Chakra Forum FAQs
Everything You Wanted
to Know About Chakras but Didn't Know Who to Ask

Each day I receive more questions by email than I can answer so I have set up this page as a way of sharing these frequent questions and answers with those who are interested. If you have a question about chakras or related issues, send it to me at anodea@sacredcenters.com. There is no guarantee it will be answered, but I'll do my best, and if the question seems relevant, I will add it to this page. If you do NOT want your question posted, please make a note of it. If you would like your email address published with your question, make a note of that as well, otherwise, it will be left out. If you include your email, others have the option of emailing you with their own answers.

Not all questions can be chosen for posting, or even answered, so please do not feel offended if you don’t see your question posted here. (All questions are real, however, and have come through this site.)
Rainbow Blessings,

Anodea Judith

Hello Anodea Judith,
currently, I am working on a piece for music theatre which is based on the chakras.  I noticed your website and since you are a true specialist, I would like to ask you about the sound related to each chakra, if you do not mind?
I have seen that some make a correspondance to each chakra by using the notes A B C D E F G.  There are some who consider planets and there rotation.  I would like to ask you what kind of correspondance you work with?

All the best,
HM

Dear HM:
In the same way that sound and matter have a correlation — like skinny strings on a guitar making a higher pitch than fat strings, which make a lower note — the sounds that go with the chakras are not the same for everyone, in my opinion.  A large person would resonate with different frequencies than a tiny person.
What I do think is universal is that the lower chakras vibrate more slowly, and hence resonate with lower pitches, than the upper chakras.
Therefore, I think each person must experiment with what feels right to them, concerning both the pitch of a sound and its mantra.  Some people myself for instance — hear the heart chakra as an “ay” sound, others hear it as an “ah).
My one correspondence of vowel sounds is:
Chakra 1: Oh as in hope
2, ooo as in you
3: ah as in father
4, ay as in play
5: ee as in Keep
6: Mmm as in ommmmm
7 nng as in sing
Perhaps for the French, the vowel sounds are a little different.  You might also check out Jonathan Goldman’s work on the chakras.
Hope that helps. I’ve written quite a bit about this in Wheels of Life (French version, Les Roues de la Vie).
Bright Blessings,
Anodea

Good Morning,
 
I have a question and I sincerely hope you can help by providing an easily understood answer.
The question: Do Chakras move? By "move," I am asking if they are capable of movement. Not a complete change of location, but small moves within the prameters of their basic structural location? As energy forms, do outside influences effect their location, or are they locked into a "fixed" location impervious to any extraneous force?
Thank you for any information you can provide.
Sincerely,
V. Donnigan

Dear V,

The chakras move about as much as the features on your face.  Your mouth will always be below your nose, but it can smile, frown, or grimace.  Your eyes can be open or closed, and from person to person, the eyes can be wide set or narrow, high or low on the face.
Any chakra may be forward or back in the energy body, or off center right to left, and may change over a period of time.  It can open or close depending on the situation.  But you wouldn’t have the heart chakra sink down to your root for example, any more than you’d have your nose above your eyes.
When chakras become traumatized or when they heal, they can move slightly or change dramatically.
Hope that makes sense.
Anodea

Hi Anodea!
I was wondering if you could help me… I am trying to find information on the significance of the number of lotus petals associated with each of the chakras.  I cannot seem to find any supporting research and was looking for your guidance.
 
Peace & Love,
Lost in Lotus

Dear Lost in Lotus:
No one really knows why the numbers are just what they are.  The numbers given are pretty consistent, though:  4, 6, 10, 12, 16, then 2, then 1000.  You can make your own extrapolations — four directions, 10 fingers, 16 vowels in the Sanskrit alphabet.  The only thing I do know is that the total number of petals the first six chakras gives one petal for each letter in the Sanskrit alphabet and that when the goddess Kali wants to destroy the world, she’ll just take the letters off the petals of the chakras.

