The word Chakra is an ancient Sanskrit term which means, sacred wheel. Any circular form could be considered a Chakra. In fact the planet earth is a Chakra, a living sphere of energy, which we are all apart of. Within the ancient yogic traditions the “Chakras” refer to a living energy system within each of us. This energy system is traditionally viewed as a Lotus Tree with 7 Chakras (or spheres of being) consisting of 50 petals. The imagery of the inner-self as a budding Lotus is primary to a yogi’s understanding and their role in the world. Within this ancient cosmology we find our higher selves or spiritual being manifest as a flower within a garden of flowers. It is through this method of visualization that we can begin the transformation journey from human beings to transcendent beings.The Chakras are assembled into a vertical structure that extends from the tailbone to the crown of the head. They are not visible to the untrained eye. The closest physical component that one can find within the physical body is the nervous system. Where the nerves are closely bundled along the spine there is a Chakra location.In the Hindu tradition, there are many teachings that describe the location and general meanings of the chakras. Some of the Chakra systems detailed in this tradition list six, seven, and eight, even 32 chakras. Today, in fact, as the Western world begins to investigate the world of Chakras and the idea of a light body form newer systems are being put forward. One could easily lose perspective among so many systems. For our own purposes, we will be working with the six ‘Sat’ chakras and their primary chief, the crown or Sahasara Chakra.The graphic to the right is the classic yogic rendering of the Chakras as Lotus Flowers. This rendering dates back to 3,200 BCE and it has a unique correspondence to the Sanskrit language. Each of the petals of the Lotus Tree contains a letter of the Sanskrit alphabet.One of the many beautiful myths regarding the Chakras is the role that they played in the Indus Valley. This civilization was a great society that existed for thousand of years without rulers and armies. They lived with a great deal of peace and reverence for the world and their neighbors.It is in this location that Sanskrit as a written language emerged. Imagine a world in which the basis of language (ABCs) was learned by understanding the flowering light within. That language itself was a form of light and gentle like a flower. This would have given rise to a loving and peaceful society. Which it did!As a child this introduction to the rainbow light within would have been one of the first systems of learning encountered. Not only would you have learned this about yourself. You would have also learned that your neighbors, parents and the entire village contained this same matrix of light and love.The purpose of this vision of inner light was to begin the process of awakening the soul at an early age to the ‘god-spark’ within. We will cover more on this later. For know we will move on to understand each of the chakras and their influence in our lives.

The word Chakra is an ancient Sanskrit term which means, sacred wheel. Any circular form could be considered a Chakra. In fact the planet earth is a Chakra, a living sphere of energy, which we are all apart of. Within the ancient yogic traditions the “Chakras” refer to a living energy system within each of us. This energy system is traditionally viewed as a Lotus Tree with 7 Chakras (or spheres of being) consisting of 50 petals. The imagery of the inner-self as a budding Lotus is primary to a yogi’s understanding and their role in the world. Within this ancient cosmology we find our higher selves or spiritual being manifest as a flower within a garden of flowers. It is through this method of visualization that we can begin the transformation journey from human beings to transcendent beings.

The Chakras are assembled into a vertical structure that extends from the tailbone to the crown of the head. They are not visible to the untrained eye. The closest physical component that one can find within the physical body is the nervous system. Where the nerves are closely bundled along the spine there is a Chakra location.

In the Hindu tradition, there are many teachings that describe the location and general meanings of the chakras. Some of the Chakra systems detailed in this tradition list six, seven, and eight, even 32 chakras. Today, in fact, as the Western world begins to investigate the world of Chakras and the idea of a light body form newer systems are being put forward. One could easily lose perspective among so many systems. For our own purposes, we will be working with the six ‘Sat’ chakras and their primary chief, the crown or Sahasara Chakra.

The graphic to the right is the classic yogic rendering of the Chakras as Lotus Flowers. This rendering dates back to 3,200 BCE and it has a unique correspondence to the Sanskrit language. Each of the petals of the Lotus Tree contains a letter of the Sanskrit alphabet.
One of the many beautiful myths regarding the Chakras is the role that they played in the Indus Valley. This civilization was a great society that existed for thousand of years without rulers and armies. They lived with a great deal of peace and reverence for the world and their neighbors.

It is in this location that Sanskrit as a written language emerged. Imagine a world in which the basis of language (ABCs) was learned by understanding the flowering light within. That language itself was a form of light and gentle like a flower. This would have given rise to a loving and peaceful society. Which it did!

As a child this introduction to the rainbow light within would have been one of the first systems of learning encountered. Not only would you have learned this about yourself. You would have also learned that your neighbors, parents and the entire village contained this same matrix of light and love.

The purpose of this vision of inner light was to begin the process of awakening the soul at an early age to the ‘god-spark’ within. We will cover more on this later. For know we will move on to understand each of the chakras and their influence in our lives.

Jul 5 2009

Photo