the art of knitting and crochet to balance your chakras

Color is such an important part of our crafting. We may choose our favorite colors or those of our loved ones or perhaps we enjoy colorwork to showcase a range of complimentary colors. Each color has its own meaning and can evoke its own unique responses. When I look at color from a yoga perspective I think of the colors of the chakras.

A chakra is a Sanskrit word for wheel or disk. These ‘wheels’ are main energy centers in our bodies and correlate to our levels of consciousness. The ‘wheels’ are located starting at the base of our spine, corresponding to our most primitive level of consciousness and then follow straight up the body to the highest level of consciousness at the crown of our head.

When we look at our chakras we are diving deeper into a better understanding of ourselves and we can use the colors of each chakra to enhance the balance we seek. When one chakra is out of balance we may need to adjust something in our lives to keep it in alignment. And there are various ways to do this. meditate on the colors of the chakras that we need to boost, or, in our knitting and crochet projects, we could craft an item for the particular chakra that needs a little love using the color associated with it.

The colors range from red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

• Red connects to our basic needs of security and is located at the base of the spine.
• Orange is for our navel chakra, the energetic and emotional hub of our bodies.
• Yellow represents our solar plexus, this chakra represents our power center, where our self confidence lies.
• Green is for our heart chakra, where our love and compassion reside.
• The throat chakra is shown in blue for our voice and ability to speak our truth.
• Indigo emanates from our third eye, the point between our eyebrows for our intuition and ability to see clearly.
• Lastly the top of our head is represented by the color violet, where our highest consciousness is.

When all these colors and chakras are in alignment our body, minds, and spirit are balanced and harmonious.

Each chakra has its own color and its own qualities associated with it.

• The first chakra color is red and is the Root Chakra (muladhara in Sanskrit). This chakra is related directly to our survival and safety needs. When well balanced, this chakra helps us to feel grounded and stable.
• The second chakra color is orange and is the Sacral Chakra (svadhisthana in Sanskrit). The element of this chakra is water and it invokes a sense of fluidity with life. When svadhisthana is balanced, there is grace, acceptance, and compassion towards yourself and others. Basically, it is where we get the phrase to “go with the flow”.
• Moving up the body, we find the third chakra, the Solar Plexus Chakra (manipura in Sanskrit), whose color is yellow. This chakra is the core of our physical, mental, and energetic bodies. This internal strength is what gives us the self-confidence to live life to our fullest potential.
• The fourth chakra is the Heart Chakra (anahata in Sanskrit), represented by the color green. It is through opening and understanding this chakra that we are able to connect our body and mind, to love ourselves, and deepen our relationships with others. The awareness and attention to opening the heart and deepening the breath allows for expansion and union within. The energy and strength of the heart come from its power to integrate and balance the mind and the body through the breath.
• We then continue up the body to the Throat Chakra (vishuddha in Sanskrit), where the color changes to blue. This chakra is about communication and our ability to express ourselves. When this chakra is balanced, we find we can share our truth with ease and that there is no wrong way to communicate. Perhaps we speak through song, dancing, art or knitting. We all have our own unique way to show our true selves.
• The Third Eye Chakra (ajna in Sanskrit) is the sixth chakra and its color is indigo. This energy center is linked to our intuition and ability to see. It is not only through the eyes that we see, but through our own ability to trust our intuition.
• Violet is the color that highlights the seventh chakra or the Crown Chakra (sahasara in Sanskrit). This chakra is beyond the physical levels of understanding that the other chakras are based in. It’s located at the crown of the head and, when balanced, represents the “cosmic consciousness”, which is our ability to experience unity and understanding that everything is connected on the most fundamental level.

Each of these chakras can be balanced (or out of balance) at any time. If we were to look to our knitting and crochet for support when one part of us is in need of attention, we could make a particular project for each one of the chakras in need.

Since I have never identified as a monogamous knitter, I always have many projects going at all times. And I’ll always have one or two that help support me in an area that needs a little help. Perhaps I’m not feeling grounded and a pair of cozy yoga socks might help support my Root Chakra. Or I am finding my communication needs a little boost so I can speak my truth and I knit a blue scarf to remind me to use my voice.

No matter what project you choose, it is about the intention behind it and the support you give yourself as you work through it.