Chakras in the Bible...and in YOU

I use to think that chakras were more of an Eastern philosophy rather than an actual part of our bodies.  That's right: "bodies".  We have a physical body as we all know which is amazing and complex, but did you ever stop to think about how our spiritual body works? Doesn't it stand to reason that there is more at work behind our physical body that we cannot see?  

When someone has brain surgery their thoughts aren't there.  If someone has heart surgery we cannot see the emotions we know they have.  Where are these things? You won't see the chakra energy centers either, but many who do a lot of spiritual work have felt their chakras and know they are there.  

Actually, everyone has at least felt the energy of the heart chakra when experiencing deeply intense emotions. The common nervous sensation known as "butterflies" have to do with another chakra known as the solar plexis. I know some think that the chakras are demonic - which baffles me since God created our bodies with a purpose.  Remember, chakras are within us, the kingdom of God is within you (see Luke 17:21), so they are directly from God. How else would we receive inspiration, intuition, revelation and so on? There needs to be a connection, a way to communicate, from spiritual to physical. It is my belief that the chakras are the key to transmitting information at an unseen vibratory rate out into the universe and back again, in a sophisticated dance of colors.

Have we in the west really missed out on learning about the chakras?  Chances are, if you have learned common bible stories or studied scriptures at all, you have heard about them. Some stories are cloaked with a deeper meaning, and that, my friend, will have to be another blog post. For now let's look at several passages that speak directly of our ethereal anatomy.

The ancient prophet Ezekiel recorded his vision of our chakras (chakra means "wheel" in Sanskrit):

"...for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels."  Ezekiel 1:19-21

Chakras have different colors which correspond to the rainbow: "As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD." Ezekial 1:28

^“ I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.” Daniel 7:9

“And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” Revelations 4:5

“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." Revelation 5:1. Hmm... The "backside" of a book is called a spine.  We have a spine….(“I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi 19:23).

Other examples of the number seven in the Bible:

• There were seven pairs of clean animals that were received into the Ark. Genesis 7:2
• Seven people boarded the boat with Noah.
• “Then the ark rested in the seventh month...” Genesis 8.4
• No animal could be sacrificed until it was seven days old. Ex 22:30
• There were seven “I AM’s” in the Gospel of John that Jesus used when He spoke of Himself.
• The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week.
• Seven baskets of surplus food are left after the multiplication of loaves. Matt. 15:32-37
• Peter asks if he should forgive seven times. Matt. 18:21
• The Lord would discipline Israel up to sevenfold if they refused to obey Him. Lev 26:18
• “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways” Deuteronomy 28:7
• Jesus mentions seven woes (or judgments) on the unrepentant in Matthew 23.
• Jesus also mentions seven parables in Matthew 13.
• There were seven letters to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation 2, 3.
• There were also seven trumpets announcing judgments by God in the Book of Revelation (8).
• There were seven signs given in the Gospel of John.
• Joshua and Israel marched around Jericho seven times while seven priests blew seven trumpets before the walls came crashing down. Joshua 6:3-4
• Elisha told the military commander Naaman to bathe in the Jordan River seven times and he would be healed of his leprosy. 2 Kings 5:10
• There were seven qualities or attributes of the Messiah mentioned in Isaiah 11:2.
• There are seven things that the Lord hates mentioned in Proverbs 6:16.
• There were seven stems on the lampstand in the tabernacle. Ex 25:37
• There were seven angels pouring out seven bowls of the wrath of God in the Book of Revelation (16:1).

And the list goes on and on! 7 days of famine, 7 days of celebration, 7 days of building, 7 days of fasting....So maybe some of these reference 7 actual days or years?  But I'm thinking it's mentioned SO MANY TIMES that there has GOT to be something more there!

There are also a significant amount of sevens in The Book of Mormon.  Here are a few examples:

• Seven rebellions by Laman and Lemuel are recorded in 1 Nephi.
• Seven churches are mentioned in the land of Zarahemla. (Mosiah 25:33)
• Seven converted Lamanite cities and lands are listed. (Alma 23:7-13)
• The Nephite monetary system is based on the number seven. (Alma 11)
• Seven are killed by Ammon at the Waters of Sebus. (Alma 18:16)
• Seven “deadly sins” of Nephites are recorded by Mormon. (Alma 50:21)

I believe the many authors of these books persisted to incorporate the number seven (and multiples of 7) into their work purposefully.

