Crown Chakra

What the crown chakra governs

It is the highest centre of the chakra system, sitting about a hand's span above the top of the head. It is the highest centre of consciousness and its colour is between pale violet and white. The energy of the sahasrara chakra is held to be the source of human perfection. This level is where pure consciousness and spiritual reality lie; the personal energy field joins the universal one here and the material level of existence is transcended. When it is activated, the blockages in the other energy centres dissolve and it begins to vibrate at the highest level; universal energy is actively drawn in. When it is working harmoniously the mind is calm, consciousness is clear and pure existence is perceived; the individual self joins the universal self. This energy area, at the very top of the head, stands for our capacity for spiritual connection. When the crown chakra is fully open - a point very few people reach - it is believed that the highest level of consciousness has been entered.

Signs it is out of balance

Spiritual life is lost and the balance of body and spirit breaks down; fear of loss, a sense of separation from abundance and aimlessness appear, and a person becomes excessively rational. Physically the classic complaints are: a person can seem sceptical or stubborn; spiritual difficulty can also arise.

Working with it

The traditional approach combines posture work, breathing, meditation and stones: clear quartz are the crystals most often used for the crown chakra. None of this replaces medical treatment - it sits alongside it.