Chakras that harmonise
The body and mind function in perfect harmony only when all the seven chakras in the body are aligned. The eighth chakra is believed to be your aura. Chakras are windows of prana — life force — which traverses to and fro from the aura and the body. Through the perfect alignment of chakras, not only is the body able to function vitally but the soul too is rejuvenated. The principles of acupuncture and ayurveda are also about aligning and balancing energy. Chakras, therefore are associated with intellect, emotion and physical vitality. The first chakra (moola or root) exists outside the body, is located between your thighs, halfway between your knees and your physical body. The seventh chakra is located on the crown of your head. The remaining five chakras — sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, and third eye — are aligned sequentially along the spine, neck, and skull. Yogis describe chakras as funnels with petal-like mouths and are invisible to the ordinary eye. Each chakra is associated with a specific colour: red is the colour of the root chakra of sacral chakra is orange and of the solar plexus chakra is yellow; the heart chakra is both green and pink while the throat chakra is blue. Indigo is for the brow chakra and the crown chakra is coloured violet and white.
The state of your chakras are reflected in your personal life. The condition of your home is evidence of the state of your chakras. Hoarders beware, all your chakras face a complete shutdown. Clutter or disarray in your living space will indicate which of your chakras need opening and cleansing. If your kitchen is chaotic, dirty and disorganised it is likely that your heart chakra is imbalanced. Similarly, a cluttered ‘den’ reflects a confused and unfocused mind. If the master bedroom is dusty and messy, it shows your relationships with the opposite sex are unresolved and conflicted. Keep window panes clean as this would block your third eye. Similarly, clean out your attic and ensure there are no blocks in your drainage system which will clear a blocked crown chakra. The following spaces are associated with your various chakras.
Crown Chakra: Attic, Roof, Rain Gutters. Brow Chakra: Den, Home Office, Windows Throat Chakra: Living Room, Family Room Heart Chakra: Kitchen, Dining Areas Solar Plexus Chakra: Bathrooms, Personal Spaces Sacral Chakra: Master Bedroom Root Chakra: Basement, Crawl Spaces Aura: Porches, Decks, Landscaping, Garages. Chakra meditation also cleanses and grounds you and can be learnt from a qualified teacher or expert author.
Chakra foods
1. Your Root Chakra: Helps to ground yourself. Eat: Root vegetables: carrots, potatoes, parsnips, radishes, beets, onions, garlic as well as protein-rich foods such as eggs, meats, beans, tofu, soy and peanut butter. Spices: horseradish, hot paprika, chives, cayenne, pepper.
2. Sacral Centre nourishes sexual and creative energy. Eat: Melons, mangos, strawberries, passion fruit, oranges and coconut. Honey, almonds, and walnuts are also good. Spices: cinnamon, vanilla, carob, sweet paprika, sesame seeds, caraway seeds.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra boosts self esteem and self love. Eat: Pastas, breads, cereal, rices, flax seed and sunflower seeds. Dairy products such as milk, cheeses, and yogurt. Spices: ginger, mints melissa, chamomile, turmeric, cumin, fennel.
4. By feeding your Heart Chakra with the following foods, it helps emotional healing. Eat: Leafy vegetables such as spinach and also broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, celery and squash. Green teas are recommended. Spices: basil, sage, thyme, cilantro and parsley.
5. Your Throat Chakra is meant for speaking the truth. Drink water, fruit juices and herbal teas and eat fruits like lemons, limes, grapefruit, kiwi, apples, pears, plums, peaches and apricots. Spices: salt, lemon grass.
6. The third eye is awakened at the Brow Chakra with these foods. Eat: Dark blue colored fruits like blueberries, red grapes, black berries and raspberries. Drink red wines and grape juice. Spices: lavender, poppy seed, mugwort.
7. The Crown Chakra opens to clear your Spiritual Communication Centre. For this fasting and detoxing is essential. Use incense and herbs such as sage, copal, myrrh, frankincense and juniper; always inhale incense or simply smoke it using a ceremonial pipe.