Balancing the root chakra starts with looking deep within and understanding how it all started. Why do we feel disconnected from ourselves, our bodies and our surroundings? Why do we mistrust our own actions and those of others? We can let go of unfounded fears and replace it with trust once we understand how we were uprooted to begin with. In this way, we can balance the root chakra and reclaim our physical identities and sense of self-worth.
What is the root chakra?
The root chakra is the first chakra of the chakra system. It is an ancient teaching that originated from India thousands of years ago. The chakra system consists of seven major energetic points lined up in the body, starting from the base of the spine all the way up to the crown. The sanskrit for root chakra is muladhara. Each chakra represents an element, a color, a location in the body, an identity, orientation to self and more. Studying the chakra system is another way of understanding the self. Click here to learn more about the root chakra.
- Chakra one – muladhara or root chakra
- Element – earth
- Color – red
- Location – base of spine
- Central issue – survival
- Orientation to self – self preservation
- Goals – stability, grounding, trust, prosperity
- Identity – physical identity
What blocks the root chakra?
The chakras are points in the body where energy flows up and down through each other. The goal of muladhara is a strong foundation, stability and solid grounding. When a chakra’s goals are hindered, it causes a block, disallowing energy to flow freely and properly throughout our body in a physical and emotional sense.
The chakras have developmental stages that evolve along our chronological age. We develop our root chakra from the womb to 12 months of age. This is when we begin to sense our bodies and the physical world. It is during this earliest phase of our lives that we learn how to be in our bodies. This is when we learn how to move, feed, crawl, walk, play, make sounds and so on. “Awareness in this stage focuses mainly on survival and physical comfort. When these needs are properly met, it anchors the spirit into the physical body, and the child feels welcomed into the world,” according to Anodea Judith, author of Eastern Body, Western Mind.
Those who grew up in a harsh, deprived or volatile environment are likely to suffer underlying feelings of instability and fear. As their survival is threatened very early on, their sense of belonging and basic right “to be here” has been impeded. This causes a block in the root chakra and results in issues of of survival, feeling restless, anxious, and always ready to fight or flee.
Signs of a deficient or overactive root chakra
A deficient root chakra may manifest in disconnection from the body, having poor boundaries, being fearful, underweight, anxious and restless. An overactive root chakra may come up as being fearful of change, greedy, and having material fixation.
How to balance the root chakra
Overcoming fears from the past and learning to trust again are the building blocks of balancing the root chakra. As early as infanthood, we begin to either trust or mistrust ourselves and the world around us. If we felt safe, warm and nurtured, we learn to trust and thrive. If we felt threatened or when needs such as hunger and discomfort went unanswered, we learn to mistrust and disconnect. We cannot turn back time but understanding the beginnings of our instability can pave the way to healing. We can reclaim our roots and balance the root chakra by letting go of the past and building trust in the present.
To find balance, learn ways to trust your own ability to thrive. As an adult, you can nurture and build trust in your physical identity by engaging in activities that are relaxing, loving and healthy. Spend time in nature by engaging in activities like walking, hiking, gardening or outdoor yoga. Welcome the idea that the earth is here to support you. Embrace the notion that you have the right to be here, to exist and be happy. Ask yourself, “what activities can I do to foster trust in myself and to strengthen the physical bond to my body and my surroundings?” Follow those activities that make you feel grounded and safe. Then, build your confidence to keep moving forward as you expand your energies to higher pursuits.
Signs of a healthy root chakra
A well-balanced root chakra allows us to feel safe, grounded and connected to our physical bodies and the world around us. This starts from the ground up, rooted through the legs and feet and moving energetically up toward the higher chakras, thus giving all parts of our awareness a strong foundation. When we feel grounded, we can strongly stand on our own and we feel confident to move forward in life. The signs of a healthy root chakra includes good health, vitality, trust, stability and ability to relax.
Maintaining balance
Damage to the root chakra typically starts in infancy. But regardless of our early development, it is still necessary to continue nurturing this part of ourselves. We can always strengthen our root chakra no matter what age as it is the foundation that the other parts of our awareness rest upon.
Source and Recommended Reading
Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self
