How many chakras
are there?
Most traditions agree on seven main chakras along the spine. My Usui Reiki training showed seven major chakras and a number of minor ones around them. Newer systems often describe twelve or more, by adding centers above the head and below the feet.
I was handed the figure as something to explore: meditate on them, feel for them in your own self Reiki, and test them when working with someone. I didn't receive a detailed map of every minor center, and I won't pretend that I did. What I can share is what I've actually felt and worked with. Start with the seven chakras if you haven't yet.
The figure from
my Reiki training
More than twenty years ago, my Reiki training gave me a figure of the body showing the seven major chakras along the spine, with some of the minor chakras highlighted around it. I've redrawn it here so you can see what I was taught to look at. It's a map to explore, and not a diagram of anatomy.
- The seven majorAlong the spine, from the root to the crown. These are the ones nearly every tradition shares.
- Minor centersIn the face, chest, hips, hands, knees and feet. Their exact places vary from teacher to teacher.
- Beyond the bodyThe soul star above the head and the earth star below the feet, shown as stars.
This is my own redrawing, so the positions are approximate. Different teachers place the minor centers differently, and you may find yours somewhere else.
The regions
Here is how I'd group the minor centers, and where you can read more about each.
| Region | What to know |
|---|---|
| Face | Small centers on the face, often placed at the eyes, ears or temples. Lists vary. |
| Chest | The higher heart, between the heart and the throat. See the thymus chakra. |
| Pelvis | Centers at the hips. Lists vary, and I don't have a page for these. |
| Hands | One in each palm, where Reiki is given. See the hand chakras. |
| Knees | Centers at each knee. Lists vary, and I don't have a page for these. |
| Feet | One in each sole. See the foot chakras. |
| Above and below the body | The soul star above the head and the earth star below the feet. See the soul star and the earth star. |
The ones people ask about most
Five pages, each with a gentle practice.
The 12-chakra system
and the 8th chakra
Systems that go up to twelve chakras usually add centers below the feet and above the head. The earth star is the most common addition below, and the soul star is the most common one above, often called the 8th chakra. Beyond those, teachers don't agree on the names or the order, which is why you'll see different lists.
I don't claim one list is right. If a system helps you, use it. If it confuses you, the seven main centers are a perfectly good place to stay.
How to explore them:
a gentle practice
Five to ten minutes. Pick one center, and take your time.
- Ground first. Feel your feet or your weight on the surface beneath you, and take a few slow breaths.
- Choose one center to explore, such as the palms, the soles or the upper chest, and leave the rest.
- Rest your hands on or near the area, and bring gentle attention there. Notice warmth, tingling, weight or nothing at all.
- Write down what you noticed, in plain words. Don't interpret it. Just keep a record.
- If you practice Reiki, notice the same area on yourself in self Reiki, and, with permission, in sessions with others. Treat what you notice as an observation to test and not as a fact.
- Finish by pressing your feet into the floor and taking three slow breaths.
Nothing needs to happen for this to be worthwhile. For a longer practice, see chakra meditation.
How Reiki fits in
In Reiki, the hands are where it is given, which is why the hand chakras matter most to me. In a one-on-one session, I work from head to foot, and the positions pass through the areas where many of these centers sit. Reiki goes where it is needed, and the positions aren't what make it work.
I can't promise a specific result, and Reiki is a complement to medical and mental health care, never a replacement. See my Reiki sessions for how to book, or what is Reiki if you're new.
A free meditation
to begin the day
Morning Meditation for Positive Energy is a gentle practice I recorded for starting the day settled. It is free on my YouTube channel. Rest your hands on your lap, palms up, and notice what you feel.
Morning Meditation for Positive Energy
You can listen any time, and if you drift off along the way, let yourself.
More to listen to
Three more to settle into.
Golden Intersection of Timelines
A 32-minute Reiki activation for harmonic coherence.
Listen on YouTube
Earth Day Reiki Healing
A Gaia grounding activation: she has been holding you all along.
Listen on YouTube
Keep exploring
Where to go next from here.
Frequently asked questions
How many chakras are there?
Most traditions agree on seven main chakras along the spine. Beyond that, systems differ. My Usui Reiki training showed the seven major chakras along with a number of minor ones, and newer systems often describe twelve or more by adding centers above the head and below the feet. None of these counts is the final word.
What are minor chakras?
Minor chakras are smaller energy centers said to sit in other parts of the body, such as the hands, feet, knees, face and upper chest, in addition to the seven main ones along the spine. They are ideas from energy traditions and not anatomy.
How many minor chakras are there?
There's no single agreed number. My Usui training showed me a number of them, other teachers count differently, and lists vary on which centers are included. I focus on the ones I can speak to from experience: the hands, the feet, the upper chest, and the earth star and soul star beyond the body.
Are minor chakras real?
They are part of the energy traditions I was taught in, where they were handed down to explore, not as proven fact. I encourage you to meditate on them, feel for them in your own self Reiki and see what you notice, and let your experience decide what you keep.
What are the 12 chakras?
The twelve-chakra system adds centers beyond the seven: usually the earth star below the feet, the soul star above the head, and a few more above it that teachers name differently. Because systems disagree on names and order, you'll see different lists. See the soul star and the earth star.
What is the 8th chakra?
In many systems the 8th chakra is the soul star, above the crown. Others number a different point, or use the term for something else. I cover how the names overlap on the soul star page.
Do I need to open my minor chakras?
No. The seven main chakras are plenty to start with, and none of the minor centers need to be opened. If you're curious, the gentle practices on this page help you notice them. Go slowly and ground afterward.
Which minor chakras matter most for Reiki?
The hand chakras, because the palms are where Reiki is given. After that, the feet and the earth star for grounding, the thymus for the heart, and the soul star for connection. See the cards on this page.
Guided by Carissa Andrews, Reiki Master and lineage holder.
Reiki is a complementary practice and not a substitute for medical or mental health care. No specific outcomes are promised or guaranteed. This page is educational and is not therapy or clinical advice.