·         Chakra One:

Earth, Physical identity, oriented to self-preservation

            Located at the base of the spine, this chakra forms our foundation. It represents the element earth, and is therefore related to our survival instincts, and to our sense of grounding and connection to our bodies and the physical plane. Ideally this chakra brings us health, prosperity, security, and dynamic presence.

Location: In the perineum at the base of the spine

Age of Resonance: Conception-7

Shape: Large cube

Glandular Connection: Cortex of the adrenal gland (on the upper end of each kidney in humans), which secretes a number of steroid hormones, including the corticosteroids, cortisol, and corticosterone.

Color: Red

Musical Note: C

Type of Music: Drumming

Element: Earth

Aspect of Intelligence: Administrative

Sensory Experience: Smell

Essential Oils: Cinnamon, garlic, sandalwood

Crystals: Ruby, bloodstone, hematite

Aspects of the Solar System: Earth, Saturn

Astrological Association: Capricorn

Metal: Lead

Mythological Animal: White elephant with seven trunks

Plant: Sage

Qualities: Patience, structure, stability, security, the ability to manifest your dreams

Life Issues: To value the material as sacred, to find trust in place of despair, to persevere

Physical Activities: Yoga, movement of any kind that activates the legs and feet, any form of activity that is grounding, physical, and demands presence

Spiritual Activities: Noticing the beauty and perfection of the natural world.
Positive Archetype: The Mother: The Mother is a person, either male or female, who is nurturing, positive, and hopeful.  Mothers encourage, acknowledge, and affirm our being through love, kindness, and absolute faith in the goodness of life.  They make the dark moments bearable because they bring us hope of a positive outcome.

Negative: The Victim: The victim is a person who, because of external circumstances, is unable to rally regenerative forces and go forward in life.  Victims stay alive though the grace and generosity of other agencies and have little chance of renewing their connection with life as long as they remain dependent upon others to maintain life.  They may be temporarily invalided, victims of terrifying circumstances, or completely uprooted from a life they have previously enjoyed.

·         Chakra Two:

Water, Emotional identity, oriented to self-gratification

            The second chakra, located in the abdomen, lower back, and sexual organs, is related to the element water, and to emotions and sexuality. It connects us to others through feeling, desire, sensation, and movement. Ideally this chakra brings us fluidity and grace, depth of feeling, sexual fulfillment, and the ability to accept change.

Location: two inches below the navel and two inches into the pelvis

Age of Resonance: 7-14

Shape: Pyramid

Glandular Connection: Ovaries/testes

Color: Orange

Musical note: D

Type of Music: Latin dance

Element: Water

Aspect of Intelligence: Sensation/pleasure

Sensory Experience: Taste

Essential Oils: Jasmine, neroli, orange blossom

Crystals: Carnelian, tiger's eye, onyx

Aspect of the Solar System: Jupiter

Astrological Associations: Cancer, Scorpio

Metal: Tin

Mythological Animal: A hungry sea monster, waiting to be fed

Plant: Jasmine

Qualities: Well-being, sexuality, sensuality, pleasure, abundance

Life Issues: To know that who you are and what you do are enough; to have enough rest, food, exercise, fun, and money; not to link self-worth with what you do or have; to create healthy boundaries to protect your vital life force

Physical Activities: Yoga, dance, swimming, walking

Spiritual Activities: Meditation, celibacy, fasting

Positive Archetype:  The Emperor/Empress: The Emperor or Empress is a person who enjoys and respects the physical world.  Emperors and Empresses love to have abundance, well-being, and a high degree of pleasure.  They know they deserve to feel good about life and enjoy good food, comfort, and some luxury.  They are not necessarily spiritual by nature but they do feel at home on the physical plane and enjoy the good life.

Negative Archetype:  The Martyr: Martyrs deprive themselves of the simple physical pleasures of life.  At some basic level, they feel cheated of the goodness of life and punish themselves by forbidding themselves the warmth and comfort they long for.  They are full of guilt and project this onto others, making them suffer too.

