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Chakra Colors and Meanings: Seeing Healing in Meditation and Reiki

This article gives an overview of the 7 chakras or energy centers in the body (plus an additional chakra outside the body), and it also takes the discussion one step further to ask the question: How does visualizing or seeing the chakra colors or aura colors associated with each energy center facilitate healing?

Seeing Chakra Colors

My name is Lillie, and I am a Reiki practitioner who has had extensive experience with seeing colors during meditation and energy work. Perhaps you also see chakra colors, or maybe you’re just curious about how learning about chakras in general can help healing, chakra balancing, and wellbeing. Either way, read on for useful information.

Chakra colors
My illustration of chakra colors.

Location of the 7 Chakras

What are chakras? In the Hindu and Buddhist concept of “chakras,” the seven energy centers in our body are each associated with a color, physical location, and specific feeling and function. My illustration above attempts to show each. The move in rainbow order starting with the First Chakra (Red) at the base of the spine, and moving upward to the crown of the head for the Seventh Chakra (Violet or White).

How to Pronounce “Chakra”

Before we start learning about the meaning of each energy center, let’s first clarify how to pronounce “chakra.” The Sanskrit pronunciation is: “chuh-kruh.” The first sound is “CHU” like “Chuck,” not “SHA” like “Share.” I realized during my research for this article that I’ve been pronouncing the word incorrectly all these years!

Chakra Colors and Meanings

Now it’s time to learn about the color and meaning associated with each of the chakras in the body. Below is an elaboration, assisted by the excellent course on Insight Timer by The Wong Janice. (This background information will be essential for the upcoming theory about why we might see these healing colors while mediating.)

Chakra colors chart
My chakra colors and meanings chart.

#1: Root Chakra – RED

The energy center of the First Chakra or Red Chakra is at the base of the spine (by the tailbone), and is about feeling safe and grounded. It is about freedom from fear, and is the foundational piece to us functioning well. (As a teacher, I immediately think of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which upon reflection, shockingly mirror the chakras.) See my article about seeing a red aura from this chakra to learn more about its meaning.

#2: Sacral Chakra – ORANGE

The Second or Orange Chakra is below the bellybutton, and is about sensuality, pleasure, and creativity. It is associated with the color orange. The Wong Janice explains that a mantra for it would be, “I am free,” because it is about being healed from guilt. See my story about the orange chakra meaning, which explains a story from a Reiki client who had a strong orange aura with a clear message about her path.

#3: Solar Plexus Chakra – YELLOW

The Third or Yellow Chakra is located above your bellybutton in the center of the torso, and this energy center is about about confidence, personal power, self-love, self-expression, and personality. The yellow chakra meaning connects with its Sanskrit name, Manipura, which correlates with the sun — like bold, bright power! The mantra for it could be “I am accepted,” as this healing color and chakra is about freedom from shame, and being happy expressing your full self.

#4: Heart Chakra – GREEN

Located in your chest center, by your heart, the Fourth or Green Chakra is about giving and receiving love. When you see a green aura, it’s associated with this fourth chakra. What’s interesting to me is that what blocks this chakra is grief. We often think of the opposite of love as being hate, but in fact it’s more sadness and fear of loss which block free heart connection.

#5: Throat Chakra – BLUE

The Fifth or Blue Chakra energy center is in your throat, and is about speaking truthfully and powerfully. This healing color is about freedom from lies, and effecting change via voice. A blue aura is often associated with someone skilled at speaking honestly and being heard.

#6: Third Eye Chakra – INDIGO

Located on the forehead, the Sixth or Indigo Chakra is about intuition. It is associated with a blue-violet-purple hue. The mantra that goes with it could be “I see clearly,” as this healing color is about freedom from illusions. When I see purple during Reiki, meditation, or other energy work, I’m still not sure if that purple aura is associated with this chakra or the next one up, so I tend to interpret a combination of the two, as I almost always witness energetic healing happening in clients when purple appears.

#7: Crown Chakra – PURPLE (sometimes WHITE)

The crown of the head is where the Seventh and White or Violet Chakra energy center sits, and it is about enlightenment, spirituality, and one’s higher purpose. The Wong Janice suggests a mantra for it could be “I surrender,” as it can be blocked by attachments, and holding too tightly to small parts of the material world. (See my exploration on seeing a white aura here.)

There are several other ways to see the chakra system beyond just seven, one of which is the 12-chakra system, which includes Chakra #8, the Soul Star Chakra (located above the head), and Chakra #0: The Earth Star Chakra, which is found several inches below the feet, and associated with seeing a black aura — actually a good thing!

Seeing yellow during meditation
Do you see yellow during meditation?

Could the Colors be Chakra Healing Power?

Now that we have an overview of the chakra colors and functions, here’s the theory: Could the meditation colors we are visualizing during energy work be a specific chakra healing in a focused way? Further, could each of us have one or two dominant chakras (different for each person) which play the biggest part in helping us recenter?

For example, when I’m seeing yellow during meditation, is that the solar plexus chakra healing me by boosting confidence, personal power, and feelings of acceptance? (I’m a person with lots of self-love, so it would make sense that this is one of the chakras which most supports my revitalization during mindful practice.)

Is my friend who reported seeing blue during meditation actually receiving healing from her throat chakra, gaining strength in her powerful verbal expression? This would make sense, since she’s one of the best speakers I know in her field.

