What have you done for your root chakra lately? If you have been feeling sluggish, insecure, worried about making ends meet or unstable in life, you may need to bring your attention to the first chakra. Read on to learn all about your roots — what causes blockages, the physical and spiritual signs, and how to restore balance.
A Quick Overview of the Root Chakra
The root chakra, or Muladhara in Sanskrit, is located at the base of the spine. Its element is Earth and is the foundation of our chakra system. The six other main chakras rest upon the root, as it is the most dense energy center we have. For this reason, you can understand why allowing your root to fall out of balance can cause serious disruption. Each chakra has a related color, the root chakras being a vivid and deep red.
Our ability to focus, manifest our needs and manage the boundaries of our mind and body are all reliant upon the health of the root chakra. It is associated with survival, health, our material experience and finances. Through this energy portal, we store our connection and feelings about our parents, our racial and cultural heritage, and our memories. All of this affects our instincts, expectations and reactions to the world around us.
In tarot, the suit of pentacles represents the root chakra. The King of Pentacles shows someone who feels confident and in control of these areas, while the Queen of Pentacles feels emotionally balanced and connected to her roots.
Physically, the root chakra is associated with the legs, feet, bones and large intestine. Ailments or discomfort in your lower body can be an indication that your root chakra is in need of attention and balance.
What Causes Root Chakra Blockages to Begin With?
Our society does not pass the root chakra vibe check. Intelligence ruled by the higher chakras has always been regarded with high value. However, we still need some work ending the shame and secrecy around sexuality, birth, nudity and other natural states, needs and functions of our bodies. Ignoring the lower chakras causes pain — like how we ignore our bodies stiffening at a computer all day, or glorifying the “no days off” lifestyle. As we get swept up in the whirlwind of working to survive, it gets harder to find grounding. There is power and healing in rest that allows us to feel and be our best selves.
Based on how we live, it doesn’t take much to throw off your roots. Consistent blows to confidence or a single event that needs healing can cause misalignment. A sudden loss of a relationship, person, job or financial stress can lead to symptoms of blockage. If you’re going through a hard time, thoughts or fears of instability can compound to affect your base.
As we continue to live separated from nature, we cut ourselves off from spiritual nutrition, power and growth. This can lead to instability, getting swept off our feet or daydreaming more often as you prefer fantasy to your reality. You may experience feeling powerless, loss of motivation and energy or have a harder time finding focus. It can even be the root cause of depression and suicidal thoughts, especially if you are already genetically prone to mental health imbalance.
Physical Manifestations of a Root Chakra Blockage
As we stated above, any medical issues or physical discomfort in the areas of the body associated with the root chakra can be a sign of blockage. Digestive issues, such as constipation or diarrhea can signal your root chakra is closed tight or too open, respectively. A closed root will be resistant to opportunities for growth or stability, while being too open may lead to being easily manipulated or finding yourself close to untrustworthy people.
Other physical manifestations of a root chakra blockage include obesity, sciatica, degenerative arthritis, eating disorders or knee joint issues. As your root chakra is connected to the energy you draw from the Earth, feelings of fatigue or exhaustion can also point to a need for a rejuvenated root. If you find yourself more imbalanced or clumsy than usual, that’s a sign of instability in your life. Everything mentioned above should also be checked out by a physician, you know we just speak on spiritual wellness here. As you work with a medical professional on your physical ailments, consider how you can heal the emotional and spiritual issues as well.
How To Clear The Root Chakra Of Blockage
Besides seeing a physician for any serious concerns (had to say it again for good measure) there are plenty of things you can do to work through blockages of the root chakra.
Reiki is a great start to help diagnose spiritual blockages and get a clue as to what is causing them. An intuitive healer can connect with your aura field and pass along guidance to help you get started on your journey.
If meditation is not yet part of your daily ritual, it should be. There are so many ways to meditate, but here are a few suggestions on how to do so with intentions to cleanse and recharge your root chakra. First, you can simply focus on chanting the root chakra sound “lam”. A quick search on YouTube will bring up an example of how it sounds. Dedicate 5 - 10 minutes to using your throat chakra to help connect to the healing vibration of your root. You can also visualize as you meditate, focusing on the color red or imagining your own “roots” reaching deep into the Earth for an energy exchange. As you inhale, you draw restorative energy from the Earth. As you exhale, you send your energy downward to the Earth for healing.
Regular exercise, focusing especially on the strength of your lower half, can also help bring your root chakra into balance. As mentioned above, our physical health is associated with our root. Feeling physically strong and capable can certainly spill over into other areas of your life.
That leads to another great way to heal, loving your body. Spend time intentionally loving and accepting your body, whatever that means to you. Pay attention to your body and what it is telling you. Feel the tension held in every corner and listen as you release. Use your meditation practice to truly connect with physical sensation. Practice yoga to move intentionally and communicate with your body. Try this: Write a statement for each part of your body as if you are speaking for it. For example, if your chest feels heavy, write “I feel heavy”. If your head feels tight, “I feel tight”. Read all the statements after and take it all in for self-reflection. What have you experienced that could have caused these feelings to manifest in your body? Can you take time now to release each one?
Last and most important is grounding. Grounding is the practice of sending your energy downward to connect with the Earth as you open to receive healing energy. Open your lower chakras to allow a conscious flow of life force energy to flow between you and the Earth. With a stronger connection to the Earth, we are more present in the here and now. Our focus is more clear, making us feel more secure and allowing greater relief from life’s stressors. With your head out of the clouds, you’ll have the energy and motivation to bring your ideas to fruition and get to work. It is consistent thought and action that brings your ideas into solid form. If your manifestations have stalled, look to your root chakra to begin healing.