Chakras: Seven Doors to Inner Awakening

The word Chakra is derived from Sanskrit meaning wheel or circle. Chakras are an integral part of our spiritual anatomy just as there is an anatomy to the physical body. To follow the path of inner awakening, we must unlock the doors or what we may call chakras namely: Muladhara Chakra or coccyx center "Earth", Swadisthana Chakra or sacral center "Water", Manipura Chakra or lumbar center "Fire", Anahata Chakra or dorsal (heart) center "Air", Vishudha Chakra or cervical center "Ether", Ajna Chakra or spiritual eye "Super Ether" and Sahasrara chakra or crown chakra "Thousand-Petaled Lotus". These chakras are located on the astral spine which is not the backbone, but runs more or less through the center of the body. The life force energy or prana begins to flow upwards in the spine as we go deep in meditation, uplifting our consciousness whereas; the prana flow is downward, away from the brain, in our un-awakened state.

Chakras serve as the location of our psychological or mental tendencies, habits and desires as they store and distribute energy and information. Our quest to grow spiritually takes place between the pull of the soul from above and the pull of material involvement from below. Every desire, action, likes or dislike creates a subtle whirlpool or vortex of energy. These energy vortices are held together by thoughts such as: "I want this; I like this; I dislike this; I fail." As a result our ego embraces these thoughts or vibrations to itself until they gain release inwardly in inner awakening and outwardly in action.

These vrittis or vortices of desire then enter the subconscious and settle on the respective chakra according to the energy they express. The more refined or spiritual the vortex; the higher the chakra around which it settles; the more materialistic a vortex, the lower the chakra.

When the energy of the vortices is released upwards, it produces a mighty river of energy before which no obstacle can stand. Thus an increased flow of life force energy upward and inward through the astral spine is a major tool for unlocking the chakra "doors".