I just wanted to ask about how people view chakras and what they are to them. I understand the basic principals but what I'd like is the concept of chakras broken down to the most basic principals. I'm talking about the original seven.

Are we really made up of chakras
(like literally?) or are they just our way of visualizing specific psychic centers so we can cleanse them?

Hi Taylor,

There is a lot of stuff online about Chakras, it's history and so forth. Along with the information you get from us here, I would suggest that you do some further research about the Chakras because it will help you much more than having someone break it down into a few sentences for you, you know?
What you need to understand about the basics of Chakras cannot be told/taught to you via a few short sentences because you will not fully comprehend it. Details are what you need.  

Chakra energy centers represent and resonate with specific areas of our bodies and these 7 major energy centers (which run up our spine) are what we speak of mostly. What people aim to do via Chakric work is to create a balance within the mind, body and spirit so it can function more better, giving us a sense of good health and well being. This affects us emotionally, mentally, physically and of course spiritually.
By the way, our bodies house a lot more of these Chakric points all over.  It IS a very Spiritual aspect and not imaginary. Accupuncture, Reflexology and Accupressure also work in similar ways using meridian points as their focus.

The visualisation techniques we try are just to help us find a way of connecting with them in a more 'tangible' way is all. We need to know that we have access to things via our usual senses and so this is why we go down the route of mental images, sounds and whatnot (but this is something that ultimately has to be felt inside).  It is a meditation and there are other types of such meditation which work similarly with this principle but using the physical body via movement and they are called Tai Chi and Yoga.
Finding that inner awareness and paying attention to the innermost self is what will help you connect further when wanting to do energy work on yourself in this way. It requires you to be still and quiet, slow and patient.

Can I ask if you have begun to meditate or are looking into it?
If so, there are many threads on this site (as well as online of course) which can help start you up if you are interested.

Also, before you work on your Chakras please remember to ground and center yourself and put a shield of protection around you. There are many techniques for these on the forum boards here as well. Check them out when you can if you haven't already done so.

The Empaths Path Forum Board has many techniques for Grounding and Shielding as does the Reiki, Healing and Meditation Board.  

Regards and well wishes on your Journey.

EnchantingSoul

John, thank you for your email it was very helpful.

Enchanting Soul, yes I have began basic mantra meditation as well as emptiness meditation when I can reach that 'trance state' as this leads to awareness.

When I am working on my chakras I visualize being surrounded by white healing energy and an outward facing mirror energy that sends any energy attempting to interfere back to the sender. I am under almost constant attack for whatever reason. I've gotten used to it though as this builds discipline and has improved my visualization skills. I am constantly shielding until I am certain this evil/negative force is done trying to shape my life as I don't want to sink to the low level of trying to attack it back, as this seems to be what it wants. It's more annoying than anything else. I have empathy for it because it seems to have nothing more productive to do.

-Taylor

Thanks for the advice EnchantingSoul. I do ground myself to an extent but not quite well enough. Your pointers on feeling out my shield are quite helpful, I hadn't thought of that. As a result doing so has increased my confidence.

I don't enter a trance state often as I'm still in the novice stage of meditating. When I do enter a trance it is common for me to dose off because I'm not really used to it. Practice makes perfect though as they say.

-Taylor