·         Chakra Three:

Fire, Ego identity, oriented to self-definition

            This chakra is known as the power chakra, located in the solar plexus. It rules our personal power, will, and autonomy, as well as our metabolism. When healthy, this chakra brings us energy, effectiveness, spontaneity, and non-dominating power.

Location- Directly below the sternum and over the stomach

Age of Resonance- 14-21

Shape- Globe

Glandular Connection- Pancreas

Color- Yellow

Musical Note- E

Type of Music- Marches

Element- Fire

Aspect of Intelligence- Instinctual knowing

Sensory Experience- Vision

Essential Oils- Lemon, grapefruit, juniper

Crystals- Topaz, citrine, amber

Aspects of the Solar System- Mars and the Sun

Astrological Associations- Aries, Leo

Metals- Iron, gold

Animal- Lion

Plant- Carnation

Qualities- Self-worth, self-esteem, confidence, personal power, freedom of choice

Life Issues- To develop a strong and resilient ego, to know you are worthy simply because you exist

Physical Activities- Sports, competitive programs, qigong, hiking, cycling

Spiritual Activities- Leadership programs, psychotherapy, amateur dramatics, appreciating solitude

 Positive Archetype- The Warrior: The warrior is an empowered person with a definitive sense of selfhood.  Warriors know who they are in themselves and in relation to the world.  Their sense of self is neither inflated nor weak.  They have the inner strength and resilience to see their dreams materialize into reality and the stamina to meet physical and emotional challenges.  They are able to fight the good fight for love, victory, and the glory of the gods/goddesses.

Negative Archetype- The Servant: The servant is a person whose sense of personal identity is anchored in the external world, always seeking confirmation from others.  Servants work hard for others' acknowledgment.  They sabotage themselves by giving their power to others to define who they are and what they need to do.  They lose energy trying to please others of the affirmation they are unable to give to themselves.

·         Chakra Four:

Air, Social identity, oriented to self-acceptance

            This chakra is called the heart chakra and is the middle chakra in a system of seven. It is related to love and is the integrator of opposites in the psyche: mind and body, male and female, persona and shadow, ego and unity. A healthy fourth chakra allows us to love deeply, feel compassion, have a deep sense of peace and being centered.

Location- Middle of the chest

Age of Resonance- 28-35

Shape- Crescent moon

Color- Green for the heart protector, pink or gold for the heart itself

Musical note- F

Type of music- Choral

Element- Air

Aspect of Intelligence- Remembering the good, loving, and caring

Sensory Experience- Touch

Essential Oils- Rose, carnation, lily of the valley

Crystals- Rose quartz, diamond, peridot

Aspects of the Solar System- Venus and the Sun

Astrological Associations- Libra and Taurus

Metals- Copper and gold

Animal- Deer

Plants- Foxglove, rose, carnation, lily

Qualities- Unity, brotherhood/sisterhood, love, peace, purity, and innocence

Life Issues- To let love be the center of your life

Physical Activities- Yoga, massage, healing touch, walking, dancing

Spiritual activities- Learning to love yourself first, then others, prayer, healing, singing, joyful endeavor.

Positive Archetype- The Lover: This is a person whose ground of being is centered in the heart.  They love unconditionally, and heal the tight, hard places in those they touch because they bring warmth and acceptance.  They generate goodness and are genuinely embracing and kind.  Their love is inclusive, uniting those on the outside.  They share love with everyone.  They know that to love is to live.  Knowing this archetype changes your life for the good.

Negative Archetype- The Actor/Actress: This is a person whose love is conditional.  They have expectations about the how and whom they can love.  If someone falls outside of the realm of their conditions they withhold their love.  They love in the limited way they have been loved, with judgment, and criticism for what doesn't fit into their framework.  They love through imitation rather than true feeling.  Their relationships often dry up because they have not developed a capacity to hold love in their hearts.