Blessings,
Anodea Judith

Hi,
I am doing a research project for scholarship money, and I would
like your help. Are there layers within each Chakara, and, if so,
are they different colors or do they have separate functions?
Also, are there any references to Chakra-like things in other
ancient religions?
Thank you very much for your time,
Scott Massidda

Hello Scott,
Anodea forwarded your question about chakras to me, and I will share what I
know. If you are asking whether chakras have layers in the way that an
onion does, I am not aware of any models that suggest this. However, there
is articulated structure in the chakra. The closest thing there is to
layers, to my knowledge, is a distinction between the core, that runs
through the center of the chakra and connects all of the chakras, and the
surrounding material, which sits kind of like a donut around the core.
Carolyn Myss has done an interesting project, which you may already be
acquainted with, in which she compares the seven chakras with the sephirot
of mystical Judaism (actually, there are 10 sefirot, but she tries to make
it work) and the seven sacraments of catholic Christianity. Sufism, the
mystical branch of Islam, also recognizes subtle centers, but to my
knowledge arranges them quite differently than the Vedantic model. Tibetan
Buddhism, of course, has similar concepts. Those who work with the
Enneagram recognize three centers: head, heart and belly. Joseph Campbell
presented an illustration from ancient Egypt, which he interpreted as
representing the seven chakras, but I do not know of any other corroboration
of this notion. There may be more parallels, but this is as much as I am
aware of.
I hope this is helpful to your project!
Warm wishes,
Glenn

Dear Anodea:
If Chakra 2 is water and Chakra 3 is fire, how can they go together. Doesn't water put out a fire? I am starting to understand what you are saying that Chakra 1 is stability, and Chakra 2 has to do with movement, and Chakra 3 activates both. However, I still have the question above. Also, I do not know if my question is even a logical one, but was curious.

I am finding your book fascinating and am glad I am starting to think, feel, and see in terms of what you are talking about in the book. I feel that it will open up a new world that I did not know existed.
J

HI J:
I feel the elements say more about the chakras than any other association, and your question is wonderful one that I would like to post on my website, with your permission.

The whole point is to carry the elements in balance. Too much water (i.e. excessive emotion or indulgence) CAN put out the fire and dampens the will. Too little water (i.e. Not enough pleasure, feeling, fun etc.) will lead to burn-out as there is nothing to temper the fire. So the balance between second and third chakra needs to be just right.

Likewise, too much earth makes you heavy, not enough you feel flighty. Too much air is to have too little substance, not enough air and things are too dense, or the fire can't burn.
I hope this gives you the general idea.
Blessings, Anodea

Dear Anodea,
I have a question regarding a second chakra issue. I've been reading your "Eastern Body, Western Mind", and been absolutely fascinated by it. I recently came across something in particular that has captured my interest. You discuss that emotional release is not always advisable when damaging emotional habits are a presenting complaint, and then list "crying too easily" as an example of a damaging emotional habit. I am fascinated by this because I feel that is one of my damaging habits, yet most people I have discussed this with (whether friends or practitioners) have seemed to take the approach that my issue must be discomfort sharing my emotions and vulnerability with others, and suggested that I get *more* practice displaying emotions in this way. Do you have any suggestions for discerning which approach is likely to help, and if appropriate, any suggestions on how to avoid emotionally discharging through tears, if they seem to come to easily and too uncontrollably?
Thank you - A

Dear A:
This is a complex issue and one that ends up being a judgment call as to which side of the fence you fall into. The basic idea is that emotional release is very discharging. When there is too much charge, this is generally a good idea. Too much charge means being uptight, highly stressed, nervous, jittery, wound up, etc. However, doing a certain kind of release repeatedly actually sets up an emotional groove in the body and can become addictive, meaning that one repeatedly goes through this cycle of charging and discharging, without resolving the issues or evolving to new ones.
When someone is locked up emotionally and rarely expresses their feelings, crying can be a breakthrough. When one tends to collapse into tears rather than face anger or take charge, then it becomes damaging to reinforce that pattern.
IF one tends to be undercharged (too little energy, tired, passive, etc.) then discharging is not a good idea.
If you want to know more about all this, there is a course coming up the first week in October in Western Massachusetts, called TECHNIQUES OF MIND BODY INTEGRATION.
Thanks for asking a good question.
Blessings, Anodea Judith

