What Are Chakras? And What Happens When We Go Deeper

You’ve likely come across the idea of chakras before.

They’re often shown as seven coloured circles lined up along the spine, each connected to different aspects of the body and mind, a system borrowed from ancient traditions and brought into modern wellbeing.

On the surface, chakras are described as energy centres. Places where life force flows, and where that flow can become blocked, stagnant, or overactive.

Each chakra is associated with physical organs, emotional patterns, and spiritual themes. The system is beautifully layered, but often oversimplified.

Let’s begin at the surface level… and then, let’s go deeper.

Root Chakra

Located at the base of the spine, the root is connected to safety, survival, and our most basic human needs. It forms early in life, shaped by our connection to our caregivers and our tribe.

When out of balance, it can show up as anxiety, physical instability, or disconnection from the body.

Beyond the physical, this chakra stores our earliest sense of being “held” or abandoned, our inherited beliefs about what it means to belong, to be protected, and to feel safe enough to exist.

Sacral Chakra

Found below the naval, this chakra governs emotion, creativity, sexuality, and our relationships with others.

It’s also tied to how we receive support and pleasure.

But underneath that, it holds the emotional imprints of childhood relationships with father figures and masculine energy.

It remembers moments of emotional neglect, shame around desire, and the tension between vulnerability and protection.

Solar Plexus

The centre of will, identity, and self-worth. This chakra shapes our relationship with power, both our own and others’.

It asks whether we feel seen, respected, or crushed by expectation.

When imbalanced, it can lead to digestive issues, burnout, or addictive behaviours. At a deeper level, this chakra reveals where we have internalised fear, self-criticism, or the belief that we are too much, or not enough.

Heart Chakra

The midpoint between the lower, physical chakras and the upper, spiritual ones.

Here is where love is given and received, not just romantic love, but self-love, compassion, grief, forgiveness.

It holds the echoes of every emotional wound, every betrayal, every loss, every longing.

It is often where people close down without even knowing they have.

Throat Chakra

Located in the throat and neck, this chakra governs communication and expression, but not just speaking. It's about whether we feel safe to speak.

Years of silencing ourselves, of swallowing opinions or truths, live here.

Physical symptoms like sore throats, jaw tension, or thyroid issues often mask much deeper emotional stories.

Brow Chakra

Also known as the third eye, this is the seat of clarity, vision, and inner knowing. When clear, it allows us to trust our intuition, to see what’s true.

When clouded, it brings doubt, confusion, or escapism. It may also reflect years of being told to ignore our instincts — or having them dismissed entirely.

Crown Chakra

The final chakra, at the crown of the head, is our link to meaning, connection, and what lies beyond the self.

When open, it offers a sense of unity and peace.When blocked, life can feel flat, directionless, or overwhelming.

But this chakra also acts as a filter, allowing in only what we are ready to receive.

It isn’t about being more “spiritual,” but about feeling connected in a real, grounded way.

So, What Happens When We Go Deeper?

Most people meet chakras through colour charts and yoga posters.

But those who stay curious begin to notice something else.

They realise their physical symptoms match emotional patterns.

That their relationships reflect the same blocks showing up in the body.

That unspoken fears, old memories, even ancestral patterns live quietly beneath the surface.

The chakras are not separate parts of us.

They are a map of the whole self.

And when approached with awareness, they reveal not only where we hurt… but why.

Understanding them isn’t about fixing. It’s about listening.

Intrigued? Find out more about Chakra Alchemy here.