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[post_content] => A couple weeks ago, I wrote an article introducing the Indian concept of
chakras and explained them from a variety of different perspectives. The prevailing classical perspective is that they are distinct centers of the subtle anatomy of the human body, affecting our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual lives (though, some would say, only in spiritual aspirants who have awakened them).
The prevailing modern perspective is that the locations of the chakras correspond with major neurological centers, and whether or not they also exist as the subtle lotuses or wheels described in ancient scriptures, they function as important stations of mind-body connection, plus they represent a useful system for understanding psycho-spiritual health and evolution.
I want to be reverent of the origins of chakra philosophy (which has often been co-opted in the West without regard for accuracy), however, I believe that some insightful Westerners have contributed to this science in a significant way. If I continue to try to address every perspective while also attempting to avoid ruffling any feathers, I think these articles won't be any fun to read, so I'm going to be a bit looser about mixing the old and the new. If you have questions, feel free to ask in the comments section at the end of the article.
Now, let’s dive into the First Chakra, called Muladhara, which is located in the region of the perineum (halfway between the genitals and anus) and or just in front of the tip of the tailbone (coccyx). In the last article I said this is arguably the most important chakra for the average human, and that’s because it relates to survival. When your survival is threatened, you might reflexively tighten up here, or even lose all control of your eliminatory functions. Your health at this state of being can be experienced as a
fundamental sense of trust about getting your basic needs met, and a feeling of safety, security, and stability.
Muladhara is also known as the
root chakra because it relates to the Earth Element and our sense of groundedness. It’s also the chakra most closely associated with the physical body, the physical world, and our relationship with worldly things and material possessions. It governs the legs and feet – which connect us to the earth – as well as the long, thick sciatic nerves, which, like roots of the nervous system, run from the sacrum all the way down the legs to the feet.
Balance at this state of being can be difficult for modern humans because we are generally more immersed in our thoughts, more surrounded by material goods, less present in our bodies, less on our feet, and less connected to the earth and the natural world than ever before in the history of our species. Meanwhile, although actual crises of survival are much less common than in the past for most people in the developed world, we have learned to fabricate “life or death” feelings about all sorts of everyday occurrences, which taxes the foundation this chakra provides.
It is sometimes said that there’s no reason to work on our upper chakras before the lower ones are in order, and this is especially true of the First Chakra. If, for example, you haven’t sorted out your basic needs; if you look to possessions to provide happiness and belonging; if you haven't yet owned what Anodea Judith calls your “right to be here,” then you’re bound to be undermined in the pursuit of higher personal and spiritual development.
According to Caroline Myss, this is the chakra of “tribal power.” She says it relates to group identity, power, and beliefs. Our sense of belonging to our community “grounds” us in a manner similar to the earth and the security of home. We deeply associate
belonging with survival itself, since our life begins with total dependence on our tribe to supply our basic needs. (They may also supply our deepest fears, limitations, and wounds.) In addition, our tribe teaches us core moral virtues – loyalty, honor, and justice – although, depending on our interpretation, our relationship with these concepts may be harmful rather than fortifying. Myss advises making peace with our culture because resentment toward it (regardless of whether it’s warranted) can impair our power by blocking our awareness of the sacred truth that All is One.
Imbalance at the Muladhara level of being can manifest in a variety of ways, often marked by insecurity and instability. Some examples are given below. (It should be noted, however, that while First Chakra imbalances can manifest in these ways, these symptoms could also result from imbalances of other chakras or from issues unrelated to the chakra system.)
- Anxiety, panic, depression, living in “survival mode,” fear in general, and specifically fear of abandonment, fear of running out of resources, fear of loss of physical order
- Difficulty standing up for oneself
- No sense of home; not knowing where you’ll sleep tonight or where your next meal will come from
- Difficulty making money and/or holding onto it
- Clinging to material possessions
- Self-centeredness
- Inability to perceive one’s self-worth
- Feeling undeserving of having things, of having enough; “poverty consciousness”
- Rectal disorders, sciatica, varicose veins, immune disorders, problems with the bones, legs and feet
Establishing balance in the First Chakra often entails hard work; frequently, it’s the work of an entire lifetime. It’s hard work mostly because it’s
deep work. It requires a willingness to go as deep as possible into one’s belief system and one’s oldest memories, and to challenge, reframe, and heal what you find there. The following strategies may provide additional support:
- Spend time in nature, preferably with your bare feet on the ground.
- Get connected to your self-worth. Hint: it’s the same worth as everyone else, and it isn’t affected by your looks, your deeds, or your abilities. Believe that you deserve to have your needs met and you have a right to be here.
