In his 2017 book, Becoming Supernatural: How Common People Are Doing the Uncommon, Dr. Joe Dispenza describes what he calls the seven energy centers of the body. According to Dr. Dispenza, each center has its own individual glands, hormones, chemistry and plexus of neurons. “Think of these individual clusters of neurological networks as mini-brains” each associated with its own level of consciousness.1
Dr. Dispenza defines mind as the activation of any neurologic tissue in the brain or body. “Mind is the brain in action.” Thus, when consciousness activates neurologic tissues it creates what we commonly think of as our minds. Since each of the energy centers has a plexus of nerves associated with it, Dr. Dispenza argues this indicates each energy center “has a mind of its own.” As preposterous as that may sound to many, Dr. Dispenza points to the very common experience of having a fantasy or watching a movie that physiologically arouses our reproductive area. “Your body secretes chemicals and hormones from those corresponding glands to emotionally prepare you for intercourse. You have more energy in that center now, and it’s releasing its own specific frequency carrying an intentional message.” The “mind” in our reproductive area, according to Dr. Dispenza, operates on the subconscious level through the autonomic nervous system.1
The seven energy centers
The first energy center is located at the base of the perineum (pelvic floor) and governs the region of our reproductive organs, lower bowel and anus. This energy center is concerned with sexuality, sexual identity, reproduction, and elimination. The hormones associated with this center are estrogen and progesterone. The nerve plexus is the inferior mesenteric plexus. Dr. Dispenza relays that a tremendous amount of energy is contained in this first energy center, “When this center is in balance, your creative energy flows easily and you are also grounded in your sexual identity.”1
The second energy center is located behind and slightly below the navel. It governs the pancreas, colon, ovaries, uterus and lower back. It is concerned with consumption, digestion, breaking down of food into energy, and elimination. Digestive enzymes and juices are associated with this center as well as hormones that balance blood sugar levels. The nerve plexus is the superior mesenteric plexus. According to Dr. Dispenza, this center is also related to social systems, family, cultures and interpersonal relationships. For Dr. Dispenza, this center is for holding on or letting go, “When this center is in balance, you feel safe and secure both in your environment and in the world.”
The third energy center is located “in the pit of your gut.” It is concerned with the stomach, small intestine, liver, gall bladder, spleen, adrenal glands and kidneys. The associated hormones include adrenaline and cortisol, kidney hormones, liver and stomach enzymes. The neural plexus is the celiac plexus, known vernacularly as the solar plexus. According to Dr. Dispenza, this energy center is associated with our will, drive, self-esteem, personal power, and directed intention. When the third center is in balance we can use our will to overcome obstacles in life. This center is automatically activated when we perceive our environment is unsafe and stimulates us to protect our loved ones or ourselves. An imbalance in this center can lead to aggressive or dominating behaviors.1
The fourth energy center is located in the space behind your breastbone. It is concerned with the heart, lungs, and thymus gland. Besides being part of the immune system, the thymus gland is also responsible for growth, repair and regeneration of the body. The hormones associated with this energy center include growth hormone, oxytocin, as well as thousands of different biochemicals that stimulate the immune system. The nerve plexus is the cardiac plexus. The fourth energy center is associated with love, nurturing, caring, gratitude, compassion, thankfulness, kindness, appreciation, inspiration, selflessness, wholeness and trust.
“When the fourth energy center is in balance, we care about others and we want to work in cooperation for the greatest good of the community. We feel genuine love for life. We feel whole and we are satisfied with who we are.”1
Dr. Dispenza argues the fourth energy center is where a sense of divinity resides and this area he feels it is the seat of the soul.
