Welcome to your Ajna Chakra Kriya practice! This journey is all about awakening your third eye, the epicenter of your intuition and inner wisdom. Before we dive in, take a moment to find your perfect seat. Maybe you’re on the ground, or perhaps in a cozy chair. Either way, sit tall with your spine straight and your heart open. Close your eyes and turn your focus inward.
Grounding Breath
Begin to connect with your breath. Take a deep inhale through your nose, letting your lungs fill up completely. Hold it for just a second. Now, exhale slowly and fully through your nose, releasing any tension with each breath out. Keep up this rhythm: a deep inhale, a brief hold, and a full, slow exhale. Feel yourself grounding more with each and every breath.
In this moment, remind yourself that even amidst the chaos of life, you can find peace and clarity within yourself. Allow this realization to sink in: you are not overwhelmed—you are empowered to find your center.
Setting Intention
Shift your awareness to the space between your eyebrows—your Ajna chakra, or third eye. This is where your intuition and higher wisdom reside. As you breathe, set an intention for your practice. Maybe you want clarity, to trust your intuition more, to build focus or presence, or to deepen your awareness. Whatever it is, hold it in your mind’s eye..
In this space, let go of any doubts you have about your ability to trust your intuition. Know that the answers you seek are already within you; you have the power to listen to your inner voice and follow its guidance.
We’ll start with Nadi Shodhana to balance your energy and clear your mind. Here’s how:
Close your right nostril with your thumb.
Inhale deeply through your left nostril.
Close your left nostril with your ring finger, releasing your thumb from your right nostril.
Exhale fully through your right nostril.
Inhale through your right nostril, then close it and exhale through your left.
As you keep this pattern going for a few rounds, focus on the breath flowing in and out. I like to envision the breath as light flowing up to my third eye on each inhale. With each exhale, imagine clearing away the mental clutter and confusion that may have been weighing you down. With each inhale, embrace the clarity and peace that is now becoming your reality.
Third Eye, Ajna Focused Kriya: Breath and Visualization
Time to dive deeper into your third eye:
Inhale deeply.
As you hold your breath, visualize a vibrant light glowing at the center of your forehead. It may have a color. Indigo is often associated with the third eye.
Exhale and let this indigo light expand and flow outward, filling your mind with clarity and peace.
Each breath expanding the light filling this energetic center.
Repeat this for a few more rounds. As you breathe in, see that indigo light at your third eye, and on your exhale, let it expand, clearing away any lingering mental fog. Remember, you are not bound by any mental clutter; you are releasing it with every breath.
Silent Meditation
Now, let go of controlling your breath. Just observe it as it flows naturally. Keep your awareness on the space between your eyebrows. Visualize that steady indigo light at your third eye. Let thoughts come and go like passing clouds. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the sensation or visualization of your Ajna chakra.
In this silent observation, allow yourself to let go of the belief that you must control your thoughts to meditate effectively. Instead, find peace in the flow of your breath and the gentle rhythm of your thoughts.
Closing
To wrap up, bring your hands together at your heart center. Take a moment to feel the energy you’ve cultivated. Trust that your intuition and inner guidance are growing stronger with every breath, every moment of awareness. You are not just a passive observer of your thoughts; you are actively shaping your inner landscape.
Take one last deep breath in, and as you exhale, slowly open your eyes, carrying the clarity and insight from this practice into your day.
Closing Mantra
Let’s seal this practice with a gentle OM. Inhale deeply… OMMMMM…
OM is the bija mantra associated with the sixth chakra. You can learn more about it here.
If you’d prefer a guided practice check out the Ajna Kriya practice on my YouTube channel.
Do you want to Unlock the full potential of your intuition? Ready to take your journey to the next level? Book a one-on-one session or retreat with me to explore your unique intuition and develop personalized practices tailored to your needs. This is my jam! I love helping women like yourself step into their power, reclaim their truth and live a life of abundant joy.
Download our free Chakra Guide on the top techniques for enhancing your third eye awareness and discover how to integrate practices like this one into your daily life. This is by far the largest, most jam packed Chakra Guide I’ve seen on the internet and it’s free… for a little bit longer.
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Have you ever felt lost, stuck in indecision, or disconnected from your inner guidance? Or like you’re spinning in circles, repeating the same old habits or making choices that don’t feel aligned with who you truly are? If this resonates, it may be a sign that your Ajna chakra—the energy center responsible for inner vision and insight—needs some attention.
The Ajna chakra, located at the third eye center, is the gateway to clarity, intuition, inner wisdom, and visionary insight. I think of it as our center of inner and outer seeing and knowing. When balanced, it helps you break free from confusion, see your life’s bigger picture, and make decisions aligned with your higher self.
Ajna Chakra is our sixth chakra and it is located at the midbrain, while its granthi, or psychic knot, is at the third eye center. Most consider its location to be at the Third Eye, right between the eyebrows (not the center of the forehead)… perhaps for simplicity’s sake. In Sanskrit, Ajna means “command” or “beyond wisdom” and it is considered our seat of visionary perspective, intuition, insight, and wisdom.
