The Complete Guide to Chakra Balancing: Using Crystals to Align Your Body's Energy Centers

The Chakra System: Your Essential Guide to Energetic Balance

It's difficult to talk about the deeper practice of healing crystals without discussing the incredible power of our inner energy centres: the Chakra System. Those who are just beginning their crystal journey often ask what chakras are and, more importantly, how to work with them.

This guide offers a basic overview of these vital energy centres and how we can use crystals to support our spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

As humans, we are fundamentally composed of energy. Within that greater energetic field, our aura or subtle body are smaller, swirling vortexes of life force, or Prana. These are the Chakras, and together, they rule our holistic way of being.

As Anodea Judith, PhD., describes so beautifully when characterizing these Wheels of Life:

While there are many minor energy points, we will focus on the 7 main body chakras that run from the base of the spine to the crown of the head , as they are essential.

Here is an overview of these vital centres:

• 1st: Root/Base Chakra (Muladhara): Located at the Base of the Spine. Focuses on Survival, Grounding, and Security. Associated Colours: Red, Black, Brown.

• 2nd: Sacral Chakra (Svadhishthana): Located Below the Navel. Focuses on Creativity, Emotion, and Sexuality. Associated Colour: Orange.

• 3rd: Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura): Located Above the Navel/Diaphragm. Focuses on Will, Personal Power, and Confidence. Associated Colour: Yellow.

• 4th: Heart Chakra (Anahata): Located in the Center of the Chest. Focuses on Love, Compassion, and Harmony. Associated Colours: Green/Pink.

• 5th: Throat Chakra (Vishuddha): Located in the Hollow of the Neck. Focuses on Communication, Expression, and Truth. Associated Colours: Blue

• 6th: Third Eye Chakra (Ajna): Located at the Center of the Brow. Focuses on Intuition, Wisdom, and Insight. Associated Colours: Indigo, Purple, Violet.

• 7th: Crown Chakra (Sahasrara): Located on Top of the Head. Focuses on Divine Connection and Spirituality. Associated Colours: Violet, White, Gold.

1. The Foundation: The Root Chakra (Muladhara)

When working with the Chakra system, we start at the bottom, with the first chakra. This chakra's importance is often overlooked in favour of the "higher" chakras, but for us to evolve spiritually, our foundations need to be rock solid.

If you imagine your house built on weak, unstable foundations, you know that house may topple down at any time. The bodily chakra system is exactly the same! The Root Chakra is our first primary chakra and the most important. If we have a strong foundation, all other levels have a stable and secure platform on which to evolve and grow.

• Location & Element: Base of the spine, on the perineum. Connected to the Earth element and governs primal energy, survival, and grounding.

• Key Issues: Who are we? How comfortable are we with our lives? How do we connect to the natural world?

• When Unbalanced: We can experience anxiety, lack of energy or vitality, lower back pain, or feel as though everything is against us, leading to defensiveness and an inability to take responsibility for our lives.

• Healing Practices: I found that spending more time in nature and moving my physical body helped immensely. Any connection with the earth or ground is beneficial, such as dancing, drumming, stomping on the ground, or simply sitting on the grass.

• Root Chakra Crystals: The best crystals for the Root Chakra are those of the associated colour (red, black, or brown). My favourites are Smoky Quartz, Black Tourmaline, Garnet , Ruby, Hematite , and Blood Stone.
  
  

For a printable reference card, you can download one here.

2. The Emotional Store: The Sacral Chakra (Svadhishthana)

Moving up, the Sacral Chakra is located between the navel and the genitals.

• Location & Element: Located below the navel, sometimes referred to as the navel centre. It is connected to the Water element.

• Key Issues: This is our emotional store bank and the centre of our sexuality. It governs our reproductive organs, kidneys, bladder, and circulatory system.

• When Unbalanced: Emotional problems may show up as an inability to express your emotions or that your emotions are heightened. Physical problems can include lower back issues, hip or pelvis ailments, and problems with sexuality.

• Healing Practices: I particularly enjoy creative activities, as creativity is a source of life force. This includes working with mandalas, colouring, making things, and listening and dancing to music.

• Sacral Chakra Crystals: Crystals of the associated colour spectrum (Orange) work well. My favourites are Carnelian (my little Duracell battery), Tiger's Eye, Golden Topaz, Honey Calcite, and Moonstone. Although not Orange, Moonstone works exceptionally well on the sacral chakra because it resonates with the womb space and the moon, which governs our emotions and is a water element.
  
  

For a printable reference card, you can download one here.

3. The Personal Power: The Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)

The Solar Plexus is located about two to three inches above the navel area, just below the diaphragm.

• Location & Element: Located in the abdomen, it is connected with the Fire element.

• Key Issues: The solar plexus is responsible for the butterfly feelings we get and represents our Will, personal power , creativity, vitality, and get up and go (what I often refer to as 'my ego'). This power can be misused (dominating or critical), or lacking (low self-confidence and self-worth).