The fifth energy center is located in the center of the throat. It is concerned with the parathyroid, thyroid, salivary glands and associated neck tissues. The hormones for the fifth center are thyroid hormones, and the parathyroid chemicals which regulate the body’s metabolism and calcium levels. The nerve plexus is the thyroid plexus. This energy center is involved with expression; expressing the love felt in the fourth center as well was speaking one’s truth, “You feel so pleased with yourself and with life that you just have to share your thoughts and feelings.”1
The sixth energy center is located midway between the back of the throat and the back of the head. This center is concerned with the pineal gland, which secretes serotonin and melatonin, which regulates your circadian rhythms in response to visible light. According to Dr. Dispenza, the pineal gland is sensitive to all electromagnetic frequencies besides visible light. When this energy center is in balance our brains work better, “You are lucid, more conscious of both your inner world and your outer world, seeing and perceiving more each day.”1
The seventh energy center is located in the center of the head, which includes the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is known as the master gland because it regulates all of the other hormonal glands in the body. According to Dr. Disepenza, it is this energy center where the highest level of consciousness originates, “when this gland is in balance, you are in harmony with all things.”1
Energy in the body?
When each energy center is activated it stimulates the associated neurological plexi to a “level of mind” that activates the associated glands, tissues, hormones and biochemicals in each center, “Once each unique center is turned on, the body emits energy carrying specific information or intention from it.” According to Dr. Dispenza, when we think a thought, the networks of neurons firing in our brains associated with that thought are also creating electrical charges. If those thoughts also cause biochemical changes that result in a feeling or emotion, those feelings then create magnetic charges, “They merge with the thoughts that create the electric charges to produce a specific electromagnetic field equal to your state of being.”1
According to Richard Hammerschlag and colleagues, all living systems create electromagnetic fields. Examples of these “biofields” are the electrical and magnetic fields generated by our heart cells that are detected by electrocardiograms (ECG) or magnetocardiograms (MCG) and ensembles of neurons that are detected by electroencephalograms (EEG) or magnetoencephalograms (MEG).2 According to Hammerschlag, all cells of the body produce local electric fields due to the flow of transmembrane currents (K+ ions flowing in and out of potassium channels). The local fields then induce nonsynaptic electrical coupling between adjacent axons that influences the synchronization and timing of action potential firing in neurons in the brain. Although epithelial cells do not generate the rapid-fire action potentials of nerve cells, they have been found to generate slowly varying direct currents. The DC fields generated by this system spreads across the body and play a key role in biological processes, for example, in guiding cell migration and wound healing. Considering the trillions of cells in our bodies, this would indicate we have trillions of local electric fields that perhaps aggregate in a larger “field” of energy.2
The chakra system
After working as an occupational therapist for several years I became interested in studying alternative complementary modalities. The first modality I studied was reflexology, and the next was called Polarity. Both of these disciplines have in common the premise that there is a subtle energy system that runs throughout the body. In reflexology that energy system follows 10 zones that run vertically through the body. In Polarity, the chakras are the main nexi for the body’s subtle energy system. As you will see there is a great deal of overlap between the energy centers Dr. Dispenza describes and the chakra system.
The first chakra (muladhara = root) is located at the base of the spine in the perineum. The glands associated with the first chakra are the adrenal glands; bones, large, intestines and teeth are its body parts, the sense is smell.3 Its nerve plexus is the coccygeal plexus (p. 12). Physical ailments associated with the first chakra are weight problems, hemorrhoids, constipation, sciatica, degenerative arthritis, knee problems. It is associated with the classic element of earth, with the color red, with structures, stability, grounding, and physical health. The central issue of the first chakra is survival. The qualities of an excessive first chakra are monotony, obesity, hoarding, materialism and greed. The qualities of a deficient first chakra are being fearful, undisciplined, being underweight, spacey.4
