More and more fields of medical practice are beginning to appreciate that emotions and unseen energetic aspects are intertwined with physical wellbeing. An understanding of energy medicine is a powerful tool when working within the holistic modalities of healing.
Remembering the origins
Reiki is a practice stemming from Japan in the early 1920s. As of this current time Reiki has now been practised for over 100 years, across many parts of the world. Reiki is well-known as an energetic and non-invasive practice to balance the chakras. It is important to appreciate that the concept of the chakras and Vedic astrology, is dated to thousands of years ago, and traced in the Sanskrit texts linked to India.
The chakras are difficult to describe and, in some ways, it is helpful to imagine chakras as energetic vortexes or portals through the body. Often a picture of a flower or rotating wheel is pictured when conjuring up the chakra. Chakras have been assigned colours and, depending on who you may speak to or what source you read, the colour assigned to each chakra may vary. There are seven main commonly known chakras and these will be the focus in this article. Some cultures or belief systems may recognize less or more. Each chakra has polarities of masculine and feminine and to correlate this to Vedic astrology, we see it through the zodiac signs and planets associated with each chakra.
Rooting
The Mūlādhāra, or the root chakra, is associated with Capricorn and Aquarius, ruled by Saturn. Saturn deals with our doubts and fears. The root chakra is about meeting our basic needs for survival, it is about having a safe home environment and having enough money and food for our essential needs. When we have stagnant energy in this chakra we can be overwhelmed in a storm of doom and gloom, anxiety and depression. As our fears and insecurities arise, we need to harness the higher vibrations of Saturn to handle them. We become humble, take responsibility, learn and do what we need to do, to survive.
Expanding
The Svādhiṣṭhāna, or sacral chakra, is associated with Sagittarius and Pisces, ruled by Jupiter. Jupiter deals with expansion and creativity. The sacral chakra is about procreation, expressing our desire and sense of joy. When we have stagnant energy in this chakra, we lack creative interests, experience misplaced guilt, are harsh and rigid. As our desires are presented, we need to harness the higher vibrations of Jupiter to manage them. We become wise and discerning, kind and generous, when we expand ourselves in healthy Jupiterian energy. When feeling excessive sexual desire, addictions for substances and gambling, we draw on Jupiter for wisdom to navigate through this and a high vibrational Jupiter enables us to not be impulsively satisfied. We are able to have an expansive view and understanding that every action and thought we have carries repercussions.
Doing
The Maṇipūra, solar plexus chakra, is associated with Aries and Scorpio, ruled by Mars. Mars deals with action, instinct and logic. The solar plexus chakra is about the digestive fire, having the will to act appropriately and to use our will with more consciousness. When we have stagnant energy with this chakra, we can have weak digestion, lack initiative or ambition and express inappropriate shame and aggressive outbursts. As life demands us to act, we must act when we need to. Draw on the higher vibrations of Mars to push you forward with courage and bravery as you approach life with its many challenges and changes. Mars will give ‘you the guts’ to apply for the job, to confront a bully and defend your family and yourself.
Feeling
The Anāhata, heart charka, is associated with Taurus and Libra, ruled by Venus. Venus deals with gentleness, diplomacy, grace and love. The heart chakra enables us to feel true compassion and unconditional love. The heart chakra often becomes more rigid or stagnant during times of grief, losing a loved one or during the end of a relationship. Science is recognising that ‘dying of a broken heart’ with grief, due to a tragic experience, can indeed happen. It is not literally a broken heart, yet the heart takes on a great deal of ambush with our emotions, especially grief. Choosing to manage our emotions with compassion and care, supports the heart chakra. Finding healthy and constructive outlets for our emotions supports the heart chakra. Venus gently nudges us to remember we need care and nurture, as much as others do.
Communicating
The Viśuddha, throat chakra, is associated with Gemini and Virgo, ruled by Mercury. Mercury deals with communication, managing the details and problems. The throat chakra enables us to express ourselves and communicate. The throat chakra is intricately linked to speaking ‘our truth’. Acute episodes of voice loss or not being able to speak clearly and unconscious bending of the truth, often reveal an imbalanced throat chakra. Use the higher vibration of Mercury to enable you to express your emotions, feelings and thoughts clearly, honestly and concisely.
Knowing
The Ājñā, third eye chakra is associated with Cancer and Leo, ruled by the Moon and the Sun. The Moon deals with our nourishment and nurturing needs, our emotional nature and ego. The Sun deals with our confidence, authority, our soul’s will to express itself and vitality. Being able to see the truth in a situation reveals an activated third eye. The third eye is deeply supported through meditation and contemplation, especially when we are in a garden, quiet setting, lying in a bed at night or walking in environments where trees and plants are near us.
Being
The Sahasrāra, crown chakra is the seventh chakra and at this level, it is of such a high vibration and linked intricately to the higher self. The higher self is not confined to an astrological birth chart and generally the crown chakra is not associated with a planet or any zodiac signs. The crown chakra is about a state of being, unperturbed by emotions and transient life experiences.
Conclusion
To conclude, Reiki is a non-invasive or non-physical therapy to support and assist our chakras. Our emotions are energetic states, stored within our body and, depending on our stored emotions, we can develop painful physical conditions. This is why the chakras are deeply entwined with medical astrology. The chakras are portals to assist in emotional and physical healing. An energetic interflow is occurring between our chakras and they do influence each other. We often are called to notice one specific chakra, ideally though we want to support all our chakras for an overall state of energetic balance. Medical astrology and chakras have been long time friends and still are to this day.