Namaste Anodea,
I have recently been intensely delving (yet again) into the process of centering. My question's focus is how to harmonize the various states of consciousness of the cakras at once. Logic tells us that any object can have only one center. And logically in a system of seven cakras anahata is it. But: I find that if I center on anahata I can be heartfelt but I lose the ability to deal with multiple variables at once; heck, I can't even walk gracefully then. To further illustrate, I'm a Hindu monk and a large part of our practice is to dance and sing in kirtana. I happen to play the khol (a two-headed clay drum indigenous to Bengal) so during a kirtana there are a number of elements I have to keep track of: singing in key in Bengali or Sanskrit, playing the drum where each hand does an independent rythmic cycle (the music is very syncopated), and dancing in time. It's a very intense meditation and requires my full attention to say the least. If I focus on the drum then my singing is not so good. If I focus on my singing then the drum is not so good. How to put it all together so each element is equally as good as the other?

Osho mentioned that the center does not matter--centering does. What's your take on this statement? To me it could mean that the cakra we center on will change according to our intended purpose in a given circumstance. But that seems to violate the principle of there being only one center. What do you think?
Thanks for your insight on this.
CH

Dear CH:
Your question of centering is a good one and my answer is this:

We are not static beings, but constantly exist in the flow of prana. The main highway for the prana flow is up and down through the sushumna, or central channel, called the axis mundi in other systems. From this central highway, the chakras are organizing centers, branching off from the spinal column, much like exit ramps on a freeway that then lead to small towns, neighborhoods, shopping centers, etc.

The challenge of centering is to be able to be in the center of our FLOW — meaning that we are awake in our core energy. (core can be said to stand for “Centering Of Right Energy”) The central highway must be kept clear so that we can get to any chakra when appropriate. That way we are centered in our throat chakra when we are speaking, singing, or chanting, centered in the third eye when we are visualizing, centered in our power during a challenge, or in the heart when we want to be, but always in the flow. That way centering is dynamic, not static, changing, not fixed.
Namaste,
Anodea Judith

Dear R:
Qi, chi, prana, orgone energy, or simply the "life force" are all different ways of referring to the same thing. The chakras are organizing centers for this life force, as it manifests on different planes of reality. You probably haven’t read of the connection with Qi because the chakra system originated within the Hindu yoga system which generally uses the word "prana." The chakras exist in the pranic body, or energy body, and are fed by the distribution of prana, as well as acting as further distributors of prana from the inner core to the outer world.
Rainbow Blessings, Anodea

Hi
I'm trying to find out which chakras relate to the arms. I've got a benign cyst at the top of my left arm and I think it relates to chakras. Can you offer any info? I've tried looking on the web but I can't find such specific info.

BTW I've read a couple of your books and they've really helped me in the past. Thank you.
Claire, the restless spirit

Dear Claire:
Well, you must remember chakras are a very inexact science and opinion varies from one person to the next as to what correlates with what. I can only give you my own opinion which is that the arms relate to chakras 3, 4, and 5. The inside of the arms I call the healing channels, related to chakra 4 (the heart), and the three meridians that travel the inside of the arms all go to the heart area (they are the heart, lungs, and pericardium meridians). I think of the outside of the arms as the creativechannels, related to chakra 5. The hands are related to chakra 3 also, because it is through our hands that we do our "work" as operators on the physical.
Rainbow Blessings, Anodea

Dear Anodea:
I've been working with an Advisor for myself. I've seen some improvements. My advisor is looking into the Chakras of a gentlemen I'm beginning to see.
Is it possible that she can attempt to cleanse him, through me?? Without him even knowing he's being cleansed?