·         Chakra Five:

Sound, Creative identity, oriented to self-expression

            This is the chakra located in the throat and is thus related to communication and creativity. Here we experience the world symbolically through vibration, such as the vibration of sound representing language.

Location- The internal and external throat

Age of Resonance- 35-42

Shape- An inverted pyramid, suspended around the jaw and pointing down toward the heart

Glandular Connection- Thyroid and parathyroid glands

Color- Turquoise

Musical Note- G

Type of Music- Opera

Element- The ethers, in which all things are contained

Aspect of Intelligence- Will and expression

Sensory Experience- Hearing

Essential Oils- Blue chamomile, gardenia, ylang ylang

Crystals- Turquoise, blue gate, aquamarine

Aspects of the Planetary System- Mercury

Astrological Associations- Gemini, Virgo

Metal- Mercury

Animal- Sparrow, hawk

Plant- Gardenia

Qualities- Will, communication, creativity, truthfulness, integrity

Life issues- To harness your will, to express your highest truth, to live creatively

Physical Activities- Alexander technique, yoga, osteopathic alignment of the spine, craniosacral therapy, expressive theater and dance, qi gong, tai chi

Spiritual Activities- Chanting, silent retreats, fasting, yoga, prayer, meditation, singing, keeping a journal, public speaking, bearing witness

 Positive Archetype- The Communicator: This is a person who lies from personal integrity.  Communicators tell the truth to the best of their ability.  They are skilled in putting words to their feelings and they are able to stand up for what they believe.  They say no when they need to and their word can be trusted.

Negative Archetype- The Silent Child: This is a person who has suppressed expressiveness because of fear or shame.  These people hide their feelings and are not connected to their higher truth.  They say yes when they mean no.

·         Chakra Six:

Light, Archetypal identity, oriented to self-reflection

            This chakra is known as the brow chakra or third eye center. It is related to the act of seeing, both physically and intuitively. As such it opens our psychic faculties and our understanding of archetypal levels. When healthy it allows us to see clearly, in effect, letting us "see the big picture."
Location- Between the eyebrows

Age of Resonance- 35-42

Shape- Five-pointed star

Color- Indigo

Musical Note- A

Type of Music- Classical

Element- The cosmos

Aspect of Intelligence- Control and wisdom

Sensory Experience- Mindful knowing/intuition

Essential Oils- Camphor, sweet pea, heliotrope

Crystals- Sapphire, tanzanite, lapis lazuli

Aspects of the Solar System- The Moon

Astrological Associations- Sagittarius, Pisces

Metal- Silver

Animal- Hawk

Plant- Almond blossom

Qualities- Wisdom, discernment, imagination, intuition, knowledge

Life Issues- To focus your intelligence; to know who and what are for your highest good and greatest joy; to distill wisdom from your life experiences, both good and difficult; to choose life, health, joy and fulfillment in every aspect of your life

Physical activities- Yoga, tai chi, qi gong, bates eye exercises

Spiritual Activities- Thinking clearly about your life, reading or viewing uplifting and positive books or films, reflection, contemplation, meditation, and creative use of your imagination to visualize the life you say you want.

Positive- The Wise Person: This is a person who has cultivated wisdom. Wise people offer the best of their life experience to assist others along the path of life.  They encourage spiritual pursuits and physical adventures as well as guiding us in making optimally wholesome choices for ourselves.  Wise people live by universal principles and trusts in a higher source to guide them through the peaks and valleys of life, and with good fortune they assist us in leading ours.

Negative- The Intellectual: This is a person who draws only on information from the limited resources of rational, analytic thinking without incorporating either the emotional or spiritual aspects of life.  Intellectuals seldom have a holistic assessment of a situation.  Their thinking tends to be dry, lifeless, and without energy.  They are limited in their scope because they trust only conventional ideas.  They are often judgmental and narrow in their outlook.

·         Chakra Seven:

Thought, Universal identity, oriented to self-knowledge

            This is the crown chakra that relates to consciousness as pure awareness. It is our connection to the greater world beyond, to a timeless, space less place of all-knowing. When developed, this chakra brings us knowledge, wisdom, understanding, spiritual connection, and bliss.

