Page "Chakra" Paragraph 37

The chakras are thought to vitalise the physical body and to be associated with interactions of a physical, emotional and mental nature.

They are considered loci of life energy or prana, also called shakti, qi ( Chinese ; ki in Japanese ), koach-ha-guf ( Hebrew ), bios ( Greek ) & aether ( Greek, English ), which is thought to flow among them along pathways called nadis.

The function of the chakras is to spin and draw in this energy to keep the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical health of the body in balance.

They are said by some to reflect how the unified consciousness of humanity ( the immortal human being or the soul ), is divided to manage different aspects of earthly life ( body / instinct / vital energy / deeper emotions / communication / having an overview of life / contact to God ).

The chakras are placed at differing levels of spiritual subtlety, with Sahasrara at the top being concerned with pure consciousness, and Muladhara at the bottom being concerned with matter, which is seen simply as condensed, or gross consciousness.