The 7 Chakra Notes Of Singing Bowls Explained.
If you’re new to singing bowls, you’ve probably run across some discussion about chakra notes. You may have seen references to 7 chakras and 7 notes. But what are chakra notes? And how should they impact your singing bowl playing – if it all? Well, to properly understand chakra notes, we need to have a look at chakras more broadly. Chakras – their origins and significance.
The modern understanding around chakras is that they’re a type of psychospiritual energy centre within the body. In most belief systems, they’re aligned with a specific part or area of the body. 7 is the most commonly agreed-upon number today, which is where the idea of 7 chakras, 7 notes comes from.
Over the centuries, a number of different religions and schools of thought have claimed that maintenance of these chakras via meditation or religious practice is key to the well-being of the body and mind. However, chakras are found in a number of different religions across the Indian subcontinent. Their exact origins are a bit uncertain; the word “chakra” itself simply translates to “wheel” and so it’s used in a variety of literal and metaphorical senses in ancient Vedic texts. These ideas seem to have been fairly esoteric for long periods of history, rather than mainline practice among everyday Hindus, Buddhists or Jainism.
The earliest references that we’d probably understand in the modern sense seem to date to around the 1st millennium CE. Some centuries later, Sir John Woodroffe's 1919 book The Serpent Power would subsequently be quite influential in introducing the idea of seven chakras to a Western audience. Other themes would be introduced by others over the following decades, such as chakra colours and chakra notes.
The modern, New Age-inspired understanding of chakras would eventually coalesce around the late 70s. This understanding draws on esoteric traditions from Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. However, it’s also been supplemented by a range of other esotericists, writers and schools of thought. As with many New Age ideas, you don’t need to look very far to see the influence of Theosophy, Carl Jung and Rudolf Steiner, to name a few. Other scholars have also drawn parallels between chakras and other religious or mystical traditions, such as qi flowing down meridian lines, or the Tree of Life in Kabbalah.
Root Chakra - (Muladhara) LAM - Note C
Located at the base of the spine, the root chakra is associated with the C note and the colour red. It’s considered to play a role in survival, and provide grounding in the physical realm.
Sacral Chakra - (Svadhisthana) (Svadhisthana) VAM - Note D
Sitting between the navel and pubic bone, the sacral chakra is associated with the colour orange and D note. It plays a role in governing relationships, sexual energy and creativity.
Solar Plexus Chakra - (Manipura) RAM - Note E
Located in the solar plexus – halfway between the breastbone and the navel – the solar plexus chakra has yellow as its colour. It’s considered to be associated with willpower, and resonates with the E note.
Heart Chakra - (Anahata) YAM - Note F
Located in the centre of the chest, the heart chakra is (perhaps unsurprisingly) associated with love. Its colour is green, and its musical tone is the F note.
Throat Chakra - (Vishuddha) HAM - Note G
Sitting at the base of the throat, this chakra is believed to play a role in creativity and communication. Its colour is blue (sometimes azure blue specifically) and it resonates with the G note.
Third Eye Chakra - (Ajna) OM - Note A
Sitting in the centre of your forehead, your Third Eye Chakra is believed to resonate with the A note and the colour indigo. This chakra oversees intuition and understanding.
Crown Chakra - (Sahasrara) AH - Note B
The Crown Chakra sits atop the head and is associated with the B note, the colour violet and a range of considerations such as spiritual connections, understanding and kundalini energy.
These associations are not universally agreed upon and are based on certain interpretations of the chakra system within the context of sound and music. Different traditions and practitioners may have their own variations and beliefs regarding chakra and musical note correspondences.
What are the 7 chakra feelings?
The seven main chakras in the human body are often associated with specific feelings, emotions, and qualities. Here's a general overview of the feelings or attributes associated with each chakra:
Root Chakra (Muladhara):
Feelings: Safety, security, stability
Imbalances: Fear, anxiety, insecurity
Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana):
Feelings: Creativity, sensuality, passion
Imbalances: Guilt, jealousy, emotional instability
Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura):
Feelings: Confidence, personal power, self-esteem
Imbalances: Low self-esteem, insecurity, self-doubt
Heart Chakra (Anahata):
Feelings: Love, compassion, empathy
Imbalances: Grief, jealousy, lack of empathy
Throat Chakra (Vishuddha):
Feelings: Communication, self-expression, truthfulness
Imbalances: Difficulty in expressing oneself, dishonesty, communication issues
Third Eye Chakra (Ajna):
Feelings: Intuition, insight, wisdom
Imbalances: Lack of clarity, confusion, skepticism
Crown Chakra (Sahasrara):
Feelings: Spiritual connection, enlightenment, universal consciousness
Imbalances: Disconnection from spirituality, closed-mindedness, lack of purpose.