- Exercise, eat well, and in general, take good care of your body.
- Eat some protein. As the most dense and slow-to-digest component of our diet, it is good for helping to ground us (although excessive amounts can dull our consciousness).
- Retrain your survival mechanisms. Ask yourself, when your adrenaline is flowing, if this is a genuine “fight or flight” situation. Breathe deeply, imagining the breath goes all the way down to the bottom of your pelvic bowl, and anchor yourself. Meanwhile, avoid getting emotionally charged unnecessarily – cut out the horror movies, for instance – and remember that you can be present and fully participating for your boss, your friends, and your family even without taking on their drama.
- Don’t let your mind monopolize your attention. Keep some of your awareness in your body, feeling what comes up throughout the day.
- Establish financial stability. When money comes to you, accept it without guilt. Really receive it with total willingness. If necessary, modify your image of yourself such that you can comfortably see yourself as a person who has enough.
- A wide array of exercises and yoga poses are prescribed for strengthening or balancing Muladhara. Two of my favorites are squatting and mula bandha – “root lock” – one of the locks or bandhas of yoga. You can look up articles on mula bandha - it’s similar to doing Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor, but a little more subtle.
Often, First Chakra work seems never to be finished. Most of us are “householders” – we live in the physical world, we have piles of stuff, and it’s an incredible challenge to be at peace in the midst of it all. Meanwhile, our animalistic survival instincts, including pleasure seeking and pain avoidance, are wired into our nervous system. It takes real devotion to personal growth to override these instincts and take our own driver’s seat, but I believe it's the work we're all here to do and we all have the ability to succeed at it.
Be well,
Dr. Peter Borten
Sources:
- Johari, H. (1987). Energy Centers of Transformation. Destiny Books.
- Judith, A. (2004). Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the Self. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts.
- Judith, A. (1999). Wheels of Life: The Classic Guide to the Chakra System. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications.
- Khalsa, G. K. (1991). Energy Maps: A Journey Through the Chakras. La Crescenta, CA: CyberScribe.
- Myss, C. M. (1996). Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing. New York: Three Rivers Press.
- Svoboda, R. E. (1995). Aghora II: Kundalini. Albuquerque, NM: Brotherhood of Life Publishing.
- White, J. W. (1990). Kundalini, Evolution, and Enlightenment. New York: Paragon House.
- Woodroffe, J. G., & P. (1931). The Serpent Power: Being the Shat-chakra-nirūpana and Pādukā-panchaka; Two Works on Laya yoga. Madras: Ganesh.
[post_title] => Getting to the Root of the Matter: Understanding Your Foundation in Your Root Chakra.
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[post_content] => In this video, Briana explains why self-love is so vitally important, and shares some easy practices you can use fall more deeply in love with yourself and protect your heart from your own inner critic.
[post_title] => Conversations with Briana: Self-Love
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In the last article, we looked at the root chakra, Muladhara, which is associated with the earth element. Earth, more than any of the other elements of nature, exemplifies stability. Thus, this chakra governs the experience of stability in life, having our basic needs met, knowing which way is down, and a fundamental sense of trust. As we move up to the second chakra, there is more movement, like the flow of the water element associated with it.
Chakra two, called Svadhishthana, is located at the level of the reproductive organs, and it governs sexuality, creativity, pleasure, relationships, and reproduction. Whereas the first chakra has an energy of holding things together (and in many ways is all about me, me, me), the second directs us outward, toward connection and creation, and the dynamics that result from this interaction. While the first chakra relates to the deep belonging and programming we get from our tribe, as we develop into our second chakra it brings about the individuation that comes with forging our own personal relationships – which may even trump our allegiance to tribal authority. 5
Like the first chakra’s drive for survival, the second chakra’s drive for procreation often has a huge amount of energy behind it – particularly because “procreation” is shorthand for many related drives: sex, desire, courtship, reproduction, family, companionship, etc. Both chakras are rather animalistic in their base natures, though while the first is purely about survival, the second goes a bit further in that it prompts the seeking of pleasure.
This center also empowers other forms of creativity. In this way, it’s related to another Tantrik concept called iccha shakti, the creative impulse. In Tantrik philosophy, iccha shakti is considered one of the five ways in which we experience the power of God (along with consciousness, bliss, knowing, and action).
