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PSYCHICBABBLE(sm)

by Marcy J. Gordon

Astrology and the Chakras

Introduction

Greetings Used Karma readers! This is the first in a series of articles examining the relationship between astrology and other metaphysical arts and sciences. In this issue we will explore the nature of the twelve (12) energy centers, known as chakras, in terms of astrological symbolism.

The Random House Dictionary of the English Language defines the word “chakra” (pronouced “sha-kra,” also spelled “cakra”) as a yogic term meaning “any of the six points along the spine supposed to contain certain powers, personified by gods and able to be released through the the proper exercises.” This definition is only partially correct. There are in fact twelve (12) chakras. The first seven (12) of the chakras are located within the physical body. The other five (5) are located outside of the physical body, and thus are esoteric chakras. The chakras are actually sacred energy centers that connect our physical bodies to our mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. The three nonphysical bodies (or “subtle bodies”) exist as energy. This energy survives physical death and continues to incarnate in different physical bodies until the soul's journey is complete. When the soul has completed the cycle of physical death and rebirth, the soul ascends to higher planes of consciousness. These highly ascended souls are referred to in many religious traditions as “masters.”

What is the difference between a live human being and a dead one? Life energy. It is a cardinal rule of physics that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Thus the life energy, also referred to as the “soul” survives physical death. The chakras can be thought of as the central nervous system of the soul. The bodily chakras allow us to channel metaphysical energy into our bodies, and the extra-bodily chakras connect us to higher universal energies. The chakras are visually perceived by mystics as wheels of light. When functioning normally, the chakra centers spin clockwise and radiate outward from their anchor on the spine. The first six chakras attach to the physical body along the spine, as indicated in the Random House definition. When out of alignment, the chakras become smaller and spin counterclockwise. The size of a given chakra varies with the amount of power you have accumulated in the arena governed by the chakra. The chakras can be expanded and aligned through spiritual disciplines such as meditation and tantric yoga. They can also be balanced, adjusted and opened by an adept spiritual healer.

The seven bodily chakras correspond to the endocrine system. This is because we receive spiritual energy through our glands. The physical chakras are about activity and manifestation on the physical plane, while the esoteric chakras are about receptivity and manifestation on the spiritual/universal plane. The physical chakras allow us to utilize and articulate our individual talents on the physical plane, while the esoteric chakras allow us to utilize and articulate our universal talents on the mental, emotional and spirtual planes.

The astrological associations to these centers provide us with a methodology to enable us understand the many connections between mind, spirit, heart and body.

The Physical Chakras

1. The First Chakra. This chakra, also knows as the “root” or “base” chakra, is located at the bottom of the spine, at the coccyx bone. This chakra governs male sexuality in males and sensuality in females. This chakra connects us with the earth and governs our physical survival. It is associated in the endocrine system with the gonads, symbolizing self and species preservation through the element of earth.

2. The Second Chakra. This chakra, also known as the “navel” chakra, is located about three inches below the navel. This chakra governs sexuality in females and sensuality in males. It connects us with our creativity and sensuality and is associated with the performing arts. The second chakra corresponds in the endocrine system with the cells of Lydig, symbolizing pleasure through the element of water.

3. The Third Chakra. This chakra, also known as the “solar plexus” chakra, is located in the solar plexus, which is at the top of the rib cage. This chakra is associated with the will, as explained beautifully by Carlos Castenada in his Don Juan book series. It corresponds in the endocrine system with the adrenal glands, symbolizing primal energy through the element of fire.

4. The Fourth Chakra. This chakra, also known as the “heart” chakra, is located in the heart. It is the mediator between the three lower bodily chakras (corresponding to the physical body and material needs) and the three higher bodily chakras (corresponding to the subtle bodies and spiritual needs). This chakra connects us to the love energy of our emotional bodies. It corresponds in the endocrine system with the thymus gland, symbolizing love relationships through the element of air.

5. The Fifth Chakra. This chakra, also known as the “throat”chakra, is located in the throat and governs communication. It is through this chakra that we communicate our thoughts (mental body), our feelings (emotional body) and our pyschic intuitions (spiritual body). It corresponds in the endocrine system with the thyroid gland, symbolizing inner guidance through the honoring of our highest qualities.

6. The Sixth Chakra. The sixth chakra, also known as the “third eye” chakra, is located in the center of the forehead in the third eye region and governs psychic intuition. It is through this chakra that we receive psychic and intuitive information. It corresponds in the endocrine system with the pineal gland, symbolizing cosmic memory (the Jungian postulate of the “collective unconscious”.)

