INSIDE: In this Chakras for Beginners Guide, you'll learn the most important things you need to know to understand your energy system, as well as some tools to keep them balanced.

 

If you’re totally new to chakras and are looking to learn more about them, we've got you covered.

In this article, we’ll be going over what exactly chakras are, how many you have, how they affect your well-being and ways you can balance them.

Let’s dive in!

Chakra Definition

Chakra is a Sanskrit term that translates to ‘wheel’, which is how we visualize them in our bodies - a spinning wheel of energy.

Chakras are different centers of energy within our bodies that directly harmonize our mind, body and spirit.

Sometimes the chakras are closed, blocked, underactive, or overstimulated. We can visualize this as the wheels spinning irregularly, slowly, or out of sync.

When this happens, our chakras aren’t functioning properly and that can lead to physical, emotional and spiritual imbalances.

This interesting study published by Ohio State University details the history and belief of chakras should you want to learn more about them in that regard.

How Many Chakras Are There?

There are a total of 7 main chakras in our bodies, each of them serving to regulate different functions of the physical body, the emotional self, and the spirit within us.

The lower chakras are responsible for our physical well-being, while the upper chakras deal with our spiritual well-being. The heart center brings those aspects of the self together.

All of them are formed at different stages of our lives and are represented by correlating colors and elements.

A Simple Guide to the 7 Chakras for Beginners

Now, let's look at each chakra individually...

Root Chakra (Muladhura)

The Root Chakra represents our foundation and is located at the base of the spine.

When the root chakra is open and balanced, you’ll feel secure and grounded. You’ll have the confidence to take on new tasks and the stability to see them through.

When the root chakra is unbalanced, you’ll find it difficult to stay in the present moment and you're likely to feel threatened by the uncertainty of life.

Color: Red

Element: Earth

When It Is Formed: 1-7 years old

How to Balance the Root Chakra for Beginners:

• Red crystals
• Black crystals
• Brown crystals
• Spend time in nature
• Walk barefoot on the grass
• Practice yoga
• Visualize your root chakra spinning optimally
• Eat red fruits and veggies

Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)

The Sacral Chakra represents our creative and sexual expression and is located just below the navel.

When the sacral chakra is open and balanced, you’ll feel in control of your life, your connections, and your hopes and dreams. You’ll have the ability to fill your cup every single day.

When the sacral chakra is unbalanced, you’ll find it difficult to get a handle on your life and you'll feel a lack of desire to pursue the activities that make you happy.

Color: Orange

Element: Water

When It Is Formed: 8-14 years old

How to Balance the Sacral Chakra:

• Orange crystals
• Spend time by the water
• Take up a creative hobby (paint, write, dance)
• Visualize your sacral chakra spinning optimally
• Eat orange fruits and veggies

Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)

The Solar Plexus Chakra represents our personal power and vitality. It is located at the top of the abdomen.

When all is well with this chakra, you'll feel in control of your life. You'll have the energy and motivation to manifest your dreams, following a clear path ahead of you.

When the solar plexus is unbalanced, you will probably deal with shame, self-doubt, and a lack of confidence.

Color: Yellow

Element: Fire

When It Is Formed: 15-21 years old

How to Balance the Solar Plexus Chakra for Beginners:

• Enhance digestion
• Spend more time in the sun
• Practice yoga
• Visualize your solar plexus chakra spinning optimally
• Eat yellow fruits and veggies

Heart Chakra (Anahata)

The Heart Chakra represents our love and compassion, and it is located at the center of the chest.

When your heart chakra is open and radiant, you'll feel an endless amount of love and compassion for yourself and the people around you. You'll enjoy giving and serving others as much as yourself.

When the heart chakra is unbalanced, you’ll feel closed off or isolated from others. Apathy towards others and your own emotions is a common symptom.

Color: Green & Pink

Element: Air

When It Is Formed: 21-28 years old

How to Balance the Heart Chakra:

• Connect with loved ones
• Get a pet
• Practice self-care
• Visualize your heart chakra spinning optimally
• Eat green fruits and veggies

Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)

The Throat Chakra represents our self expression and it’s located in the middle of the throat.

