10 Things You Need to Know About Chakras

If you'd heard the term chakra twenty years ago, you probably would’ve assumed it belonged to the world of incense, tie-dye, and self-appointed New Age gurus. But today, the conversation is shifting. Scientists, psychologists, and integrative medicine practitioners are taking a closer look—and finding that this ancient framework might just offer a valuable lens on how we process stress, store emotion, and cultivate awareness. Here’s a first taste of what you need to know.

1. Chakras aren’t real—but they’re not fake either.

There’s no scientific proof of chakras as physical entities. No scans. No tissues. Still, for thousands of years, they’ve been used to navigate the internal world—emotionally, psychologically, energetically. Think of them as coordinates in a subtle system.

2. There are seven main chakras—but not in every tradition.

The most widespread chakra map comes from Hindu Tantra and consists of seven chakras lining up along the spine, from the base to the crown. Each is linked to a different zone of experience—survival, creativity, power, love, truth, insight, and awareness. Seven steps from instinct to consciousness. In Tantric Buddhism, especially in Tibetan traditions, the model focuses on four main chakras: Crown (Sahasrara) – for wisdom and transcendence, Throat (Vishuddha) – for speech and expression, Heart (Anahata) – for compassion, Navel (Manipura) – for power and vitality.

3. They come from ancient India.

The first mentions appear in Vedic texts over 2,500 years ago. But it was the Tantric traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism that gave chakras their structure: spinning wheels of energy, centres of prāṇa, or vital force.

4. They were never meant to be decorative.

The colours, crystals, and Instagram charts came much later. Originally, chakras were tools for spiritual practice—used to focus breath, raise awareness, and unlock latent potential.

5. The modern chakra system is a remix.

The seven-chakra system most people know was popularised in the West in the 20th century, shaped by Theosophy, Jungian psychology, and yoga. It’s not wrong—but it’s not the only way the concept exists.

6. They align with real systems.

Each chakra maps—roughly—onto nerve plexuses or endocrine glands. The solar plexus chakra, for example, corresponds with the adrenal system and your stress response. Coincidence? Maybe. But the parallels are compelling.

7. Energy flows where attention goes.

Whether or not you believe in chakras, directing breath and focus to different areas of the body can change your mental and physical state. This is where the concept becomes practice.

8. Imbalance is the key metaphor.

You’ll hear talk of “blocked” or “overactive” chakras. You can take that symbolically. It’s another way of saying your body and mind are out of sync—and asking where you need to release, ground, express, or rest.

9. Movement matters.

Breathwork, yoga, martial arts, cold exposure, stillness—all help restore flow. Not in a mystical sense, but in the way they regulate your nervous system. Chakras, here, are just language for feeling better.

10. You don’t need to believe in them.

Chakras aren’t a belief system. They’re a framework. Use what’s useful. Leave the rest. What matters is awareness, balance, and connection to something deeper—whatever you call it.

TRUE TRIBE exists at the intersection of body and consciousness. The chakra system may be ancient, but the questions it poses—how to live with more clarity, energy, and intent—remain timeless.