As author Christopher Wallis explains, it is “the precognitive urge toward creative self-expression. It is the impulse behind the manifestation of a universe and behind all artistic expression that is done for its own sake. If you are tapping into iccha shakti in your pursuits in life, be they dancing or computer repair, you will have a vast reservoir of energy to draw on. This is because when you are pursuing an activity as a form of self-expression, it replenishes you instead of draining you.” 7
As with all the chakras (particularly the lower ones), when this energetic center is healthy and open, it engenders greater freedom, wisdom, and fulfillment; when it is blocked or imbalanced, it seems to be a curse. In the same way that our fears and neuroses can dominate our consciousness – and thus, our personality and the trajectory of our life – when an individual is strongly imbalanced in a particular chakra, it is sometimes said that the person is ruled by that chakra. It’s pretty accurate verbiage. How else would one explain why they could hurt someone – and in so doing, jeopardize their own career, family, or freedom – through a compulsion to act out their sexual desires? Take someone like Harvey Weinstein: while his psychological presentation is undoubtedly complex, we can clearly see that this is a man ruled by his second chakra.
I first learned about the second chakra from my spiritual mentor – a Sikh man named Sirinam Singh with a long salt-and-pepper beard – whom I met at the ripe age of 21. I sat in his kitchen one day, talking about my girlfriend troubles rather than reporting on the self-exploration tasks he had given me. It was a rather exciting time in my life, when I felt I was virtually surrounded by beautiful young women. I had a hard time choosing, though, and I explained that I kept jumping from one relationship to the next.
He finished the process of wrapping yards of turban cloth on his head, and pulled up a chair directly in front of me. He looked at me piercingly with his nearly-black eyes, not speaking. Nearly a minute passed. I squirmed. I sensed he was enjoying the discomfort. Though the corners of his mouth turned up a bit, I knew he was serious when he pronounced, “Well!” The word felt rather like a fist hitting my chest. Well, what? After another weighty pause, he continued: “Are you going to just follow your penis around then?”
It was a big question for a 21-year-old college boy. I guess it’s a big question for a lot of men of any age. I knew my teacher wasn’t implying there’s anything wrong with sex; he was asking me, “Who’s in charge?”
Although I don’t think I answered “No” as emphatically as he may have liked, it felt like the question went to the core of my soul and it has never shut up. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that it wasn’t just an inquiry about relinquishing my power to my libido; it was about relinquishing my power, period.
The ability to recognize choice – seeing the behaviors that rob us of freedom and power, and choosing to empower our consciousness rather than giving ourselves over to our impulses – is what sets us apart from other animals. And it’s the core challenge of the lower three chakras.
Sex can be really amazing. It can be a means for powerful connection and incredible pleasure. But in the end, it’s a “peak experience” – and like going to a Tony Robbins seminar or taking a psychedelic drug – you eventually return to everyday life. And there – here – is where you live with yourself, your choices and beliefs, and you discover whether that’s a peaceful, free, and fulfilling experience . . . or one that makes you squirm, and avoid, and suppress, and escape.
There’s nothing wrong with sex, but there’s definitely something wrong with being at the mercy of your libido. Imbalance of the second chakra can produce a life run by sexual desire. Fear of this drive can make us suppress it, perhaps also suppressing our creative energy. A mature reckoning of this power reveals its transmutability. It can be aligned with our iccha shakti – our urge for expression – and channeled into great works.
Here are some other ways in which imbalance or blockage at the Svadhishthana level might manifest: (Keep in mind that these issues might also result from imbalances of other chakras or challenges unrelated to the chakra system.)
- Excessive sex drive, harmful aberrations of sexuality, sex addiction
- Other forms of addiction
- Lack of libido; inhibition around exchange of touch
- Blocked creative expression
- Tendency to control others (or to attempt to)
- Difficulty with boundaries
- Excessively influenced by the moon (as the water element on Earth is)
- Behavior dominated by short-sighted pleasure-seeking
- Guilt or shame about experiencing pleasure
- Physical issues with the reproductive system, urinary tract, and lower back
Just as there is nothing intrinsically wrong with sex, neither is there anything intrinsically wrong with pleasure-seeking behavior. Pleasure-seeking is wired into our nervous system, as most pleasurable activities – sleeping, eating, having sex, etc. – help us survive and/or further our species. Experiencing pleasure also facilitates stress relief, relaxation, and healing. One of the virtues of the second chakra is to enable us to go beyond animalistic pleasure-seeking and find deeper, more enduring forms of pleasure, like embodying our creativity, learning to be at peace in the world, forming stable, supportive relationships, serving, and connecting with nature. At first, these may just sound like nice ideas (which pale in comparison to some good sex and a delicious dinner), but when really, truly lived, their potential for gratification is monumentally greater than sensory pleasure.
Keep this in mind as you investigate and heal second chakra issues; even the most arduous work, if it’s leading you in the direction of freedom, love, and healing, has an element of pleasure. Spend some time in a bathtub or (even better) a natural body of water this week, connecting with the water element and your second chakra, and feel free to share about your experiences in the comments section.
