The science of the Chakra system is very old. The study of Chakras started in ancient India thousands of years ago and it was written down in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit.

What are Chakras? Your body is like a river. Chakras are swirling pools of energy in the river of blood and air flowing through your body. The Chakra system is similar to the circulatory system and the blood stream. Just as blood is pumped through eh body, so the chakras circulate energy via invisible pathways.

The Chakra system drives the energy behind the physical systems such as the bloodstream and nervous system. It connected the physical self to the spiritual self. It guides the “feeling” self to grow into spiritual self. The Chakras are connectors or pathways between your thinking and feeling self. Chakras help you balance how you think and feel about daily living. It helps you make wiser choices.

Where are chakras located? The major chakras are located inside the spine. Other minor chakras are located throughout the body, even the palms of the hands.

How do Chakras work? Imagine a beautiful a river, flowing with great power as it moves through deep pools of swirling currents. Chakras are like swirling whirlpools that keep energy moving through the body.

Chakras funnel spiritual energy into the body and give life to every organ and cell in your body. For instance, the heart chakra keeps energy flowing in and around your heart organ. The Solar Plexus chakra feeds energy to your digestive system.

What is energy? Energy is a beautiful thing! It gives us the world we live in and makes it possible to enjoy life as we know it. Most people cannot see energy like you can see a house or a car. But everything we CAN see is a result of energy flowing and dancing.

Energy animates life! The word ‘animate’ means “to bring to life.” It is the building block for all life and it is alive too. Air and water are forms of energy. Water flows through oceans and rivers. Air flows as wind through the clouds and trees and even through our hair! Where air and water flow, so energy goes. We need plenty of both fresh air and water to keep our bodies healthy and happy.

What happens when someone gets sick? Even the energy in water can slow down to where action appears to stop. When energy cannot flow enough to one or several chakras, a person can get sick. When someone feels sad or worried or fearful, these feelings can slow the energy flow through the body.

Fish needs water that contains air and that flows. Like the fish, we also need flowing energy through our bodies to stay healthy. When one our energy whirlpools (chakras) slow the flow because we not eat healthy foods or because we feel anxiety and stress. Sometimes sadness and fear causes the pool to become a lake with a dam to hold the water back. Then the energy gets backed up and some part of the body does not receive the energy that it needs to stay healthy.

How can I take care of my chakras? Eat nutritious foods. Get plenty of sleep and rest. PLAY outside! Exercise your imagination and your creativity. Do your work but also do things that make you happy.

Make wise choices to take care of your body and mind. Think happy thoughts whenever you are able. Try to return to your happy place inside your mind when you feel sad. It is important to find a place in your own mind where you can feel safe and happy.

Drink several glasses of fresh water EVERY day. Go outside and breathe fresh air every day. Walk, run, work and play games outside. Move your fun indoors when needed.

When you are resting, know that you are taking tending a basic need for happiness. When you spend ten minutes in quiet, when you take a deep breath and remember to help energy flow, you are connecting with your spiritual self.

You are part of the Universe. You are good, loveable and worthy of respect. When you honor these aspects of yourself you can also be kind and respectful to others. When you open you heart to others, you can create a kinder world just by acting on your good feelings. Be kind to others. Remember that everyone is unique and has their own gifts to share with the world.

How can I tell when my chakras are healthy? When your energy centers are flowing and spinning, you feel good because you are getting enough rest, eating healthy, playing and working in just the right balance in life.

Why can’t I see my chakras? Chakras are special unseen places in the body that help the material organs to stay alive and function properly. Most people cannot see them because they are made of more delicate material they the human eye can see. But, none the less, they are spinning zones of energy that send energy to parts of the body. Even though you cannot see chakras, you can sometimes feel them when you feel very happy as a tingling sensation.

The Colors of the Chakras: A rainbow or a prism is made up of white sunlight breaking into a rainbow of colors. White light contains all colors. Sunlight seems transparent, but its colors can be seen in a drop of water or a prism. The white light that enters the human body also holds many colors. The seven colors of the rainbow are found in the chakras.

Description of the Chakras: Starting at the base of the spine and working upwards

1. Root Chakra holds energy of our family and where we come from. It connects us to our roots and the life we were born into. It color is red (blood lineage from parents and grandparents). It is located at the very base tip of the spine in the coccyx.

2. Creativity Chakra holds energy of imagination and friendships. How do we share our love with our best friends? It is located just below the belly button. Its color is orange.

3. Solar Plexus is located around the navel. Its color is yellow. It is concerned with how you feel about yourself, your self confidence. It also is where “gut knowing” is felt. When you ‘just know’ when something is right or not right.

4. Heart Chakra is located in the center of the chest and is green. It is where love for all, acceptance, passion and compassion come from. The heart chakra is like a light switch. It is either open or closed. It is also the gateway to higher feelings, thoughts and creative imagination.

5. Throat Chakra is located in the neck. Its color is light blue. It helps you speak your truth with the confident support of the lower chakras. Singing helps to open this chakra.

6. Forehead Chakra is located in the front forehead. Sometimes it is called the Third eye. Its color is dark indigo blue. Peace of mind comes from here. Meditation and quiet listening is recommended for this chakra.

7. Crown Chakra is not located in the spine, but hovers just a few inches above the crown of the head. This is where energy from the cosmos enters the physical body and is shared with all the organs. Its color is white.

How can I learn more about chakras?
Chakras for Beginners by David Pond
Anatomy of the Spirit by Carolyn Myss
http://littleganeshas.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/introducing-chakras-to-children/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakra
http://www.fotosearch.com/IMZ125/nri0003/