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Do our clothes control our minds? The seven Chakras

The seven chakras

If we explore the chakras, we will see how each is constrained and also make some interesting discoveries. There are seven main chakras. Each has a particular colour associated with it and they form a continuous energy flow through the body. In Chinese medicine, if these centres are out of balance, illness is the result. One of the best ways to upset the balance is to constrain a chakra and this can be done symbolically through clothes. Let us explore each chakra in turn.

First we have the base chakra, which is deep red in colour. It is situated at the base of the spine and is our connection with the earth. It is our centre of security and it is vital that it is unconstrained so that we can connect with nature. The two energy sources, the earth and heaven (or the sun) are connected through the chakra system, the earth by the base chakra and heaven by the crown chakra.

An important point about this chakra is its proximity to the second, or gonadal chakra, which is the centre of our sensuality, sexuality and reproduction. In most societies this chakra is the most closely guarded and constrained. Even if we reveal all our other chakras- we must not reveal our second chakra. Unfortunately, due to the proximity to the base chakra, it is also constrained. If we wear swim-shorts or underwear, these chakras are both blocked.

This brings us to another subtle observation, the confusion of nudity with sexual desire. Being a Naked Spirit is the act of being totally unconstrained by symbolic clothing and being at one with heaven and earth. One of the most important chakras needed to accomplish this is the base chakra. If we cover this up then there is no connection with the earth. The Naked Spirit promotes the total uncovering of all chakras, and for the purist, this means watches and jewellery.

The next chakra is the Solar Plexus chakra, the centre of our being. It is yellow in colour and is symbolically restrained in western society most of the time. This chakra represents our ego and self-interest. Money belts are worn round the waist. In more open and relaxed (and warmer) cultures it is acceptable to show this chakra.

Above the Solar Plexus chakra lies the Heart chakra, which is bright green in colour. It is the centre of love and emotions ‘the heart ruling the head’. It is also constrained in western society, and societies that value the intellect. It is less so in warmer climates and in places where intuition is favoured over intellect. Think of the Buddha sitting under the Bodhi tree with a bare chest.

The Throat chakra is next, it is sky blue in colour and is the centre of communication and self expression. It is constrained in certain situations, such as when using a tie, but in more relaxed situations is uncovered. When we are expected to tow a party line, or act within a company policy, ties are often used. You can almost sense people trying to escape from well-tightened ties.

The next chakra lies in the space between the eyes, diametrically opposite the pituitary gland. It is the centre of the intellect and is prized in western culture. It is nearly always uncovered, apart from in situations where one is not encouraged to think for oneself (uniformed services, etc.)

Finally, we have the crown chakra, our connection with heaven. This is also prized and left uncovered in western society, as we prefer connection with heaven to our connection with earth. It is interesting to note that some monks shave their head. Perhaps this allows the crown chakra to open fully, thus allowing a deeper connection with heaven? As we can see, each chakra has a particular function and most cultures constrain them to varying degrees. Those covered and those uncovered give us a clue to the culture, whether it is ruled by emotions, or the intellect and whether it allows freedom to communicate. The Naked Spirit promotes the uncovering and use of all the chakras. In societies that frown upon nudity, we see a society that does not like the idea of free thinking, fully open individuals. It is a birth-rite to allow the full opening of the chakras and to be your true self.

It is sometimes not enough just to get rid of your clothing, a symbolic gesture is sometimes required to help the opening process. The further I venture from society and symbolic constraints, such as clothes and time pieces- the more open I feel. It is worth learning about chakras and chakra opening rituals. I sometimes practice these and feel amazingly energised. I find practices such as Chi Kung and meditation to be of great benefit to opening my chakras and allowing a fuller connection to nature.

Do our clothes control our minds?

Our clothes, along with our possessions and accessories do control our minds. This article outlines how.

Clothes are more than just items that protect and keep us warm- they are also symbolic. They are symbolic of the society we live in and the social constraints that we accept. Clothes reflect status, wealth and creed, in addition to carrying out their protective functions. They vary from culture to culture and from climate to climate.