Be well,
Dr. Peter Borten
Sources:
- Johari, H. (1987). Chakras. Energy Centers of Transformation. Destiny Books.
- Judith, A. (2004). Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the Self. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts.
- Judith, A. (1999). Wheels of Life: The Classic Guide to the Chakra System. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications.
- Khalsa, G. K. (1991). Energy Maps: A Journey Through the Chakras. La Crescenta, CA: CyberScribe.
- Myss, C. M. (1996). Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing. New York: Three Rivers Press.
- Svoboda, R. E. (1995). Aghora II: Kundalini. Albuquerque, NM: Brotherhood of Life Publishing.
- Wallis, C. D. (2013). Tantra Illuminated: The Philosophy, History, and Practice of a Timeless Tradition. Petaluma, CA: Mattamayūra Press.
- White, J. W. (1990). Kundalini, Evolution, and Enlightenment. New York: Paragon House.
- Woodroffe, J. G., & P. (1931). The Serpent Power: Being the Shat-chakra-nirūpana and Pādukā-panchaka; Two Works on Laya yoga. Madras: Ganesh.
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[post_content] => A couple weeks ago, I wrote an article introducing the Indian concept of
chakras and explained them from a variety of different perspectives. The prevailing classical perspective is that they are distinct centers of the subtle anatomy of the human body, affecting our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual lives (though, some would say, only in spiritual aspirants who have awakened them).
The prevailing modern perspective is that the locations of the chakras correspond with major neurological centers, and whether or not they also exist as the subtle lotuses or wheels described in ancient scriptures, they function as important stations of mind-body connection, plus they represent a useful system for understanding psycho-spiritual health and evolution.
I want to be reverent of the origins of chakra philosophy (which has often been co-opted in the West without regard for accuracy), however, I believe that some insightful Westerners have contributed to this science in a significant way. If I continue to try to address every perspective while also attempting to avoid ruffling any feathers, I think these articles won't be any fun to read, so I'm going to be a bit looser about mixing the old and the new. If you have questions, feel free to ask in the comments section at the end of the article.
Now, let’s dive into the First Chakra, called Muladhara, which is located in the region of the perineum (halfway between the genitals and anus) and or just in front of the tip of the tailbone (coccyx). In the last article I said this is arguably the most important chakra for the average human, and that’s because it relates to survival. When your survival is threatened, you might reflexively tighten up here, or even lose all control of your eliminatory functions. Your health at this state of being can be experienced as a
fundamental sense of trust about getting your basic needs met, and a feeling of safety, security, and stability.
Muladhara is also known as the
root chakra because it relates to the Earth Element and our sense of groundedness. It’s also the chakra most closely associated with the physical body, the physical world, and our relationship with worldly things and material possessions. It governs the legs and feet – which connect us to the earth – as well as the long, thick sciatic nerves, which, like roots of the nervous system, run from the sacrum all the way down the legs to the feet.
Balance at this state of being can be difficult for modern humans because we are generally more immersed in our thoughts, more surrounded by material goods, less present in our bodies, less on our feet, and less connected to the earth and the natural world than ever before in the history of our species. Meanwhile, although actual crises of survival are much less common than in the past for most people in the developed world, we have learned to fabricate “life or death” feelings about all sorts of everyday occurrences, which taxes the foundation this chakra provides.
It is sometimes said that there’s no reason to work on our upper chakras before the lower ones are in order, and this is especially true of the First Chakra. If, for example, you haven’t sorted out your basic needs; if you look to possessions to provide happiness and belonging; if you haven't yet owned what Anodea Judith calls your “right to be here,” then you’re bound to be undermined in the pursuit of higher personal and spiritual development.
According to Caroline Myss, this is the chakra of “tribal power.” She says it relates to group identity, power, and beliefs. Our sense of belonging to our community “grounds” us in a manner similar to the earth and the security of home. We deeply associate
belonging with survival itself, since our life begins with total dependence on our tribe to supply our basic needs. (They may also supply our deepest fears, limitations, and wounds.) In addition, our tribe teaches us core moral virtues – loyalty, honor, and justice – although, depending on our interpretation, our relationship with these concepts may be harmful rather than fortifying. Myss advises making peace with our culture because resentment toward it (regardless of whether it’s warranted) can impair our power by blocking our awareness of the sacred truth that All is One.
Imbalance at the Muladhara level of being can manifest in a variety of ways, often marked by insecurity and instability. Some examples are given below. (It should be noted, however, that while First Chakra imbalances can manifest in these ways, these symptoms could also result from imbalances of other chakras or from issues unrelated to the chakra system.)
