Energy and Chakras for Beginners From a Christian Perspective
If you are a Christian, you may be curious about energy & chakras and wish that you could find a resource about chakras for beginners from a Christian perspective. Well, here it is! In this blog post, we will explore some of the basics about these energy centers and look to Scripture to see what does the Bible say about chakras. Finally, we will take a brief look at energy in the Bible and consider the benefits of understanding energy and chakras for Christians.
What is Energy, and What Does the Bible Say About It?
Any basic definition of energy will use words like strength, vitality, and power to explain this concept. From a strictly scientific point of view, energy is defined as the ability to do work. But what is energy in the Bible and how is it understood from a Christian perspective?
When exploring Scriptures that speak about energy in the Bible, there are over 100 verses that mention words such as energy, strength, power, labor, zeal, restoration, and work.
In Genesis 1, we learn that God created everything – including all matter and energy. God is the Creator of all things and the source of ALL power. The God of the Bible is omnipotent. God has supreme power to which there is no limit.
As we dive a little deeper into the Biblical context of energy, we find the Greek root word “energeia” which is used 8 times in the New Testament. In each occurrence, this word is used to illustrate superhuman power, work, or efficiency, whether of God or of Evil.
While there is growing scientific evidence pointing to the physical benefits of energy work in the body, the question of spiritual safety of energy still lingers for many Christians.
Benefits of Energy for Christians
When exploring the concept of energy and chakras, we find an ancient model of medicine that has been utilized effectively in the East for thousands of years. If we are serious about optimizing our well-being, it makes sense to glean wisdom from a model of health and wellness that has been utilized in the East for ages!
The energy model of medicine is meant to reach beyond merely the physical aspect of our being. Originally, the chakras were utilized as focal points for meditation with the intention of stimulating divine energies in different points in the subtle body. This system of health offers potential for healing on the physical, mental, AND spiritual levels.
When we explore energy and chakras from a Christian perspective, we find a new model of health that addresses humans holistically. By learning about the 7 chakras in the human body and their significance, Christians may discover new tools for balancing the nervous and endocrine systems and a new tool for establishing vitality. (see my previous blog, The Healing Power of God: A Journey Through the Chakras with Christ)
These “new” tools can help us experience healing as we consider what it means to journey through the chakras with Christ.
What are Chakras, and What Does the Bible Say About Them?
Ready for a crash course on chakras for beginners? The word chakra is a Sanskrit word most often translated as “spinning wheel”. We find chakras explained not as actual physical structures in the body but swirls of energy created by energetic intersections within the subtle body.
You may be wondering, what does the Bible say about chakras? It is not surprising that there is no direct mention of the chakras in the Bible. While this might seem like a cause for concern for some, it is important to note that electricity, viruses, hormones, ultraviolet rays, or even “the Trinity” cannot be found in the Bible either!
This illustrates the point that to consider something invalid, or evil, simply because there is not a direct Biblical reference is a weak argument and a slippery slope to walk. The Bible is the Word of God, given to his people to teach us about who God is, what He has done, what He is doing, and what He promises to do in the world. We must take into consideration that the Bible was never intended to be an exhaustive text describing the intricacies of God’s Creation.
So while we do not see chakras explicitly described in the Bible, Christians do not need to be afraid of energy & chakras and or avoid these potentially powerful tools but instead need to consider how God might like to work in and through his energetic design of the body. By ignoring or refusing to learn about energy and chakras, Christians just may be throwing the baby out with the bathwater. (see my previous blog post, Christianity & Chakras: Separating the Baby from the Bathwater)
The 7 Chakras in the Human Body and Their Significance For Christians
Many traditions have taught about chakras as energy centers held within the body. These various chakra systems are based on an energy model of medicine, which gives us a bioenergetic framework for optimal health and well-being.
The most popular chakra system in the West is the seven chakra system which became popular in the 16th century, and it’s a good place to start with chakras for beginners. Each chakra in this system includes specific, individual patterns and tendencies which are meant to be brought into conscious awareness. As these tendencies are revealed and brought to Jesus to be healed, we have a better capacity for spiritual growth.
(Read my previous blog for a full breakdown on each of the seven chakras and their significance for Christians.)
If we, as Christians, believe that ALL things were made by God for God’s purposes, then we must consider how energy and chakras can be used for God’s purposes and according to His design. As we learn to journey through the chakras with Christ, we might just find that this energy model of medicine offers us the potential for healing on the physical, mental, AND spiritual levels.
The Benefits of Chakra Balancing for Christians
What do we do with these energy centers and what are the benefits of chakra “balancing”?
In traditional teachings on energy & chakras, the emphasis was not put on “balancing” or “unblocking” the energies in the chakras like is often taught in the West.
Instead the chakras provided a model and structure for students to develop greater harmony in their inner-landscapes in order to optimize their health and human potential – physically, mentally-emotionally, and spiritually.
The practices of yoga– including posture (asana), breath-work (pranayama), and meditation (samyama) were taught as tools to help students to become aware of their own energy centers in order to grow towards their fullest potential as humans.
As we become aware of our own energy centers, Christians may find a new system and set of tools to help them to walk in the fullness of healing that we have been offered through Christ. In doing so, we can be transformed to look more like Jesus as we grow into our fullest human potential as followers of Christ.
Learn More About Chakras Through My Free Resources
Chakras can be understood as an internal map for growth on all levels – physical, mental-emotional, relational, and spiritual. To learn more about chakras for beginners, check out my free Energy and Chakras toolkit, along with my other free resources here.