Activating Chakras
The detailed elaboration about the process of activating the chakras.
Activating the chakras can be done through meditation and visualisation. It is a very slow process resembling that of a toddler taking small steps before walking. The goal here is to awaken the coiled energy (kundalini) and allow it to travel up the spine, energising and purifying the life force (prana) through each chakra along the way. So prana and kundalini are both important components in activating the seven chakras, helping us in spiritual growth and enlightenment. It needs a lot of patience and commitment for the process of activating the chakras. The coiled energy must be awakened. It can only happen when you attain stillness through meditation.
First choose a cosy place to sit. Take a candle or a diya and light it. Concentrate on the light for sometime, slowly close your eyes, keep visualising the light, then slowly concentrate on the breath isolating your self from the surroundings. It is a phase of stillness. It can seem a little time consuming to reach this phase. Practising it regularly is a must because there is a risk of loosing track. Some might get in to this phase very easily and for some it might seem difficult and can take a little longer. Determination towards our goal must be of utmost importance. When this stillness is attained, that would be the right time to focus on activating the chakras.
Activating the chakras involves visualising the colours of each chakra while focusing on the location of the chakra. To activate the root chakra, you might visualise the colour red or the element of earth and focus on the area between the anus and the genitals. Focus on the chakra while inhaling and exhaling slowly. As you breathe in, visualise the chakra opening and expanding, and as you exhale, visualise it closing and contracting.
How can we understand that the root chakra is activated?
Through observing the changes within you. Since the root chakra is associated with earth, your sense of smell improves. You will get to know the connection between you and your family, feeling more secured leaving the feelings of fear, anxiety and insecurity.
Once you get the feeling that the root chakra is activated, start visualising on the colour orange, or the element of water and focus on the lower abdomen just below the navel. As you breathe in, visualise the chakra opening and expanding, and as you exhale, visualise it closing and contracting. Now when the second chakra, called the sacral chakra is activated, you feel creative, passionate, and connected to your emotions.
This should be a daily process from concentrating on the light, then concentrating on the breath, then slowly going in to stillness, then visualising on the colour of each specific chakra one by one, along with the area where they are located, then visualising the chakras opening and expanding or closing and contracting.
Once you feel that the sacral chakra is activated, start visualising on the colour yellow, or the element of fire and focus on the upper abdomen just above the navel. As you breathe in, visualise the chakra opening and expanding, and as you exhale, visualise it closing and contracting. Now when the third chakra, called the solar plexus chakra is activated, you feel confident, strong, and capable and will also be able to make decisions, set boundaries, and take actions.
Once you feel that the solar plexus chakra is activated, start visualising on the colour green, or the element of air and focus on the centre of the chest. As you breathe in, visualise the chakra opening and expanding, and as you exhale, visualise it closing and contracting. Now when the fourth chakra, called the heart chakra is open and balanced, you feel a sense of connection with others, able to communicate your feelings and needs clearly, getting rid of feelings of isolation, insecurity, and grief.
The heart chakra is the bridge between the lower three chakras and the upper three chakras.
Once you feel that the heart chakra is activated, start visualising on the colour blue, or the element of sound and focus on the throat. As you breathe in, visualise the chakra opening and expanding, and as you exhale, visualise it closing and contracting. Now when the fifth chakra, called the throat chakra is once activated, you feel confident and free to express yourself clearly and authentically, calms the mind and promotes self-reflection.
Once you feel that the throat chakra is activated, start visualising on the colour indigo, or the element of light and focus on the temple of the forehead, located between the eyebrows. As you breathe in, visualise the chakra opening and expanding, and as you exhale, visualise it closing and contracting. Now when the sixth chakra, called the third eye chakra is balanced, it can bring peace of mind and a sense of clarity and insight, helping us getting rid of the problems with concentration, headaches and sleeplessness.
Once you feel that the third eye chakra is activated, start visualizing on the colour violet, which is associated with thought, and focus on the top of the head. As you breathe in, visualise the chakra opening and expanding, and as you exhale, visualise it closing and contracting. This chakra, called the crown chakra, is our connection to the divine, and it is where you receive wisdom, understanding, and enlightenment. It is where we connect to the higher self and realise that we are all one. When the crown chakra is open, you will able to transcend the physical world and experience a state of pure consciousness. But when it is blocked, you may feel isolated and disconnected from the divine.
The seven chakras are said to be connected to our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. When all these chakras are activated, we experience an improvement on our overall health and well-being, attaining a state of bliss and oneness. It is a sense of being fully connected to the universe and feeling completely whole. The body and mind feel energised, and there is a deep sense of peace and contentment. Many people who have experienced this describe it as a feeling of floating, or even flying. There may be visions or experiences of a profound understanding of the universe. It is a truly transformational experience that can change the way we see the world and our place in it.