The Golden Age

It is easy to see the social constraints provided by some clothes, uniforms for example. There are many different types of uniform; military uniform, school uniform, the wider uniform of the suit worn by so many and even the ‘uniforms’ or ‘colours’ worn by gangs. All these uniforms, even if it is the uniform of scruffiness, carry with them identification with a group and an acceptance of common ideals. Thus our clothes symbolically constrain us. They rob us of our individuality and they become masks to our true identity, just as our persona changes with particular situations.

There are many specific ‘clothing constraints’ which are worth exploring. If we use clothes in the broadest meaning, we can see how many items symbolically bind us within social rules. A wristwatch is a good example. This is a means to constrain us within our obsession with exact time. We feel obliged to run to a well-scheduled timetable and portion up our time between tasks. The rise of the mobile phone as a fashion accessory constrains us to be in contact with social rules at all times, even if we are out in the country taking time for ourselves. Technology in all shapes and forms, as a fashion accessory, constrains us to our technological culture.

There are plenty of non-technological restraints. The neck tie, for example, worn round the throat- the centre of communication. This has been used for years as a symbol in the ’suit uniform’ and also as a symbolic restraint of expressing our true selves. Many of these constraints are related to particular areas of the body. In Eastern thought, there exist mystical energy centres called chakras. Each chakra has a particular function and is related to a particular area of the body. It will be of no surprise to find that the throat chakra is concerned with communication.

Chakra literally means ‘wheel’ or ‘vortex’. In oriental countries and increasingly in the West, chakras are recognised as centres for our vital life-force energy called ‘Chi.’ These centres are joined by meridians that run all over our bodies. Acupuncture and Shiatsu both work on these meridians and there is much written about meridians and chakras. A trip to your local bookshop will provide you with a plethora of books on the subject. Not all people agree with the positions and functions of each chakra and I have provided a general outline that may vary in small respects from one opinion to another.

The tie as a symbol of slavery: “The only really useful function a tie serves is the sense of relief when you get home and take it off; you feel as if you’ve freed yourself from something, though quite what you don’t know,” P. Coelho.

In the Paulo Coelho book Veronika Decides To Diethere is a passage where the title character talks with one Dr Igor in a mental institution at which she’s been interred after a suicide attempt.

They discuss the idiocy of neck ties, Dr Igor saying, “a madman would say that what I have round my neck is a ridiculous, useless bit of coloured cloth tied in a very complicated way, and which makes it harder to get air into your lungs and difficult to turn your neck.”

“If a mad person were to ask me what this tie is for, I would have to say, absolutely nothing. It’s not even purely decorative, since nowadays it’s become a symbol of slavery, power, aloofness.

“The only really useful function a tie serves is the sense of relief when you get home and take it off; you feel as if you’ve freed yourself from something, though quite what you don’t know,” writes Coelho.

He did miss one useful function, aside from girls using it to drag you into a kiss, and that’s submission: the tie shows a man’s willingness to conform, to bow to rules and mutely admit “I won’t rock the boat” …

Personally, I don’t mind a bit of a tie because I haven’t had to wear one professionally.

As Steve Biddulph says in his book Manhood: “A tie symbolises something very profound - a willingness to fit in or to submit.”

He uses the example of people who turn up at court appearances in a tie and look as silly as if they were wearing a red latex g-string or a space suit.

“No-one is fooled by this. Everyone knows that this is a requirement to ‘look’ like you are trying to be a respectable person. To do otherwise would be to invoke the wrath of the system,” writes Biddulph, “but the symbolism is clear. It says, ’ See, I am willing to go through the motions. I will be a good boy’.”

“A tie at work says ‘I am willing to put up with this discomfort’ and therefore ‘I am willing to put up with other indignities and constraints to get and keep this job.’ It’s important to see a tie for what it is. It’s a slave collar,” says Biddulph.

Obviously there are now many offices where ties are not required - but I can’t imagine there’s too many big accountancy or law firms, investment banks or media organisations where executives can get away with the no tie look.

Some would argue that’s because the further you go up the corporate ladder, the narrower the margins for acceptable behaviour and the tighter the slave collar settles on a man’s neck.

By the second week of not wearing a tie, you’d either be called in to someone’s office and reminded about the “dress code” or people would be whispering you were “getting sloppy” or “setting a bad example”.

Again this may not be the case in all offices, but when ties are expected in a workplace, they’re expected: there’s little room for compromise.

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