different organ systems. Remember, though, that each organ system is “fed” by more than one meridian and that each meridian is associated with more than one organ. Here’s a list of the major meridians:
Bladder
Circulation-sex/pericardium
Gallbladder
Heart
Kidney
Large intestine
Liver
Lung
Small intestine
Spleen/pancreas
Stomach
Triple warmer (endocrine glands)
There are also two systems — central meridian and governing meridian — that are used in the Hui Yin breath or microcosmic orbit described in Chapter 9. By holding your tongue at the roof of your mouth and squeezing the muscles of your perineum, you can enhance the energy flow coming out of your hands or breath for use during Reiki attunements or treatments.
Treating the meridians
Treatment of the meridians, whether by acupuncture, acupressure, or Reiki, seeks to remove energy blocks so that the energy may flow smoothly. Because the meridians are interconnected, balance and harmony between the meridians are essential. Acupuncture or acupressure practitioners plan which acupuncture points to treat. When you have Reiki treatments, the healing energy facilitates healing, but the practitioner doesn’t necessarily know much about meridians because this information isn’t part of standard Reiki training (see Chapter 7).
Locating your energy centers: The chakras
Chakra is an Indian Sanskrit word that means spinning wheel of energy, vortex, or energy center. The human body has multiple chakras that transform information between the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical parts. For example, if you have emotional issues involving your heart chakra, the issues could be transformed into heart disease by way of the heart chakra. Similarly, if you’re in a state of feeling unconditional love and forgiveness, your heart chakra transforms that energy to a healthy heart and circulation. Table 2-2 describes the chakras and the parts of the body and issues that they govern.
TABLE 2-2 Chakra Locations, Descriptions, and Governages
| Chakra Number | Chakra Name | Organs and Systems | Associated Glands | Issues | Affirmation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Base | Excretory systems and spine | Adrenal glands | Survival and grounding | I have |
| 2nd | Sacral | Reproductive system | Testes and ovaries | Sexuality and creativity | I feel |
| 3rd | Solar plexus | Digestive system | Pancreas | Personal power | I can |
| 4th | Heart | Circulatory system | Thymus gland | Love | I love |
| 5th | Throat | Lungs, vocal apparatus | Thyroid and parathyroid glands | Communication | I speak |
| 6th | Third eye | Lower brain, nervous system, ears, nose, eyes | Pituitary gland | Vision and intuition | I see |
| 7th | Crown | Upper brain | Pineal gland | Connection to spirit | I know |
Seven major chakras have been identified. If you refer to Figure 2-2, you can see the placement of these chakras in the body:
The first chakra is located at the base of your spine going down through the perineum, which is the region between the anus and the genitals.
The second chakra is located between the navel and pubic bone.
The third chakra is between your diaphragm (the bottom of your rib cage) and navel.
The fourth chakra is in the center of the chest at the level of your heart.
The fifth chakra is at the base of the throat.
The sixth chakra is in the forehead, between and above the eyebrows.
The seventh chakra is just above the top of the head.
Each chakra manages a flow of energy between the physical, etheric, emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies. When your body is healthy, energy flows along the meridians and chakras. But when there’s an energy block, the nearby meridians and chakras don’t experience the energy flow. If this energy block isn’t cleared, disease of nearby organs can occur.
The good news is that Reiki healing can open blocked chakras. When you perform a Reiki session, you can sense the energy of the chakra on both the front and the back of the body (except for the crown chakra).
Ultimately, the source of energy flow comes from outside the body and extends upward to the heavens for higher spiritual energy and below the body for earth energy. The chakras serve to bring in energy from outside the body. When the chakras are open and flowing, your energy is in balance and harmony.
