The Seven Chakras: Exploring Energy, Intention and the Power of Sound
There is something beautiful about taking a moment to turn our attention inward.
Our days can be busy, noisy and full of things asking for our attention. Sometimes we need a reminder to pause, breathe and reconnect with ourselves.
For many people, the chakra system offers one way of doing exactly that.
The chakras come from ancient Indian spiritual traditions and are traditionally understood as subtle centres of energy within the body. The Sanskrit word chakra can be translated as wheel or circle, and the familiar seven-chakra system describes a series of centres rising from the base of the spine towards the crown of the head.
There isn't just one chakra system, however. Different traditions and texts describe different numbers and arrangements, so the seven chakras we commonly see today are best understood as one particular tradition within a much larger and fascinating history.
At the Haven, I'm interested in approaching the chakras gently, not as something that needs to be fixed, but as a beautiful framework for reflection, mindfulness and self-awareness.
And one of the things I particularly love about the chakra tradition is sound.
The power of a simple sound
Each of the seven chakras is traditionally associated with a bija mantra, or "seed sound". Bija means "seed" in Sanskrit, and these short sounds can be used during meditation and chanting as a way of focusing attention.
The idea isn't that you have to chant perfectly or know anything about meditation.
You can simply sit quietly, take a breath and allow the sound to become a point of focus.
As the sound resonates through the body, you might notice your breathing, your thoughts or simply the sensation of your own voice.
The traditional sounds commonly associated with the seven-chakra sequence are:
LAM · VAM · RAM · YAM · HAM · OM
with OM traditionally associated with the crown in some modern chakra practices, while other traditions use different sounds for the higher centres.
So let's take a gentle journey from root to crown.
❤️ 1. Root Chakra — Muladhara
Location: Base of the spine
Colour: Red
Seed sound: LAM
Associated with: Grounding, safety, stability and belonging
The Root Chakra is traditionally associated with our sense of safety and stability.
It represents our foundations, our connection to the physical world and that feeling of being grounded and supported.
When life feels busy or uncertain, we can sometimes feel as though we have lost our footing.
A simple grounding practice can be as uncomplicated as sitting quietly, feeling your feet against the floor and taking a few slow breaths.
Affirmation
I am safe to slow down.
Take a moment to breathe deeply and imagine yourself becoming a little more rooted with every breath.
🧡 2. Sacral Chakra — Svadhishthana
Location: Lower abdomen
Colour: Orange
Seed sound: VAM
Associated with: Creativity, feeling, pleasure and flow
The Sacral Chakra is associated with emotions, creativity, movement and our ability to experience joy.
It reminds us that we don't always have to control everything.
Sometimes we need to allow ourselves to feel, create, play and simply experience life.
This can be particularly meaningful when we have become so used to putting everyone else's needs first.
Affirmation
I give myself permission to feel.
Take a breath and notice what you are feeling, without judging it or needing to change it.
💛 3. Solar Plexus Chakra — Manipura
Location: Upper abdomen
Colour: Yellow
Seed sound: RAM
Associated with: Confidence, personal power and purpose
The Solar Plexus Chakra is traditionally associated with confidence, self-esteem, motivation and our sense of personal power.
It can be a lovely area to reflect on when we are questioning ourselves or struggling to trust our own decisions.
Personal power doesn't have to mean being forceful or having everything figured out.
Sometimes it simply means trusting yourself a little more.
Affirmation
I trust myself and the path I am creating.
Take a slow breath and remind yourself that you don't need to have everything worked out today.
💚 4. Heart Chakra — Anahata
Location: Centre of the chest
Colour: Green
Seed sound: YAM
Associated with: Love, compassion and connection
The Heart Chakra is associated with love, compassion, kindness and connection.
And perhaps one of the most important forms of compassion is the compassion we show ourselves.
We can be incredibly understanding towards the people we love, while being surprisingly hard on ourselves.
This is a gentle reminder to offer yourself some of the same kindness.
Affirmation
I offer myself the same kindness I give to others.
Place a hand over your heart if that feels comfortable and take a few slow breaths.
There is nothing you need to fix in this moment.
