory retention, dreams, spirituality and intuition. Read
More About the Third Eye Chakra and
Associated Essential Oils
The Crown Chakra influences our deeper
understanding of ourselves beyond the physical or material. Read
More About the Crown Chakra and Associated Essential Oils
Aromatherapy Book Recommendations
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Aromatherapy
and Subtle Energy Techniques: Compassionate Healing with Essential
Oils |
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Level:
Beginning •
Intermediate
Author: Joni Keim Loughran and Ruah Bull
ISBN: 1-58394-015-4
Summary: Aromatherapy
and Subtle Energy Techniques introduces beginners to the
concepts of the chakras (the energy centers of the body), subtle
energy techniques, and how to incorporate the use of essential
oils into energy work. |
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Aromatherapy
for the Soul |
 |
|
Level:
Beginning •
Intermediate
Author: Valerie Ann Worwood
ISBN: 1-57731-562-2 / 978-1577315629
Summary: Aromatherapy
for the Soul is helpful if you're looking for a deeper introduction
into the role that aromatherapy and aromatic botanicals play
within spirituality in general and within your own personal
spiritual practices. |
| |
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| |
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Chakra
Balancing: A Beginner's Guide |
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|
Level: Beginning
Author: Rosanne Tartaro
ISBN: 978-0-9814901-0-6
Summary: AromaWeb advertiser
Rosanne Tartaro of SunRose
Aromatics has created an informative yet concise introduction
for those who want to learn about the seven primary chakras
(energy centers) and learn how to keep each chakra balanced
and in harmony. She has also formulated and assembled a collection
of seven essential oil synergistic Chakra blends beautifully
presented and labeled in 5ml cobalt blue bottles. Learn
More... |
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