What Is The Root Chakra?
The root chakra is the first chakra we start with out of the seven main chakras. Its Sanskrit name is Muladhara, although it is also sometimes referred to as just Adhara. Its colour is red, and is represented by the symbol below.
Don't worry if when you are meditating with it you can't visualise the symbol itself; the colour red will be enough.
The root chakra is the first chakra we start with out of the seven main chakras. Its Sanskrit name is Muladhara, although it is also sometimes referred to as just Adhara. Its colour is red, and is represented by the symbol below.
Don't worry if when you are meditating with it you can't visualise the symbol itself; the colour red will be enough.
The Root Chakra's Associations:
The root chakra is located at the base of the spine. It is our survival chakra, the base of our animalistic instincts, our will to adapt and survive. It allows us to harness this will, to be resourceful and persevere through even the toughest of times. It is where our 'fight or flight' instinct resides. If you are the sort of person that feels overwhelmed easily with change, whether that change be big or small, then developing the root chakra will help you overcome these feelings. The root chakra is also the seat of all of our ancestral memories, and the knowledge passed down through the ages, helping you connect with your own 'roots'.
The word 'Muladhara' comes from Mula meaning “root” and Adhara, which means “support” or “base. It is the foundation of our being, which allows us to ground into ourselves and into the earth, providing us with stability and security. Our most basic needs, such as food, shelter, water, the need for emotional fulfilment, all come from the root chakra. When we have these in our lives, it is more likely that our root chakra will feel healthy and nourished. If you are having trouble attaining these, strengthening your root chakra can help you face these difficulties and obtain what you need to feel this security.
The root chakra helps us find our independence, to be self-sufficient and rely on ourselves. This chakra helps us to feel strong and in control, and strengthening it can be useful for those who find they tend to rely on others to help them find direction, or who seem to go along with what everyone else says/does; either because they can't think of what else to suggest, or because they don't want to speak up. It encourages us to think of ourselves, what is best for us, and to look after ourselves.
If This Chakra Is Blocked:
When this chakra becomes blocked, we can experience anxiety and fear, feeling out of our depth like a little fish in the big sea. We can feel lost, disconnected to ourselves, unsure as to who we are, or our place and purpose in the world. Not only can we lose our connection with ourselves, but it can cause us to lose our connection with the earth, and with others. Our relationships no longer feel like equal partnerships, but instead we begin to feel overly dependent on others. It can cause us to put the needs of others before ourselves, which in turn can lead to insecurity and self-doubt.
The root chakra is associated with the element of earth. Physically, it is associated with the skeletal structure, teeth, large intestine, kidneys, and blood. It is believed that strengthening the root chakra will also strengthen these physical aspects of ourselves.
Stimulating and Opening the Root Chakra:
Any red crystals, and some darker coloured such as brown or black, are suitable for helping to cleanse and open this chakra. Good crystals to try include:
The sense of smell is strongly associated with the root chakra, so oils and other scents are great for stimulating the root chakra. Oils you could use include:
There are many different ways to help open and stimulate the root chakra. Several are included below. You may want to combine some of them; for example, meditating with a mudra and chanting, or using a crystal and a chant.
“I am strong. I am confident. I am secure in my body, and my place in the world”
“I am the creator of my own destiny. I forge my own path throughout this life”
“My roots are strong, my chakra balanced. I am immoveable”
“I am strong, wild and free. I dance to the beat of my own drum, and listen follow the rhythm of my own heart”
“Strength within, and strength without; I have perfect trust in my ability to forge my own path”
Each chakra also has a sound associated with it. You can help to open the chakras by chanting their sound out loud, focusing on the vibrations of the sound raising the chakra’s energy levels. The sound for the root chakra is ‘LAM’. You will notice as we go through the chakras that they all have very similar sounds ‘LAM’, ‘VAM’, YAM’, so try to put some emphasis on the ‘L’ as you sound it out.
How will I know if my chakra is blocked?
If your chakra is blocked, you may experience any of the feelings or sensations listed above. Additionally, when working to activate your chakra it may just feel sluggish and slow; it may be a darker red than usual, or you may see black ‘spots’ in the energy.
How do I cleanse my chakra?
Stimulating your chakra as listed above will help to cleanse them as you strengthen them. You can also focus specifically on cleansing it as you stimulate it. To do this, you want to imagine any energy you are directing to that energy - whether that is using crystals, oils, or visualising the energy from the earth or your own body travelling to that area - as pure, white, cleansing energy. When it reaches your chakra see it combining with your chakras energy, invigorating it and raising its vibration. See it glowing brighter, wiping out all of the black spots and strengthening your whole chakra.
Closing Your Chakra:
It is important to make sure that you close your chakra after working with it. If you leave it open, it will be more susceptible to negative energies. Closing it doesn’t mean it will stop working, you are just protecting it.
I find that the easiest way to close my chakras is to imagine zipping them up, like you would purse or a backpack. See a zip running up the centre of the chakra, the zips itself at the bottom, then mentally zip it up. See the chakra closing, but know that beneath this protective covering, the chakra is still active and working.