Dear Questioner:
No, I consider it unethical to work on someone without their permission. While there are people who can effect healing this way, doing someone else’s work for them will not create permanent results. Lasting change comes from doing the work ourselves, working the chakras from the inside out.
Rainbow Blessings,
Anodea

Hello,
I was writing this email to know if Kundalini is necessary for working on your Chakras. If it is? Should Kundalini be worked on for a long time basis before the Chakra system to really get the Chakras energized? Or can both systems be worked on the same day?
Daniel

Dear Daniel:
The answer to your question depends on the tradition from which one looks at chakras. My own opinion is that Kundalini is not necessary for working on the chakras, and that when the chakras are clear and the channels are open, Kundalini can rise naturally, without harm. Many people do very important work on themselves using this system, without any interest or experience of Kundalini.

A more classical approach however, would say that the chakras are entirely Kundalini based. These approaches focus less on the chakras and more on raising Kundalini, letting the chakras open at the will of the Goddess, Kundalini-Shakti.

I think a little of both is the best approach. Work on releasing blocks from the chakras, and also do exercises, such as yoga and pranayama, to raise the Kundalini. But don’t forget to keep your grounding! It makes the ride so much smoother!
Good luck,
Anodea Judith

Dear Anodea,
My cat is at the bottom of the totem pole amongst the other cats that live here. She is very shy with people, also. After careful consideration and applying your chakra tests to her, I find she has a deficient third chakra. Though I have made numerous attempts to chant with her, do yoga with her,
and give her positive messages, I think the language barrier is too high and we need to go non-verbal. She has problems with most of the yoga postures, too, really. So, I 'm thinking of using Flower Essences to enhance her third chakra. Can you recommend flower essences that promote that chakra, and maybe others as well?
Thanks and maiow.
Diane and AlphaDear

Diane and Alpha:
It is likely that getting your cat to do yoga is insulting and giving her an inferiority complex, thus undermining her third chakra. If you notice how sleekly she stretches, how calmly she sits, and how flexible her spine is, you might try taking yoga lessons from your cat instead. That would set the tables right and make her feel more powerful, thus energizing her third chakra, without setting her apart from other felines. Also notice her bliss level after being fed, or sitting in a sunny window. These are profound lessons you can learn from your feline guru. If you achieve stillness, and give her a warm lap, she will join you and purr contentedly, thus opening your fifth chakra by vibrational rhythm entrainment, and initiating you in the non-verbal interspecies realms.

Flower essences? Have you tried Eau de Catnip? She will delight in it. (Do avoid Eau de Catbox -- a very different essence, and if it gets on your sofa, you’ll regret it forever.)
Blessings to you and yours,
AJ

Hi
In Eastern body Western Mind (truly awesome book) on page 115 you state "when primary healthy pleasures are denied, secondary pleasures take over". What are the primary pleasures?
From South Africa,
Jonty

Dear Jonty:
Primary pleasures are those of the body -- rest, movement, sensuality, love, play, music, taking in a beautiful sunset, being alive. Secondary pleasures are the indulgences that can become harmful -- overeating, drugs, compulsive activities.
Enjoy,
Anodea Judith

Dear Anodea:
Hello, I just found your site and was wondering, what are the colors of the chakras exactly? I see them as being Purple-dk blue-lt blue-green-yellow-orange-red am I correct? Please help, I'm not too good with colors.
Thanks, JP

Dear JP:
Exactly? What is the color of the sky, exactly? Well, it depends on the day, the time, the weather, the altitude.

There are no exact colors to the chakras — they fluctuate with the mood, the energy level, the circumstances. And colors on whom? A yogi master? A drunk with a hangover? Someone who just made love?

Any colors we might see would be found in the chakras of a particular human, and of course, no two are alike.

However, given all that, the modern interpretation is that the chakras, representing seven vibratory modalities, correspond to the 7 colors of the visible spectrum which we see as the rainbow, with red for the bottom chakra and violet at the top. Just what shade? Again, that varies. The ancient Tantric texts describe yet even different color associations, but even this varies between texts.

For information on colors in the rainbow spectrum and related research, see Wheels of Life, (chapter on 6th chakra) or a study by Rosalyn Bruyere written up in her book "Wheels of Light."
Rainbow blessings,
AJ

Dear Anodea:
I use a chakra box to keep the points unblocked—sometimes the pendulum moves counter-clockwise, but I can’t find any information as to what this means. Can you refer me to some literature on this?
Mickey