Your Sixth Chakra Improves Your Ability to Envision A Future That is Aligned With Your Higher Self
Why Aligning Your Ajna Chakra Matters
When your Ajna chakra is blocked or imbalanced, it’s easy to feel stuck in life’s repetitive cycles. You might find yourself:
Caught in old habits that no longer serve you
Unsure of your purpose, feeling like something’s missing but unable to identify it
Overthinking and second-guessing, unable to trust your inner voice
Disconnected from your intuition, relying on outside validation instead of your own wisdom
Aligning your Ajna chakra helps you reconnect with your higher self, the part of you that knows what’s right for you. It’s about gaining clarity, trusting your intuition, and creating a life that feels deeply aligned with who you are at your core. After all, you have to be able to see it to create.
The Transformation: Living in Alignment with Your True Self
When your Ajna chakra is in harmony, the fog lifts, and you gain a new perspective. You stop living on autopilot, reacting to life’s demands, and start intentionally creating a life aligned with your higher self. You become a conscious creator.
Here’s what that transformation looks like:
Clarity: You know where you’re going and why, no longer drifting in confusion or uncertainty.
Intuitive Guidance: You trust your gut feelings and make decisions with confidence, guided by your inner wisdom.
Freedom from Old Patterns: You break free from the habits and thought patterns that have kept you stuck, opening the door to new possibilities.
Alignment with Your Higher Purpose: Every decision, every step forward feels aligned with who you truly are and what you want out of life. Your dharma, or purpose, is now not just within reach, but a guiding force in your daily life.
How to Align Your Ajna Chakra and Unlock Its Power
Ready to unlock the power of your third eye chakra and live in alignment with your higher self? Here are a few powerful practices that can help you balance your Ajna chakra and invite deeper clarity into your life:
Meditation for Insight Meditation is one of the most effective ways to open the Ajna chakra. Sit in stillness, focusing your attention on the space between your eyebrows, imagining a bright indigo light growing stronger with each breath. This practice helps clear mental clutter and invites deeper wisdom. Check out my Ajna Kriya Meditation on YouTube.
Journaling for Clarity When you’re feeling lost or stuck, writing out your thoughts can be incredibly illuminating. Ask yourself questions like: What old patterns am I ready to release? Where in my life am I seeking clarity, and how can I invite it in? What is the life I truly desire, and what steps can I take to create it?What does my intuition want me to know right now? Journaling creates space for your subconscious to surface insights you may not be aware of.
Visualization for Purpose Visualization is key to working with the third eye. Imagine your ideal life—the people, places, and experiences that feel deeply aligned with your soul. How do you feel in this life? What steps do you need to take to get there? This practice strengthens your ability to see beyond the present moment and move toward a future aligned with your true self.
Yoga and Breathwork Practices like yoga and pranayama (breathwork) help balance the mind and awaken your intuitive faculties. Gentle forward bends, child’s pose, and alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhana) are especially beneficial for calming the mind and activating the third eye. Balancing poses that cultivate unwavering focus are another great way to activate your third eye.
Connect with Nature Nature has a way of bringing us back to our true selves. Spend time outdoors, observe the natural world, and tune in to the subtleties of your surroundings. This quiet, grounded presence can help you reconnect with your intuition and bring clarity to your life.
Practical Practices for Your Third Eye Chakra
I know some of you want practical, actionable, quick acting practices. If you tend to live in logic and reasoning, the following practices will help you clear mental clutter, release anxiety, and create greater clarity and focus.
1. Brain Dump for Mental Clarity
One of my favorite ways to create clarity and release anxiety is by doing a brain dump. This practice helps clear out all the noise from your mind. Simply set a timer for 15 minutes and write down every thought, no matter how big or small. Let your mind flow freely without filtering. When you put everything on paper, you can release what’s cluttering your mind and gain a clearer perspective.
For a more organized approach, mind mapping can be incredibly helpful if you’re juggling multiple projects or have a task with a lot of moving parts. Visualizing your thoughts in this way really helps bring everything into perspective.
2. Fear Setting for Removing Blockages
It may sound counterintuitive, but fear setting is one of the most powerful tools for releasing what holds you back. Write down your worst-case scenarios—what you’re truly afraid of—and walk yourself through them. What’s the absolute worst thing that could happen? Then, outline the consequences and what steps you could take to move past them. This process not only helps you face your fears head-on, but it also neutralizes them, giving you more freedom to trust your intuition.
3. Visualization to Energize the Ajna Chakra
Visualization is a potent practice for working with your third eye. You can visualize a beam of light or prana flowing into your third eye to clear out any blockages or stagnant energy. Or, you can envision your future—what does it look like when you’re fully aligned with your higher self? How does it feel? The sky’s the limit when it comes to visualization.
