Chakra Pilgrimage: Charting the Sacred Map of Your Inner World
- Heather Indu Arena
- Jun 16
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 30
We are a culture of seekers. We climb mountains, cross oceans, and walk ancient roads on pilgrimages to faraway lands, all in the hope of finding a piece of ourselves. But what if the most profound, life-altering journey you could ever take doesn’t require a passport? What if it is a pilgrimage inward, into the sacred geography of your own Being?
This is the promise of the chakras, or cakras, from an ancient Eastern perspective. More than just spinning wheels of energy, they are sacred points on the map of your subtle body, gateways to accessing the deep wisdom you already hold. This inward pilgrimage is where ancient Eastern wisdom and modern exploration can meet, guiding you home to yourself.
Ancient Roots, Modern Wings: Where Did Our Chakra System Come From?
If you’ve heard of chakras, you likely picture a rainbow of energy centers running up the spine, each tied to specific physical, emotional, and mental states. This is the popular Western model, and while it has offered a valuable entry point for many, its origins are not what you may believe.
So, how did a psychologically focused model become the standard in the West? The divergence from the original path began when the traditional and sacred method of transmitting this knowledge was fundamentally altered.
Historically, the deep and powerful Eastern practices of Vedanta and Tantra/Kundalini were transmitted directly from a guru to a disciple over years of devotional practice. This sacred relationship ensured the teachings were understood in their full context. As these ancient practices made their way to the West, many of the teachings were misinterpreted, often due to a lack of cultural and contextual understanding.
A helpful analogy is the game of telephone: one person whispers a sentence to the next, and it continues around the circle. By the time the final version is spoken aloud, it’s often quite different from the original. Each person's listening, hearing, and perception subtly alters the message, and over time, the core meaning can become distorted or lost altogether.
Beyond the Rainbow: The True Purpose of Chakra Practice
The ancient yogis didn’t assign specific emotions to each cakra. No, that is not a typo; that’s how chakra is spelled in the ancient texts. As spiritual teacher Sian Pascale notes,
The Tantrik practices didn’t do this because the idea was to move away from the limited mechanics of the mind and emotions that trap us, and practice in a way that elevates our consciousness to create an integrated state of awakening.
Exploring the chakras in Kundalini and Tantric Yoga has always been a profound journey toward Self-Realization. The goal isn’t to chase energetic bliss or balance your body, mind, or emotions, but to recognize your own intrinsic Wholeness. The ultimate power lies not in fixing the external but in knowing your Self. Enlightenment is really recognizing that you are already whole, and in Being whole, there is nothing to fix.
Consider that... What if your chakras didn't need to be fixed? The classical perspective offers a radical departure from the modern idea of 'chakra cleansing.' It teaches that your cakras, in their essential nature, are already perfect and whole.
The idea of blockage we experience doesn't come from a flaw in the cakra, but from the veils of perception we've created using our own energy, altering our beliefs, habits, and unresolved emotions.
Just like you, your energy centers are luminous. The intention of a Chakra Pilgrimage is beautifully simple: to turn inward, gently lift that veil, and recognize the radiant, perfect energy that is your true essence.
Is There a Place for the Rainbows?
Our modern-day Western understanding comes from psychologists like Carl Jung, who most likely read books like “The Serpent Power,” a more modern translation of ancient Tantric scriptures. From this, a new system emerged, one that is more psychologically focused and color-coded.
In classical Tantra, however, the approach was vastly different. For instance, a key text the Vijnana-bhairava-tantra describes a system of twelve chakras, associated not with colors, but with the twelve Sanskrit vowels. Other Tantric traditions had five cakras associated with the five elements. The ancient wisdom of the Upanishads describes the Muladhara (root chakra) not as red, but as the color of "molten gold" with four petals.
This isn’t to say the modern view is "wrong," but it's essential to understand it's an adaptation. The classical Eastern traditions, with their intensive practices, may not resonate with everyone today. There is something to be gained from a system that meets us where we are, providing an accessible entry point into our inner world.