The root chakra is located at the base of the spine. It is our survival chakra, the base of our animalistic instincts, our will to adapt and survive. It allows us to harness this will, to be resourceful and persevere through even the toughest of times. It is where our 'fight or flight' instinct resides. If you are the sort of person that feels overwhelmed easily with change, whether that change be big or small, then developing the root chakra will help you overcome these feelings. The root chakra is also the seat of all of our ancestral memories, and the knowledge passed down through the ages, helping you connect with your own 'roots'.
The word 'Muladhara' comes from Mula meaning “root” and Adhara, which means “support” or “base. It is the foundation of our being, which allows us to ground into ourselves and into the earth, providing us with stability and security. Our most basic needs, such as food, shelter, water, the need for emotional fulfilment, all come from the root chakra. When we have these in our lives, it is more likely that our root chakra will feel healthy and nourished. If you are having trouble attaining these, strengthening your root chakra can help you face these difficulties and obtain what you need to feel this security.
The root chakra helps us find our independence, to be self-sufficient and rely on ourselves. This chakra helps us to feel strong and in control, and strengthening it can be useful for those who find they tend to rely on others to help them find direction, or who seem to go along with what everyone else says/does; either because they can't think of what else to suggest, or because they don't want to speak up. It encourages us to think of ourselves, what is best for us, and to look after ourselves.
If This Chakra Is Blocked:
When this chakra becomes blocked, we can experience anxiety and fear, feeling out of our depth like a little fish in the big sea. We can feel lost, disconnected to ourselves, unsure as to who we are, or our place and purpose in the world. Not only can we lose our connection with ourselves, but it can cause us to lose our connection with the earth, and with others. Our relationships no longer feel like equal partnerships, but instead we begin to feel overly dependent on others. It can cause us to put the needs of others before ourselves, which in turn can lead to insecurity and self-doubt.
The root chakra is associated with the element of earth. Physically, it is associated with the skeletal structure, teeth, large intestine, kidneys, and blood. It is believed that strengthening the root chakra will also strengthen these physical aspects of ourselves.
Stimulating and Opening the Root Chakra:
Any red crystals, and some darker coloured such as brown or black, are suitable for helping to cleanse and open this chakra. Good crystals to try include:
- Red Carnelian
- Red Jasper
- Black Tourmaline
- Obsidian
- Heamatite
- Garnet
The sense of smell is strongly associated with the root chakra, so oils and other scents are great for stimulating the root chakra. Oils you could use include:
- Cedarwood
- Frankincense
- Patchouli
- Sandalwood
- Vetiver
There are many different ways to help open and stimulate the root chakra. Several are included below. You may want to combine some of them; for example, meditating with a mudra and chanting, or using a crystal and a chant.
- Lying down and placing one of the above crystals on your root chakra area, and visualising the energy of the crystal cleansing and strengthening your chakra.
- Anointing the root chakra area with one of the above oils and visualising it cleansing and strengthening your chakra (remember; always dilute oils, never apply them neat).
- Perform the ‘roots’ meditation; however, this time instead of visualising your roots coming out from your feet and into the ground, visualise them coming from your root chakra and into the ground. You can also focus on pulling energy up through your roots and into the chakra to help cleansing and strengthening your chakra.
- Chant mantras design to help stimulate and strengthen your root chakra. Examples of these are:
“I am strong. I am confident. I am secure in my body, and my place in the world”
“I am the creator of my own destiny. I forge my own path throughout this life”
“My roots are strong, my chakra balanced. I am immoveable”
“I am strong, wild and free. I dance to the beat of my own drum, and listen follow the rhythm of my own heart”
“Strength within, and strength without; I have perfect trust in my ability to forge my own path”
- Visualise your chakra as a red, glowing ball of light, and ‘feed’ that ball energy. You can do this by redirecting energy from other parts of your body into the root chakra. There are many different flows through the body, all moving in different directions (which we will cover in more detail later on), but for now focus on this energy flowing round your body and into this chakra.
Each chakra also has a sound associated with it. You can help to open the chakras by chanting their sound out loud, focusing on the vibrations of the sound raising the chakra’s energy levels. The sound for the root chakra is ‘LAM’. You will notice as we go through the chakras that they all have very similar sounds ‘LAM’, ‘VAM’, YAM’, so try to put some emphasis on the ‘L’ as you sound it out.
How will I know if my chakra is blocked?
If your chakra is blocked, you may experience any of the feelings or sensations listed above. Additionally, when working to activate your chakra it may just feel sluggish and slow; it may be a darker red than usual, or you may see black ‘spots’ in the energy.
How do I cleanse my chakra?
Stimulating your chakra as listed above will help to cleanse them as you strengthen them. You can also focus specifically on cleansing it as you stimulate it. To do this, you want to imagine any energy you are directing to that energy - whether that is using crystals, oils, or visualising the energy from the earth or your own body travelling to that area - as pure, white, cleansing energy. When it reaches your chakra see it combining with your chakras energy, invigorating it and raising its vibration. See it glowing brighter, wiping out all of the black spots and strengthening your whole chakra.
Closing Your Chakra:
It is important to make sure that you close your chakra after working with it. If you leave it open, it will be more susceptible to negative energies. Closing it doesn’t mean it will stop working, you are just protecting it.
I find that the easiest way to close my chakras is to imagine zipping them up, like you would purse or a backpack. See a zip running up the centre of the chakra, the zips itself at the bottom, then mentally zip it up. See the chakra closing, but know that beneath this protective covering, the chakra is still active and working.