• When Unbalanced: Related physical problems are ALL digestive issues, liver dysfunction, diabetes, IBS, stomach ulcers, and eating disorders.

• Healing Practices: Learning how to breathe correctly helps open this area. Try practising by breathing in for the count of 3, 5, or 7 and making the exhale longer than the inhale. Toning, where we use our voice to balance our body, is also excellent exercise.

• Solar Plexus Crystals: Crystals of the associated colour (Yellow) work well. My favourites are Citrine , Amber, and Pyrite.
  
  

For a printable reference card, you can download one here.

4. The Central Balance: The Heart Chakra (Anahata)

Lovingly moving on to the central balance point of our chakra system: the Heart Chakra.

• Location & Element: Located in the centre of the chest area. It is connected with the element of Air.

• Key Issues: All issues concerning love are looked at here: love for self, love for others, compassion, the ability to receive love, and following your heart's desire.

• When Unbalanced: An unbalanced heart can manifest as problems with the heart and lungs, upper back issues, or difficulty connecting to the Divine source of love.

• The Difference Between Green and Pink: From my experiences, there is a distinct difference between the green and pink energy:

  • Green-Ray: I associate the green-ray with love for our mother, Mother Earth. Love for nature, our four-legged friends, and all things natural. The green vibration helps us stay connected to the source of love and gratitude the Earth provides.

  • Pink Vibration: This is directed more towards your love for yourself and all things in your life. Rose Quartz, the quintessential stone of love and compassion , is often the hardest to work with because it forces us to look at self-love and emotional healing.

• Healing Practices: Do things that make your heart sing! Spend time with loved ones, sing, dance, and jump for joy. Breathing and meditation are excellent exercises when working with the heart chakra.

• Heart Chakra Crystals: Crystals of the associated colour (Green and Pink) work well. My favourite green crystals are Green Apophyllite, Green Aventurine , Malachite (deep healing), Watermelon Tourmaline, Moss Agate, and Jade. My favourite pinks are Rhodochrosite, Watermelon Tourmaline, Kunzite, and Rose Quartz.
  
  

For a printable reference card, you can download one here.

5. The Voice of Truth: The Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)

The Throat Chakra is located in the hollow of your neck.

• Location & Element: Located in the hollow of your neck. The associated glands are the thyroid and the parathyroid.

• Key Issues: This chakra is linked to expression and communication. If we want to speak from the heart, we need to be able to communicate this clearly, with honesty and integrity. Everything we say has an effect, and we must be careful of the vibration our communication creates.

• When Unbalanced: Related physical problems include sore throats, stiff necks, colds, and thyroid problems. Emotionally, you may find it difficult to tell the truth or communicate what you want.

• Healing Practices: You can work with this chakra by using toning exercises, singing, chanting, and telling yourself that you love yourself and that you are beautiful.

• Throat Chakra Crystals: Crystals of the associated colour (Blue) work well. My favourites are Blue Lace Agate , Aquamarine , and Turquoise.
  
  

For a printable reference card, you can download one here.

6. The Inner Sight: The Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)

We're now at the sixth chakra, which is located in the middle of the brow and up by about half an inch.

• Location & Element: Located at the brow, associated with the Pineal gland.

• Key Issues: This chakra is linked to wisdom, spirituality, intuition, and mental clarity. It helps us visualize our heart's desire and see which path we need to take.

• When Unbalanced: Related physical problems could be headaches, eyestrain, blindness, or difficulties with mental health and neurological disorders.

• Healing Practices: Meditation and visualisation are key to working with the third eye. A fully functioning third eye will help you see what’s really going on around you, giving you precise and stronger intuition.

• Third Eye Crystals: Crystals of the associated colour (Indigo, Purple, Blue, and Violet) work well. My favourites are Iolite, Azurite , Sodalite , and Amethyst.
  
  

For a printable reference card, you can download one here.

7. The Divine Connection: The Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

Finally, we reach the 7th chakra, the Crown Chakra, located on top of the head.

• Location & Element: Located on top of the head, associated with the pituitary gland.

• Key Issues: The Crown Chakra is our gateway to connecting with the 'divine source'. It governs the central nervous system, brain, and skeletal structure.

• When Unbalanced: An unbalanced crown chakra leaves us feeling disconnected from the spirit or source, which can manifest as depression, confusion, lack of interest, and inability to learn.

• Healing Practices: While the high vibration can feel intense, working with this chakra becomes easier once proper grounding is learned. The connection, which comes down from the heavens, can be wonderful, peaceful, and content when we are grounded and open. Meditation is essential here.

• Crown Chakra Crystals: Crystals of the associated colour (White, Gold, and Violet) work well. My favourites are Quartz (Clear Quartz amplifies spiritual clarity) , Apophyllite, and Amethyst.
  
  

For a printable reference card, you can download one here.