4. S.M.A.R.T. Goals for Focus and Prioritization
Setting clear, S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals helps you focus on what truly matters. I’m a huge fan of using the 12 Week Year for planning and prioritizing my goals. Another tool I love is my WIZE planner, which helps me stay on track and organized. These tools are practical, but they also support your Ajna chakra by creating structure and clarity in your day-to-day life.
5. Cultivating Intuition Through Deep Listening
Your intuition is always working for you. It’s always providing information and guiding you—you just need to learn to listen deeply. Some ways to strengthen your intuition are through meditation, intuitive journaling, being in nature, and prayer. All of these practices help you tune into your inner wisdom and align with your higher self.
6. Rest for Insight and Clarity
Rest is vital for your third eye chakra. I personally have some of my most profound insights not when I’m pushing through tasks, but when I give myself downtime to process and reflect. We often overlook rest, but it’s essential for cultivating clarity.
Make time for meditation, yoga nidra, or simply taking a nap. Prioritize getting good sleep each night, and establish a bedtime ritual that supports your nervous system—such as avoiding screens, sipping calming tea, or journaling. Even cuddling with a loved one or pet can help you relax into a state where your third eye is more open to receiving insights.
When you take time to nurture this energy center, you unlock the potential to live a life filled with clarity, purpose, and alignment
Nurture Your Spirit with Mantra, Mudra, and Prayer/Intention
1. Mantra for the Ajna Chakra
Mantras are powerful sounds or vibrations that help focus the mind and align energy. For the Ajna chakra, specific mantras can enhance clarity, intuition, and insight.
Ajna Chakra Bija Mantra: “OM” (ॐ) The bija (seed) mantra for the third eye chakra is “OM.” Chanting OM helps clear mental clutter and creates a deeper connection to your inner wisdom. The sound of OM represents the universe and the vibration of creation itself, helping you tap into higher consciousness.
How to Use: Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and bring your awareness to the space between your eyebrows (the location of the Ajna chakra). Begin chanting “OM” either aloud or silently. Visualize indigo light glowing at your third eye with each chant. Let the sound vibration resonate through your entire being.
Affirmation-Based Mantras: Affirmation based mantras may resonate with you if you are already into manifestation. Repeated affirmations help create new grooves in the mind. These grooves, or thought patterns are called samskaras in Sanskrit. You may have also heard the saying, “What fires together wires together.” The same goes for your thoughts, affirmations and the words you speak over yourself. Affirmations are particularly powerful when combined with yoga nidra, yogic sleep. You can use affirmation-based mantras like these to activate the Ajna chakra:
“I trust my intuition.”
“I see clearly.”
“I am connected to my higher self.”
2. Mudra for the Ajna Chakra
Mudras are hand gestures that help direct the flow of energy through the body. For the sixth chakra, mudras can assist in stimulating the third eye and deepening intuitive insight.
Mudra of Knowledge (Gyan Mudra) This is one of the most common and effective mudras for activating the Ajna chakra. It involves connecting the tip of the thumb (representing universal consciousness) with the tip of the index finger (representing individual consciousness), while keeping the other fingers straight.
How to Practice: Sit comfortably with your hands resting on your knees or thighs. Touch the tips of your thumbs to the tips of your index fingers. Keep your palms facing up, fingers relaxed. Focus on your third eye and breathe deeply. As you hold this mudra, visualize light or energy flowing through your third eye, clearing any blockages and enhancing clarity.
Additional Mudra: Shambhavi Mudra In this mudra, the focus is on directing the gaze towards the point between the eyebrows while keeping the eyes softly closed. This subtle practice helps stimulate the third eye and access deeper states of consciousness.
How to Practice: Sit comfortably and gently close your eyes. Shift your internal gaze toward your third eye, focusing on the space between your eyebrows. Breathe deeply and keep your gaze soft. This practice helps bring awareness to your inner vision and strengthens the Ajna chakra.
3. Prayer and Intention for the Ajna Chakra
Prayer, when used for the Ajna chakra, is a way to ask for divine guidance, clarity, and deeper insight. It is a way of connecting to your higher self, the universe, or whatever higher power you believe in. The key here is setting clear intentions and focusing on expanding your inner vision.
Prayer for Insight and Clarity You can create a prayer to ask for guidance and support in opening your third eye. This could be something simple like:
Example Prayer: “Divine Source, I ask for clarity, insight, and guidance. Help me open my third eye and see the truth with wisdom and compassion. May I be guided by my intuition and live in alignment with my higher self.”
Affirmative Prayer for Inner Wisdom: “I trust the wisdom that flows from within me. May my vision be clear, and may I always follow the guidance of my highest self.”
How to Use: You can integrate prayer into your meditation practice or use it at any time during the day when you feel a need for insight or clarity. Speak the prayer aloud or silently in your heart, and visualize your Ajna chakra glowing with indigo light, symbolizing your connection to higher wisdom.
