Chakra literally means “wheel” and has been described as swirling energy vortices corresponding to nerve ganglia in the physical body. Chakras have been described by yogis and mystics as having specific shapes, colors and sounds that can be chanted to activate the energies located in each chakra. These attributes can not be scientifically ascertained as the chakra is not part of the physical body but of the subtle or energy body thus being subjective.
Have you ever thought of how the chakras are arranged. We all know that there are seven centers in the body at the root, navel, solar center, heart, throat, minds eye and at the crown. Each of these locations may correspond to physical or psychic centers and may correspond to certain psychological behavior patterns. However this may be speculative with the intellect trying to make sense of what is not material.
My experience is that rather than being arranged from the bottom up, from first to seventh, the chakras are arranged in order from the top down. The chakras correspond to the elements of nature or prakriti which is the physical matrix of what we call reality. The movement of consciousness and intelligence is from subtle to grosser states of awareness. Thus when we come into our yoga practice and first come into this awareness it is on a very gross level, the level of the physical body. We may feel the weight of the body when we do our asanas. At first it is difficult and a beginner may feel daunted as if they “can’t do it.” The awareness of the practitioner is totally in the first chakra, that being of weight or heaviness. This corresponds to the earth principle as the most tangible expression of matter. The student is in total body identification. Postures may be a struggle. Asanas are difficult to maintain. There is a tendency to give up.
With practice and determination the breath becomes steady and the practitioner becomes more fluid within their practice be it a sitting or asana practice. The breath moves smoothly and fluidly corresponding to the water principle, that of the second chakra. The student begins to move through their posture flow and sees “progress.” Transformation has begun.
With continued practice the practitioner becomes established in pranayam, transforming the breath into energy or prana which produces heat corresponding to the third chakra or fire principle. The perception of the body has changed. It is no longer heavy. It is fluid but filled with a fiery energy. Heat can be felt and directed to various places in the body. The student is established in their third chakra. This is a very powerful place in the students sadhana. And they may feel a pranic “high”.
As practice continues transformation follows. The charged energy transmutes into the heart center or fourth chakra. The body and the mind become more merged and a feeling of lightness begins to be experienced like being lighter than air The student is established in their heart center . Postures and pranayam no longer require an effort but come with an ease. An experience of lightness is experienced throughout the bodymind. This is the midpoint or center. The student begins to feel “connected” with their “higher” self. Love is directly experienced.
In time awareness becomes more refined and shifts to that of spaciousness. Space, just like the space that is in the sky is directly experienced within. This is the dawning of what is out there is also in here. Postures bring a sense of space and openness throughout the bodymind. When there is openness something comes to fill it. The awareness of spirit! The mind begins to identify with endless space. Identifications with the body, intellect and emotions drop off and cease to occupy the practitioner. The student is established in the fifth chakra. It is like climbing up a mountain, the view is so majestic. It is from this vantage point that the student first begins to “see”.
At this point, the consciousness of the student has shifted from the first through fifth chakras and their accompanying awareness to that of being still and “seeing” through the mind’s eye or sixth chakra. The student has been climbing up the mountain and meets their “guru” sitting and staring into your eyes. It is your Intuitive Self. There is no longer any thought conjecture , speculation or expectations of mystical events. There is simply a calm clarity. The consciousness has become very subtle. The aspirant is on top of the mountain where the air is rare. The view of 360* (degrees) has never been seen before and Oh what a view!
At this point the student is about to ascend to the seventh chakra, which is the beginning of samadhi. There is no longer an ego, or memory. There may not be an experience of the physical body .The consciousness has become very rarefied. it is like being on top of a very high mountain where the air is very fine. Where does the atmosphere of the earth stop and space begin? or is it all space and then heavier layers of atmosphere coming down to water and earth . It depends on your perspective. If your standing on the ground looking up, or if you know that you are a traveler in infinite space.