Chakra — Definition

In yogic and tantric traditions, chakras are nodes where the subtle body's energy channels meet. The seven-chakra system most familiar in the West runs from the root at the base of the spine to the crown at the top of the head, with each centre tied to a colour, sound, element, and area of life. Older Indian sources describe more chakras and somewhat different systems. Modern usage often borrows the framework loosely; serious practice involves breath, posture, and meditation rather than colour symbolism alone.

Origin

From the Sanskrit chakra, meaning "wheel" or "disk." Earliest references appear in the Upanishads.

Example

A person who feels chronically ungrounded is often said to need work at the root chakra rather than the crown.