Chakras are energy (or chi) points in our body. If you could see these points they would appear as spinning wheels. There are seven chakras, referred to as primary, with a hundred or more minor and additional chakras. Some of the smaller, or minor, chakras are called meridians in acupuncture, acupressure and other energy studies. Each chakra is related to specific emotional, spiritual and physical areas. Each one of the chakras also have individual vibration levels, colors and sounds. When you use the specific color, sound and symbol, it will aid in balancing the different chakra points. Each chakra needs to function at the proper vibration frequency, to be balanced and open. The chakra energy is ever moving. It is natural for each of them to vibrate at levels that take them in and out of balance. However, when a chakra is in a state of imbalance for a long period of time, it can cause illness at all three levels of physical, mental (emotional) and spiritual.
Root Chakra
Location: base of spine and groin area
Color: red
Element: earth
Sense: smell
Sound: C note
Stones: garnet, ruby, red coral, bloodstone, agate, red jasper
Body parts affected: bladder, prostate, lower extremities, elimination system, adrenal glands, teeth, large intestine, arterial blood and bones, weight issues, kidneys
The root chakra, also called the base chakra or first chakra and the Muladhara, resonates at the lowest vibration of the body. Located at the base of the spine, it deals with issues of physical self preservation, individuality, security, safety, procreational urges and material wealth. It is the energy point that allows us to connect with the earth, that grounds us to our life here on earth. It is the base of the entire chakra energy system.
Balanced Root Chakra: people who have balanced energy in their root chakra are grounded and healthy, with an abundance of energy. They love their present incarnation, manifesting what they require and desire easily. They naturally take care of their body.
Excessive Energy in the Root Chakra: people who have excessive energy in this chakra are egotistical. Their sexual energy is entirely about their physical pleasure, with no emotional attachment. They are domineering, judgmental and have biased opinions. There may be an over importance put on possessions of money and material things. There is a need to be in control.
Low Level Energy in the Root Chakra: people who do not have enough energy in this chakra lack self esteem and confidence. They feel unlovable and have little interest in sexual relations. At the lowest level of energy they can be suicidal. They may acquire the addiction of hoarding, in an effort to have a semblance of control. The feeling of anxiousness about finances, home and job are a few more symptoms. They may have feelings of being lost, with no direction or meaningful purpose.
Cause of Imbalance
Life is a journey. There are no end to situations, as we travel through that journey, that can cause imbalance in any of the chakras. However, a few of the situations that can trigger an imbalance in the root chakra are a child that is not properly cared for or abandoned, separated at birth, a severe childhood illness, or physical abuse. Damage to the base chakra can show up in life later on with actions, such as constant changing of jobs, moving form house to house, and generally dealing with survival issues. Healing this chakra allows a person to move onto other areas of life, such as creativity, learning (education) and healthy relationships.
Healing the Root Chakra
Probably the only way to truly heal the root chakra is to look at all of those event in your life that may have caused an imbalance. You have to analyze them until you find the emerald in the pile of coal. If you look deep enough, you can make a positive out of a negative. The things that fall along the path of your journey are there for a reason. In this incarnation, we may never know why things happened to us, no matter how hard we look. But, we can know that the event had a big part to do with our becoming who we are. And if you look hard enough, something will cross your path that will allow you to use the experience to help another or to gleam a universal truth. It’s that “Aha” moment. While working on the healing of the root chakra and after, you need to keep it in balance. Life will continue on, with new challenges that may set the root chakra off balance.
Keep the Root Chakra in Balance
You should work to balance and rebalance all of your chakras on a regular basis. There are specific things that can be done to balance the root chakra. The great thing is that they are fairly simple.
Red
Wearing the color red can help, whether it is clothing or gem stones. Any red stone will resonate at the root chakra energy level. Choose jewelry which include red jasper, garnet or red coral, to name a few or just keep them in your pocket. Even eating red foods, such as tomatoes, strawberries and red peppers will help balance this chakra. However, if the problem is too much energy in the root chakra location, it needs to be offset with blue.
C note
Listen to music containing the tone of C. Play classical music or a CD of Tibetan singing bowls.
Meditation
Relax your body in a quite, comfortable location. Close our eyes and imagine energy in the color of red (if the root chakra energy is low, if it’s too high use blue) as a disc around your body at the bottom of the spine. Breath deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth, while imagining the breath descending to the root chakra location as red energy.
Simple things
Cooking
Enjoying a special dinner
Exercise
Dance
Walk barefoot outdoors
Play games with money, such as Monopoly or penny-anti poker
Stomp your feet on the earth
Hug a tree (talk to it if you dare)
Enjoy and appreciate nature
Meditate and imagine roots growing out of your feet and into the earth
Volunteer with an agency that deals with basics of life, such as a soup kitchen or building homes.
Clean and de-clutter your home
Yoga bridge and crow poses
Eat red foods and root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, radishes)
Eat protein
