This Month's Article:
"Seven Centers: the Journey of Humanity (Part 1)"
by Connie Habash
[In honor of the chakra series starting this month in my classes, I'm writing a two-part article on the psychological aspects of the chakra system. This month, we're covering chakras 1-4]
They are known as "chakras", the Sanskrit term for "wheel". Some consider them to be a manifestation within the etheric field, our energetic blueprint from the cosmos. They are known to be vital points along channels in the pranamaya kosha, the vital life force "sheath" that permeates the physical body. Although there are hundreds of minor chakras, there are seven that are considered paramount. Seven energy centers essential to our development, and potential transcendence, as a human being.
The chakras are complex and beautiful, swirling vortexes of energy, and it takes a few books to explain their characteristics in detail. For example, each has an associated color, sound, glandular system, element, etc. -- even various deities and animals from Hindu mythology are assigned to each chakra. This article does not delve into these aspects of the chakras (I offer my references for further exploration of other aspects of these energy centers at the end of this piece), but rather focuses on the practical application of their energies to our lives. The psychological and transformational aspects of the chakras fascinate me the most. In essence, they recapitulate the evolution of a human being: from birth to transcendence, we each make our journey through these seven centers.
All of us, in each incarnation, begin life's journey at the 1st chakra. And, logically, this energy center is located at the base of the spine. We come into a body rather helpless, and absorb a tremendous amount of information through our senses. In particular, the sense of smell is associated with first chakra, and we are told that a newborn recognizes the scent of its mother, which helps direct it to the breastmilk. Indeed, as the baby grows, he focuses much of his first year in exploring all the senses -- feeling the touch of his mother, the sound of his father's voice, the warmth of bath water, the taste of his first foods.
We have very simple, and yet critical, needs at this first phase of life. It coincides with Erik Erikson's model of socio-emotional development. For approximately the first year, developing a sense of trust -- in the mother as well as father, in feeling safe, and in getting basic needs met -- is essential to survival and healthy emotional development. These needs include not only food, clothing, and safe shelter, but touch and human connection. Feeling safe, secure, stable on all levels, and knowing that the universe provides for us are essential elements of 1st chakra. When we have these basic needs met, the 1st chakra is balanced and healthy, and we can then engage the next stage of development.
Moving up to the second chakra, which is located approximately 2 inches below the navel, life changes rather dramatically for the 1-3 year old. She may still breastfeed, but now enjoys many other pleasures of taste and texture through eating food, but also through putting any object of interest in the mouth (which probably began as soon as she had the coordination to do so). The 2nd chakra indeed relates to the sense of taste and the exploration of the world through pleasure in general (including, later, sexuality, although even at this early age one can see the first discoveries of this in a toddler's fascination with his or her genital area ).
Physical and motor skills are developing at a rapid pace, and so is the understanding of having a body that one can do many interesting things with. And indeed, the 2nd chakra impels the 1-3 year old to explore the world through all his senses and capabilities of his body: sensuality and sexuality are embodied in this chakra. This leads to the desire to control his movement as well as his environment and activities.
Erikson describes this second stage as focused on the development of Autonomy. Which is easily seen by parents as their toddlers assert their wills -- "no!" is a favorite expression, and exploring electrical outlets, climbing up on kitchen counters, and any manner of challenges to the parent's constant enforcement of safe boundaries are par for the course. They are learning toilet training and how to use utensils to pick up their food. They begin to understand what behaviors are good and what are unacceptable. This leads to a good deal of frustration for the little one journeying through 2nd chakra. And since this is also the chakra of our emotions, she experiences a wide range of feelings, from unbounded joy to rage.
This second chakra also dips into Erikson's 3rd stage, focusing on Initiative. Toddlers learn how to initiate their actions in their bodies, and gradually, with their words. They learn to ask for what they want and to express their feelings, which are a huge part of their experience of self. During these early years, they learn about who they are through what they feel, emotionally.
So a successful journey through this chakra involves not only sensing and feeling the world, but developing an ability to modulate their emotions. This involves developing the skill to appropriately express needs and feelings, and to understand the results of actions not only through the response of others but also through one's own emotional reactions. A healthy 2nd chakra allows one to feel a wide range of emotions, to understand those emotions, and also to have an ability to recover from intense experiences such as anger, fear, or even too much excitement and find an inner balance.
Erikson's 3rd stage, of Initiative, gives us clues to where we are headed at the 3rd chakra, which is located between the navel and the diaphram. By this time, most young children have good enough communication skills to explore many possibilities of what one can "do" in the world. Not only physical, but intellectual and social endeavors become important. Children long to do well in school, compete in sports, or focus on a special talent or activity that brings them joy. This leads to Erikson's 4th stage of Industry -- feeling one can do things correctly and well compared to a common standard.
The essence of 3rd chakra is the development of the sense of "self". And this is experienced by capability -- what "I" can "do". What "I" can think, write, speak, dance, run, draw, and show others: this is "me". We develop our sense of empowerment in this chakra. "I can get my own needs met and I have a sense of who I am". It's not surprising that the sense of sight is associated with this chakra -- we want to be seen by others for who we believe and feel we are. This chakra strongly influences us up through adolescence (and sometimes through our whole lives), as we shift to Erikson's 5th stage of Identity, in which each of us considers what our abilities are, what goals we may have, and what we believe is possible for us. A healthy 3rd chakra gives us a sense of self-identity, personal power, and being capable.
This brings us to a pivotal point in the chakra system. Each chakra thus far has focused solely on self-development: at the 4th, the heart center, there is a decided shift to the other. Thus, relationships become the focus. In adolescence, according to Erikson, our self-identity becomes intertwined with group identity. Developing friendships, and perhaps even intimate relationships, is the main focus of the teenager's socio-emotional development.
Connecting with others is the essence of 4th chakra. Often, we express our connection and caring through touch, the sense of this energy center. A hug, an arm supportively placed across a friend's back, and holding someone's hand all express this desire for connection and expression of caring. This is the chakra where we begin to understand love. On a basic level, we realize the love we have for parents, friends, and then even intimate partners.
This begins Erikson's 6th stage of learning Intimacy. We learn to give and receive, to understand the needs of others, and to make long-term commitments to relationships. On a spiritual level, we open to the possibility of unconditional love, undefined by any relationship or expectations. We develop compassion for the suffering of others, and perhaps even to sacrifice our own desires for the happiness of another. When we feel loving towards others, allow ourselves to be loved, and are able to express kindness as well as forgiveness of self and others, our 4th chakra feels open and strong. This can take a lifetime to develop within ourselves.
From this 4th chakra on, the journey of the human being turns increasingly away from the individual self, more towards the collective, and ultimately towards the transcendent. Stay tuned for the last 3 chakras, to be continued next month...
Copyright © 2008 by Connie Habash
My two favorite books on the Chakras:
"Chakras" by Harish Johari (more traditional Hindu perspective)
"Wheels of Life" by Anodea Judith (more modern, western perspective)