The second chakra (svadhisthana = sweetness) is located in the genital area, womb, abdomen, low back and hips, the glands are the ovaries and testes and associated parts of the body are the kidneys, bladder and circulatory system. Its nerve plexus is the sacral plexus.3 Its sense is taste. The ailments associated with the second charka are uterine, bladder or kidney trouble, stiff lower back. It is associated with the classic element of water, the color orange, with emotions, fluidity, healthy sexuality. Its central issue is sexuality and emotions. The qualities of an excessive second chakra are poor boundaries, being overly emotional, sex addiction, obsessive attachments. The qualities of a deficient second chakra are being emotionally numb, frigid, impotent, difficulty feeling pleasure.4
The third chakra (manipura = lustrous gem) is located approximately two inches above our navel.4 The glands associated with the third chakra are pancreas and adrenals and the digestive system and muscles are the associated body parts.3 The nerve plexus is the solar plexus (celiac plexus). Its sense is sight. The ailments associated with the third chakra are ulcers, diabetes, hypoglycemia and digestive disorders. It is associated with the classic element of fire, the color yellow, with vitality, spontaneity, will, purpose, self-esteem. Its central issues is power and will. The qualities of an excessive third chakra are being dominating, controlling, aggressive, being constantly active to the point of being scattered. The qualities of a deficient third chakra are poor self-esteem, being passive, sluggish, being weak willed.4
The fourth chakra (anahata = unstruck) is located in the area near the heart, in the midline of the body. The associated gland is the thymus gland and the lungs, anatomical heart, pericardium, arms and hands are the associated parts of the body.3 The nerve plexi are the cardiac and pulmonary plexi. Its sense is touch. The ailments associated with the fourth chakra are asthma, high blood pressure, heart and lung disease. It is associated with the classical element of air, the color green, with compassion, self-acceptance, good relationships and balance. Its central issue is love and relationships. The qualities of an excessive fourth chakra are codependency, passiveness and jealousy. The qualities of a deficient fourth chakra are being shy, lonely, isolated, lacking empathy, bitter, critical.4
The fifth chakra (vissudha = purification) is located in the throat, the glands are the thyroid and parathyroid and the parts of the body associated with the fifth chakra are the neck, shoulders, arms and hands.3 The nerve plexus is the pharyngeal plexus. Its sense is hearing. The ailments of the fifth chakra are sore throat, stiff neck, colds, thyroid conditions, hearing problems. The element associated with the fifth chakra is sound, the color bright blue. Creativity, resonance and clear communication are functions of the fifth chakra. Its central issue is communication. The qualities of an excessive fifth charka are excessive talking, inability to listen, stuttering. The qualities of a deficient fifth chakra are fear of speaking, poor rhythm.4
The sixth chakra (ajna = to perceive) is located an inch above and between the eyebrows, the gland is the pineal, the associated part of the body are the eyes.3 The nerve plexus is the carotid plexus. The ailments of the sixth chakra are blindness, headaches, nightmares, eyestrain, blurred vision. The element associated with the sixth chakra is light, the color is indigo. Imagination, clear seeing, accurate interpretation, psychic perception are all attributed to the sixth chakra. Its central issue is imagination and intuition. The qualities associated with an excessive sixth chakra are headaches, nightmares, hallucinations, delusion, difficulties concentrating. The qualities associated with a deficient sixth chakra are poor memory, poor vision, unimaginative, denial.4
The location of the seventh chakra is the top of the head, the gland is the pituitary gland and the associated parts of the body are the cerebral cortex and the central nervous system. The neural tissue associated with the seventh chakra is the cerebral cortex. The ailments of the seventh chakra are depression, alienation, confusion, boredom, apathy, inability to learn.3 The element associated with the seventh chakra is thought, the color is violet to white. Wisdom, consciousness, knowledge, spiritual connection, are attributed to the seventh chakra. Its central issue is awareness. The qualities associated with an excessive seventh chakra are being overly intellectual, confusion, dissociation, spiritual addiction. The qualities associated with a deficient seventh chakra are learning difficulties, limited beliefs, materialism, apathy and spiritual skepticism.4
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References
- Dispenza, J. (2017). Becoming supernatural: How common people are doing the uncommon. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
- Hammerschlag, R., Levin, M., McCraty, R., Bat, N., Ives J., Lutgendorf, S., & Oschman, J. (2015). Biofield physiology: A framework for an emerging discipline. Global Advances in Health and Medicine. 4(supplement) pp. 35-41.
- Judith, A. (2015). Wheels of life: The classic guide to the chakra system. Woodbury, Minnesota: Llewellyn.
- Judith, A. (2004). Eastern body Western mind: Psychology and the chakra system as a path to the self (revised). Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts.
