Chakras are energy centers in the body. The word ‘chakra’ is derived from the Sanskrit word “cakra”, and roughly translates to ‘wheel’, ‘circle’, or ‘cycle’; this word is used because each chakra swirls or spins as energy flows between them. This concept originated in India, but has become prevalent in Western culture as well.
There are seven major chakras in the human body, each aligned with a particular type or vibration of energy. Although they are all connected, they can have varying degrees of activity. Imbalances in chakras can occur from an excess or a deficit of energy; that is, they can be too ‘open’ (or overactive), or they can be too ‘closed’ (or underactive). These imbalances usually cause discomfort or distress on some level, whether emotional, psychological, or physical. The longer an imbalance exists, and the more severe it is, the more likely it is for the stress of the imbalance to manifest in a physical fashion.
Below is a chart outlining some basics about each chakra.
| Chakra (Color) | Sanskrit Name | English Name | Location | Glands/Organs | Energies | Stones |
1 (red)  |
Muladhara | Root | perineum/tailbone | adrenal glands, intestines & colon | grounding, support, survival | garnet, ruby, hematite, smoky quartz, black tourmaline, onyx; most red or black stones |
2 (orange) |
Svadhisthana | Sacral/Navel | belly button | gonads, reproductive organs | creativity, sexuality, intimacy | carnelian, sunstone, orange amber; most orange stones |
| 3 (yellow) |
Manipura | Solar Plexus | just below ribs | pancreas, kidneys, liver | confidence, will, action | citrine, pyrite, yellow amber; most yellow stones |
4 (green) |
Anahata | Heart | heart/sternum | thymus, heart | compassion, community, love | malachite, aventurine, emerald, rose quartz, kunzite; most green or pink stones |
5 (turquoise) |
Vishuddha | Throat | throat/glottis | thyroid, lungs | communication, expression | amazonite, aquamarine, turquoise; most light blue or teal stones |
6 (indigo) |
Ajna | Third Eye | between eyebrows | pituitary gland, eyes | perception, insight, thought, intuition | lapis lazuli, sodalite, azurite, apatite; most deep blue or indigo stones |
7 (purple/white) |
Sahasrara | Crown | top of head | pineal gland, brain (cerebral cortex) | purpose, inspiration, transcendence | amethyst, charoite, sugilite, clear quartz, moonstone; most purple or clear stones |