Combining the Practices
For a more powerful effect, you can combine these practices into a daily ritual:
Start with Prayer: Begin by setting a clear intention or offering a prayer for insight and wisdom. Ask for guidance as you work on opening your Ajna chakra.
Chant the Mantra “OM”: Chant the mantra OM while holding Gyan Mudra, focusing your attention on the third eye. Visualize indigo light shining through the space between your eyebrows.
Practice the Mudra: As you continue to meditate, hold the Gyan Mudra and, if desired, incorporate Shambhavi Mudra by directing your inner gaze toward the third eye. Focus on receiving clarity and intuitive guidance.
What’s Waiting on the Other Side?
By aligning your Ajna chakra, you unlock the power of insight and tap into your higher wisdom. You’ll stop feeling stuck in old patterns, stop second-guessing yourself, and start creating a life that feels aligned, purposeful, and true to who you are.
Imagine waking up each day with clarity and confidence, knowing that every decision you make is guiding you toward your highest potential. This is the power of living in alignment with your higher self—and it all begins with balancing your Ajna chakra.
When your third eye chakra is balanced, you’ll likely experience:
Clarity and Focus: Decisions feel easier, and you can see the broader perspective.
Strong Intuition: You have a clear sense of direction and trust your inner wisdom.
Enhanced Imagination and Creativity: You’re more in tune with your creative energy and can easily visualize future possibilities.
Mental Calm: A quiet mind, with less overthinking and mental chatter.
Ajna Chakra: Pronunciation, Elements, and Physical Connections
Understanding the Correct Spelling and Pronunciation of Ajna Chakra
The Ajna Chakra is commonly known as the “third eye chakra” in the West, but its correct spelling is Ājñā. The proper pronunciation is “agnya,” with both “a’s” sounding like the “au” in Autumn. However, here in the West, it’s typically pronounced as “aj-na,” where the first “a” resembles “au” in Autumn, and the second “a” sounds like the “a” in about. Even Western Sanskrit scholars often use this pronunciation.
In India, the pronunciation can vary based on the region. In the southern parts of India, you’ll hear “jna,” while the northern areas may use “gnya,” adding another layer of complexity to the word.
Ajna Chakra Elements: The Bridge Between Worlds
The Third Eye Chakra is associated with Mahat Tattva or the “supreme element” which is made up of all of the other elements in their pure form and it is considered the bridge between the material world and spirit.
Due to Ajna’s deep connection to vision and sight, some would consider Light or illumination to be its corresponding element. Light is sometimes considered to be a combination of the other elements – earth, water, fire, air, and ether. But when I think of shining a light on something– whether a physical object or thought, emotion, etc. we are able to see the object of our perception with eyes wide open — we’re able to see all of it, both the light and the dark and we’re able to find a deeper understanding.
The Pineal Gland: Ajna’s Physical and Spiritual Connection
The Ajna Chakra is often linked with the pineal gland (and sometimes the pituitary gland). The pineal gland governs our circadian rhythm—our natural sleep-wake cycles—and produces melatonin and serotonin, which regulate mood and rest. It also plays a role in the production of DMT, a chemical involved in vivid visual experiences, often referred to as the “spirit molecule.”
The pineal gland is sometimes considered the “seat of the soul,” a portal to connect with the divine, source, or higher states of consciousness like love and compassion. This spiritual connection further emphasizes Ajna’s role as a guide in transcending the material and tapping into our intuitive, higher self.
As you explore the power of your Ajna Chakra, remember that it’s more than just enhancing your intuition—it’s about aligning your life with your higher self and true purpose. Whether it’s through practical tools like visualization, meditation, or simply taking time for deep rest, nurturing your third eye chakra can help you break free from old patterns and gain the clarity you need to move forward in life. When you step into this alignment, you create a life that’s not just seen through your inner vision, but felt deeply in your soul.
If you’re ready to dive deeper into your personal transformation and experience powerful shifts in your life, I invite you to join us at our upcoming Rooted & Wild Women’s Retreat in Sedona. This retreat offers a sacred space for you to reconnect with your intuition, heal, and live in alignment with your higher self. Learn more about how this transformational journey can help you unlock the potential of your Ajna Chakra and live a life of purpose, clarity, and joy.
Click here to explore the retreat and reserve your spot today!
The yantra of the throat chakra has 16 petals of smoky purple color. In addition, each of the petals has a vowel written on it and each vowel, when combined with nada bindu or NG creates a seed sound.
Lastly, each petal is associated with one of 16 different vrittis (mental fluctuations). Most of the vrittis associated with vishuddha chakra are musical in nature. The seed sounds on the lotus petals include Om, Ong, Swaha, Namah and many others.
The Element Akasha and Vishuddha Chakra
Another key point regarding Vishuddha chakra is its association with the element of akasha, also known as ether, space or the void. In Ayurveda’s five-element theory, Ether is the subtlest of the elements and it precedes all other elements. According to Harish Johari’s Chakras: Energy Centers of Transformation, “Akasha is generated by the tanmatra of sound.” Therefore, the throat chakra is linked to our ability to hear and our ability to speak.
