Cakras: Traps or Treasures
This blog discusses an overview of what the ancient cakra model is in relation to the qualities of human behavior. It will serve as an analogy of looking at the cakras as “traps” or “treasures”.
In the ancient teachings of the Mother tradition of yoga exists a model known as the Cakra/s (pronounced Chak-ruhs) that serves as a sort of road map to the personality. The Cakra model is a type of “evaluatory” tool that can be used to observe where we might be stuck or “trapped” versus fluid and free and able to express our “treasures”. I am talking about your gifts. Yes, my friend, you have plenty! My teacher says that cakras are a symbol system that exist esoterically in the body and while they might not be palpable, they are still real.
What exactly does a cakra represent? Traditionally, a cakra was a symbol of a wheel of fire. Fire symbolizes purification while omitting light and heat. You can see that this represents a process of transformation. There are 7 cakras that run from the root of the torso, through the center of the body and all the way up to the crown of the head. Each carry their own quality and behaviors that exist when in balance (treasures) or out of balance (traps). Being stuck in one area can easily influence another cakra to be misaligned. There is a modern psychological model known as Erik Erikson’s Theory of Personality that shows qualities that are either developed or not at different stages in life. Think of the cakra model as an ancient psychological model. Fascinating stuff!
Let’s use the first cakra as an example of traps versus treasures. Many people have heard of this cakra referred to as the Root Cakra. This cakra is the foundation for all of the other cakras as it is connected to our sense of safety. When out of balance, we fall into behavioral traps of instability and insecurity. We might even feel stuck and unable to move forward in our decision making. Raise your hand if you have experienced that? Yep, I know I have been stuck in my own trap at times. Just saying! On the other hand, if this cakra is in balance, qualities of stability and security manifest, our lives become easier to navigate. The treasure of stability keeps us feeling safe in all areas of our life.
There are colors, sounds, vital organs/parts of the body, senses and qualities that represent each cakra. The first 5 cakras are also connected to an element. Earth is the element of the first cakra and the color representing this cakra is red, while the sense is that of smell. Our smell is directly linked to the limbic or mammalian part of our brain that stores our emotional memories. Think about when you smell something like smoke and how that affects your sense of safety versus the smell of lavender and that affect on your nervous system.
Working with a highly trained yoga teacher and yoga therapist can help you move out of your traps and discover your treasures at every level. In fact, my mentor, Chase Bossart teaches that it’s the job of a mentor to see the potential (treasures) that exist in the student and give them tools to help remove obstacles (traps) over time. These are the deeper “inner teachings” of yoga and accessed through the art and science of meditation. Ultimately yoga’s goal is to awaken your “true self” and step into a place of freedom where you can realize your treasures! This looks like an inspired, happy, vital life. You can feel it and other’s can see it. This is a beautiful process to see someone step into their full potential and shine. As an Austin Yoga Therapist and teacher, I love observing this process in my students and clients that I am of service to.