- Anxiety, panic, depression, living in “survival mode,” fear in general, and specifically fear of abandonment, fear of running out of resources, fear of loss of physical order
- Difficulty standing up for oneself
- No sense of home; not knowing where you’ll sleep tonight or where your next meal will come from
- Difficulty making money and/or holding onto it
- Clinging to material possessions
- Self-centeredness
- Inability to perceive one’s self-worth
- Feeling undeserving of having things, of having enough; “poverty consciousness”
- Rectal disorders, sciatica, varicose veins, immune disorders, problems with the bones, legs and feet
Establishing balance in the First Chakra often entails hard work; frequently, it’s the work of an entire lifetime. It’s hard work mostly because it’s
deep work. It requires a willingness to go as deep as possible into one’s belief system and one’s oldest memories, and to challenge, reframe, and heal what you find there. The following strategies may provide additional support:
- Spend time in nature, preferably with your bare feet on the ground.
- Get connected to your self-worth. Hint: it’s the same worth as everyone else, and it isn’t affected by your looks, your deeds, or your abilities. Believe that you deserve to have your needs met and you have a right to be here.
- Exercise, eat well, and in general, take good care of your body.
- Eat some protein. As the most dense and slow-to-digest component of our diet, it is good for helping to ground us (although excessive amounts can dull our consciousness).
- Retrain your survival mechanisms. Ask yourself, when your adrenaline is flowing, if this is a genuine “fight or flight” situation. Breathe deeply, imagining the breath goes all the way down to the bottom of your pelvic bowl, and anchor yourself. Meanwhile, avoid getting emotionally charged unnecessarily – cut out the horror movies, for instance – and remember that you can be present and fully participating for your boss, your friends, and your family even without taking on their drama.
- Don’t let your mind monopolize your attention. Keep some of your awareness in your body, feeling what comes up throughout the day.
- Establish financial stability. When money comes to you, accept it without guilt. Really receive it with total willingness. If necessary, modify your image of yourself such that you can comfortably see yourself as a person who has enough.
- A wide array of exercises and yoga poses are prescribed for strengthening or balancing Muladhara. Two of my favorites are squatting and mula bandha – “root lock” – one of the locks or bandhas of yoga. You can look up articles on mula bandha - it’s similar to doing Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor, but a little more subtle.
Often, First Chakra work seems never to be finished. Most of us are “householders” – we live in the physical world, we have piles of stuff, and it’s an incredible challenge to be at peace in the midst of it all. Meanwhile, our animalistic survival instincts, including pleasure seeking and pain avoidance, are wired into our nervous system. It takes real devotion to personal growth to override these instincts and take our own driver’s seat, but I believe it's the work we're all here to do and we all have the ability to succeed at it.
Be well,
Dr. Peter Borten
Sources:
- Johari, H. (1987). Energy Centers of Transformation. Destiny Books.
- Judith, A. (2004). Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the Self. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts.
- Judith, A. (1999). Wheels of Life: The Classic Guide to the Chakra System. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications.
- Khalsa, G. K. (1991). Energy Maps: A Journey Through the Chakras. La Crescenta, CA: CyberScribe.
- Myss, C. M. (1996). Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing. New York: Three Rivers Press.
- Svoboda, R. E. (1995). Aghora II: Kundalini. Albuquerque, NM: Brotherhood of Life Publishing.
- White, J. W. (1990). Kundalini, Evolution, and Enlightenment. New York: Paragon House.
- Woodroffe, J. G., & P. (1931). The Serpent Power: Being the Shat-chakra-nirūpana and Pādukā-panchaka; Two Works on Laya yoga. Madras: Ganesh.
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This article is very helpful, Peter. Thank you for your insights!
You’re welcome, Lyn!
This article walked into my life at the most divine timing. I couldn’t be more grateful for all that you’ve shared here. Thank you so much.
I’m so glad to hear it, Maya
This article came ar the most appropriate time. I never completed my 108 day journey. As I was interrupted to care for my husband who has cancer. He is on the mend and I’m ready to start again. Should I start at the beginning again or from where I left off? Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Susan, I’d start wherever it feels best for you. If the reflections you made before still feel true, you can pick up where you left off.
So happy to hear that your husband is on the mend!
I never cease to be amazed by the timing of Spirit! I bought my book at the first of the year. It got set aside, along with most of my intentions for the year. I just found it yesterday and planned to start tomorrow morning. Today, I find this “old” email. Such a blessing….as are all of my dealings with you, Briana and The Dragontree! Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear it, Charrie. I hope you get what you need from the process.
Be well,
Peter