The Bija Mantra for the Throat Chakra
The bija mantra for the throat chakra is HAM, sometimes spelled HUM or even HANG. The variations in spelling and pronunciation vary from region to region and tradition to tradition in India.
At this time, take a moment to chant the sound of HAM and notice its vibration in the region of your throat. The bija mantras are used to awaken the chakras and their various characteristics.
In addition, the sound HAM is carried upon the back of gaja, or elephant. The gaja carries all the knowledge of the earth and its plants and it teaches self-confidence and patience.
Your sense of self-knowledge is strong and unwavering and you express yourself freely without fear of judgment or reprimand. You’re able to communicate with clarity and ease AND you pick up non-verbal communication just as easily as verbal communication.
On a spiritual level, an awakened fifth chakra can begin the process of a spiritual rebirth or transformation of the spirit.
Meditation on the throat chakra is one of the most powerful ways to bring about its awakening. Although, chanting mantra through japa meditation, kirtan, and song are all beautiful ways to achieve the same results. In the same vein, you could sing in the shower, chant in the car, or even go see live music.
Similarly, if you’re feeling stuck, tongue-tied, your creative juices aren’t flowing you might find it helpful to get your words, thoughts and ideas down on paper. In that case, I encourage you to buy yourself a beautiful journal and get in the habit of journaling, whether it’s one sentence, a bullet list or a full page, just start. Other suggestions to awaken your fifth chakra are to read a book or take up a new creative hobby like painting, drawing, or even dancing. Find something that inspires you and start there.
Practice deep listening. Listen with full presence and curiosity. Ask questions. Repeat back what you hear. Listen without thinking about how you’ll respond.
Two mudras for the Throat Chakra
You can use hand mudras to heal and awaken the chakras and balance the flow of your pranic energy. Here are two hand mudras you can use to awaken your fifth chakra.
Udana Mudra | Upward Moving Air Gesture
Udana Mudra cultivates the energy, or air, of Udana Vayu, which governs the space between your chest and your head. It is an upward and outward flow of energy and is the basis for sound. Combine Udana Mudra and the bija HAM for a beautiful meditation practice.
To practice Udana Mudra, bring the tips of your ring, middle, and index fingers to meet the tip of your thumb. Extend your little finger long. Ultimately, you can practice this mudra to manifest joy and optimism, improve your sense of self-worth, and increase your creative self-expression.
Shunya Mudra | Gesture of the Void
Shunya Mudra helps to balance the excess of ether. For example, if you’re having trouble listening, you’re feeling flighty or ungrounded then Shunya Mudra can help you feel calm, clear and capable of clear communication and earnest listening.
To practice Shunya Mudra, fold your middle finger down toward the base of your thumb and wrap your thumb over the top of your middle finger. Lastly, extend your little, ring and index fingers long. To clarify, this mudra is the same for both right and left hands.
If you would like to learn more about mudras, check out my recent book, The Little Book of Mudra Meditations. It’s a great place to start your mudra journey and it’s a nice reference for yoga teachers too.
Sva – “self” or “prana” Adhistana – “dwelling place” “abode” or “seat”
The Svadhisthana Chakra is the Dwelling Place of the Self. It is our second chakra and it is located at our sacrum. It generates our sense of personal identity and psychological boundaries and governs our sensuality and our ability to connect deeply with others.
When Svadhisthana is open and healthy we feel passionate, worthy, vibrant, playful, and full of life. We feel creative, sensual, desirable, and we are able to express our emotions. We feel comfortable in your own skin and in our sexuality.
The second chakra starts to develop around age seven when the child begins to explore their power of choice, their individuality, and they start to form relationships of their own.
Svadhisthana Chakra is characterized by our need for relationships. Relationships are spiritual messengers… they teach us the lessons we need to thrive. Relationships teach us about our strengths and our weaknesses. They shine the light on our habitual patterns and opportunities for growth. We learn how to interact consciously with others, to nurture the relationships with those that support our growth and to discard the relationships that hold us back.
Svadhisthana holds our feelings around intimacy, worthiness, sensuality, creativity, and desires. It is associated with our ability to maintain our sense of self in our relationships and interactions.
In Anatomy of the Spirit, Carolyn Myss defines the strengths of Svadhisthana as, “The ability and stamina to survive financially and physically on one’s own and to defend and protect oneself; the “fight or flight” instinct; the ability to take risks; the resilience to recover from loss whether of family members, partners, property, occupation, or finances; the power to rebel and reestablish a life and personal and professional decision-making ability and talent.”
Svadhisthana Chakra is characterized by the power of choice, the law of cause and effect. “Every choice we make contributes a subtle current of our energy to our universe, which is responsive to the influence of human consciousness.” Svadhisthana is associated with the unconscious mind and is considered the storehouse of our samskaras. Past experiences directly influence our attitudes and how we behave and react today, whether we remember those experiences or not.
