The root chakra is the first chakra. Its energy is based on the earth element. It’s associated with the feeling of safety and grounding. It’s at the base of the chakra system and lays the foundation for expansion in your life.
Where is the Root Chakra?
The first chakra or root chakra is located at the base of the spine. The corresponding body locations are the perineum, along the first three vertebrae, at the pelvic plexus. This chakra is often represented as a cone of energy starting at the base of the spine and going downward and then slight bent up.
What’s in the Muladhara or root chakra name?
The first chakra is referred to as:
- Root chakra
- Muladhara
- Adhara
Its Sanskrit name is muladhara can signify “base”, “foundation”, “root support”. The first chakra is associated with the Earth element.
Chakra colors:
The typical color used to represent the root chakra is a rich vermilion red. This is the color used on its symbol to fill its petals. Traditionally, it is also associated with the color yellow or gold (this is the color of its element as opposed to its petals). In the spectrum of chakra colors, red symbolizes strength, vitality, and stimulates our instinctual tendencies.
Root chakra symbol:
The symbol of the root chakra is composed of a four-petaled lotus flower, often stylized as a circle with four petals with a downward-pointing triangle.
The downward-pointing triangle is a symbol of spirit connecting with matter, grounding on the earth and our earthly existence, in our bodies. It’s seen as the center of our vital life force and is the seat where kundalini stays coiled, dormant, until it wakes up to distribute its energy through all the other chakras.
Key characteristics of the root chakra:
The first chakra is associated with the following functions or behavioral characteristics:
- Security, safety
- Survival
- Basic needs (food, sleep, shelter, self-preservation, etc.)
- Physicality, physical identity and aspects of self
- Grounding
- Support and foundation for living our lives
The root chakra provides the foundation on which we build our life. It supports us in growing and feeling safe into exploring all the aspects of life. It is related to our feeling of safety and security, whether it’s physical or regarding our bodily needs or metaphorical regarding housing and financial safety. To sum it up, the first chakra questions are around the idea of survival and safety. The root chakra is where we ground ourselves into the earth and anchor our energy into the manifest world.
At the emotional level, the deficiencies or imbalance in the first chakra are related to:
- Excessive negativity, cynicism
- Eating disorders
- Greed, avarice
- Illusion
- Excessive feeling of insecurity, living on survival mode constantly
For a person who has imbalance in the first chakra, it might be hard to feel safe in the world and everything looks like a potential risk. The desire for security dominates and can translate into concerns over the job situation, physical safety, shelter, health. A blocked root chakra may turn into behaviors ruled mainly by fear.
On the same line, when the root chakra is overactive, fear might turn into greed and paranoia, which are extreme forms of manifestation of imbalance in the first chakra. Issues with control over food intake and diet are related to it.
What Blocks the Root Chakra?
- Childhood trauma
- Poor mother-child relationship
- Impatience
- Financial difficulties
- Poverty
- Physical abuse
- Physical neglect
- Fear of change
- Selfishness
Warning Signs of a Blocked Root Chakra:
When root chakra functions normally, it generates a strong will, vitality and energy. People with a healthy root chakra will overcome any troubles or obstacles, considering life as a fascinating adventure worth living, a game or a dream.
However, when there are some imbalances in this chakra, the person will experience a decrease in vitality, being barely capable of fulfilling the day-to-day activities. People with a dysfunctional root chakra can be abusive, depressed and/or deprived of the joys of life.
Being close to the sacral chakra, it also causes sexual disorders such as frigidity, impotence and sterility. Other disorders related to an imbalanced Root chakra are bladder disease, cystitis, prostate disease, inflammation of the hemorrhoids, and in severe cases, colon cancer.
Further signs include:
- trouble saving money
- chronic health problems
- lack of healthy boundaries with others
- poor communication with the loved ones
- the sensation of being out of space
- the feeling of disconnection
- eating disorders or loss of appetite
- lack of energy
- generalized fear
- materialism and greed, obsession with money
- chronic fatigue
- identity crisis
- little interest in intimate/physical relations with the partner
- linking one’s sense of well-being to external factors
- lack of confidence
How to Heal the Root Chakra
- Start with physical exercises (choose a sport or activity that you like).
- Walk in nature, spend as much time outdoors as you can.
- Practice grounding or walking barefoot to strengthen your connection with the earth and nature.
- Practice yoga as it can heal all your chakras.
- Do some gardening and pottery as it will give you the chance to be in touch with the earth.
- Examine the relationship with your mother; talk to her about it. If you cannot, discuss the problem with a psychotherapist.
- Decorate your house, clean it, and put things in order. Try to pay all your bills on time.
- Get to know your neighbors better or make peace with them.
- Make peace with your family.
- Make/buy refreshing aromatherapy products with a pleasant scent such as scented candles (especially cedarwood aromas, myrrh, patchouli). Use aromatic bath oils and mix them with massage emulsifiers.
- Receiving energy healing from an Energy Healing Practitioner.
Beneficial Foods for the Root Chakra
- Root vegetables like parsnips, carrots, potatoes, radishes, onions, beets, garlic.
- Protein-rich food like meats, eggs, beans, soy products, peanut butter, tofu.
Healing Stones that support the Root Chakra:
- Heliotrope
- Tiger Eye
- Hematite
- Fire Agate
- Black Tourmaline
These stones are used to activate, balance, and amplify the energy flow. Healing by crystals is based on the belief that these stones have a natural healing frequency that can be activated. The vibration of each one corresponds and resonates to heal specific imbalances. In order to activate their healing power, you will have to use them on a regular basis.
Resources: Amara Rivers, Energy Healer/Teacher, The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy by Cyndi Dale, and Wheels of Light: Chakras, Auras, and the Healing Energy of the Body by Rosalyn Bruyere, mindbodygreen.com.
P.S. Join Jocelyn Nute, End of Life Doula and myself in September to discuss Death and Dying. Learn why transitioning doesn't have to be so scary and overwhelming. Click here to sign-up today.
Namaste!
Pat Laurino
Intuitive Energy Healing and Psychic/Medium
