Chakras are the main energetic centers in the physical body. Five are located along the spine in conjunction with a major nerve plexus bundle and there are two more in the head. One main difference between animals and people is that pets have an additional major chakra called the Brachial chakra. In addition, animals also have far more sensitive and involved minor chakras located in their ears and paws.

Reiki, acupuncture, acupressure and other forms of energy healing can be used to balance chakras; treatments may also include crystals. In this article we examine each chakra, how it may manifest physically or emotionally in a pet and what crystals may support healing.

Root Chakra
The root chakra is located where the tail meets the body and channels through the back and front legs to the paws. A healthy root chakra is deep red and governs feelings of survival and grounding. This chakra physically relates to intestines, stomach, anus, back legs, hips, and the skeletal and muscular systems.

Emotional manifestation of non-alignment can include:
• A strong flight response.
• Being under or overweight with low energy.
• Resource guarding (“all toys are mine, mine, mine”).
• Food aggression.

Treatments that help balancing the root chakra could include:
• Using crystals such as hematite and red jasper in a mojo bag near their bedding. Do not allow pets that chew to have access to crystals.
• Grounding by allowing a pet’s paws to touch the earth. Get them off of the concrete and into the dirt.

Sacral Chakra
The sacral chakra is located on the spine in the general area of the stomach. A healthy sacral chakra is orange and governs sexuality and emotions. Neutered pets tend to have a higher incidence of issues related to the sacral chakra. Physically it relates to the bladder, kidneys, lower back, adrenal glands, and the reproductive and lymphatic systems.
• Emotional manifestation of non-alignment include being whiny, jealous and possessive.
• Crystals that can help balance the sacral chakra include carnelian, coral, orange calcite, moonstone, topaz and amber.

Solar Plexus Chakra
The solar plexus chakra is located in the middle of the back along the spine. A healthy solar plexus chakra is yellow and governs their personal power and sense of self. Physically, the chakra relates to the lower/middle area, stomach, liver, gall bladder, spleen and nervous system.
• Emotional manifestation of non-alignment may include being withdrawn, aggressive and domineering.
• Citrine, tiger’s eye, amber, topaz and sunstone may work to balance this chakra.

Heart Chakra
The heart chakra is located on the breast/front of chest/behind the forelegs and channels down the front legs to the paws. A healthy heart chakra is green and is also associated with the color pink. This chakra governs relationships and pack hierarchy. The heart, lungs, thymus gland, and the immune, circulatory and respiratory systems are physically related to this chakra.
• Emotions such as being jealous, nervous, unwilling to interact with other people or animals, and experiencing grief over loss of a family member or pack are manifestations of non-alignment.
• Crystals for treatment include rose quartz, emerald, jade, green aventurine, pink tourmaline and rhodocrosite.

Throat Chakra
The Throat chakra is located in the V of the throat and channels down to the all four paws. A healthy throat chakra is light blue in color and governs self-expression. It physically relates to the throat, neck, jaws, ears and teeth.
• Emotional manifestations of non-alignment include being withdrawn and excessive vocalizations.
• Balancing the throat chakra could include crystals include blue lace agate, turquoise, lapi lazuli, aquamarine and sodalite.

Third Eye Chakra
The third eye chakra is located in the dip between the eyes. It is dark blue or light purple in color and governs insights. This chakra physically relates to the eyes, pineal gland, neck and lower brain case.
• Emotional manifestation of non-alignment includes:
• Relying heavily on others,
• Difficulty navigating the world between humans and animals, and
• Playing non-stop when not a puppy.
• Balancing the third eye chakra could include crystals include sapphire, blue tourmaline, sodalite and clear quartz.

Crown Chakra
The crown chakra is located on the top of the head and governs wisdom and understanding their place in the world. It is clear in color. Physically, it relates to the brain and the upper brain case.
• Emotional manifestations of non-alignment are a pet seeming out of place and having trouble relating to other animals or people.
• Amethyst, clear quartz, fluorite, moonstone and selenite are crystals that can help balance the heart chakra.

Brachial Chakra
It is located on either side of the rib cage and channels down the front and back legs to the paws. It is black and connects to each major chakra. This chakra is where the human-animal bond resides. The neck, chest, front legs, lungs and rib cage are the areas that physically relate to the brachial chakra.
• With non-alignment, the pet may not want to be touched. Many shelter and abused animals are prone to brachial chakra issues.
• Balancing this chakra could include black tourmaline crystals and Herkimer diamonds.

Minor Ear Bud Chakras
These chakras are located just in front of the ears in that spot they love to be scratched. It is light blue in color and connected to the throat chakra. This chakra is attuned to the subtle vibrations in the air. A pet with an unbalanced ear bud will be unnerved by impending storms or prone to ear infections.
• Blue lace agate, lepidolite, aquamarine and sugilite are examples of crystals that can help.

Minor Paw Bud Chakras
They located on each of the bottoms of an animal’s paws. They sense subtle vibrations in the earth and while primarily connected to the root chakras for grounding, they are also connected to the:
• Throat chakra for communicating with the earth.
• Heart chakra (animals are natural healers).
• Brachial chakra.

A pet’s wellness is directly tied into the health of the chakras. Working in conjunction with a veterinarian professional of choice, along with the above suggestions, may improve the health of the energy centers, resulting in happier, healthier pets.

Mary Oquendo is a Reiki master, advanced crystal master and certified master pet tech pet first aid instructor. She is the co-owner of Hands and Paws-Reiki for All. She can be reached at HandsandPawsReiki.com.