When the throat chakra is functioning perfectly, you will feel in total alignment with your truth. You can express yourself openly and freely and aren’t afraid to communicate your needs.

When the throat chakra is unbalanced, you're likely to struggle with asserting boundaries and speaking your truth. You’ll be afraid of voicing your opinions out of a fear of judgement.

Color: Blue

Element: Sound

When It Is Formed: 29-35 years old

How to Balance the Throat Chakra for Beginners:

• Communicate with loved ones
• Sing
• Journal
• Share your ideas
• Visualize your throat chakra spinning optimally
• Eat blue fruits and veggies

Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)

The Third Eye Chakra represents our intuition and is located right between the eyebrows.

When open, the third eye allows you to connect to your intuition and register information beyond the physical realm. You'll feel connected to the universe and be able to interpret its signs. Strong visions are a common symptom of an open third eye chakra.

When the third eye chakra is unbalanced, you’ll feel disconnected from your mind and body. You'll have a hard time following your intuition or ‘gut instincts’ and are less likely to trust yourself.

Color: Purple or Indigo

Element: Light

When It Is Formed: 36-42 years old

How to Balance the Third Eye Chakra:

• Targeted meditations
• Journaling
• Spending time alone
• Visualize your third eye chakra spinning optimally
• Eat purple fruits and veggies

Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

The Crown Chakra represents our spirituality, our connection to the divine, and it is located right at the top of the head.

When the crown chakra is balanced, you’ll feel in perfect sync with yourself and the world around you. You'll feel a strong connection to your purpose and feel closer to enlightenment.

When the crown chakra is unbalanced, you'll feel the opposite. There is a lack of driving purpose in your life and you may be ridden with self-doubt and self-consciousness.

Color: Violet & White

Element: Consciousness

How to Balance the Crown Chakra for Beginners:

• Targeted meditation
• Chakra yoga
• Reiki healing
• Visualize your crown chakra spinning optimally
• Eat white fruits and veggies

Best Beginner Tool: Chakra Crystal Set

One of the best ways to obtain chakra alignment is by using crystals. They vibrate at different frequencies of energy and have the ability to resonate with and balance our chakras.

Our chakra crystal set contains one crystal for each chakra. Here’s what they do...

Red Jasper

Chakra: Root Chakra

What it Does: Red Jasper holds a strong grounding energy that stimulates the root chakra. When used in meditation, you may feel a strong energy at the base of your spine.

Carnelian

Chakra: Sacral Chakra

What it Does: Carnelian vibrates at a frequency similar to the sacral chakra, amplifying its energy. When used in meditation, it can stimulate your creativity.

Tiger’s Eye

Chakra: Solar Plexus

What it Does: Tiger’s Eye resonates with the frequency of the solar plexus and stimulates your drive. When used in meditation, it can allow you to make important decisions with courage and confidence.

Aquamarine

Chakra: Heart Chakra

What it Does: Aquamarine aids in healing the heart chakra. When meditating, it can stimulate feelings of love and compassion for yourself and those around you.

Sodalite

Chakra: Throat Chakra

What it Does: Sodalite amplifies the energy of the throat chakra and allows for clear, authentic communication.

Amethyst

Chakra: Third Eye Chakra

What it Does: Amethyst has the ability to stimulate the energy of the third eye chakra. When used in meditation, it can bring powerful visions and insights.

Clear Quartz

Chakra: Crown Chakra

What it Does: Clear Quartz vibrates at a very high frequency, matching the energy of the crown chakra. When programmed with intention, it can be used to open your consciousness and raise your vibration.

Final Thoughts

Now, you've learned the most important things there are to know about chakras for beginners. to expand upon this knowledge, check out these related articles:

Chakra Cleansing: How to Maintain a Healthy Energy System 

Chakra Meditation: How to Balance All 7 Chakras by Meditating

How to Use Crystals for the Best Chakra Healing

How to Know Which Chakra is Blocked