Ideas, like people, travel and adapt. As the concept of chakras journeyed westward, it evolved into the psychologically rich system we know today. For many, this became their truth, and from it, sincere practitioners built effective paths to wellness. I honor that sincerity and often use the familiar Western approach in my own work with students and clients; it’s a language that connects.
Yet, as they are ready, I encourage those I work with to see the Western approach not as the final word, but as the first step. It is a welcoming gate, a stepping-stone that leads from a well-known path into the vast, authentic territory of your own inner map of self-knowledge.
Honoring the Past, Embracing the Present
This is why I created a course focused on a 7-chakra system that serves as a bridge between these two worlds. It is an invitation for you to become an explorer of your own inner landscape. It’s a space to investigate each chakra deeply enough that you discover your own personal relationship with these subtle energy centers, creating a friendship with yourself that can support and nourish every aspect of your life.
As the ancient Upanishads say,
Having well known the six Cakra-s, he should enter the region of Bliss.
This knowing is not about book knowledge; it's about deep, experiential understanding. It is not psychological bliss but the Bliss that comes from knowing who you are.
May your continued exploration of the Chakras lead you home to your-Self! And if you would like to take this pilgrimage with a friend, I’m right here!
In Loving Service,
Heather Indu Arena
P.S. Below is a map of a Western approach to the Chakras. But remember, you are the True map!
Chakra Name & Color | Location | Bīja Mantra (Seed-Sound) | Associated Deities and Attributes |
Muladhara Root Chakra Red | Base of the spine | LAM (लं) | Lord Ganesha is predominantly associated with the Muladhara chakra, revered as the remover of obstacles and the guardian of the threshold to higher consciousness. The elephant-headed god's stability and groundedness perfectly align with the root chakra's earthy element. Other deities linked to this center include the creator god Brahma and the king of the gods, Indra. |
Svadhisthana Sacral Chakra Orange | Lower abdomen | VAM (वं) | The preserver of the cosmos, Lord Vishnu, is often associated with the Svadhisthana chakra. This chakra often associated with water and governs creativity, pleasure, and the flow of life. Vishnu’s consort, the goddess of abundance Lakshmi, is also linked to this energy center. In some traditions, the goddess Rakini and the water god Varuna are also venerated here. |
Manipura Solar Plexus Chakra Yellow | Navel area | RAM (रं) | The fierce and transformative aspect of Shiva, Maharudra Shiva, is the presiding deity of the Manipura chakra, the center of personal power, will, and metabolism. The fire god Agni is also a key deity, symbolizing the digestive fire and the transformative energy of this chakra. The goddess Lakshmi is also sometimes associated with this center of vitality. |
Anahata Heart Chakra Green | Center of the chest | YAM (यं) | The compassionate and benevolent aspect of Shiva, Ishana Rudra Shiva, is often associated with the Anahata chakra, the seat of unconditional love, compassion, and connection. The wind god Vayu, representing the element of air, is often considered a primary deity of this center. The devoted monkey-god Hanuman, an embodiment of selfless love and service, is also linked to the heart chakra. |
Vishuddha Throat Chakra Blue | Throat region | HAM (हं) | The five-faced form of Shiva, Sadashiva, is the presiding deity of the Vishuddha chakra, which governs communication, self-expression, and purification. His form here represents the embodiment of the five elements and their purification. The deity Isana, an aspect of Shiva, is also associated with this center of ether and sound. |
Ajna Third Eye Chakra Indigo | Between the eyebrows | OM (ॐ) or AUM | The Ajna chakra, the center of intuition, wisdom, and inner sight, is often associated with Ardhanarishvara, the androgynous form of Shiva-Shakti, symbolizing the union of duality. Sadashiva is also a primary deity here. In some devotional paths, Lord Krishna is also revered as the deity of the third eye, representing supreme consciousness. |
Sahasrara Crown Chakra Violet or White | Top of the head | OM (ॐ), AH (अः), or Silence | The Sahasrara is considered the abode of pure consciousness, beyond form and duality. As such, a specific deity is not always assigned. When a deity is associated, it is often Lord Shiva in his transcendent form as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, symbolizing the dance of creation and dissolution. The sound associated with this chakra is often considered the subtle hum of the universe, represented by OM or simply profound silence, the source of all sound. |
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