The Root Chakra: For Beginners
Root chakra for beginners:
The root chakra is the first of 7-energy centers in the chakra system. It’s Sanskrit name is Muladhara, which translates to “root support”. It shouldn’t be surprising the location of this very first chakra is the base of the spine because it is literally the support of the other 6 chakras. If your root chakra is weak or out of balance, it will be complicated to keep the others in alignment. Think of the root chakra as the foundation in a home. To build a solid structure, such as a home, you must assure a sturdy base to support weight of the house. Imagine your home being the human structure of your energy centers.
What the root chakra represents:
The root chakra should probably be declared the single most important chakra for one singular reason, it represents SURVIVAL. The energy residing in this chakra is associated with basic needs such as food, water, shelter, and safety. When these basic needs are satisfied we feel grounded, centered, comfortable and safe. When they are in imbalance, we feel anxiety, fears, worry, and may have nightmares. Imbalances in this chakra can be associated with problems in the digestion system, lower back, and our legs and feet. Eating disorders are also linked with an imbalance of the root chakra.
Discovering an imbalanced root chakra:
As humans, we need to assure our basic needs are met. Discovering an imbalance can only be determined by you, and a wonderful way to discover your status is through a chakra centered mediation (an example of one is included at the bottom of this post). Imbalances can be overactive or underactive.
An example of being underactive can stem from how we are treated as children. When a child is properly provided with a home, food, & water, he/she generally will feel safe. If not, they carry fear, mistrust, and worry.
An example of being overactive could be a surplus of our basic needs coming too easily, bringing on behaviors of greed, anger, short-temperament, insecurity, and being materialistic.
Regardless of the type of imbalance, not acknowledging and/or keeping this energy center balanced, could have lasting impacts becoming increasingly more severe as time goes on.
Why the root chakra is so important to strengthen:
Working on grounding yourself and finding roots in something beyond your reach, will assist you in any future imbalances or changes in your environment and circumstances in the future. Having a solid foundation is crucial whether you are experiencing highs or lows in your life.
I read somewhere a wonderful statement that sticks with me and here it is for you to hopefully stick with you too.
“The animals in the forest have no idea if and when they will find food each day, yet somehow they trust nature to provide for them.”
-Author Unknown
Having faith in a source greater than you, connecting to nature, and giving yourself the gift of feeling grounded secure. It will happen with awareness, proper care and release of blockages you have in this chakra.
Simple ways to align an imbalance in the root chakra:
Connect with Nature: We can’t turn back the hands of time, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel for anyone who is imbalanced in the root chakra. Start to heal and restructure the foundation by grounding yourself with nature and knowing you are in a safe environment. Engage in earth-related activities (walks outdoors, hiking, gardening, cooking healthy plant-based foods, spending time outdoors relaxing).
Have faith: Have faith in a higher power (any that you believe in), that you will be taken care of.
If you aren’t in a safe environment or notice an imbalance more than just emotional due to previous experiences, such as a present-time situation, try to do some building and restructuring in your life. Practicing faith that you have the power you need to be supported and secure, will work wonders in keeping you grounded and rooted.
Think RED: The color associated with the root chakra is red. Wearing any shades of red, eating red colored foods, and visualizing vibrant red energy around you is a wonderful way to aid in the process of working to get the root chakra in alignment.
Pleasant scents: the sense associated with the root chakra is sense of smell. Burning a pleasant candle or incense is also a great way to calm your energy and clear any blockages associated with the root chakra.
Positive Affirmations: Saying positive words throughout the day to drown out negative thoughts and replace them with thoughts on the right path leading to your destination of positivity. Make up your own or try one of these:
- I am safe
- I have everything I need, and the things I don’t I’m working on achieving.
- I am not alone
- I am OK
- I am secure
- I am where I need to be, at the time I need to be here.
- I am enough
- I am grounded
- I am connected
- I am building a solid foundation
Meditation to try:
- Sit up straight in a quiet comfortable place
- Close your eyes
- If possible, light an incense or pleasing candle.
- Take a few deep breaths
- Focus your breath on your lower body, starting at the base of the spine travelling down your legs, ankles to bottom of feet.
- Imagine being rooted from your lower body all the way into the Earth, feeling grounded and intensely connected to something stable and deeply rooted to the center of the Earth.
- Visualize a bright red orb of light traveling throughout your lower spine, down your legs, and into the ankles and feet.
- Feel a sense of calm, as you continue to visualize the shiny bright red light swirling throughout this space.
- Focus on how secure you feel in your basic needs, your shelter, your food supply, your ability to provide for yourself. Let your feelings free themselves into your consciousness as they come.
- It may very well be that you feel very secure and grounded in this area of your life, and if that is the case, just continue to focus on your breath, the red light, and give yourself the gratitude of safety and security and feel blessed with the gift of a solid foundation (aka balanced root chakra).
- If not balanced, your emotions will come as you allow them. Sometimes it takes practice to clear your hesitation or fear to release genuine non-judgmental feelings to yourself. Once you can trust yourself and release those fears, you can then begin to heal and truly build the foundation to the home of your dreams….a healthy, wonderful, aligned YOU! Take the time you need to stay in this meditation until you feel ready to open your eyes, hands to prayer, smile to yourself and give gratitude “I am safe”.