“All the attachments by which we maintain control over our external lives, such as authority, other people, or money, are linked through this chakra to our energy field and physical body. The illnesses that originate in this energy center are activated by the fear of losing control.” Caroline Myss
When Svadhisthana Chakra is Imbalanced
An imbalanced sacral chakra can cause low libido, feelings of low vitality, reproductive problems (ovarian cysts, endometriosis, testicular or prostate disease), joint problems, back pain, urinary tract problems, constipation, IBS, muscle spasms, and dehydration.
On an emotional level, you may have trouble connecting with others, you may feel disconnected, your emotions may be unstable, you may express feelings of shame or guilt, you may struggle with vulnerability or experience lack of self-control and/or creativity.
A lot of heavy fears are also associated with our second chakra, from losing control to being dominated by a person, event or circumstance.
When the Second Chakra is overactive we may be attached to pleasure and suffer from addiction, gluttony, greed, obesity, hormone imbalances and/or restlessness.
An underactive Second Chakra often manifests as depression, decreased sex drive, feeling stuck, or a lack of passion and creativity. Its cause? Spending too much time focused on practicalities and not giving ourselves time to experience pleasure in its many forms.
Skip to the last section to find out how to bring your second chakra back into balance.
Svadisthana Chakra and the Water Element
Water is life-giving. Did you know that up to 60% of the adult human body is made of water and about 71% of Earth’s surface is water? As humans, water is present in our blood, mucus, urine, saliva, lymph and other body fluids as well as in our brain, heart, lungs, skin and it’s even in our bones… it’s everywhere.
Water is intimately connected with the moon… think of the tides of the ocean, which are connected to the lunar cycle. I’m sure you’ve also experienced the influence of the waxing and waning of the moon on your own body chemistry and emotions.
According to Harish Johari, the “lunar energy is evoked when the water element (which is dominant for 16 minutes in each nasal breath cycle of one hour) is accompanied by breathing dominated by the left nostril. Left nostril breathing activates Ida Nadi, which is lunar in nature. When the Ida Nadi is activated, it stimulates the right hemisphere of the brain, which is related to emotional behavior. Thus, in this chakra, we see the relationship between water, the moon, emotions, and the psyche.”
To awaken Svadisthana embody fluidity and flow in your movements, your mind and your breath.
The Svadhisthana Yantra and the Six-Petaled Lotus
The Svadhisthana Chakra is symbolized by a six-petaled lotus. As stated in the Mahanirvana Tantra, the six petals of Svadhisthana represent six mental modifications or vrittis:
Affection (indulgence)
Suspicion
Disdain
Delusion
Destructiveness
Pitilessness
The Bija Mantra for the Sacral Chakra
The bija mantra or seed sound for Svadhisthana Chakra is VAM. When chanted it guides Kundalini shakti up to the second chakra and increases the flow of prana (life force) to the second chakra.
The Second Chakra and Our Sense of Taste
When Svadhisthana Chakra is healthy, food is eaten not just for sustenance, it is enjoyed.
Svadhisthana Chakra and Apana Vayu
Svadisthana is associated with Apana Vayu. Apana is the Vayu that expels semen from the male organ and urine from the urethra, it is the energy behind passing a bowel movement and that which pushes the baby from the womb during birth. Think of “down and out” as the flow of Apana Vayu.
Tips and Practices for Svadhisthana Chakra
So now that we know more about the Svadhisthana Chakra, how do we bring it back into balance or keep it in balance?
Tips for an Underactive Second Chakra
If you’re feeling uninspired and you lack passion, make time to experience pleasure or joy. Paint, hike, draw, dance, create, swim in the sea, have sex, self-pleasure.
Try something new. Take a dance class. Learn martial arts. Do yoga. Tap into your artistic side. Prepare food for friends and family.
Tips for an Overactive Svadhisthana Chakra
If you’re feeling unable to control your physical desires or addiction, work on practicing brahmacharya (moderation — in it’s most modern translation). You may also choose to seek the help of a professional.
Much of the healing for the second chakra comes from healing past traumas. Now is the time to do the work and to heal. You can work with a professional, find guides online, or even journal. Journaling is an amazing practice to let go of past traumas and their associated pain, shame and guilt.
Tips and Practices for Anyone Interested in Healing Svadhisthana
Take a warm bath. No distractions. No phone. No kids/partners/pets. Time just for you. Bonus: add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. These oils are all great for the second chakra: Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemongrass, Geranium, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine, Neroli, Clary Sage and Patchouli.
Practice abhyanga or Ayurvedic self-massage. After your warm bath put an old towel down on the bathroom floor and oil yourself up with warming sesame oil. Use long strokes on your long bones and circular motions on your joints. Take your time and enjoy it. Or share the experience with a partner.
Come up with your own second chakra affirmation and write it in your journal, put it on your altar, and on your fridge.
Examples:
I am a divine being of light.
I embrace my sexuality and its expression.
I am alive, connected, and aware.
