Photo: cinetara.com

Bonus, via Elite Daily: A new paper in the Journal of Applied Psychology “claims reading the ‘Harry Potter’ series significantly improved young peoples’ perception of stigmatized groups like immigrants, homosexuals or refugees.”

The study essentially found that young people who had an emotional attachment with the character of Harry Potter were less likely to be prejudiced against minority groups.

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I have found many meanings within the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling. The one I have found to be most true: love conquers all. However, when you look closely at the inner-workings of her books you can connect the stories with a different Chakra…

The first chakra represents stable family roots. Basically, our foundation. In the first book, Harry doesn’t have a family and feels unwelcome. His chakra is under active. He was forced to live with his magic hating relatives, The Dursleys. They have a son Dudley who has an over active chakra. He is very greedy and bullies Harry. When Harry found out he was a wizard and got accepted into Hogwarts, he went there on instinct, not knowing what to expect. He heard Professor McGonagall say, “While you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts,” and knew he had found his home and balanced his first chakra.

The second chakra represents identity – the idea of knowing who you are and expressing that. When the second book begins, Harry is still struggling with the idea that the Sorting Hat thought he would be great in Slytherin, but put him in Gryffindor because he asked him to. He is very withdrawn and hopes to figure this out when he gets to Hogwarts. But, the Chamber of Secrets has been opened by the heir a Slytherin (or so they say) and a monster is petrifying Muggle borns. When Harry discovers that he shares characteristics with Slytherin himself like talking to snakes he is even more confused. Finally while rescuing Ginny from The Chamber of Secrets and defeating the monster the sword of Gryffindor come to him through the Sorting hat. He then figures out he is a true Gryffindor. Dumbledore tells Harry that the Sorting Hat placed him in Gryffindor because it’s not your abilities that make you who you are; it’s your choices. Harry then balances his second chakra.

The third chakra is the power chakra. When Harry Potter comes to Hogwarts in the third book, he faces his biggest challenge yet, Dementors. Dementors are the guards of Azkaban, the wizard prison, and there’s a reason that no one ever escapes from Azkaban. Dementors are soul-sucking monsters. They make you feel like you can never be happy again. They basically take away your third chakra. The only way to defeat them is to cast the Patronus Charm. Harry’s teacher Professor Lupin trys to teach Harry that charm, but it is extremely difficult because you have to feel happy and in control. You have to balance your third chakra and not feel indecisive and timid. It is especially difficult for Harry because the dementor brings back memories of the night his parents died. Harry finally masters the spell when Dementors attack his godfather, Sirius Black. And therefore balances his third chakra.

The fourth chakra is the heart chakra and is related to our ability to be centered and peaceful. Harry starts his fourth year by being entered in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, a competitive sometimes-deadly game between three schools. Someone at this school entered him illegally. The only thing that keeps him in the competition is the love for his friends and school. At first he is distant towards the people who try to help him in the tournament but then he learns he has to open up to those around him in order to compete well. When Harry and a fellow contestant Cedric Diggory get sent to a graveyard to be killed, Harry shows compassion toward Cedric when he dies which helps Harry escape the graveyard alive. He then proceeds to win the tournament and balance his fourth chakra.

The fifth chakra is related to talking and self-expression. It allows us to communicate. When the fifth book starts, Harry is afraid Lord Voldemort has possessed him. He is afraid that everyone around him will get hurt and is silent even towards his friends. He even trys to run away. Eventually thanks to his friends and, some jokes and laughter from Fred and George Weasley, he was able to communicate effectively and talk about it. He has balanced his fifth chakra.

The third eye represents the sixth chakra, its all about the mind and visualization. In the fifth book, Voldemort was able to go inside Harry’s mind and send him untrue visions. When the sixth book starts, Harry is unable to close his mind to Voldemort, so Dumbledore gives him lessons to help him balance his sixth chakra or master his mind. The lessons help and Harry completely balances his sixth chakra and masters his mind.

When you think of the seventh chakra, you think of spiritually and a higher self. When I first read the seventh book I didn’t really understand it. The battles between life and death were confusing. But as years passed and I kept reading the book over and over I finally understood. It really represents the seventh chakra. Its all about higher beings and life or death. It also ties together the true meaning of the book which is love conquers all – it even conquers death sometimes. That is a great lesson to learn.

Previously posted on gogrounded.com

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Frankie Crawford lives in Atlanta Georgia. She has two sisters, who oddly share the same birthday as her. She is obsessed with her cute rescued dog named Braveheart and is casually amused with the other pets Harmony, FDR, Courage and Aristotle. She trained to be a Grounded Yoga Teacher and received her certificate February 2010. She has been a student of yoga since preschool and was part of the first Grounded Kids Certified in fourth grade. She proudly completed her grade school education and has since matriculated to middle school where she is vigorously pursuing a pre-High School degree with Honors.