Latter-day Saint View on Chakras

I talk about chakras a lot. Many times I get funny looks from people, as if I just said I'm in a cult or something, LOL. What most people in our modern age don't know is that the concept of chakras has been practiced and discussed in every religion on the planet! Especially christianity and especially the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (whether most of us realize it or not, haha). 

First, let's define the word.  

Chakras- a sanskrit word meaning "Wheels with spikes radiating out from a center point."

There are several scriptural examples of chakras. In the Bible, Ezekiel provides descriptions of these chakra "wheels" in the body. 

Ezekiel 1:19-22 states:

"19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.

20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

22 And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above."

This tells us that these wheels are connected to the spirit itself and are able to flow in and out of the body along with our spirit (because they are part of our spirit). Also, verse 22 sounds as if it is referring specifically to the crown chakra at the top of the head, often depicted in the colors violet, magenta, or white. The crown chakra has been depicted in countless pieces of Christian art throughout history as something we've all heard of: a halo.

The scriptures have many mentions of the number 7 as a sacred number. There are 7 chakras that go up the body from the base of the spine to the top of the head.

Each chakra is assigned one of the 7 colors of the rainbow and are aligned in rainbow order up the body from red at the base to violet at the top. These 7 parts of the body are responsive to these colors. For example, when we see the color red, we may either feel angry or passionate because our root chakra deals with survival and basic needs above all else. Or when we see yellow we may get feelings of 

elation or pride because the yellow chakra is the solar plexus, which is where we control our confidence and actions. 

The number 7 is far more sacred than many people know. It is not only carries heavenly symbolism, it makes up who we are as eternal spirit beings. How many basic notes are there in music? "A, B, C, D, E, F, G." Seven!! Our chakras respond to the seven notes just as they respond to the 7 colors of the rainbow, starting with C=Red to B=Violet. 

Several parts of the Bible refer to what many call the "seven deadly sins."

Proverbs 6:16-19 states:

"16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."


Also, Colossians 3:8 states:

"8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice,blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."

The official seven deadly sins are lust, sloth, gluttony, envy, wrath, greed, and pride (in no particular order.)  These can easily be compared to the 7 areas of chakra energies which are survival, creativity, confidence, love, communication, intuition, and spirituality. 

In the LDS church, the young women have a set of values they recite in the You Women's Theme. (It used to be seven values when I was a teenager but "virtue" was later added as the 8th value. Either way, the seven values are all really virtues in and of themselves, so I continue). 

The original seven values were (out of order): Individual Worth, Choice and Accountability, Good Works, Knowledge, Faith, Divine Nature, and Integrity. Each value was given a corresponding color of the rainbow to help represent it. "Faith" is actually represented by white, but for chakra purposes, we'll call it light blue. The 8th value, virtue,  would later tie all of them together as gold. 

I decided to put together a chart showing how each of the chakra energies can be channeled either into a virtue or a sin (depending on one's use of it):

Moving on to the last examples from the scriptures, Revelation 5:1, 6 states: 

"1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth."

The seven seals mentioned here can only be opened by the lamb (Jesus Christ). The seven horns of the lamb represent heavenly power, while the seven eyes represent heavenly wisdom. Could it be that these seven seals represent the gateways that are opened within us by following Jesus Christ? It would appear so. It is true that these passages are also foretelling events leading up to the Second Coming of Christ. However, "progression" is the key concept being expressed here. One action flows into the next, just as one opened chakra (or seal) within us leads to the next being opened.

I suppose when considering the connection with the rainbow, the lyrics of the primary song "When I am Baptized" take on even more spiritual meaning:

"I like to look for rainbows
whenever there is rain,
and ponder on the beauty
of an earth made clean again.

I want my life to be as clean
as earth right after rain.
I want to be the best I can
and live with God again."


Genesis 9:13-16 states:


"13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth."

There can be no rainbows without light shining through water in the atmosphere, which is what makes Heavenly Father's promise so meaningful. We cannot open our chakras, our seven centers of positive energy, without this light. When we are full of light, we really do show our "true colors." :)

For more on how to open your seven chakras, please see the page on this blog called "Meditation and Prayer."
https://www.vegansaintofchrist.com/2015/09/meditation-and-prayer.html