By Laura Adams — Last Updated: April 15, 2024

What am I made of?

There are many ways to answer this question, from the poetic to the literal. I’ve spent a fair bit of time navigating varied iterations of what constitutes my being.

Am I bones, organs, and ligaments?
Am I a soul within a shell home?
Am I everything or the absence of everything?
Am I the positive space or the negative space in a painting?

It’s overwhelming to think about it all.

When I first heard about chakras, energy points in the body often envisioned as wheels, my brain opened to a new level of, “Uh, wait. What is this awesome news?”

The seven main chakras (root, sacrum, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown) are associated with colors, and my child-like wonder drew me to the idea of my Self as a mosaic of vibrancy. So, the gateway to intrigue opened, and I went down the rabbit hole of learning about the chakras and their connection to physical parts of the body, nerves, elements, sounds, mantras, and crystals.

Chakras helped illuminate profound truths I’d been searching for when I’d questioned whether I was more than just a physical body.

Yes!

I am a continuum of energy points that need nourishment and attendance. When these energies are balanced, human beings – me included – are at our best.

Allow me to introduce you to an ongoing situation in my life and why this matters.

I live with Crohn’s disease, which has led to other complications, especially as my physical body ages. Western medicine helps keep my autoimmune disease in remission, but for the last half decade, another component of my healing has come from maintaining strength and health in my lower three chakras: the root, sacral, and solar plexus. These three energy centers deal with elimination and digestion. Understanding the power of these wheels of light and working with them leads me not only to a healthier relationship with my disease but also to a stronger ability to manage it outside of medication.

For my root space, I ground myself in taking care of my essential needs. I go for walks in nature. I touch the planet with my hands and feet. I return to the basics every day, with humble gratitude.

For my sacral space, I create art and find pleasure wherever I can. I express no guilt in what I enjoy. I let myself play and feel joy. For those yogis who’ve attended one of my classes, I hope you can vouch for this playfulness. During yoga, I invite participants to rebel, make mistakes, and enjoy time on the mat.

For my solar plexus, I focus on pursuing my purpose and walking my path with intense devotion. Again, I rebel sometimes to make my gut healthy. I march to my own beat as often as I can.

Do these practices and rituals work? Am I healed? Have I…leveled up? (Anyone who knows me knows I’m way too self-deprecating to believe I’ve leveled up to anything.)

The truth is, not always.

Many times, the shifts within my health are subtle. And without complete devotion to my practices, the changes can quickly fade when I drop my focus on them. When things aren’t going particularly well for me, I doubt that any of my energy work is beneficial. Because I still feel – pardon the pun – crappy.

The chakras and their colors and locations

But then I remember something I read: “I’d rather live my life believing God exists than that he doesn’t.” Or she or they – whatever your understanding of God is.

I would rather live my life believing that I have the power to work with my chakras than accept the notion that I am powerless.

If the invitation resonates, I implore you to try this: Look at the list below and, without thinking too hard, choose an affirmation. It could be your favorite, or perhaps one that’s challenging you in some way.

Root chakra (red): I am safe.

Sacral chakra (orange): I am creative.

Solar plexus (yellow): I am strong.

Heart chakra (green: I am connected.

Throat chakra (blue): I am expressive.

Third eye chakra (deep purple): I am intuitive.

Crown chakra (violet or clear): I am wise.

Sit with your chosen statement for a moment. Then, carry it with you for a while, repeating the affirmation and allowing it to do its work. You don’t need to know how it might change you. If you’re curious, you can look up fun facts and delve deeper. Do it, my fire wheels, do it.

To the rest of you: Surrender to the outcome and embrace the subtle work of simply paying attention to your chosen chakra’s statement. The point is to do the work and then to surrender. You don’t always have to understand where you’re headed. You’ll still get there.

“There” being this: Our chakras bring us closer to our true nature and integrate our physical, breath, and emotional bodies. They allow us to work with ourselves not only on a scientific level but also on an artistic level. They are part of what makes us what we are.

And since that’s the case:

What you are made of is only part of the inquiry.
What you do with what you’re made of is the important journey.

In fact, it’s a powerhouse question, connecting us all as we navigate our paths. Enjoy your life. Make it colorful. Embrace your energy centers. It’s much more fun to believe you can work with your chakras than it is to feel powerless and stuck no matter your circumstances.

Just remember…

I am safe as you are safe.
I am creative as you are creative.
I am strong as you are strong.
I am connected as you are connected.
I am expressive as you are expressive.
I am intuitive as you are intuitive.
I am wise as you are wise.

Would you like to learn more about chakras?

chakra training

Laura is a yoga teacher as well as a freelance writer. Laura received her 200- and 500-hour yoga teacher trainings from Green Lotus Yoga and Healing Center. She teaches several classes a week in a variety of formats at Green Lotus. Her own practice began in 2006 as a way to connect breath to body after dealing with a stress-borne illness.