The First Chakra represents our very survival on the physical plain. It is where we connect and live with others for our own protection. The energy from this Chakra can be seen in the power of the tribe and manifests in families, institutions, clubs, societies, nationalism, corporations and so on.

We have been programmed from the inception of man’s beginning to pay attention to red. It’s a volatile color that induces a complicated response. Red represents two extremes simultaneously: Life-blood that sustains us and bloodshed that can destroy us. Connected in our psyches to the ebb and flow of life it is a color that demands our attention and represents extremes in life as can be seen in depictions of Cupid and the Devil.

The Second Chakra represents Partnership with others. It is where we move beyond immediate tribal thinking to other relationships that answer our more personal needs. The energy around this Chakra has much to do with our sense of self; attachments to others and material things, and a basic survival need to control our environment.

Because the color Orange is a mixture of Yellow and Red, it induces an interesting response in our collective psyche: Like Red it calls for attention and yet it has a comforting feel to it produced by its mellow Yellow origin. The Second Chakra energy center is about how well we survive physically and our physical form constantly reminds us that being on the earth can be comfortable one minute and alarming the next. A good example of this dichotomy would be in our primitive response to fire, which can be both comforting and dangerous.

The Third Chakra represents personal power. During the process of growing up we develop an individual sense of self that goes beyond inherited tribal identity. This Chakra is where we hold the energy around our self-esteem, our sense of purpose and our ability to think clearly for ourselves.

Yellow symbolizes for us warmth, brightness, hope and joy, as our collective connection to the sun is vital for our wellbeing. Healthy self-esteem has a light, bright, effortless energy to it that is bound up in optimism. Yellow light waves have been scientifically proven to stimulate clear thinking, which illuminates the path ahead and gives us confidence.

The Fourth Chakra represents emotional power. Situated in the middle of our bodies it is where the energy of the body and the energy of spirit come together in harmony. The energy created here is emotional in nature and helps us to understand that Love, which comes from spirit, is the most powerful fuel we can utilize in our every day lives.

The color Green manifests from a combination of Yellow with Blue: Green only exists in the natural world where there is water (Blue) and sunshine (Yellow). Places where sun and rain are found in generous amounts on the earth provide sanctuaries for humans to thrive the most easily. As a result, at a deep survival level Green is the most reassuring color for the human mind. With both a warming and cooling effect, the color green denotes balance, harmony, and stability.

The Fifth Chakra represents all of the problems we encounter in handing our ego selves over to a higher power. Situated in our throat area, the energy here abounds with our emotional and intellectual struggles about the nature of choice and the power of the human will.

Pale Blue has a universal resonance in our psyches: We all have the same sky overhead. Clear skies and calm waters have a soothing effect upon our minds and spirits. Serenity can only be found in our lives when we learn to surrender and come to understand that things are as they should be.

The Sixth Chakra energy represents all of the challenges we face with regard to the power of our minds. Understanding what fuels our belief systems and attitudes and discovering how to differentiate between what is authentically true and what we tell ourselves to be true.

Symbolized by Indigo Blue our collective sense is taken beyond immediate surroundings to the astral plain of the heavens. The night sky has a mysterious, infinite quality to it that goes way beyond the rational mind and yet imbues us with a comforting sense of security. Looking at the galaxy of stars in the night sky its possible to feel the awesome and authentic truth of our place in the Universe.

Situated on the top of our heads, the Seventh Chakra energy represents our connection to spirit and our ability to allow spirituality to guide our every day lives. This force nourishes mind, body and spirit and allows us to tap into the transcendental elements of being human.

Symbolized by the color Purple, which is created by mixing Red and Blue, this dichotomy creates a multi-faceted response. Combining the heat and intensity of Red with the cooling serenity of Blue makes it extraordinarily potent. It is no coincidence that the military award for acts of selfless courage beyond the bounds of normal behavior is called The Purple Heart. Selfless bravery to protect others in an extreme physical environment where blood is shed is a profound example of where the power of spirit is downloaded into our survival mechanism.

The Rings of Elegance provide us with an overview of our minds, bodies and spirits that can be an effective tool for exploring our inner elegance: We can begin to see where we are blocked from reaching our full potential and why we remain stuck in old patterns that do not serve our higher purpose.

We are living in a profoundly complex time where much of what we were certain of has become uncertain. Our Mythological Guide Book is in tatters and there is a need for reinvention of the self. The earth needs our very best and is calling out for us to step up to the challenge of being the change we want to see. In the words of the late Nelson Mandela, “Who are you not to be magnificent?” That is the definition of elegance!