Birthstones, crystals and chakra healing

According to the Office of National Statistics, 26th September has consistently been the most common day to be born over the last two decades. It is also generally the most common birthday month in England with eight of the top 10 dates of birth falling towards the end of the month and the other two at the start of October.

With that in mind, we have birthdays on the brain in September and with them comes an affinity for the crystals that are our birth stones, which often play a role in spa experiences, not least because of their association with the different chakras and energy healing.

What are chakras?

Unsurprisingly, we're very into chakras at Spabreaks.com. There are seven of them, considered energy centres of the body. In holistic wellbeing each one corresponds to different areas of wellness, especially in Ayurvedic terms, Forbes says:

"The concept of chakras is an ancient one. Originating in India, chakras were first mentioned in the Vedas, ancient yogic and spiritual texts, between 500 and 1500 BCE (though some Indian scholars believe the system can be traced back even further). The chakra system is closely linked to the practice and teachings of both yoga and Ayurveda, an ancient traditional medicine system."

The seven main chakras are:

• The Crown chakra is associated with reaching higher consciousness and a state of enlightenment.
• The Third eye chakra is about perception, awareness and compassion.
• The Throat chakra is the centre of communication, emotion, and creativity.
• The Heart chakra is a centre for unconditional love, compassion, kindness and forgiveness.
• The Solar plexus chakra is focused on personal energy and decision making.
• The Sacral chakra is linked with self-expression and emotions.
• The Root chakra is to do with a sense of stability.

Chakras and spa treatments

When it comes to wellbeing the idea is that chakras allow energy to flow through our bodies as a representation of wellbeing. When those chakras become blocked we can experience problems or imbalances physically or emotionally. Forbes explains:

"Each of the chakras is associated with nerve bundles, organs or glands in the particular area in which they’re located. As such, they not only affect the physical functionality of that region but also may influence an individual’s emotional and spiritual state. [...] When a chakra is balanced, energy flows freely throughout the body. However, when the free flow of energy is blocked in a chakra, which can occur due to certain lifestyles, experiences, physical environments and more, imbalance occurs. If a chakra is obstructed, a person may exhibit physical and emotional manifestations of the imbalance."

In modern spa environments, therapists work with chakras and often use crystals and essential oils alongside practices like yoga, meditation and massage to channel therapeutic effects and support overall wellbeing. For example, the Gaia Crystal Therapy spa treatment at Boringdon Hall is a healing therapy designed to help you reconnect with yourself and your body.

September's birthstone and its chakras

September's birthstone is the sapphire, which can come in many colours but is best known for being that mesmerising blue stone, which in wellness terms is connected to the throat chakra and the third eye chakra.

The throat chakra

The throat chakra is the centre of communication, creativity and self expression - in short, it's the body's communication hub, where you find your voice and sing praises — for yourself and others. It's also linked with turquoise crystals, thought to help promote clear and honest communication.

The third eye chakra

The third eye chakra is connected with forgiveness and compassion both for ourselves and others. Located in the centre of your head, parallel to the middle of your eyebrows, it's believed to be linked to perception, awareness, and spiritual communication. It's also associated with the lepidolite gemstone, which can be used as a calming stone to help with feelings of stress, anxiety and depression.

So if you have a birthday in September, you’re looking for a gift or fancy adding a little extra something to your self-care, why not turn to your birthstone for a little inspiration and get those chakras back in balance?