Chapter
4

Wheels of Life

From an atom to a galaxy, the physical world is filled with spinning wheels. Chakras—those spinning wheels of life force energy within us—might not be visible with medical imaging equipment, but they mirror the physical world in its countless manifestations of the same shape and movement. The wheel, circle, spiral, double helix, vortex—the concepts are practically motifs for physical reality. In this chapter, we explore what it means to be going around in circles.

Spinning Wheels of Life Force Energy

Think about an atom, the smallest possible piece of something that still has the chemical properties of that thing. Atoms make up all matter in the Universe. You can’t see them because light particles are too large to illuminate them. Traditionally, atoms have always been depicted as a central nucleus made of protons and neutrons surrounded by orbiting electrons. Now, scientists think that the electrons around an atom’s nucleus are probably moving more randomly in a cloud around the nucleus; but nevertheless, the shape is probably round, with particles surrounding a center.

Chakras are spinning life force energy.

But let’s get bigger. Nature is filled with circles, spirals, and wheels, which chakras resemble. Look at the center of a flower with its petals curling around the bud. Consider the shape of a raindrop as it splashes onto the pavement or the ripples that move out over the stillness of a pond when you skip a stone across its surface. Look into the eyes of a person, an animal, or even an insect and see the circles within the circles. Our fingerprints contain circles and spirals. So do snail shells and so many other things!

Let’s think even bigger. Tornadoes, hurricanes, waterspouts, and whirlpools all move in circles and spin like wheels. Planets, moons, and suns are spheres, with moons moving in orbit around planets and planets moving in orbits around suns. Entire galaxies full of millions of stars and solar systems move in elliptic circles around a center or a source.

Back on Earth, humans like to make circles, too. Not only did we invent the wheel, but we also invented clocks, compasses, rings, crowns, cymbals, hula hoops, doorknobs, plates and saucers, labyrinths, Frisbees, fidget spinners, motors, and fans, not to mention computer drives that spin and store information much like chakras do. We have circles of friends and spheres of influence. We hold sewing circles and prayer circles. We use circles to unpuzzle geometry problems, and we engage in circular reasoning. We use magnets to create spinning energy fields that give rise to electricity. Our culture has ideas about flying saucers and crop circles and ancient circular formations such as Stonehenge (or the Scottish stone circles of Outlander). We judge artistic skill by the ability to draft a perfect circle.

Our blood vessels circulate through our bodies, air circulates through our lungs, and our heads spin with thoughts and feelings. It’s no wonder our chakras spin, too. The more we reflect on circles and wheels being a part of human existence in the Universe, the more it makes perfect sense that our energy flows through us and collects in powerful circles of healing energy.

Chakra Correspondences

Our culture is full of circle and wheel symbols, but each chakra also has its own slew of associations. Depending on what book you read, what website you surf, or what teacher, yogi, astrologer, or healer you hear expounding on the chakras, you can find lists of correspondences. In addition to associations between colors, body systems, and elements, you can find chakra associations with planets, hand positions, numbers, zodiac signs, sections on the palms of the hands, key words, and types of people. Each chakra also has a seed sound, and when chanted, that sound is thought to awaken the chakra. Each of these correspondences might suggest new ways of looking at, experiencing, and doing healing work with your own chakras.

People often wonder why things like Tarot suits, Zodiac signs, or musical notes relate to each chakra. Actually, different traditions and even different individuals emphasize different interpretations about what corresponds to each chakra. However, most of the correspondences are based not just in someone’s intuition but grounded in thousands of years of study of ancient texts, spiritual contemplation, and plain old similarity. People have likened the placement and spin of the chakras to many other aspects of human knowledge and consciousness, including the placement and spin of planets, the healing power of gemstones and crystals, the traditional aspects of life governed by various goddesses and gods, and a more scientific analysis of sound waves and light spectrums. In this chapter, we’ve listed some of the correspondences familiar to us, but there are others out there, and you might discover still more useful ones using your intuition about your own chakras. That’s all part of the fun! Here are just a few of the many chakra correspondences we’ve uncovered through our own research.

