Energy or Ki

 Advertisement

Auras

There are believed to be a number of auras, or energy layers, that surround the physical body and can be detected or appreciated. The first layer, the etheric body, is the most dense and is connected with the body and the way it works. An exercise is described later that enables this layer to be detected. The astral body is much wider, is affected by people's feelings and, if viewed by a clairvoyant, is said to change in colour and shape depending on the feelings being experienced.

The next aura is the mental body, which is involved with the thought processes and intelligence of a person. Similarly, this can be viewed by a clairvoyant and is said to contain 'pictures' of ideas emanating from the person. These first three auras comprise the personality of a person. The last aura is known as the causal body, soul or higher self. This is concerned more with perceptive feelings and comprehension.

It is believed in reincarnation that the first three auras die with the body, but the causal body carries on in its process of development by adopting another personality. As a person grows in maturity and awareness, these different auras are used, and energy is passed from one layer to another. It therefore follows that any alteration in the physical state will, in turn, affect the other layers, and vice versa.

Seven centres of energy, or chakras

It is believed that there are seven main chakras (a chakra being a centre of energy) found in a midline down the body, from the top of the head to the bottom of the torso (see figure on page 87 of Reiki) . They are situated along the sushumna, or spiritual channel, which runs from the crown of the head to the base of the trunk. Energy enters the channel from both ends. Since the flow is most efficient when the back is straight, this is the ideal posture for meditation or when powers of concentration are required. Each chakra has a component of each aura, and it comprises what is known as a centre of consciousness.

Each aura is activated as a person develops, and the same occurs with the chakras, beginning with the lowest (the base or root chakra) and progressing to the others with time. There is also a change of energy between the auras of each chakra.

The crown chakra is concerned with the pineal gland, which controls the right eye and upper brain and affects spiritual matters. The ajna, brow or forehead chakra also known as the Third Eye, is linked with the pituitary gland, which controls the left eye, lower brain, nose and nervous system. It has an effect on the intellect, perception, intuition and comprehension. The throat or expressive chakra is concerned with the thyroid gland and governs the lymphatic system, hands, arms, shoulders, mouth, vocal cords, lungs and throat.

It affects communication, creativity and self-expression. The heart chakra is concerned with the thymus gland and controls the heart, breasts, vagus nerve and circulatory system, and affects self-awareness, love, humanitarian acts and compassion. The solar plexus or personality chakra is concerned with the pancreas. It controls the spleen, gall bladder, liver and digestive system and stomach, and has an effect on desire, personal power and the origin of emotions. The sacral or sexual chakra affects the gonads and controls the lower back, feet, legs and reproductive system.

This affects physical, sexual and mental energy, relationships and self-worth. The base or root chakra is concerned with the adrenal glands. It controls the skeleton, parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, bladder and kidneys, and affects reproduction and the physical will. As an example of this, if a person is suffering from an ailment of the throat, it is possible that he or she may also be unable to voice private thoughts and feelings.