You know that saying, If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard [fill in the blank] I’d be a rich woman (or man)? Well that applies to the “Is My First Chakra Red?” inquiry.
And often the inquiry stems from a conversation that we’re having about the chakras has to do with a pattern, obstruction, blockage or constriction held in a chakra or in the energy field. So the question comes with a somewhat worried expression, an anxious tone in the voice.
Such a common misconception about the chakras and their way of operating. If you’re new to energy work, the misconception is that the first chakra is colored red, the second is colored orange, the third is yellow, the fourth is green…on up to the crown – violet (or white in some cases). If you follow the track of the colors, you’ll come up with a rainbow.
And it’s kind of lovely to think that each one of us is our own rainbow, so I hate to be a rainbow-pooper, but here we go!
A typical illustration of the chakra systemMost images depicting chakras in Western society show the rainbow colors in their appropriate places on the body. But that’s not how things actually work. As a trained clairvoyant, I see energy in color, up close and personal. I look at the chakras, the electromagnetic field (aura); I’ve been trained to look at the body and its organs and systems.
What I learned about the chakras many, many moons ago (22 years x 13 moons/year = many, many moons), is that the chakras vibrate at the frequency of red, orange, yellow, green, etc. Thus, to access a particular chakra, you can meditate on the color of red, orange, yellow, green. However, that doesn’t mean that’s the predominant color in the chakra itself. Frankly, I see all kinds of colors in the chakras, some bright and vibrant, others muted and dull.
If the client is on the table, I’ll release the muted dull colors (an indication that the energy isn’t theirs), and leave the vibrant colors in place – whatever color they are, in whatever chakra they’re residing.
So all of you budding chakru’s (that’s chakra gurus), let me share your disappointment that we’re not really made of rainbows, and let me offer you the seed and vowel sounds for the chakras. Another way of accessing a chakra is through sound, vibration. Red is a color, and it has a frequency associated with it, and a seed sound or vowel sound is a vibration and is an equally viable way of accessing a chakra in all its colorful glory.
The chakras resonate through sound, and the decision you need to make is whether you want to run your chakras in resonance with the Eastern chakras, or you want to resonate with the Western chakras. Since I’m a member of Western society, I resonate with the Western chakras most of the time. So in most of my meditations, I use the vowel sounds.
The implications of how you resonate (East vs West) can be experienced in many different ways – sensitivity, health and well-being, sense of connection.
This little chart offers the seed or vowel sounds for both the Eastern and Western chakras.
| Chakra | Western (pronunciation) | Eastern [Aloud] (intoned) |
| First | Ohh (road) | [Lang], (Lam) |
| Second | Oooo (rule) | [Vang], (Vam) |
| Third | Ahh (father) | [Rang], (Ram) |
| Fourth | Ayy (play) | [Yang], (Yam) |
| Fifth | Eeee (sleep) | [Hang], (Ham) |
| Sixth | Mmm | [Aum], (Om) |
| Seventh | Nngg (sing) | Visgara – a breathing sound pronounced in Sanskrit |
Sources: Western Chakras – Anodea Judith, Eastern Body, Western Mind. Celestial Arts, Berkeley,CA, 2004. Eastern Chakras – Harish Johari, Chakras: Energy Centers of Transformation. Destiny Books, Rochester, NY, 2000.
It may be useful to learn to use both the Western vowel sounds and the Eastern seed sounds. The seed sounds can be quite powerful when silently intoned in meditation.
The Western vowel sounds are quite powerful for being present and aligned in our busy lives.
While I agree that the whole point of being here is to understand that we’re ‘spiritual beings having a human experience,’ we’re equally responsible for both aspects of the equation – our spiritual and human selves! So there’s truly a place for both the Eastern seed and Western vowel sounds.
So no, your first chakra isn’t all red, and nothing is wrong with you! Or me. Or him. Or her.
Have a great week, and keep your energy flowing!
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