Location- Top of the skull

Age of Resonance- 42-49

Shape- Round skullcap

Glandular Connection- Pineal gland, which secretes melatonin and other hormones known to affect tranquility, sleep, and light sensitivity

Color- Violet

Musical Note- B

Type of Music- Indian raga

Element- The Cosmos

Aspect of Intelligence- Spiritual understanding

Sensory Experience- Bliss

Essential Oils- Violet, lavender, lotus, elemi

Crystals- Amethyst, alexandrite

Aspect of the Solar System- The Universe

Astrological Association- Aquarius

Metal- Platinum

Animal- Eagle

Plant- Lotus flower

Qualities- Grace, beauty, serenity, oneness with all that is

Lie Issues- Selfless realization of your indelible connection with the greater whole of life; creation of a vital and resilient spiritual context for holding your life experiences

Physical Activity- Non-stillness

Spiritual Activities- Prayer, meditation, reflection

Positive Archetype- The Guru: Gurus are people who realize who they are.  They know that the divine force flows through them and they are identified with that as the substratum of their being, rather than the temporal parts of their life.  They let life move through them and take them ever deeper into consciousness itself.

Negative Archetype- The Egotist: Egotists are people who think their efforts alone carry them through life.  They believe that they are separate from a greater whole of existence and that their striving and effort controls the outcome of their life.

Balancing the Chakras

·         Hematite – root chakra

·         Carnelian – sacral chakra

·         Citrine – solar plexus chakra

·         Rose quartz – heart chakra

·         Blue lace agate – throat chakra

·         Sodalite – third eye

·         Amethyst – crown chakra

            Make sure the recipient of this charka balancing session is reclining comfortably.  Place a small pillow under their head and one beneath their knees, if they wish, to relieve back strain. Before you begin, explain to the recipient what you’re going to do. Use this opportunity to assure them they can place the stones for the root chakra and the breast chakra (if the client is female) themselves.  Above all else, you don't want to make the client feel uncomfortable, or that their private space has been invaded in any way.

            To lay the stones, begin at the feet with a smoky quartz, if you choose to use this stone in this position.  This is a good practice to facilitate grounding.  Otherwise begin at the root chakra, placing the hematite stone, or having the client place the stone, on the pubic bone. Everyone’s body shape is different, and it may be awkward or impossible to get a stone to lie in this spot for some people.  If that is the case—the body, in this position, forms a ‘Y’; place the stone at the base of the ‘v’ formed by the crease of the legs, at the top of the thighs, and at the base of the genital area. Place the carnelian stone over the sacral chakra, the lower abdomen.  In women, this would be where the womb and ovaries are located. Next is the solar plexus, located approximately three inches above the naval. Here, place the citrine crystal. At the heart chakra, between the breasts, you’ll lay a stone of rose quartz.  If your client is a female, she may be more comfortable placing this stone herself. To lay a stone for the throat chakra, place the blue lace agate at the base of the throat, in the hollow that you will generally find here. The third eye chakra can be found between the eyebrows and just slightly above them. Gently lay the sodalite stone in this spot.  Occasionally you will have a client who feels the weight of this stone, no matter how small, very acutely.  Be careful in placing the stone in this very sensitive spot, and reassure the recipient that sensations she/he may feel are not unusual. For the crown chakra, you will want to take your amethyst crystal and lay it gently on the pillow just above the client’s head.  Tuck it up close so that it’s in contact with the body.

            There, you have your crystals and stones in place.  Allow the client to remain lying in this position for 15-20 minutes.  It helps to set the tone if you have some soft ambient music in the background, perhaps subtle incense, and low lighting or candlelight.  It also helps the client to relax if they feel secure, knowing that their privacy will not be violated, and that they will not be interrupted.

*Make sure the person knows that if any of the stones happen to slip from their position during this process, they should leave them lay and not try to replace them.  This often means that the stone’s work is done.