7. The Seventh Chakra. The seventh chakra, also known as the “crown” chakra, is located at the top of the head and connects us to our higher self, our cosmic knowledge. It mediates between the six (6) spinal chakras and the the five (5) esoteric chakras. It corresponds in the endocrine system with the pituitary gland, symbolizing our connection to our own individual spiritual consciousness.

The Esoteric Chakras

8. The Eighth Chakra. The eighth chakra is located a few inches above the head. It synthesizes the bodily consciousness as experienced and expressed through the seven (7) lower chakras.

9. The Ninth Chakra. The ninth chakra is located between the earth and the moon. It connects us to global consciousness -- not only to humanity as a whole, but to to the consciousness of the entire planet as a living being. The planetary energy includes the consciousness of plants, animals, rocks, soil, all earthly water sources and our earth's atmosphere, which is integrated into a unified system through the energy of our Sun.

10. The Tenth Chakra. The tenth chakra is located within the solar system and connects us to the consciousness of all its planets. Our Earth, Gaia, has consciousness as a living being, as do the other planets in our solar system. It is the goal of astrology to illuminate the nature of these planetary energies so we can fulfill our personal potentials and live in harmony with other universal bodies and our universal selves.

11. The Eleventh Chakra. The eleventh chakra is located within our galaxy and connects us to the consciousness and energies of all our galaxy's stars, planets and lifeforms.

12. The Twelfth Chakra. The twelfth chakra is located outside of our galaxy in the center of the universe. It connects us to universal energy and consciousness.

The Astrological Chakra Correlations

The astrological correlations for the twelve (12) chakras are as follows:

Chakra Sign Sign's Planetary Ruler

1st SCORPIO Mars, Pluto

2nd LIBRA Venus

3rd LEO Sun

4th LEO Sun

5th TAURUS Venus

6th ARIES Mars

7th ARIES Mars

8th VIRGO Chiron

9th CANCER Moon

10th CAPRICORN Saturn

11th AQUARIUS Uranus

12th PISCES Neptune

The Physical Chakras in the Signs

The first chakra is located in the genital area. It is associated with Scorpio. Scorpio, the fixed water sign, rules the genitals, nose, adenoids and body waste elimination through bladder and bowels. Scorpio rules the eighth house, and is ruled by Mars and Pluto. Scorpio is a feminine sign. Its rulers, Mars and Pluto, are masculine planets. Scorpio is about intuition, efficiency, courage, ambition and resourcefulness. The Mars energy is about aggression, vitality, strength and sexuality. These are the qualities needed to sustain reproduction, the genitalia's biological function (which is why Mars is a ruler of Scorpio.) The eighth house is about taxes, death and transformation. The Pluto energy is about transformation, regeneration/rebirth, illumination and wisdom (additional Scorpio qualities.) Thus the first chakra contains the emotional energy of water (a feminine element), the powerful energy of the fixed modality, the masculine energy of the two martial planets and the power of transformation through death and reincarnation. A wise warrior seeks to avoid war, yet a warrior's job is tribal preservation. Thus the survival imperative (requiring both masculine and feminine energy for human reproduction) as well as the transformative power of reincarnation are held within the first chakra.

The second chakra is located in the navel. It is associated with Libra. Libra, the cardinal air sign, is a masculine sign. Its ruler, Venus, is a feminine planet. Libra rules the kidneys, ovaries, urine and the seventh house. Libra is about diplomacy, idealism, cooperation, sensuality and sociability. The Venus energy is about harmony, devotion, refinement and affection (which is why it rules Libra.) The seventh house is about partenrship, marriage and our self-image as reflected to us by others. Thus the second chakra contains the mental energy of air (logic, rationality), the beauty and sensuality of Libra and our ability to express these qualities. In addition, we acquire self-knowledge through the second chakra as we see ourselves mirrored through our relationships. Our kidneys cleanse the water we take into our bodies, and the wastes are released through the urinary system. During times of emotional stress, we often need to urinate more frequently. This is because our bodies can cry with our bladders as well as our eyes. Urination is therefore a form of emotional cleansing, because the water element corresponds to the emotional realm. Thus emotional energy as expressed through beauty, creativity and sensuality, along with the ability to cleanse ourselves through the release of negative emotions (the second chakra's connection to the first chakra association with the bladder), is held within the second chakra.