First Chakra, or Root Chakra (Muludhara)

The first chakra, also called the Root chakra or Muludhara, is identified with the following correspondences:

• Animal: Snake, elephant, bull, or ox
• Archangel: Auriel or Michael
• Body: Physical
• Color: Red
• Element: Earth
• Food: All food, but especially proteins like meat
• Gemstone or crystal: Ruby, cinnabar, bloodstone, garnet, or other red stones
• Goddesses and gods: Atlas, Brahma, Demeter and Persephone, Gaia, or Ganesha
• Herbs/spices: Ashwangandha
• Incense: Cedar
• Keyword: Security
• Kinds of people: Family members, including ancestors
• Metal: Lead
• Musical note: C
• Number of lotus petals: Four
• Plane of existence: Physical or material plane
• Ruling planet: Saturn 0 (also Uranus -)
• Seed sound: LANG
• Sense: Smell
• Sense organ: Nose
• Shape: Square
• Tarot suit: Pentacles
• Verb: To have
• Vowel or vibration: U (as in “you”) or OH (as in “rope”)
• Yoga path: Hatha yoga
• Zodiac sign: Capricorn } and Aquarius Q

Second Chakra, or Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)

The second chakra, also called the Sacral chakra or Svadhisthana, is identified with the following correspondences:

• Animal: Fish and other sea creatures
• Archangel: Gabriel or Metatron
• Body: Emotional
• Color: Orange
• Element: Water
• Food: Sweet fruit such as melons, strawberries, mangoes, and coconut; honey; nuts; spices such as vanilla, carob, and cinnamon
• Gemstone or crystal: Carnelian, coral, amber, or other orange stones
• Goddesses and gods: Diana, Dionysius, Indra, Pan, Rakini, Varuna, or Vishnu
• Herbs/spices: Coriander or fennel
• Incense: Gardenia
• Keyword: Feeling
• Kinds of people: Children or romantic partners
• Metal: Tin
• Musical note: D
• Number of lotus petals: Six
• Plane of existence: Astral plane
• Ruling planet: Jupiter 8 (also Neptune =)
• Seed sound: VANG
• Sense: Taste
• Sense organ: Tongue
• Shape: Teardrop
• Tarot suit: Cups
• Verb: To feel
• Vowel or vibration: OH (as in “home”) or OO (as in “due”)
• Yoga path: Tantra yoga
• Zodiac sign: Sagittarius { and Pisces W

Third Chakra, or Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)

The third chakra, also called the Solar Plexus chakra or Manipura, is identified with the following correspondences:

• Animal: Birds or the ram
• Archangel: Michael or Uriel
• Body: Mental
• Color: Yellow
• Element: Fire
• Food: Grains such as pasta, bread, rice, and cereal; seeds such as sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and flaxseeds; dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt; mint; spices such as turmeric, ginger, and cumin
• Gemstone or crystal: Amber, topaz, citrine, gold, or other yellow or gold stones
• Goddesses and gods: Agni, Athena, Helios, Lakini, Rudra, Surya
• Herbs/spices: Goldenseal or lemon balm
• Incense: Cinnamon, Dragon’s blood, or ginger
• Keyword: Opinion
• Kinds of people: Friends or colleagues
• Metal: Iron
• Musical note: E
• Number of lotus petals: Ten
• Plane of existence: Celestial plane
• Ruling planet: Mars 7 (also Pluto ;)
• Seed sound: RANG
• Sense: Sight
• Sense organ: Eyes
• Shape: Downward-pointing triangle
• Tarot suit: Wands
• Verb: To do
• Vowel or vibration: O (as in “top”) or AH (as in “father”)
• Yoga path: Power yoga (a contemporary form of yoga that combines traditional poses with challenging and dynamic movements for a more intense physical workout)
• Zodiac sign: Aries E and Scorpio P

Fourth Chakra, or Heart Chakra (Anahata)

The fourth chakra, also called the Heart chakra or Anahata, is identified with the following correspondences:

• Animal: Antelopes, doves, or mammals with four legs
• Archangel: Raphael or Chamuel
• Body: Astral
• Color: Green
• Element: Air
• Food: Leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach, and lettuce; broccoli; celery; cabbage; squash; greens
• Herbs/spices: Basil, thyme, cilantro, and parsley; green tea
• Gemstone or crystal: Emerald, jade, malachite, green tourmaline, or other green stones
• Goddesses and gods: Aphrodite, Eros, Jesus Christ, Krishna, or Lakshmi
• Herbs/spices: Rue or saffron
• Incense: Lavender or jasmine
• Keyword: Love
• Kinds of people: Teachers, boddhisatvas (people who delay their own enlightenment to help others reach enlightenment)
• Metal: Copper
• Musical note: F
• Number of lotus petals: Twelve
• Plane of existence: Balance plane
• Ruling planet: Venus 6
• Seed sound: YANG
• Sense: Touch
• Sense organ: Skin
• Shape: Hexagram
• Tarot suit: Swords
• Verb: To love
• Vowel sound: AH (as in “far”) or AY (as in “play”)
• Yoga path: Bhakti yoga (the yoga of devotion, involves the practice and expression of the emotional connection with a Higher Power, universal spirit, or ultimate reality through chanting and worship rituals)
• Zodiac sign: Taurus R and Libra O