I am a vibrant, creative being of light.
Meditate. A simple sacral chakra meditation is to envision an orange wheel of light spinning at your sacrum. As you envision this orange wheel of light repeat your affirmation.
Crystals for Your Second Chakra
Set an intention to heal your second chakra and create a crystal grid to increase creativity, vitality, confidence, and sexuality. Use:
Citrine (self-healing, increases energy and drive)
Carnelian (removes blockages that may be causing sexual problems)
Orange calcite (creative and sexual energy and increases confidence)
Tangerine quartz (raises your vibration, healing after trauma, boosts self-esteem)
Milky quartz (let go of overwhelm)
Selenite (unblocks stagnant energy and clears negative energy)
If your Second Chakra is overactive you might find it beneficial to create a crystal grid with:
Blue or green flourite (emotional balance)
Moonstone (creativity, intuition, harmony)
Milky quartz (let go of overwhelm)
Selenite (unblocks stagnant energy and clears negative energy)
Second Chakra Yoga Sequence
A yoga practice that includes watery, fluid, flowy, primal movements and hip openers will help balance the second chakra.
A lovely yoga practice for Svadisthana Chakra could include:
Supta baddhakonasana: 3 minutes
Figure Four: (5 breaths each side) (rock legs side to side between sides)
Come up to Tabletop Pose
Cat/Cow x3
Flow from Cow Pose to Child’s Pose 3-5x
Primal hip circles 3-5x each way
Downward Facing Dog: 5-10 breaths → pedal the legs and sway the hips side to side
Wave the spine forward from downward facing dog to plank pose 5x
Standing forward fold/Ragdoll–> Slow Roll up to Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
Surya Namaskar A x3
Downward Facing Dog to Anjaneyasana (Low Lunge) to Ardha Hanumanasana (Half Splits)–> Flow between Low Lunge and Ardha Hanumanasana 5x each side
Dancing Warrior Sequence: Warrior 2 -> Reverse Warrior -> Side Angle (Flow from Reverse to Side Angle)
Malasana 5 breaths
Dancing Warrior Sequence above plus Star Pose to Skandasana on the opposite side (flow from right to left 3x) to Runner’s Lunge facing the front and flow between Runner’s Lunge and a modified Pyramid Pose by bending and straightening the front knee (3-5x), drop back knee and add a quad stretch
Dancing Warrior Sequence above plus Goddess Pose between Star Pose and Skandasana -> Goddess (eagle arms and rock side to side) -> Wide Leg Forward Fold (5 breaths per pose; R side, then L side)
Eka Pada Tadasana (standing on one leg with other knee to chest, to Garudasana (Eagle Pose) to Standing Figure Four (like chair pose but with one ankle crossed over the thigh of the opposite leg), return to Tadasana.
Lizard (90 seconds) -> Add quad stretch
Pidgeon (wave torso up & down 5x)
Janu Sirsasana 5-10 breaths each side (wave your spine long on your inhale and soften on your exhale)
Gomukhasana 10 breaths on each side
Madukasana (Frog Pose or ½ Frog Pose) 10-20 breaths
Child’s Pose 5 breaths
Dynamic Bridge x3 and hold final round for 7-8 breaths
Simple supine twist: 5 breaths each side
Savasana: 10 minutes
Do you want to learn more about all the chakras? Check out our free chakra guide. Sign up for the newsletter and I’ll send it over! Option to sign up in the side bar and on the homepage.
Does the world seem a little bit cray-cray to you? Because it sure seems nutty to me! I’m like, “Is Mercury retrograde all the freakin’ time now?” But seriously?!?! What is going on? We won’t get into politics because we get enough of that any time we turn on the TV or log in to social media. This past new moon was freakin’ intense and it seemed as though everything went to “hell in a handbasket”… is that how that saying goes? I just wanted to chuck my phone in the trash, lock myself in my room, and never come out.
All of my woes centered around money. Miscommunications about money, people wanting money, refunds and cancelations, taxes … money money money!!!! And it sucked! Our finances and stress about finances are deeply linked to our first chakra, Muladhara. Muladhara chakra is associated with our feelings of safety, security, and survival… and in this day and age money is paramount. So instead of hiding in my bedroom and telling everyone to go away, I chose to give my root chakra a little love. I made a crystal grid for abundance and even called in the Goddess Lakshmi. It was time to do ALL THE THINGS.
Here you’ll be introduced to the qualities of the root chakra and a few practices to give your root and YOU a little tender loving care.
Muladhara Chakra
Mul – base Adhara – Support
The chakras are psychic centers as well as centers of transformation of psychic or mental energy into spiritual energy. There are specific behaviors associated with each of the chakras. Along with our experiences, these behaviors stem from our desires and our attachment to the pleasures associated with each chakra. And our root chakra is tied up with security in job and shelter among other things.
When one’s Muladhara chakra is balanced and healthy one is grounded and calm, they have a strong foundation, they feel supported and connected, they are humble, independent, strong and healthy. They feel generous and have the power to attract abundance.