The third chakra is located in the solar plexus. It is associated with Leo. Leo, the fixed fire sign, rules the heart, back, spine, vitality and release of toxins through perspiration. Leo is a masculine sign. Its ruler, the Sun, is a masculine planet. Leo is about generosity, optimism, loyalty, ambition and affection (which is why it rules both the will and the heart) and rules the fifth house. The fifth house is about entertainment, ego, romance, enjoyment and children. The Sun energy is about creativity, vitality, confidence, leadership and generosity (which is why it rules Leo.) Thus the third chakra illustrates the powerful, positive, creative and spiritual fixed fire energy of the human will as expressed through femine, receptive aspect of the right brain fully integrated with the ego. This is also the center of our animal instincts, our “gut” reactions.

The fourth chakra, located within the heart, is also associated with Leo, the Sun and the fifth house. Thus the creative, vital, giving and leadership aspects of Leo and the Sun, combined with the fifth house aspects of entertainment and enjoyment, are articulated by the ego through the heart chakra as unconditional love and acceptance. Leos are often ambitious and productive people. This is because Leo contains the energy of two (2) chakras. The souls who have chosen to incarnate as Leos in this life do so because they choose to take on the challenges associated with this increased power. Meeting these challenges and maximizing the potential of these two (2) chakras' power is a matter of individual choice in any given lifetime. Thus Leo's rulership of the fourth chakra expresses the energy of instinct guided and directed by love.

The fifth chakra is located in the neck and throat. It is associated with Taurus, the fixed earth sign. Taurus rules the throat, neck, thyroid gland, recuperative power and the second house. Taurus is a feminine sign. Its ruler, Venus, is a feminine planet. Taurus is about reliability, perseverance, loyalty, trustworthiness and compassion. The second house is about values, money and finances. Since the Venus energy is about harmony, devotion, refinement and affection, the fifth chakra allows us to achieve mental and emotional balance, as well as the fixed earth power of material security, through language and sound. Thus the fifth chakra holds our capacity to ground ourselves by articulating our feelings and intuitions, and to integrate the mental and emotional bodies through verbal and melodic expression. The reason so many religious traditions involve chanting and music is because the vibration of sound is a powerful healing tool. Sound vibrations travel through water, which our bodies are predominantly composed of. In the Bible, the creator said “Let there be light,” and there was light. Therefore sound is the fundamental creative energy of the universe. St. Augustine said: “When we sing, we pray twice.” This explains the divine power of music, our universal language.

The sixth chakra is located in the third eye. It is associated with Aries, the cardinal fire sign. Aries rules the head, face (except nose, which is ruled by Scorpio), brains and the first house. Aries is a masculine sign. Its ruler, Mars, is a masculine planet. Aries is about originality, courage, enthusiasm and independence. The first house is about persona, physical appearance and initiation. Since the Mars energy is about aggression, vitality, strength and sexuality, the sixth chakra enables us to harmonize and direct our masculine energies (sex drive and aggression) by expressing our individuality through our higher spiritual and intuitive powers. Thus the sixth chakra holds our capacity to integrate the positive aspects of masculine expression with our higher gifts, thereby enabling us to meet our basic hypothalamic drives (eating, drinking, sex, learning, creativity, etc.) by honoring our intuitive and spiritual wisdom.

The seventh chakra, located at the top of the head, is also associated with Aries.

The seventh chakra allows us to integrate our individuality and our ego with our soul's higher purpose, and to transmute those higher abilities into manifestation on the physical plane. Aries expresses the left brain, active, masculine aspect of fire. Aries and Leo are the only signs that rule two (2) chakras. Therefore Aries people, like Leos, also tend to be very high achievers. Many Aries people have several careers in life and are enormously productive. Thus Aries' association with two (2) chakras gives these individuals great challenges which, if met, provide enormous power. Leo's association with the third chakra and fourth chakras illustrates the Lion's power of emotional expression made manifest through the force of will, while Aries' association with the sixth and seventh chakras illustrates the Ram's power of intellectual expression made manifest through the wisdom of spiritual insight and intuition.

