The Subtle Human Energy System and Energy Centers
Contributed by :Dr. Astha Rajneesh Shrivastava
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The fundamental foundation of all energy healing systems is the creation of a balanced healthy energy state by removing the stagnant unwanted energy and replacing it with pure cosmic energy. This stagnant energy accumulates in a dense form to create blockages in the body that manifest into many kinds of physical, mental or emotional illnesses. When an energy healer mediates healing energy, these energy blockages or imbalances get dissolved and finally removed from the system to create a balanced energetic state. However, how the energy flows through our various levels of being is a question that has intrigued and enchanted many of us. Here is an attempt to explain the energy system of the body and how the energy channels play a role in the integral healing of body, mind, and soul. We as humans are more than just our physical body of flesh and blood. The physical body can be described as energy in the densest form. Extending outside our physical planes are more layers of us as energy entities which we refer to as the subtle energy bodies. There are seven subtle energy body levels extending beyond our physical self and among these, the four layers near to the physical body are also called sometimes as aura and can extend from few inches above the body to several meters depending on the energy we have. It can be visualized with practice as a faint continuous energy cover surrounding you with many layers that are inter penetrable. Experts can observe colors in the auric field and relate them to the state of your physical, emotional being. It can be imagined as an oval-shaped energy bubble around us and within this bubble, there are our energy centers that aid in the reception and flow of energy across our physical body. These energy centers are called “chakras” meaning wheels in Sanskrit. These are continuously spinning entities making vortexes that tap the outside energy and deliver it to the body at their centers on spine. It is through these major chakras the physical as well as subtle energy bodies gain optimum level of energy and maintain the balance required to lead a healthy and blissful life. The chakras need to be balanced as an imbalance of energy in any chakra would lead to illness and disease. The chakras can be balanced by various holistic practices like yoga, meditation, reiki and many more. Thus, awareness about the subtle energy body is important to clear any occult blockages and maintain a healthy vibrant state leading to wholeness. The first four levels of the subtle energy body are thus very important and imperative for developing an understanding of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of ourselves as well as to experience energy realms that operate outside our restricted vision.
Auric Fields
The Etheric Body:
The subtle energy body closest to our physical body carries our vital energy and information about our physical structure. It governs our access to the universal life energy (reiki or chi) and thus energy healers aim to heal the person bypassing the cosmic energy to the etheric body. It also holds the ability to feel and act in a subtle area.
The Emotional body:
The second level of the subtle energy body is the emotional body that is the carrier and organizer of our emotional life and instincts. It picks up emotional residues from the surroundings and holds them, which when added to our own emotions can result in a clogged energy level with low vibration energies. This layer of subtle energy body also stores emotional energies that aren’t expressed. Thus, the emotional body needs to be cleaned off blockages for a sense of bliss and pleasure.
The Mental body:
About eight to twelve inches above our physical body is our emotional body that is the carrier and organizer of the conscious and unconscious thought processes, as well as the mental habits such as valuations, ethical and moral ideas. This level may get clogged by anxious, pessimistic or depressive thoughts, thus focussing on thinking patterns and practicing gratitude in life is important to keep our mind nourished with positive energy.
The Spiritual body:
Above the three levels lies the spiritual or astral body that deals with the connection of the human being with the creative force, the point of unity for all life. A person can experience astral travel beyond the limits of time and space with an astral body. The healing spiritual body leads to healing unresolved issues and karmic patterns that create unforeseen challenges in daily life.
The Etheric template body, Celestial body, and Causal body:
These layers of energy extend much beyond the physical body and connect to the spiritual plane. The energy vibrations are very high in these layers and here the sound creates matter. These layers are composed almost entirely of light and give us access to higher qualities of our thoughts and manifestations. The causal body is the purest form of ourselves and is connected to the divine or universal consciousness.
The energy centers - chakras
The subtle bodies connect to the physical body via the energy centers which then direct the cosmic energy into the physical body through the energy meridians. Let's have a look at the major, minor and other energy centers in our body. Starting from head to toe, these are associated with various organs and glands of our body and govern different aspects of life.
The Major Chakras
1st energy center -
Crown chakra: Cosmic consciousness, transformation, ecstasy.
Organ: pineal gland.
2nd energy center -
Forehead/third eye chakra: Perception of one’s individual path within the cosmic context.
Organs: ears, nose, eyes, pituitary gland.
3rd energy center -
Throat chakra: Self-expression, individuality, communication; the balance between physical and mental-emotional-spiritual growth.
Organs: throat, nape of neck, lungs, thyroid gland,
4th energy center -
Heart Chakra: Love, unity.
Organs: heart, parts of the pancreas, thymus gland, detoxification through storage in fatty deposits, relaxed state of muscles.
5th energy center -
Solar plexus chakra: Power, dominance, fear, karma, separation, analytical thinking.
Organs: digestive system, liver, solar plexus, autonomic system, joints, tensed state of musculature, energy metabolism, detoxification processes through elimination/encapsulation.
6th energy center -
Hara chakra: Joy in life, closeness, ability to be in a relationship, desire, and physical expression.
Organs: urogenital system, kidneys, skin, arms, fluids in the body.
7th energy center -
Root chakra -
Survival, preservation of the species, structure, struggle.
Organs: bones, nails, teeth, adrenal glands, legs, blood.
The Minor Chakras
In addition to the major chakras, we have many minor chakras in our body that channelize the energy. Here is a brief description of these energy centers.
The Yin chakra -
Similar to, but much less flexible and complicated in function than the crown chakra. Connection to unity with everything that is Yin on both the inside and the outside.
The Yang chakra -
Again similar to, but much less flexible and complicated in function than the crown chakra. Connected with unity with everything that is Yang on both the inside and the outside.
The Nutrition/Responsibility chakras -
Close to the solar plexus chakra, these energy centers regulate every type of responsibility; as well as nutrition in the material, energetic and informative area.
Hand chakras -
Expression of the energies of all chakras in the outer world and perception in the subtle area.
Elbow chakras -
Regulation of the intensity of relationships. For example; being able to accept people and things and draw boundaries.
The Knee chakra -
Ability to teach and learn. Devotion to life with all the consequences or to death.
Foot Chakra -
Function similar to that of hand chakras, but instead of being directed at other living beings, the connection to the Earth stands in the foreground here. Harmonious, grounded development of spirituality and material happiness.
These various major and minor centers along with many more small chakras are consistently rotating at their respective energy levels and absorbing the cosmic energy channeled through various subtle energy bodies. The system also comprises of the energy meridians along the body that help the energy flow like a river to reach each and every cell. A totality of the energy bodies, energy centers and meridians explains and proves that we are indeed made of energy (all matter is the manifestation of that energy) that oscillates between various states in our lifetime and even beyond.