One of the most common things we hear about the chakras system in the Western thought is the psychological states that are associated with them. For example, we have learned from countless readings that the muladhara (root) chakra is associated with survival and that our third chakra, the manipura (solar plexus) is associated with our ego, our power and so on. Please note that these associations are completely a modern Western belief resulted by Carl Jung's writings about the chakras. These associations may be realities for some people but one thing for certain, they are not part of the traditional yogic teachings. Lets take this one step even further, besides psychological states, there are many other associations, such as a certain bodily gland, certain foods, minerals, herbs, path of yoga even tarot suit. Please be clear, none of these associations were ever part of the traditional original teachings. This is not to say that they are invalid, it is just saying they are part of the new age spirituality founded solely in the modern times, a few decades old, certainly not centuries.
