Exploring the Chakras: A Visual Interpretation

What Are Chakras?

My initial entry into the practice of meditation and energy work began with the practice of Tai Chi Chuan. Each session began with a 10–15-minute guided meditation period before going into warm-up practices and then moving on to practice the form. I vividly remember the first time I began to feel the Chi, starting to flow through my body. The Sifu I studied with placed a great deal of emphasis on Tai Chi as a form of moving meditation rather than its use as a vehicle for offense and defense. The clarity of mind I experienced from only 10 minutes of meditation, combined with the stirrings of Chi within my body, was everything I needed to dive right in. These experiences inspired me to begin reading varied books on energetic subjects and experimenting with some of the techniques outlined within them.

It would be another 18 years (approximately) before I began to explore the chakras. It was at this point in my life that I was introduced to the practice of Yoga. My experience with Tai Chi, combined with my own studies with energy work, had already familiarized me with quite a few of the concepts and principles around movement and meditation that I encountered within the yogic framework. Nevertheless, I was hooked once again. I had heard of the chakras, but most of my studies had been geared toward a more East Asian lens. I began reading and studying as many of the texts on Yogic thought as I could get my hands on.

The word Chakra is a Sanskrit term that can be translated as wheel, disk, or turning.[1] A great deal of the imagery depicting the chakras uses either lotus flowers with varying petals or flat, circular, colored disks. I prefer to visualize them as spheres of energy that are spinning so fast, they appear to be still. No one can agree on how many chakras there actually are, but the general consensus is that there are 5-8 major chakras, with varying numbers of minor chakras throughout the body.[2] A few of the most prominent minor chakras are located in the palms of the hands, the feet, the elbow and knee joints, and on both sides of the spine where it meets the back of the skull. I would also add the point just between the eyebrows for reasons I will discuss in more detail in my chapter on the 6th Chakra.

Ascension III: Auric Rising, acrylic on canvas, 18 x 24

From here on, when I use the term chakra(s), I will be referring to the major chakras. The major chakras are spinning centers of energy that are strategically located at specific channels of energetic flow (nadis) within the body. The major chakras are located where these nadis meet. I prefer to think of them as nexus points of energetic flow. These nexus points are an integral part of the body’s total energy system. Most images depict the chakras from the front, but they are generally thought to be about 1-2 inches inward from the spinal column. This column of energy is often referred to as the sushumna nadi and runs along the spinal column.[3] The sushumna is part of a circular energy system that encompasses the front and back body. In East Asian thought, this system is referred to as the Microcosmic Orbit. The direction of this energy flow varies by tradition. Most South Asian traditions speak about bringing energy up the front body and down the back, while East Asian traditions recommend bringing energy up the back and down the front.

When I began to experiment with locating my own chakras, I found it much easier to do so by sensing for concentrations of energy flowing at the suggested areas along my spinal column rather than my front body. The even-numbered chakras (2, 4, and 6) spin clockwise, while the odd-numbered chakras (1, 3, 5, and 7) spin counterclockwise. This may help you sense the flow, but recognizing the energy is what’s most important. Once you find a pocket, see if you can move the energy a bit. Personally, I find it easier to move energy from back to front. However, that is how I was initially taught, so it may just be more familiar. Find what works for you.

In psychic circles, there is also some discussion of a few other chakras that I think it is good to be aware of. There is the Earth chakra, which is located at the base of the auric field, which is about 12-18 inches below the feet. This chakra is usually symbolized as a spinning Merkabah. There are also believed to be five other chakras above the head, which are most often referred to as Gates. The highest gate, or Monad, is often equated with the higher self-point at the crown of the auric field.[4] If you were to extend your hands as far above your head as you can, your higher self-point would be located in that area. The four gates below it are usually symbolized in the same manner as the chakras, with their own accompanying colors, but the crowning Monad is generally depicted as a multi-pointed star, just as the Crown chakra is depicted as a lotus of a thousand petals. Both symbolize the infinite.

*This article is an excerpt from my new book, Exploring the Chakras: A Visual Interpretation, which will be available on November 1, 2025. Written and illustrated by Damon Powell, Phd

TAKE ACTION: For more information about the book or to pre-order a copy, or if you’d like to purchase the original painting, feel free to email Damon with any questions. Prints are also available.