The purpose is simply this: we are to attentively work to raise our consciousness up out of the lower energy centers or chakras (aka, our “lower nature”) in order to meet God IN THIS LIFETIME. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” John 3:14

(Side note: If you know the related elements of the chakras, you can gather even more meaning from the stories.  How many people are forever changed or affected by water and fire in the scriptures?)

I also want to emphasize that just because the authors of these words are trying to convey a certain message and use specific numbers (the number 3 and 40 are also a common occurrence), doesn’t mean that these stories didn’t have real people behind them.  I do believe that the spirit guided these writers to transmit certain ideas and histories in a very precise way for His purposes. Just because a story can be seen symbolically doesn’t mean the characters are from some fable. 

I believe the scriptures are so rich in meaning we can gain understanding from them at whatever level we are at.  There’s the basic level where we read the story and take it literally.  We can also “liken the scriptures” to us in our day. Next we look at what things might mean allegorically. And there is also a hidden meaning that can be revealed through revelation based on what we are ready for or what we need for that time in our lives.

Sat Nam,

Samantha

Is Yoga Compatible with Christianity?

Short answer:

Yes.  I believe it is completely compatible.  I have my own experience of my faith deepening immensely when I began my practice sincerely and there are so many other faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints and Christians of other denominations who have found the same deepening of their faith due to their own personal practice.

Long Answer:

I believe wholeheartedly that it most definitely is, but unfortunately some do not understand the strength yoga can provide spiritually and they say no to its compatibility, their reasoning being that:

"The practice of yoga is based on the belief that man and God are one. It is little more than self-worship disguised as high-level spirituality." (Source)

I strongly disagree.  For example:

•  Look at the word "Atonement" more closely = At - ONE - ment: 

"The literal meaning of the word "Atonement" is self-evident: at-one-ment, the act of unifying or bringing together what has been separated and estranged." Jeffrey R. Holland

• The definition of "yoga" comes from the same root as "yoke" and means "union," specifically union with God.

And there are numerous accounts in scripture to help us understand:

• Psalms 82:6 - "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High." 

• Luke 17:21 - "For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

• 1 John 4:16 - "...God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." 

• John 10:34 - "Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?"

• John 17:11 - "That they may be one, as we are."
• John 17:22 - "And the glory which though gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one."

I want to point out our egocentric notion of what "Christianity" means with a few quotes:

"... non-Christian faiths teach many truths too ... God raises up wise men and prophets here and there among all the children of men, of their own tongue and nationality, speaking to them through means that they can comprehend; 'not always giving a fullness … of the gospel of Jesus Christ; but always giving that measure of truth that the people are prepared to receive.'” - R. Lanier Britsch

“The world’s religions are not just corruptions of an original message but rather the product of a purposeful plan of God to reach all of his children, meeting them exactly where they need to be met. While some of the truths in other faiths may be the product of the original gospel passed on, many had brand new beginnings in meetings between the founder and his God. Falling into this category would certainly be Nanak, Zoroaster, Abraham, Muhammad, and Baha’u’llah. God seems to have given them new messages designed to raise the people of their day to new spiritual heights.” – Roger R. Keller, Light and Truth: A Latter-Day Guide to World Religions.

“Now we stand in the full blaze of the restoration of the Gospel.  If people in other spiritual traditions and philosophies even without the restored Gospel, obtain such marvelous manifestations as those recorded in the world’s spiritual literature, it may be that many of us have hardly begun to plum the riches and powers of the restored Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.” – M. Catherine Nelson

And finally...Fear not:

• "Fear not the reproach of men." - Isaiah 51:7

• "God hath not given us the spirit of fear."- 2 Timothy 1:7

• "Fear not little flock; for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." - Luke 12:32

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Yoga is consistent with Christian teachings and in alignment with Christ-centered values and beliefs, such as taking care of the body and growing closer to God.  There are also reasons why people with no religious affiliations are drawn to it.

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.  We are spiritual beings having a human experience." - Pierre Tiehard de Chardin

When one uses yoga and meditation as a tool to grow closer to God, self-worship is not a part of the picture.  In fact, it is a sacrifice, a personal commitment which develops self-discipline and builds character.  I can see how the adversary does not want that, so I guess there will always be the naysayers.