The energy centers: Our 7 main chakras

In Japanese, "Reiki" is derived from "rei," meaning "universal," + "ki," meaning "life force." Reiki is the universal life force flowing through all things. It is the one thing that all living things have in common.

Once attuned to this universal life force, one can begin to work with it-- to move it and shape it and change it from one form to another.

Through working with this universal life energy, one can heal the electromagnetic energies of our mental, physical, and emotional bodies by essentially transmitting this life force from one person or thing into another, or throughout the self.

Energy is the foundation of life. Our minds, bodies, and spirits generate, filter, and emit energy. Each person, place, or thing stores, creates, and emits energy.

Consciousness and wholeness means to consume what nourishes us and to dispose of unwanted waste. Energy builds up. A lifetime of layers (good and bad) accumulate and effect our functioning on the whole. This happens through give and take, through doings onto others and doings onto self, through our life's circumstances and actions.

Some things that once served us for whatever purpose no longer do. Even if we cognitively, physically, and emotionally move beyond certain things, the energy sticks with us. We must release things on an energetic level. Reiki healing sessions are ideal for this.

We hold imprints of energies collected and produced. Reiki practitioner-- one in tune with this universal life force-- can bring the clients energy back in touch with ki. allowing for existing energy to flow differently. Reiki sesions send in a little cleaning crew and clear out energetic baggage.

Our chakras (7 major, 21 minor) are centers for energy processing. Each chakra is associated with specific aspects of our endocrine system and organs. Each corresponds with a specific color, sound, element, body sense and emotion, and organ.

Our whole health depends upon the way energy flows (or doesn't flow) through these filters. Our health depends on purifying, balancing, and aligning the aspects of our lives which correspond to each center. These centers must be open, balanced, and aligned with themselves and others for the proper, healthy flow of universal life force energy.

The sooner we begin cleansing and healing these layers which determine the flow of our natural life force, the less we'll have to dig up and wash away. The sooner we stop burying ourselves in things which carry negative or impure energy, the sooner we can begin to heal our whole selves, and others.