When I’m seeing red during a Reiki session, is that because the person I’m touching has very strong First (Root) Chakra energy, meaning they are grounded and free from fear?

Is the woman who wrote that she sees green during Reiki actually tapping into her heart center, and specifically gaining the power of giving and receiving love, in order to heal her grief? In our moments of mindful self-renewal, is it our strongest chakra which comes to the rescue to heal us?

Chakra Colors VIDEO:

https://youtu.be/GzR-h4UAhi4

An Alternate Theory: Crown Chakra Colors

While the chakra healing colors theory I just laid out makes some sense, the vast majority of people seem to see just purple and yellow, as evidenced from the hundreds of people who wrote in to the comments section on that first article I created about it. So, why are those colors so predominant? A possible solution lies in this fact: the crown chakra is not just associated with purple… it’s also sometimes seen as white or gold! (Yes, yellow might not mean the third chakra, but rather, the seventh.)

Given this, when this group of us is spontaneously visualizing purple and gold, we might actually be tapping into the healing power of our 7th chakra: Sahasrara, the “bridge to the cosmos.” It stands to reason that the liminal space of meditation or energy work connect us to this chakra of enlightenment, spirituality, and higher wisdom. This could be why my Reiki clients (and I) feel so much better after several minutes of energy work where we’re seeing these chakra colors.

Are You Around Boston?

If you’re around Boston, Massachusetts, I run a Reiki healing touch studio, and I’m so curious to try a session with other people who see colors during bodywork like I do! If that’s you, do reach out.

What Do YOU Make of Chakra Colors, Meanings, and Healing?

It has been an endless joy to get all of your messages about your experience with seeing colors and meditation, and I’m so curious to hear your new thoughts and experiences around how you think chakra colors and meanings might relate. Does the color you see (and the possible healing effect you experience) correlate with a specific energy center described? Do share!

Chakra Colors

Each of the 7 chakras on the body is associated with a color of the rainbow, and a meaning. Learn what each of the chakra colors connects with, and how to facilitate and interpret healing for seeing and connecting with each.

Chrys

Tuesday 19th of April 2022

Today I received a massage, as they're working over my whole body, I could see almost every color on the spectrum. I was also seeing images trees, giant bugs, dragons, faeries, and more. I see colors and images when ever I get massages except when my energy is blocked. What could it mean when you see both color and images?

Lillie Marshall

Wednesday 20th of April 2022

Thank you for sharing your experience, Chrys, and you're not alone! Images are often visible along with colors during meditation and bodywork, and I'd encourage you to interpret them as you would dreams: they are your subconscious mind relaxing and being open to messages from your inner knowing as well as universal energy. From the image descriptions you've shared, it strikes me as you being in a time of growth and magical possibility, almost like a new quest in your life, as with a fairy tale. I'm curious what your interpretation is. Keep up your good work!

Amanda

Thursday 24th of February 2022

Good evening! I came across several of your articles when searching for the meanings of colors during meditation (in my first attempt at having a past life regression). My therapist kept asking me to picture a staircase and I couldn’t. My ‘vision’ was taken up with vast swirling purple and sparkling gold! I could not for the life of me picture any staircase no matter how hard I tried! So I read here about the purple and yellow, but the super sparkly bright gold color has me a bit puzzled. If it helps, they started off as statues similar to Inca or Aztec or Mayan, marching across the deep dark purple background, and they morphed into a liquid version of super sparkly gold, and just sort of swirled around. Any insights? I wanted so badly to go back to watch that beautiful show!

Lillie Marshall

Saturday 26th of February 2022

What beautiful and moving images! Thank you for taking the time to share them. Sparkling gold might correlate with the Soul Star Chakra (the 8th Chakra, located above the head) -- a topic I'm still in the process of researching and writing about. Let's keep investigating!

Sophie

Monday 7th of February 2022

Hi! Thank you so much for your article. I've been going to acupuncture for a few weeks now and I keep seeing a very vibrant blue—almost an aqua color. I actually have had issues with my thyroid for some time now and part of the reason I go to acupuncture is to help my throat chakra. Thank you for this clarification <3

Lillie Marshall

Monday 7th of February 2022

How amazing! The acupuncture is working exactly as desired! Thank you for taking the time to share, and wishing you best of luck.

Ale

Saturday 8th of January 2022

Hello,I had a Chakra balancing the last day of the year to start my year balanced,and when we were almost done, she placed a singing bowl on me and vibrations and sounds were loud and nice and Behind my close eyes I kept seeing figures/spots opening and closing color purple. She mentioned it made sense but didn’t explain why but she did say my third eye and crown chakra were open already before the session. Care to add some thoughts about my color experience pls,I’m trying to figure more out :) blessed year

Lillie Marshall

Saturday 8th of January 2022

Hi Ale, Thanks for taking the time to share your experience! If you click through to https://drawingsof.com/seeing-colors-during-meditation-purple/ there are lots me thoughts on this, but overall I'd summarize it as connection to universal energy, and a specific vibration of relaxation in your brain. It's a good thing!

Soheila Hakimi

Tuesday 30th of March 2021

I see white! Does that mean I'm healing and will be finding my higher purpose?

Lillie Marshall

Tuesday 30th of March 2021

I also sometimes see white (often sparkly) during energy work and think you're right that it's correlated with the crown chakra.