Sound Healing and the 7 Chakras

Because so many people ask about it, I have  decided to write a bit about the Chakras and how they relate to (my) sound healing.

First, let me say that it is important to know that I have not studied this system. And while many people ascribe certain musical notes (and colors) to the individual Chakras, this is not something that is a part of my belief system.  However, if you as the client bring an understanding of Chakras to to your session, and a desire to unblock any of them to facilitate better energy flow, I am here to assist you. 

So with that said lets talk a little about the chakras.

What are Chakras?
Chakras are an ancient energy system that emerged in the writings of the Vedas, ancient Hindu philosophical texts that were written between 1500 and 500 B.C.E. The Vedas are a collection of poems, hymns, and spiritual writings that impart knowledge of the religion of Hinduism.

You may have heard people talk about "unblocking" their chakras, which refers to the idea that when any chakra is "blocked" the attributes of that chakra cannot function properly.  When all of our chakras are open, energy can run through them freely, and harmony exists between the physical body, mind, and spirit. There is a certain simple elegance to this idea, and sometimes it is expresses as "being in balance" or "mind/body balance". I myself use these terms often.

In India and other parts of the East, beliefs about chakras were included in many systems of healing and spirituality, including Ayurveda, yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism, and others.

These systems developed around the idea of a life energy that flows through our bodies and the universe. The use of the chakras is thought to help connect with this life energy in different ways. For example, yoga uses breath and movement to bring energy into the body, and move it through the chakras. Ayurveda uses herbal medicine, meditation, and other practices to open the chakras and balance energy.

Chakras became popular in the West beginning in the 1960s-1970s as part of “alternative” spiritual movements. Western traditions that sometimes use chakras include psychology and complementary medicine, as well as spiritual practices.

In Hawaiian culture, this somewhat can be seen in the term "ha meaning breath (which is part of the makeup of the word "alo'ha' or breath of life.  Oceanic cultures have concepts like "ha" and 'mana' (life force) which resemble in ways the chakras in that there was a common ancient understanding that some mysterious energy runs through us.  There is something for sure.  We are not just an assemblage of plumbing and scaffolding.

Anyway back to the chakras.....

What are the 7 main chakras?

The chakra system refers to the energy centers it is believed by some that we have in our bodies. There are seven major chakras, each in a specific location along your spine. Let’s look at each one more closely.

Root chakra
The root chakra, or Muladhara, is located at the base of your spine. It provides you with a base or foundation for life, and it helps you feel grounded and able to withstand challenges. Your root chakra is responsible for your sense of security and stability.

Sacral chakra
The sacral chakra, or Svadhisthana, is located just below your belly button. This chakra is responsible for your sexual and creative energy. It’s also linked to how you relate to your emotions as well as the emotions of others.

Solar plexus chakra
The solar plexus chakra, or Manipura, is located in your stomach area. It’s responsible for confidence and self-esteem, as well as helping you feel in control of your life.

Heart chakra
The heart chakra, or Anahata, is located near your heart, in the center of your chest. It comes as no surprise that the heart chakra is all about our ability to love and show compassion.

Throat chakra
The throat chakra, or Vishuddha, is located in your throat. This chakra has to do with our ability to communicate verbally.

Third eye chakra
The third eye chakra, or Ajna, is located between your eyes. You can thank this chakra for a strong gut instinct. That’s because the third eye is responsible for intuition. It’s also linked to imagination.

Crown chakra
The crown chakra, or Sahasrara, is located at the top of your head. Your Sahasrara represents your spiritual connection to yourself, others, and the universe. It also plays a role in your life’s purpose. 

Chakra healing in Western science
Western science hasn’t studied chakra healing very much and doesn’t have a clear understanding of if or how it works. Most Western research about chakras has looked for links between the chakras and the parts of your endocrine and nervous systems that are near them on your body.  For example, scientists might study the pineal gland, a part of your endocrine system, which is in the same part of your body as your third eye chakra (ajna).

Some research has tried to measure changes in electrical energy where your chakras are located on your body. Other studies have asked people how they feel after they do treatments to balance or open their chakras.

While the scientific connection might not be there fully, most people say that doing practices to balance their chakras helps them deal with stress and anxiety and improves their mental and emotional health.

Chakras and Sound Healing
There is a belief that each of the chakras has a color and a musical tone associated with it.  Because the musical notes come from the west, and are much more modern, this belief likely also developed in the alternative movement of the 60's and 70's thus I cannot promulgate the idea that any specfic note is associated with any specific chakra.

However through the processes of entrainment, and the proximity of the bowls and/or forks to the chakra locations, many people report a generalized feeling of well being and unblocking and that's great!  If it happens for you that would make me very happy.  Sound healing involves going in with no expectation, an open heart and an open mind and let your body and mind do what it is going to do.

I invite you to try a sound healing session, bring your struggles and your blockages and lets see what we can accomplish for you.  At the conclusion I hope that the experience leaves you feeling relaxed and with a renewed sense of energy and calm.

Mahalo

---