These paintings are all from a painting course I participated in during the spring and early summer of 2005. I did not know the course was going to be with so much religious and alternative influence, but it turned out fun and educational just the same :) We painted after chakra themes, beginning with the root chakra (feet) and finishing in the high "cosmic" chakras after eight weeks. I am not saying I believe in this stuff, but I gave it a shot. I've divided the paintings into those themes and added some keywords they were inspired by, or that otherwise describe that chakra. Some chakras are connected to a traditional "element", while others are a little more indefinite. The chakra colours go approximatly like the figure on the right, but that's not saying I followed them ;)

"ID" is a chakra placed at armslenght above the head, and is said to draw in cosmic energy and inspiration as well as transcendens. Psychologically speaking, this represents highly cultivated and conscious behaviour. Colour: deep, warm pink. We kind of, unfortunatly, used the last few lessons as a catching up and evaluating of the rest, so there really wasn't much time to paint.

Tiger. Because.

Next is the Crown chakra, often displayed in Buddhist art as a lotus with many, many leaves upon the top of the head.

Sky Goddess

The brow chakra, or "the third eye". While birds belong to the air element and the heart, the mythical Phoenix apparantly also has to do with this. The instructor told us that Phoenix drinks from a red well (Hara) to draw energy. Colour is indigo.

Blessing from blue bird Phoenix Fire falcon, because I was in the mood for birds.

The throat and neck chakra is where sound and communication comes from. Colour is turqoise.

Abstract landscape with dragon

The heart and lungs are where freedom and air reside; free as the bird! The colour is, suprisingly, green, and creatures such as deer and unicorns belong here. Something about purity.

Unicornman and white tower. A mysterious sequel...

Solar plexus chakra. Fire, spark, embers and energizing. Yellow. The symbol of fire is an upward pointed triangle.

Abstraction. The glyph means nothing. Inspired by creatures from Narnia VI: The Silver Chair, where speaking salamanders live in rivers of fire deep, deep underground.

Spleen or, more likely, genital-related chakra dan-tienn, den chenn, don't ask me how to spell it. Emotion, sexual energy, self-acceptance. Orange, and shape is circle. Because this is water. Like a planet, like a mother's round belly. Water is the element I am spiritistically most troubled with, it is dissociation in a solvent and feeling everything, dissolving old dried up hidden away things and just going with the flow. Cats (except lions) belong to this element because of their fluid motions.

Fear. "The Lobstrosities". Oil on waters. Aggression in A4 size. The drinking tiger. Relaxing and accepting, I guess. The Underwater City - that I have yet to fully discover.

Earth. Finding your roots, your instincts, drawing energy your body needs to survive. Ancestors. This chakra is vitally important for the well being of all other chakras! Red. Square, like a piece of land.

I am tempted to call it "flowerchild" ;p