The Root Chakra

The ROOT chakra is also known as the base chakra, first chakra, or in Sanskrit, the Muladhara, which means root support. The root chakra symbols can be seen as four red petals, a downward pointing triangle, Shiva Lingam, a white elephant, and are even represented by the eastern deities named Brahma and Dakini. It appears as the color red and can be thought to represent the color of the Earth’s core which is lava. Red has the longest wavelength and the slowest vibration (lowest frequency). Its sound is O as in hope. We see its strength through some of our strongest land animals; the elephant, the ox, and the bull.

This particular chakra is our base of support for the rest of the chakra systems and is located at the base of our spine. The base chakra functioning relates directly to our survival, our beliefs, our health, our ability to manifest our needs, our grounding, our self-worth, and most importantly our body as a whole. It relates to the element of Earth and as you know, our Earth, our base, is extremely important to take care of, for if we do not have a solid foundation, we may be knocked over easily by any of life’s circumstances.

The root chakra appears through our legs, feet, bones, large intestine, teeth, and adrenal glands. The bodily representations have a correlation to the solid parts of the body, or with moving through solids that are ingested. It relates directly to that which supports our body and keeps us moving.

When out of balance, this may result in weight problems, hemorrhoids, constipation, sciatic pain, arthritis, or even knee problems. Without our body, there would be nothing to contain our soul. We have to cherish our bodies and also our connection to the Earth we live in.

How many times a day, or at least during the workweek, do you try and escape from just being?

We don’t want to be in certain places
we don’t want to be at work
we don’t want to talk to certain people
we perhaps don’t even want to do certain things such as errands…

So we try to disassociate with our body. We subconsciously try to ‘leave’ the uncomfortable, forced situations by drifting off in thought, tuning out from conversations, and distracting ourselves with technology to get through the unwanted.

To live a healthy and balanced life, It is important to come back into your body, to create roots for yourself. Once you do this, you can make progress and work with the rest of your chakra system. Without roots, you will be ungrounded and will lack the stability needed for growth and advancement.

This also means being conscious of how we treat our bodies.

What kinds of food do we put in it to nourish ourselves?
How do we take care of our bodies?
Do you have a workout or hiking practice? Or do you spend a lot of your time seated, ignoring your body and your health?

When you take care of your body and mind, your root chakra will also be nourished. Ask yourself, how can I create a more healthy, balanced diet and exercise routine for yourself and your lifestyle? How can I honor my body and take care of its needs more? We are all different; a hard-working construction worker is going to need different types of food than a secretary.

Meditate on that, what does your UNIQUE body need?

Our root chakra is also associated with the emotion of fear when out of balance. There is a yin to every yang. When fear consumes us, it directly affects the sense of safety and security that the first chakra presents. If you have high levels of fear, this may be another sign that your base chakra is out of alignment.

Are you ready to wake your root chakra up?

Here are some practices to strengthen and balance your root chakra.

Writing Exercise:

So let me ask you now, what are you afraid of? Make a list. This isn’t just spiders; it is the real fears of life.

Are you fearful of not having enough money each week?
Are you fearful that you are unlovable?
Are you fearful that you will never manifest what you truly desire?

Fear can be sneaky.

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We may also fear precisely what it is we desire, what we want to bring into our life. You can further your questioning by asking what you might be afraid of IF you get that desire. You may find yourself having fears of, for example, having money. If you have more money, you might have people around you that may ask for some, or they may expect more from you which would cause emotional stress.

Dive deep here. Take your time and really analyze your life especially in those areas you have not been able to manifest in yet. There may be some hidden fears lingering there, affecting your ground, your sense of safety, and more importantly, your root chakra.

Grounding Practice:

Since we are earthly beings, it is so important for us to maintain our connection to the earth. Spend some time barefoot outside, whether it is in the dirt or on the beach. Feel and take the time to accept the natural impulses from the earth. It will benefit you in so many ways, including the decrease of stress, greater clarity, and the creation of a solid foundation.

Take a look around your home as well. Are there more ways you can bring nature into your home? This can be through pets, plants, diffusing oils of earthly fruit and herbs, or even adding more of the colors of the earth into your home.

Create a relationship with the Earth once again; it is the only reason you are here alive on this planet, so please take the time to thank it, connect to it, and become one with it.

Helpful Earthly tools:

Bringing crystals of LODESTONE, RUBY, GARNET, BLOODSTONE, or any other grounding stones into your home or carrying them on your person will help to work with the root chakra to maintain balance.

Our root chakra is also related to our sense of smell, so diffusing or smelling any earthly, woody scents such as cedar or any other trees will benefit you as well.

Positions and movements that strengthen the root chakra:

Apanasana (Knee to Chest)
You can lay on your back and alternate each leg pulling up against your chest for a beautiful stretch. Alternative stretching each leg to your chest while you mindfully breathe and imagine your first chakra expanding.
Shalabhasana (Locust Pose)
As you lay on your stomach with your arms flat against either side of your torso, lift both or just one leg up behind you, so they hover off of the ground. This will work to strengthen your lower back and legs. The first chakra has to work in order to make this position happen.
Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Butterfly Pose)

Not into yoga, no worries! Jumping, stomping your feet, or even jogging all energize the legs and increase the activity of your first chakra!

“The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” ~ Maya Angelou