Muladhara: The Root Chakra

This is the first installment of a seven part series in which we address the body's major energy centers, known as the chakras.

The first chakra, also known as the muladhara, lies at the base of the spine. It is represented as a square that contains a circle. Inside the circle is a downward pointed triangle (the image of a female sexual organ). This square is located within a flower also known as a “lotus flower”.

Red in color, as is the color of the first chakra, the lotus flower has four petals and is contained within a yellow square, which signifies the earth element. As a result of this representation, the passion and life-evoking red of the first chakra can be considered as bounded and grounded by earth energies.

The mantra associated with this chakra is LAM, which stops our energy from descending beyond our foundation (first chakra). Psychologically, the root chakra regulates our primal needs and physical existence. It is the chakra most closely associated with our physical survival.

Here we decide to live or die, and how it is that we shall survive-or thrive. It is seen as the earth element, therefore it is providing a foundation in the physical world for our survival as does the earth.

Following are some specifics of the first (root) chakra. Muladhara combines “mul”, or base, and “adhara”, or support. The name reflects its ultimate purpose, which is to serve as our basis in physical life.

The main aspect of the root chakra is SECURITY. It is located in the physical body, at the base of the spine, between the anus and genitals. The predominant sense organ associated with this chakra is the nose, hence the predominant sense of smell. The feet are considered the action organ associated with the root chakra.

The psychological issues associated with the root chakra are the right to exist and the right to have. Each chakra has a special meaning in the growing and aging process. The red/root chakra develops from birth to nine months. It is during this growth period that one begins to feel the right to exist and the right to have.

The child’s center is concentrated around survival. Hunger, warmth, comfort, and the need to feel attached to the mother are essential. Blockages will occur later in life if some of this basic level of comfort and need are either not met or unsatisfactory. As one matures, the red energy becomes more evident in that one can be strong, brave, energetic, angry, irritable, or fear.

Strengthening the root chakra can include such things as shaking the hips, sitting on an exercise ball and stomping the feet on the floor, eating red foods, dressing or covering in red colour, red eyeglasses, drinking red solarized water, colour breathing, chanting using the word LAM.

There is much more information to be found concerning the root chakra. I encourage everyone to learn as much as possible about our chakras. I like to call the root chakra the “mother of the chakras”. I remember my grandmother telling me often, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t NOBODY happy”. Hence, I have named the root chakra, MAMA, because if the root chakra is unbalanced the other chakras tend to be also.

I hope I have inspired you to take care of the energy wheels we have all been blessed with. Until next time, be safe and be loved.

#CarolynFreeman #SelfHelp #HealthandHealing