Fifth Chakra, or Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)

The fifth chakra, also called the Throat chakra or Vishuddha, is identified with the following correspondences:

• Animal: Humans, elephants, bulls, or lions
• Archangel: Michael or Gabriel
• Body: Etheric
• Color: Blue
• Element: Ether or space
• Food: Fruit (especially tart fruits like citrus), fruit juice, herbal tea, salt
• Gemstone or crystal: Sapphire, lapis lazuli, turquoise, blue sapphire, sodalite, aquamarine, abalone, or other blue stones
• Goddesses and gods: Apollo, Brigit, Ganga (the river goddess), or Sarasvati
• Herbs/spices: Cloves or vervain
• Incense: Frankincense or mace
• Keyword: Expression
• Kinds of people: Teachers and leaders
• Metal: Mercury
• Musical note: G
• Number of lotus petals: Sixteen
• Plane of existence: Human
• Ruling planet: Mercury 5
• Seed sound: HANG
• Sense: Hearing
• Sense organ: Ears
• Shape: Crescent
• Tarot suit: Wands
• Verb: To speak
• Vowel sound: EH (as in “let”) or EE (as in “seen”)
• Yoga path: Mantra yoga (the practice of chanting a mantra, a sacred syllable or phrase that is spoken repeatedly to aid in concentration and focus)
• Zodiac sign: Gemini T and Virgo I

Sixth Chakra, or Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)

The sixth chakra, also called the Third Eye chakra or Ajna, is identified with the following correspondences:

• Animal: Archetypes (first defined by psychologist Carl Jung, archetypes are powerful inner patterns of behavior, or universal roles) and owls
• Archangel: Raphael
• Body: Celestial
• Color: Deep indigo or purple
• Element: Supreme element, a combination of all the other elements.
• Food: Blackberries, blueberries, purple grapes, poppy seeds, any food/substance that affects perception and intuition, including red wine
• Gemstone or crystal: Amethyst, alexandrite, azurite, fluorite, star sapphire, or other deep blue or purple stones
• Goddesses and gods: Apollo, Hecate, Isis, Krishna, Paramasiva (form of Shiva), or Shakti Hakini
• Herbs/spices: Sandalwood
• Incense: Star anise or acacia
• Keyword: Insight
• Kinds of people: Spiritual friends, the people it seems like you’ve “always known”
• Metal: Silver
• Musical note: A
• Number of lotus petals: Two
• Plane of existence: Austerity
• Ruling planet: Sun 3 and Moon 4
• Seed sound: AUM
• Sense: Intuition
• Sense organ: Third Eye
• Shape: A circle with two petals
• Tarot suit: Swords
• Verb: To see
• Vowel or vibration: EE (as in “me”) or MM
• Yoga path: Yantra yoga (Tibetan form of yoga similar to Hatha yoga that combines poses with breathing exercises and meditation to increase life force energy)
• Zodiac sign: Leo U and Cancer Y

Seventh Chakra, or Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

The seventh chakra, also called the Crown chakra or Sahasrara, is identified with the following correspondences:

• Animal: Spirits of the deceased, especially ancestral spirits
• Archangel: Jophiel
• Body: Causal or auric
• Color: Purple or white
• Element: Thought or Goddess/God
• Food: None (fasting), or dark-blue grapes, blackberries, or garlic
• Gemstone or crystal: Diamond, amethyst, or quartz crystal
• Goddesses and gods: Allah, Ama-kala, Inanna, Nut, Odin, Shiva, or Varuna
• Herbs/spices: Gotu kola or nutmeg
• Incense: Lotus or gotu kola
• Keyword: Freedom
• Kinds of people: Saints, prophets, or true gurus
• Metal: gold
• Musical note: B
• Number of lotus petals: 1,000
• Plane of existence: Reality
• Ruling planet: Ketu, the South Node of the Moon in Vedic astrology. (In Western astrology, the Crown chakra has no planet but represents the Universe, the Source of Enlightenment.)
• Seed sound: Universal vibration making the sound of AUM
• Sense: Perception of Goddess/God
• Sense organ: Brain
• Shape: Circle
• Tarot suit: The entire Major Arcana (the 22 dominant Tarot cards in a standard deck)
• Verb: To know
• Vowel or vibration: AUM or OM (as in “ah-oo-oh-m”) or Ngngng (as in “sing”)
• Yoga path: Jnana yoga (the yoga of knowledge, practiced by meditating on the self and studying spiritual texts)
• Zodiac sign: None (Crown chakra energy is of Spirit and beyond the material realm, and as such, it is beyond our body but within reach of our enlightenment.)

