There is a view, usually attributed to "Eastern" thinkers, that the physical, mental and spiritual worlds (both those interior and individual and those external and collective) are fundamentally different manifestations of a single reality, profoundly linked and therefore critically interdependent. As such, any distinctions made between these three spheres of existence are definitional rather than factual. There are various and sometimes differing theories on this topic. Whatever one thinks of the detailed elaboration of such views, there seems to be ample empirical evidence to show that mental attitudes can affect the physical body and conversely that physical conditions can affect our state of mind.

The Chakra theory proposes that there are distinct energy centers in the human body which regulate the flow of energy into and out of the body. Each center is associated with specific physical, mental and spiritual functions or aspects and is said to have a specific color. Because these centers were visualized as spinning wheels, they were called chakras from the Sanskrit word for wheel.

According to the theory, if the chakras are functioning properly, an individual will enjoy physical, mental and spiritual harmony and health.

There are seven main chakras on the front of the body:

1. The "Root" or "Base" Chakra located at the base of the spine and associated with the color red. It is said to govern those aspects of our life related to survival.
2. The "Sacral" Chakra located a few inches below the navel and associated with the color orange. It is said to govern physical health and the life force, including sexuality.
3. The "Solar Plexus" Chakra located in the solar plexus a few inches above the navel and associated with the color yellow. It is said to govern the sense of physical power, ego, and emotions.
4. The "Heart" Chakra located over the heart and associated with the color green. It is said to govern love, compassion and wisdom.
5. The "Throat" Chakra located in the middle of the throat and associated with the color blue. It is said to govern communication and the ability to express oneself.
6. The "Third Eye" Chakra located in the middle of the forehead just above the bridge of the nose and associated with the color purple or indigo. It is said to govern intuition, inner vision and clairvoyance.
7. The "Crown" Chakra located on the top of the head and associated with the color white. It is said to govern spirituality and access to the spiritual realm, including The Divinity.

This is a simplification of the theory. There are many excellent sources of information on the chakras available in books and on the Internet, to which you can refer for more information.

This Practice uses the chakras as a way of tuning in to issues that are out of balance in our lives and then restoring harmony and health. For this Practice to work, you do not need to believe in every aspect of the theory or even the theory itself. You can merely use it as a framework for conducting the Practice and let your intuition guide you.