There are variations on the Chakra Spread, but traditionally this ends up being a vertical, seven-card spread that aligns with the chakra positions in the body. This is my own simple, conventional version. There are other chakra systems with varying numbers of energy points, but the most well-known in the West comes from Hindu and Buddhist traditions and points to seven areas of the body that house energy centers (to way oversimplify!). These vortices of energy branch out from various points of the spinal column.
This spread is read from the bottom up, from the root to the crown. You don't by any means have to be an expert on chakras to use this spread, but feel free to poke around on the web or check out my recommendations for further reading below for more depth and breadth on the topic. More info will enhance your results when you use this layout.
So, on to the spread! Before shuffling, decide whether you want to use the spread for an overview of current influences affecting your general well being, or if you'd like to know how the positions relate to a specific topic, like a relationship or your career. Mull your question over while you shuffle (in whatever way works best for you), then lay the cards out vertically, as follows:
7: The Crown Chakra
6: The Third Eye Chakra
5: The Throat Chakra
4: The Heart Chakra
3: The Solar Plexus Chakra
2: The Sacral Chakra
1: The Root Chakra
Begin your reading with Position 1, and go up from there. Position definitions are as follows:
Position 1, The Root Chakra: The card that falls here will give you insight as to the foundation of what makes you "you." It indicates your general sense of motivation and ambition as well as how grounded you are. This position also governs the legs and feet and is associated with red, the color of action and strength. Look for an overview of your motivating forces here.
Position 2, The Sacral (or Spleen) Chakra: Your emotional state will show up in this card, along with commentary on your sexual energy. The sacral chakra is associated with sexuality, as well as your general gut urges, including the instinct to nurture. It's also associated with the color orange, the color of kindness and adaptability. This position will highlight the emotions that are currently ruling you.
Position 3, The Solar Plexus Chakra: This chakra is associated with the stomach and intestinal tract/digestion; think of this card as reflecting your level of ambition and willingness to charge ahead. Your ego is seated here as well, so look for indications of too much--or too little--pride. The solar plexus chakra is tied to the color yellow, which symbolizes confidence, happiness, and comfort level.
Position 4, The Heart Chakra: This is just what it sounds like. Your sense of love and compassion is here, and the card you turn will tell you whether that sense is healthy or if you need to do some healing. This position shows how you care for others, yes, but you'll also find here how you care for your SELF. Maybe you give and give and give and it's time to take some time for your own well-being, or perhaps it's the other way around. The heart chakra is associated with your heart, obviously, but also with your lungs. This chakra is green, relating to energy, growth, and giving.
Position 5, The Throat Chakra: How well do you communicate? How well--and how creatively--do you express yourself? Among other things, this card will tell you if you need to open up more. We often need to speak up and don't; you'll see in this card if that's the case for you and, if so, why. Blue, the color of the throat chakra, is symbolic of peace, harmony, understanding, and dedication. If your unconscious is trying to send you a message, you'll find it here.
Position 6, The Third Eye (or Brow) Chakra: Intuition and how you see things, externally and internally, reside here. The third eye chakra is associated with the eyes and brain, where our dreams, fantasies, and knowledge live. Look for this card to give you indications of how well you intuit and how imaginative you are, as well as how those things impact your outlook/perception of the world. Here, you'll find ways to manifest your dreams. Indigo is associated with the third eye chakra; indigo is symbolic of dignity, impulsive/compulsive behavior, and the ability to change.
Position 7, The Crown Chakra: The crown chakra is at the very top of the head and governs your nervous system. Sometimes it's actually considered to be sort of hovering above the head, which makes sense as this is your connection to the universe, or the Divine. I think of it as the place we most connect with the collective unconscious. Violet, the crown chakra color, indicates power and sentimentality. This card will offer commentary on your hopes and areas you can look to for inspiration.
Start the reading by taking stock of how the cards relate to one another. Are there pairs (or more) that go together naturally, and if so, how are those positions significant to you? Do you have a preponderance of one suit, certain numbers, or Major Arcana cards? How do you feel when you look at the reading as a whole? The Chakra Spread speaks to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being; the cards will consider all of these aspects when responding to your question. More so than in many other spreads, this one has the ability to eek out the emotional or psychological roots of some of your physical problems, so pay close attention to those connections in your reading. If any of the cards are particularly negative, there's a good chance that chakra is blocked or out of alignment. For insight as to how to release or correct that blockage, simply turn the next card in the deck and set it next to the card in question. Read it as an adjunct, as a way to bring that chakra into harmony with the rest.
There is so much to say about this spread and the details it can offer in terms of bringing your well-being into balance. Here are some suggestions for further reading to get you the most from your chakra reading (each underlined title is linked to its Amazon page):
1) Layayoga: The Definitive Guide to the Chakras and Kundalini, Shyam Sundar Goswami (Inner Traditions, 1999; reprint of original 1980 publication). This is a little advanced, but I like it because it really goes to the East and doesn't dwell strictly on New Age/Western oversimplification of the chakras. This is truly an absorbing and comprehensive volume.
2) Buckland's Practical Color Magick by Raymond Buckland (Llewellyn Publications, 2010, 2nd edition; originally published in 1983). I find myself recommending this book often on most topics that relate to color. Buckland covers a lot of ground regarding the many, many uses of color in metaphysical applications. This is the book to get if you'd like an overview on magical color as opposed to general artistic color guidance.
3) Author Janet Boyer's self-published e-book, The Chakras, is available on Amazon. It's succinct and easy to understand, offering not only all the salient details you'll need, but sections on healing, unblocking the third eye, mantras, etc. as well. If you're relatively new to chakra study, this is a great place to start, and it's only $2.99.
