In Sanskrit, chakra means “wheel” and is often translated by “vortex”. According to yogic scriptures, these energy centers regulate the vital energy or prana that flows in the subtle (aka psychic) body – psychological, emotional & mental. There are 7 main chakras, each with its own distinctive features, located along the sushumna, the energy channel which flows through the center of the spinal cord, starting at the perineum and ending at the top of the head. The chakras are symbolized with lotus flowers, each having a particular number of petals and color, representing the different manifestations of psychic energy associated to it. As everything else in the universe, they vibrate at a specific frequency, and resonate with and are affected by sound vibration.
The Crown Chakra, Sahasrara in Sanskrit, is located at the top of the head, just outside the body. It is connected to pure consciousness rather than to any physical element and associated to the pituitary and pineal glands.
It is traditionally symbolized by a violet thousand-petaled lotus of crystal light. In Sanskrit, sahasrara means “one thousand”, the thousand petals representing infinity. It is the abode of highest consciousness, where the individual soul merges with the supreme soul, a bridge between our physical self and the spiritual dimension.
Sahasrara chakra connects us to our higher self, giving us a greater sense of purpose in life, wisdom, peace, compassion and a deep feeling of living in harmony with the Universe. When it is fully balanced and active, one may even experience a spiritual awakening and attain a state of pure bliss called Samadhi in yoga. On the contrary, when it is blocked, one may feel disconnected from themselves or search for happiness outside.
To stimulate this chakra, traditional yoga recommends to practice relaxing postures like Savasana (corpse posture) and the Dhyana mudra.
- Element : Consciousness
- Color : White or violet
- Seed sound (or bija mantra) : Om
- Deity : Shiva
- Animal : The last two chakras have no associated animal
Here is an ethereal musical journey in the higher chakras, which actually explores the progression from Third Eye to Crown. And here is a different playlist I created involving Sahasrara, one that reverses the usual order followed in ecstatic dance and starts at the Crown to finish, nicely grounded, at the Root – “Crown to Root Flow”. Just to make sure we return safely from these lovely higher states of consciousness and get the laundry done, too đŸ™‚
InnerFlow 