💙 5. Throat Chakra — Vishuddha
Location: Throat
Colour: Blue
Seed sound: HAM
Associated with: Truth, expression and authenticity
The Throat Chakra is traditionally associated with communication, self-expression and speaking our truth.
But communication isn't only about speaking.
It is also about listening.
Sometimes we know exactly what we feel, but we haven't yet found the words to express it.
And sometimes the first person we need to listen to is ourselves.
Affirmation
My feelings deserve to be heard.
Take a quiet moment and notice what your inner voice is saying.
You don't have to immediately act on it.
Just listen.
💜 6. Third Eye Chakra — Ajna
Location: Between the eyebrows
Colour: Indigo
Seed sound: OM
Associated with: Intuition, insight, awareness and clarity
The Third Eye Chakra is associated with intuition, inner wisdom and our ability to see beyond the surface.
In a world filled with noise, information and constant stimulation, creating moments of stillness can help us notice what is happening within us.
We don't always need another answer.
Sometimes we simply need enough quiet to hear the wisdom we already carry.
Affirmation
I listen to the quiet wisdom within me.
Close your eyes if you feel comfortable.
Breathe slowly.
Allow your thoughts to come and go without needing to follow them.
🤍 7. Crown Chakra — Sahasrara
Location: Crown of the head
Colour: Violet, white or purple
Sound: AUM / OM, or sometimes silence
Associated with: Spirituality, awareness and connection
The Crown Chakra sits at the top of the traditional chakra system.
It is associated with spiritual awareness, connection and a sense of something greater than ourselves.
For some people, this may have a deeply spiritual meaning.
For others, it may simply represent a feeling of peace, connection, wonder or being part of something larger than everyday life.
There is no right or wrong way to experience it.
Affirmation
I find peace in the stillness of this moment.
Take a few moments to sit quietly.
Nothing to achieve.
Nothing to solve.
Just breathe.
A Simple Chakra Practice
You don't need a special room, an hour of free time or lots of experience with meditation.
You could try this for just five minutes.
1. Get comfortable
Sit somewhere quiet where you won't be disturbed.
Close your eyes if that feels comfortable.
2. Breathe
Take a slow breath in through your nose.
Then gently breathe out.
Allow your shoulders to soften.
3. Choose a chakra
You might choose one based on the quality you feel you need today.
Perhaps you need grounding.
Perhaps you need confidence.
Perhaps you need to express something you've been holding inside.
Perhaps you simply need some peace.
4. Repeat the sound
Listen to the corresponding seed sound or gently make the sound yourself.
There is no need to get it perfect.
Simply allow yourself to experiment with the vibration and notice how it feels.
5. Finish with an affirmation
Choose an affirmation and repeat it quietly to yourself.
You might even write it down and keep it somewhere you'll see it during the day.
A Little Reminder to Take With You about the Seven Chakras
The chakra system has given me another way of thinking about wellbeing.
Not as something we have to achieve perfectly, but as an invitation to become a little more aware of ourselves.
To notice when we need to slow down.
To listen when something inside us is asking to be heard.
To make room for creativity, connection, compassion and stillness.
And perhaps most importantly, to remember that looking after ourselves doesn't always have to be complicated.
Sometimes it can simply begin with one quiet breath.
The Artwork Behind the Haven and the Seven Chakras Painting
The beautiful artwork featured throughout this chakra journey was created especially for Karen's Holistic Haven by Read Studios.
I wanted something that would be more than simply a pretty piece of artwork. I wanted something that could become part of the space, help me remember what I am learning, and give my clients a visual way into the world of the chakras.
It will soon be hanging as a large canvas in the salon, where I hope it will inspire conversations, curiosity and perhaps a few quiet moments too.
If you have a salon, treatment room, therapy space, studio or simply a corner of your home that you'd love to fill with something personal and meaningful, Read Studios creates original artwork and illustrated pieces designed around your space, your story and your ideas.
Sometimes the things we put on our walls can become part of how a space feels.
And I think that's rather special.
I've been sharing individual chakra posts and sound practices as part of this journey, so you can explore each chakra a little more slowly.
Choose a chakra. Take a breath. Listen to the sound. And see what resonates with you.
Karen's Holistic Haven 💜
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