Chakra (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
In the animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender, chakras are interpreted as pools of swirling energy residing within the body. Each chakra can be blocked by emotions or thoughts which causes stagnant energy throughout the body. If the Avatar opens all seven chakras, by doing actions to cancel out its blocked emotion, then he/she is able to completely control the Avatar State. In "The Guru," Guru Pathik teaches the Avatar, Aang, to unblock his chakras so that he may master the Avatar State.
The Chakras
Chakra |
What Happens |
Circulates Through... |
Restricted By... |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Earth Chakra |
Aang goes into meditation, and sees: the Blue Spirit charging at Aang with his swords to cut his Shackles, the Blue Spirit threatening Zhao to kill Aang, Katara being dragged underground by General Fong, Sozin's Comet, Aang in the Avatar State destroying his surroundings, and finally, Aang is surrounded by fire, sitting before a man who appears to be Fire Lord Ozai. After clearing his thoughts, the images disappear, and Aang gives a sigh of relief as he comes out of meditation. Guru Pathik congratulates Aang, and tells him the first chakra has been opened. |
Survival |
Fear |
Base of the Spine |
Water Chakra |
When asked what he blames himself for, Aang explains how he ran away from home upon finding out he was the Avatar. He also mentions that he hurt the Earth Kingdom soldiers at General Fong’s base while in the Avatar State. Pathik tells Aang to accept that these things have happened, and not let them cloud his judgment and his energy- he must forgive himself. |
Pleasure |
Guilt |
Not mentioned (although it is likely located in the Sacrum) |
Fire Chakra |
Aang has a vision of when he first attempted Firebending, and severely burned Katara’s hands. He tells Pathik that he will never Firebend again, who responds that in order to obtain Balance, he must accept all the aspects of his life: Aang is the Avatar, and therefore a Firebender. |
Willpower |
Shame |
Stomach |
Heart Chakra |
Laying his grief before him, Aang sees all of the Air Nomads who died because he abandoned them. They fade away, and become dust. Love, according to Pathik, is a form of energy that flows around us, and that their Love for Aang is still all around them and manifests itself inside of new love; the love Aang has for Katara. Aang, wiping away his tears and with a weakened sweet voice, asks politely if he can have some more onion banana juice. |
Love |
Grief |
Heart |
Sound Chakra |
Pathik says that we must accept what we are, and that Aang must accept he is the Avatar, even though he never wanted to be. With a sigh, and a vision, Aang accepts he is the Avatar, and he opens the Sound Chakra. |
Truth |
Lies |
Throat |
Light Chakra |
Aang mentions the Four Nations, and Pathik tells him that everyone is part of "One People, yet we live as separate people." He goes on to explain that even metal is simply Earth that has been purified and refined. |
Insight |
Illusion |
Forehead |
Thought Chakra |
Aang is asked to meditate on what he is attached to, and when only images of Katara flood his mind, Pathik asks for Aang to let go of his attachments. Aang suddenly becomes angry, asking how he can let go of Katara when he loves her. He questions why he would choose Cosmic Energy over Katara, and how attachment can be bad when it was good "three Chakras ago". Aang, with subtle determination, offers to try to let go of Katara and his earthly attachments. However, as Aang is meditating, and about to clear the final Chakra, he has a disturbing vision of Katara being held captive. Aang immediately ceases his meditation and is thus disengaged from his potential entrance to the Avatar state. As Aang leaps into action in order to head in the presumed direction to rescue Katara, Pathik warns Aang that if he quits his training before unlocking this chakra, then all of the other chakras will become locked and he won't be able to enter the Avatar State at all. |
Cosmic energy |
Earthly attachments |
Crown of the Head |
Afterward, in The Crossroads of Destiny, Aang attempts to let go of Katara in order to save her. However, as he rises in cosmic energy, Azula strikes him down with lightning from behind, fatally wounding him. His vision fades, and he falls down to the ground. After they escape, Katara manages to heal Aang's near-fatal wound with the water from the spirit oasis, although the wound mark on his back and right foot still remains. Aang was unable to clear the Seventh Chakra and master the Avatar State because he was struck down by Azula's lightning. As of "Day of Black Sun" Aang believes the Thought Chakra has been sealed permanently by the attack, which would inhibit him from ever entering the Avatar State again. It remains to be seen if this is the case.
See also
- Chakra
- Subtle body