The Esoteric Chakras and the Signs

The eighth chakra is located a few inches above the head. It is associated with Virgo. Virgo, the mutable earth sign, rules the intestines, bowels, duodenum, digestion, hands and the sixth house. Virgo is a feminine sign. Its ruler, Chiron, is a masculine planet. Virgo is about perfectionism, analytical ability, attention to detail, reliability and consideration of others. The sixth house is about work, health and daily routines. The Chiron energy is about service to others and the nexus between the individual and the universal experiences. In this eighth chakra, this nexus is articulated with the flexibility of the mutable mode (Virgo). Chiron calls our attention to the energy of unseen planets. Thus the eighth chakra holds our ability to connect with ourselves as an organic whole through nourishment and cleansing, integrating seen and unseen energies while remaining mindful of the necessity to harmonize these activities with our work and daily lives.

The ninth chakra is located between the Earth and the Moon. It is associated with Cancer. Cancer, the cardinal water sign, rules the stomach, breasts, uterus, nutrition, digestion and the fourth house. Cancer is a feminine sign. Its ruler, the Moon, is a femine planet. Cancer is about industriousness, sympathy, thrift, sociability and protectiveness. The fourth house is about the home, family and emotional security. The Moon energy is about feelings and emotions, moods, receptivity, sensitivity and habits. The Moon also governs the female menstruation cycles and the oceans' tides. Thus the ninth chakra holds our ability to connect us to the cycles of planetary consciousness through integration of the feminine, receptive aspects of individual consciousness with these same qualities of global consciousness. It focuses our attention on the importance of nurturing and caring for the entire planet with the same care that we apply to our own homes and families.

The tenth chakra is located within our solar system. It is associated with Capricorn. Capricorn, the cardinal earth sign, rules the knees, joints, skin, gall bladder and the tenth house. Capricorn is a feminine sign. Its ruler, Saturn, is a masculine sign. Capricorn is about ambition, responsibility, patience, practicality and efficiency. Saturn is about restraint, caution, restriction, self-discipline and patience. Capricorn is about traditional societal structures, while Saturn is the great teacher who often instructs through hardship and suffering. Thus the tenth chakra holds our ability to integrate mascuine and feminite energy in connecting with our immediate reality through our solar system, and to structure, educate, order and discipline our societies in accordance with its planetary energies. The solar system, in turn, defines our reality as elucidated through astrological symbology.

The eleventh chakra is located within our galaxy. It is associated with Aquarius, the fixed air sign. Aquarius rules the retina, calves, ankles, circulation, the body's electrochemical energy, elimination of carbon dioxide through breathing and the eleventh house. Aquarius is a masculine sign. Its ruler, Uranus, is a masculine sign. Aquarius is about originality, intuition, social consciousness, open-mindedness, friendship and helpfulness. The eleventh house is about group endeavors, friendship and higher aspirations. Uranus is about genius (flashes of insight), eccentricity, creativity, originality, perception and resourcefulness. Thus the eleventh chakra holds our ability to care about and communicate with other galactic lifeforms through the positive expression of our individuality and our own soul's wisdom, connecting us to our entire galaxy. This chakra connects us to the electromagnetic energy of galactic life, and connotes purification and humanitarian vision.

The twelfth chakra is located outside of our galaxy within the universe. It is associated with Pisces, the mutable water sign. Pisces rules the feet, toes, lymph nodes, sweat glands, mucuous secretions and the twelfth house. Pisces is a feminine sign. Its ruler, Neptune, is a masculine sign. Pisces is about sympathy, compassion, imagination, humility and self-sacrifice. The twelfth house is about karma, transcendance, self-undoing, solitude and limitations. Neptune is about spiritual wisdom, inspiration, compassion, sacrifice and universal love. Thus the twelfth chakra holds the wisdom of masculine and feminine spiritual energy, enabling us to connect to universal consciousness through the divine power of unconditional love and acceptance. The more we are grounded (our feet connect us to the Earth), the more we are purified (lymph nodes), enabling us ascend through the higher reaches of the spiritual realm. The twelfth chakra shows us our possibilities and limitations, teaching us to be eternally grounded by and continually uplifted through divine consciousness.

The author gratefully acknowledges the loving assistance of Tony Dickey, Peg Savoia, Jim Savoia and my masters, teachers and guides in evolving the ideas and insights contained in this article. Reference works consulted during the preparation of this article include the following:

Boushahla, Jo Jean and Reidel-Geubtner, Virginia, Dream Dictionary: 1,000 Dream Symbols from A to Z, Berkeley Books, New York, New York, USA, 1983.

Loftus, Myrna, A Spiritual Approach to Astrology, CRCS Publications, Sebastopol, California, USA 1983.

Pond, David and Lucy, The Metaphysical Handbook, Reflecting Pond Publications, Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, 1984.