Muladhara Chakra is the abode of kundalini shakti, the dormant spiritual energy that lies coiled within the first chakra. The practices of yoga coax kundalini shakti out of Muladhara and up the Brahma Nadi. Brahma Nadi, is a spiritual energy channel within Sushumna Nadi. It is within Brahma Nadi that the chakras reside.
Muladhara Chakra at a Glance:
Location: perineum and coccyx
Element: Earth
Color: Red
Lotus: Four petals
Bija Mantra: Lam/Lang
Aspects: Security
Sense: Smell
Vayu: Apana
Planet: Mars
When Muladhara chakra is healthy, one has self-control, physical strength, patience, discipline and the ability to “bear heavy workloads”. When out of balance, one may be obsessed with finding security (including job and shelter). This chakra is also associated with illusion, greed, anger, delusion, avarice, and sensuality. Those with an out of balance first chakra are often self-centered, cruel, and even potentially violent.
Someone who needs to work on their root chakra may find it easy to take direction from others, but not be able to find direction themselves or be able to direct others. They may be humble and respectful to those above them, but harsh to their peers and those they view as “below them”. If their security is threatened they will likely lash out violently like a cornered animal. They may struggle to care for themselves and they often need extra guidance and support.
Other signs that the first chakra may need a little TLC: one may feel like a victim (did you read paragraph two? Hello victim mindset!), be stuck in fight/flight/freeze, one may experience feelings of lack, guilt, overwhelm, anxiety and may also experience insomnia, fatigue, chronic illness or pain.
Muladhara Chakra and The Earth Element
In yogic teachings, the element earth (not the planet) is a combination of the other elements: water, fire, air, and akasha (space or void) and provides stability and security. It is the basis for our physical body, the bones, the flesh, the skin, the Nadis, and body hairs.
In Ayurveda, when the earth element combines with the water element it forms the kapha dosha, which is characterized by mucus.
The Muladhara Yantra and The Four-Petaled Lotus.
As stated in the Mahanirvana Tantra, the four petals of the Muladhara Chakra represent four different vrittis or mental modifications:
Paramananda the state of greatest joy
Sahajananada the state of natural pleasure
Virananda the delight in the control of the passions
Yogananda the blissfulness in concentration
The Bija Mantra for Muladhara Chakra
The bija mantras are sacred sounds used to invoke the divine energy within the body. The bija mantra or seed sound for Muladhara Chakra is LAM also pronounced LANG. When chanted it creates a lock at the root and prevents the downward flow of energy from Muladhara. The vibration of the chant invites Kundalini up into the Brahma Nadi and when chanted, this mantra deepens concentration, improves awareness, creates inner strength, and also removes insecurities associated with Muladhara.
Muladhara and Our Sense of Smell
Muladhara chakra, the nose and the sense of smell are deeply intertwined. Sweet smells, the smell of homecooked meals, the smell of fresh earth, and earthy essential oils like patchouli, sandalwood, cedarwood, and palo santo are wonderful scents for those working with the root chakra.
Muladhara Chakra and Apana Vayu
Apana is the Vayu that expels the semen from the male organ and urine from the sexes, it is the energy behind passing a bowel movement and that which pushes the baby from the womb during birth. Think of “down and out” as the flow of Apana Vayu.
Tips and Practices for Muladhara Chakra
Follow the yamas and niyamas.
Practice grounding pranayama techniques like Three Part Belly Breath (Deerga Swasaam), Square Breath or Nadi Shodhanda
Take care of the physical body by eating nourishing foods and getting adequate sleep.
Fears related to security, safety, and survival will need to be addressed and any real issues regarding the above will need to be solved.
Spend time out in nature. Put your hands and bare feet on the earth. Breathe the fresh air. Move slowly and mindfully.
Set an intention to heal your first chakra and create a crystal grid for safety, security, abundance, whatever needs to be addressed.
A yoga practice that focuses on slow movements, rootedness, foundational, grounding and surrendering poses will help nourish the first chakra.
A lovely practice for the first chakra could include:
Supported child’s pose
Malasana
Lizard pose
Chair pose or goddess pose
Warrior poses
Tree pose
Seated forward fold
Legs up the wall
Savasana
Meditation on the Muladhara Chakra in the presence of the element earth develops natural health, strength in the body, and intellectual power.
In meditation, visualize roots growing down into the earth. Feel this rooted connection to the Earth. Feel the support of Pachamama, Mother Earth.
While in meditation focus on a red wheel of energy or light at the base of your spine. While envisioning this red wheel of light, Muladhara Chakra, repeat the bija mantra for the first chakra or an affirmation like: I am safe and secure. I am firmly rooted and supported wherever I am.
I hope you’ve found this blog helpful and healing. If you would like to go deeper into the chakra, please join me on a chakra inspired yoga retreat or join the newsletter, where you will receive chakra tips and advice straight to your inbox.
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