The Complete Beginner’s Guide To Chakras

Spiritual

Jun 13

And You Might Just Discover Which Ones Need A little Balancing.

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You probably have come across the word chakra if you’re, like most, on your holistic wellness and spiritual journey. Or maybe you have some insight and want to learn more about how the different chakras can support and enhance your journey as well. Wherever you are, this guide offers an introduction to the seven main energy centers, their traditional associations, and straightforward ways to innerstand each one.

IN TODAY’S GUIDE, YOU’LL LEARN:

The main chakras and each purpose they serve
What a balanced vs unbalanced chakra can look like
Practical ways you can learn to balance/enhance each one

What Are Chakras?

For some, chakras can be something you’ve never heard of before, and for others, one you hear all the time but want to learn more about. The word chakra comes from the Sanskrit word for “wheel” or “disc”, and in traditional Indian spiritual systems, chakras are understood as centers of energy within the body. There are seven primary chakras, each traditionally associated with a singular area of the body, along with different emotional, psychological, and spiritual themes.

Rather than thinking of them as something that needs to be “fixed,” it can be more useful to approach the chakras as a framework and a way of paying closer attention to yourself and your inner world.

So, by simple definition, chakras are a traditional framework for understanding the relationship between the body, mind, emotions, and our inner experience, and some people believe that chakras offer a way to become more aware of how they feel, where they may feel stuck, and what might help them return to a greater sense of homeostasis.

The Seven Main Chakras

1. Root Chakra — Muladhara

Location: Base of the spine

Color: Red

Element: Earth

Associated with: Safety, security, stability, and grounding

The root chakra is traditionally connected to our sense of stability and belonging. It relates to the foundations of life: feeling safe, supported, and grounded in the present.

When it feels out of balance: You may notice feelings of anxiety, insecurity, restlessness, or disconnection.

When it feels balanced: You may feel more grounded, steady, secure, and present.

If you relate more to being unbalanced, here are some ways to restore it: Walking, spending time in nature, grounding practices, and movement that helps you feel connected to your body can all be useful places to begin.

2. Sacral Chakra — Svadhisthana

Location: Below the navel
Color: Orange
Element: Water
Associated with: Creativity, pleasure, emotion, and connection

The sacral chakra is traditionally associated with our capacity for feeling, creating, experiencing pleasure, and moving with change.

When it feels out of balance: You may experience creative stagnation, emotional difficulty, or a sense of disconnection from pleasure and connection.

When it feels balanced: You may feel more open, creative, emotionally present, and comfortable allowing yourself to experience life.

If you relate more to being unbalanced, here are some ways to restore it: Creative expression, time near water, accepting inner desires, mindful movement, and practices that encourage you to reconnect with what genuinely excites you and gives you energy.

3. Solar Plexus Chakra — Manipura

Location: Upper abdomen
Color: Yellow
Element: Fire
Associated with: Confidence, agency, will, and personal power

The solar plexus chakra is traditionally connected to our sense of self and our ability to make decisions, take action, and trust our own capacity.

When it feels out of balance: You may notice self-doubt, indecision, a lack of motivation, or a feeling that you’ve lost touch with your own direction.

When it feels balanced: You may feel more confident, clear, capable, and comfortable taking ownership of your choices.

If you relate more to being unbalanced, here are some ways to restore it: Reflecting on your values, setting clear boundaries, spending time in the sun, and incorporating movement that builds strength, determination, and presence.

4. Heart Chakra — Anahata

Location: Center of the chest
Color: Green
Element: Air
Associated with: Love, compassion, connection, and openness

The heart chakra sits at the center of the traditional chakra system and is associated with our capacity to connect, both with ourselves and with others.

When it feels out of balance: You may feel guarded, lonely, disconnected, or find it difficult to let go of past hurt.

When it feels balanced: You may experience greater compassion, openness, connection, and acceptance.

If you relate more to being unbalanced, here are some ways to restore it: Practicing gratitude, spending meaningful time with people you care about, and creating space to acknowledge both difficult and positive emotions.

5. Throat Chakra — Vishuddha

Location: Throat
Color: Blue
Element: Ether
Associated with: Communication, expression, and truth

The throat chakra is traditionally associated with communication and our ability to express what we think, feel, and need with clarity.

When it feels out of balance: You may find yourself holding things back, struggling to communicate honestly, or feeling disconnected from your own voice.

When it feels balanced: You may feel more comfortable expressing yourself clearly and authentically.

If you relate more to being unbalanced, here are some ways to restore it: Journaling, singing, reading aloud, honest conversations, or even creating more space to say what you actually mean.

6. Third Eye Chakra — Ajna

Location: Between the eyebrows
Color: Indigo
Element: Light
Associated with: Intuition, insight, awareness, and perspective

The third eye chakra is traditionally connected to intuition and our ability to look beyond immediate circumstances and develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

When it feels out of balance: You may feel disconnected from your intuition, mentally scattered, or unable to see situations clearly.

When it feels balanced: You may experience greater clarity, perspective, intuition, and self-awareness.

If you relate more to being unbalanced, here are some ways to restore it:Meditation, stillness, visualization, quiet reflection, and spending time away from distractions can help create space for greater awareness.

7. Crown Chakra — Sahasrara

Location: Top of the head
Color: Violet or white
Element: Thought
Associated with: Spiritual connection, awareness, meaning, and transcendence

The crown chakra represents the highest point of the traditional chakra system. It is associated with our relationship to spirituality, meaning, and a sense of connection beyond the individual self, knowing that we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves.

When it feels out of balance: You may feel disconnected, closed off, or uncertain about your sense of meaning or purpose.

When it feels balanced: You may experience a greater sense of perspective, peace, connection, and openness.

If you relate more to being unbalanced, here are some ways to restore it:Meditation, mindfulness, time in nature, contemplation, or simply making space to consider the questions that feel meaningful to you.

How to Work With Your Chakras

Now that you know the simplest description of each chakra, here are some ways you can start to incorporate balancing them into your holistic health and wellness journey.

But first, know that there is not just one way to explore the chakra system. What matters most is finding methods that help you become more aware of yourself and how you feel.

Meditation: Meditation can create space to slow down, notice what is happening internally, and become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations.

Movement: Yoga and other forms of mindful movement can be used as a way to reconnect with the body and explore different areas of tension, openness, and awareness.

Reflection: Journaling or quiet reflection can help you notice patterns in how you’re feeling and where you may be seeking greater balance in your life.

Creativity and Self-Expression: Singing, chanting, speaking, or other forms of creative expression can be significant when working with the throat chakra and the idea of authentic communication.

Nature: Spending time outside can offer a simple way to slow down, reconnect with your surroundings, and feel more grounded in the present.

An Additional Way to Think About Balance

Working with the chakras doesn’t have to mean trying to keep every energy center perfectly “open” or balanced at all times. Because life has seasons and cycles. Life evolves, and so do we. Some days may call for grounding, and others could ask us to be more open, expressive, creative, or reflective.

The chakra system is just one framework for noticing where you are and considering what you might need. The goal not being perfection, but awareness. And the more closely we pay attention to ourselves, the easier it can become to recognize what feels aligned and what may be asking for some more balancing.

Let's reflect on what you learned. In the comment section below, answer some of these questions from today’s post. Take a moment to consider what you noticed while reading through the seven chakras.

Which chakra feels most relevant to where you are in your life right now?
Are there areas where you feel more grounded, open, or connected?
Is there an area of your life that feels like it could use more attention or balance?
What is one practice you could introduce into your routine to create more space for that awareness?

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