Chakras | Root
The Root Chakra and its meaning for the human body
The Root Chakra or sometimes referred to as the Red Chakra is the first primary chakra of the human body. It is located at the base of the spine at the bottom of the central channel and comprises the counterpart to the crown chakra, which is located at the top of the central channel. While the crown chakra connects us with the higher, heavenly energies, the root chakra is energetically connected to the earth with its energy vortex pointing downwards through the perineum. The lower frequency of the root chakra grounds us into matter and is regarded as the consciousness border to the animal kingdom. The Red Chakra governs vital body processes and acts as our survival and preservation center.
In Sanskrit this first chakra is called Muladhara (mula= root, origin, essence; adhara=base, foundation) not only to emphasize its importance as a foundation for spiritual upwards development through the higher chakras; with its instinctual nature the root chakra further carries our own karmic as well as ancestral memories.
On a physical level the root chakra is associated with the skeletal structure, the legs, the anus, the prostate, the large intestines and the blood pressure. With regard to our endocrine nervous system the root chakra governs the hormone production in the adrenal glands. These two glands (adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla) produce many essential hormones for internal processes concerning our metabolism, immune system, blood pressure and the fight-or-flight response.
Root Chakra Affirmations
On a psychological level a balanced root chakra will facilitate a feeling of security and faith in life, a healthy connection to all material things like money, power, career, etc., a grounded stability and inner strength. People with an open root chakra feel content in their bodies and are able to easily flow with life and to adjust to the always changing outer reality. Difficulties that may arise are merely seen as experiences that always bear the potential of further growth. A balanced root chakra lets us closely connect to the creations of mother earth and further enables us to enjoy our bodily experiences and to emanate a life-affirming positive attitude.
Root Chakra imbalances
A root chakra imbalance is usually caused by difficulties in early childhood. If parents fail to provide a loving and caring environment in which children feel nurtured and protected, they can neither develop a healthy self-esteem nor trust in the world around them. Some imbalances may have karmic or ancestral reasons that need to be worked on over the third eye chakra.
On a physical level a root chakra imbalance can show in a number of conditions:
joint ache
lower back pain
pain in legs and feet
osteoporosis
gastric disease
constipation/diarrhea
hemorrhoids
high blood pressure
anorexia/obesity
Root Chakra Healing
Healing the root chakra should be of major interest as only with an intact foundation we will be able to raise our energy and to fully develop the higher chakras as well. A root chakra healing will be facilitated by any grounding activity especially in nature, like hiking or gardening. Other powerful tools are appropriate affirmations, chakra mediations and visualizations as well as energy or crystal healing work. Generally, all red and black stones and crystals can be considered root chakra stones as they vibrate on a similar a frequency and will benefit the activating and balancing of this chakra.
