The 7 Chakras Explained: A Beginner's Guide to Energy Centres
The word “chakra” comes from Sanskrit, meaning “wheel” or “disc.” In the ancient Indian traditions of Ayurveda and yoga, chakras are understood as spinning energy centres within the body, each governing different aspects of physical, emotional, and spiritual health. When a chakra is balanced and flowing freely, the corresponding area of life tends to feel harmonious. When it’s blocked or overactive, imbalance can manifest in various ways.
There are seven main chakras, running from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. Here’s a guide to each one.
1. Root Chakra — Muladhara
Location: Base of the spine
Colour: Red
Element: Earth
Governs: Safety, security, survival, grounding, physical needs, belonging
The root chakra is your foundation — your sense of being safe, stable, and connected to the physical world. When balanced, you feel grounded, secure, and at home in your body. When blocked, you may experience anxiety, financial worry, or a sense of disconnection.
Crystals: Red jasper, black tourmaline, obsidian, smoky quartz, haematite
Incense & candles: Cedarwood, patchouli, vetiver, frankincense
2. Sacral Chakra — Svadhisthana
Location: Lower abdomen, just below the navel
Colour: Orange
Element: Water
Governs: Creativity, pleasure, sexuality, emotion, flow, relationships
The sacral chakra governs your capacity for joy, creativity, and emotional connection. When balanced, you feel creative, passionate, and emotionally open. When blocked, you may feel creatively stuck, emotionally numb, or struggle with intimacy.
Crystals: Carnelian, orange calcite, sunstone, tiger’s eye
Incense & candles: Orange, ylang ylang, sandalwood, jasmine
3. Solar Plexus Chakra — Manipura
Location: Upper abdomen, stomach area
Colour: Yellow
Element: Fire
Governs: Personal power, confidence, self-esteem, willpower, identity
The solar plexus is the seat of your personal power — your sense of who you are and your ability to act with confidence in the world. When balanced, you feel self-assured, motivated, and in control. When blocked, you may experience self-doubt, indecision, or a tendency to seek external validation.
Crystals: Citrine, yellow jasper, pyrite, tiger’s eye
Incense & candles: Lemon, ginger, black pepper, rosemary
4. Heart Chakra — Anahata
Location: Centre of the chest
Colour: Green (also associated with pink)
Element: Air
Governs: Love, compassion, forgiveness, connection, empathy
The heart chakra bridges the lower (physical) and upper (spiritual) chakras. It governs your capacity to give and receive love — both for others and for yourself. When balanced, you feel open, compassionate, and connected. When blocked, you may experience grief, resentment, or difficulty trusting others.
Crystals: Rose quartz, green aventurine, malachite, rhodonite, emerald
Incense & candles: Rose, geranium, bergamot, eucalyptus
5. Throat Chakra — Vishuddha
Location: Throat
Colour: Blue
Element: Ether (space)
Governs: Communication, self-expression, truth, listening, authenticity
The throat chakra governs your ability to express yourself clearly and authentically — to speak your truth and to listen with genuine openness. When balanced, you communicate with ease and confidence. When blocked, you may struggle to speak up, feel misunderstood, or find yourself saying things you don’t mean.
Crystals: Lapis lazuli, blue lace agate, aquamarine, sodalite, turquoise
Incense & candles: Peppermint, eucalyptus, chamomile, sage
6. Third Eye Chakra — Ajna
Location: Centre of the forehead, between the eyebrows
Colour: Indigo
Element: Light
Governs: Intuition, perception, imagination, wisdom, inner knowing
The third eye chakra is associated with your inner vision — your ability to perceive beyond the surface of things, trust your intuition, and access deeper wisdom. When balanced, you feel clear-headed, perceptive, and in touch with your inner guidance. When blocked, you may feel confused, indecisive, or disconnected from your intuition.
Crystals: Amethyst, labradorite, sodalite, lapis lazuli, purple fluorite
Incense & candles: Frankincense, myrrh, lavender, clary sage
7. Crown Chakra — Sahasrara
Location: Top of the head
Colour: Violet or white
Element: Thought / consciousness
Governs: Spiritual connection, enlightenment, unity, higher purpose, transcendence
The crown chakra connects you to something beyond the individual self — to a sense of meaning, purpose, and spiritual awareness. When balanced, you feel a sense of peace, clarity, and connection to the wider universe. When blocked, you may feel spiritually disconnected, purposeless, or overly attached to material concerns.
Crystals: Clear quartz, amethyst, selenite, moonstone, white howlite
Incense & candles: Frankincense, sandalwood, lotus, myrrh
Working with the Chakras
You don’t need to work with all seven chakras at once. A simple approach is to notice which area of life feels most out of balance, identify the corresponding chakra, and focus your practice there — using the relevant crystals, incense, and candles as tools for intention and mindfulness.
Our Chakra Incense Balancing Kit and Set of 3 Chakra Balancing Taper Dinner Candles are designed specifically for this kind of practice. For a deeper introduction to crystals and their properties, see our Beginner’s Guide to Crystals.