Inside the Chakras

Each chakra has plenty of symbolic connections and correspondences, but what’s going on inside those spinning energy circles we call the chakras? In the previous chapter, we explained how life force energy moves in and out and through the body via meridians or channels, which are called nadis in yoga. Inside the chakras, energy also moves in and out in a lot of different ways, depending on what’s going on with you.

If you could see your own chakras (which some people can, through meditation techniques), you might see transparent-colored wheels of energy turning clockwise. Or, you might see some disturbances. From moment to moment, a lot of things can happen to a chakra. Our chakras change size, shape, and speed of spin throughout the day. They are taking in prana, processing it so the body can use it, and releasing it back into the system, like energy transformers.

However, sometimes things go awry. A temporary change in a chakra isn’t a big deal, but chronic changes can indicate a problem. Chakras don’t cause problems; instead, chakras reflect problems in your body, mind, or spirit. In Chapter 6, we show you how to measure your own chakras and give you the opportunity to feel your own chakras through a simple exercise. In Chapter 19, we walk you through a meditative exercise to help you see your own chakras; but for now, let’s talk about what they are doing, regardless of whether you can see them.

Healthy Chakras

Healthy chakras are the ideal, and chances are, most of your chakras are doing pretty well most of the time. A healthy chakra takes in prana, spins it around, and shoots it out again. Healthy chakras appear round with solid borders, bright colors, and a clockwise spin.

Connecting with Your Core

Here, we’re going to look into the centering power of your Solar Plexus chakra, using a few of the correspondences identified with it.

Find an open space and stand tall in yoga’s Mountain pose, as shown in the following illustration. Take a few calming and centering breaths to allow your body to align and relax into the strength of the pose, lowering your shoulders as your fingertips lengthen toward the Earth and the crown of your head lifts to float easily above your body. As you do this, you will begin to see your third chakra spinning in your solar plexus and to feel its energy build and radiate your surrounding aura.

The spinning energy of a healthy third chakra, or Solar Plexus chakra (Manipura).

Use your breath to begin to connect to your chakra’s healing energy. Let your breaths become slow and rhythmic. When you are relaxed and fully attentive to the moment, look within your body to see the spinning chakra energy glow yellow as the Sun shining strong and bright. With each breath, see the Sun’s light shine with a brightness that brings focusing clarity to your eyesight. After a while, when you feel the energy rising, solid and strong at your core of being, begin to vocalize the sound of “AH” on each exhale; feel the vibration enter the yellow light shining from your third chakra to illuminate your aura. If you are musical, create the vibrating sound on the musical note “E.” Take your time. Stand in the golden glow of the light spinning in your solar plexus. Feel its warmth and power. See it radiate strength. Return to the world with new confidence and warmth as you move through your day.

Now you can see how you can use the chakra correspondences to focus in on the energy associated with each one. Consider these correspondences more than simply descriptions of a chakra’s nature. See them as talismans of each chakra’s energy, tools you can use to draw upon the chakra you are working with. Recognize how much healing potential you can gain from standing quietly and simply seeing each chakra.

Look through the correspondences for the third chakra to find other ways of seeing its energy. For example, you can take the Wand suit out of your favorite Tarot deck and do daily three-card readings to explore what the Tarot reveals about your third chakra. Or, you can look at the planets and signs associated with the third chakra in your astrological birth chart. Wear gold jewelry. Become aware of the birds you encounter when you are out and about in your hometown environment. There are many, many ways to see the energy of each chakra and explore what it reveals to you about you.

Before we move on to doing healing work with your chakras, we have one more interesting aspect of the chakra system to discover: the mysterious, notorious, and much-misunderstood Kundalini. Check out the next chapter to learn more about your own personal serpent power.