Muladhara - The root chakra
- leilak73
- Jan 31, 2015
- 5 min read
Continuing with the chakra system, in today's post I discuss the root chakra, Muladhara, and how it relates to our physical body, emotions and other parts of life.
The colour most commonly associated with this chakra is red. However, this does not mean that other colours may not be seen in this chakra, or any other chakra.
Many people seem to think that because muladhara chakra is the “lowest” of the chakras, it does not bear much importance. However, it is much like the foundations of a building. If you do not have strong foundations; the building will crumble. When the foundation is stable, one is able to build a much stronger building, more easily. Enlightenment is impossible to achieve without having a strong connection to the earth. As we work through the chakras, you will understand that every chakra is important, and none has a greater importance than the other. It is a complete system, just like our physical bodies are.
The root chakra relates to the sciatic nerve, which acts as a root for the body. It is located at the base of the spine, at the perineum. It corresponds to the coccyx and lower lumbar region, as well as the legs, kidneys, adrenals, bones and intestines. Should you have health issues in these areas, you may be imbalanced in Muladhara.
Our feet and legs touch the ground below us, connecting our body and nervous system to the earth below us. The purpose of the root chakra is to root or ground us, providing a strong foundation upon which to build. Energy from the earth flows up, and energy from our body flows down. It is an energy exchange. Our roots contain our earliest stories, our gut instincts from past lessons learned. The core layers of the root chakra tend to relate to wisdom gained from previous lifetimes.
Grounding is an important aspect of one's spiritual practise. It allows one to be present in the now. One's roots provides them with nourishment, power, stability and growth. When one is grounded, one is humble, living close to the earth and leading a simple life, gracefully. When one has no grounding, they tend to become unstable, losing their heads easily and living in a daydream or fantasy a lot of the time. People can lose their natural excitement for life and they tend to feel weak and powerless.
By losing our roots, we lose our stability and become easily swayed by society, politics, work, friends and so on. Today's lifestyle is fast paced. Media and technological distractions do not allow much time for rest and rejuvenation.
Grounding is a harmonious acceptance of natural limitation and a way of coping with stress. Being in nature, surrounded by the earth can help to achieve this, as earth is the physical element related to muladhara.
Three main nadi's (meridians / energy pathways) pass through this chakra (energy centre). Ida and Pingala, as previously mentioned, travel around the spine and chakras in a spiral. They also cross through a few of the chakras. Sushumna nadi is the central nadi and runs from the root chakra up to the third eye chakra. These three nadis are the most important of the 72 000 that run throughout the body. Ida is the cooling, feminine energy and Pingala, the heating, masculine energy. The flow of energy can be balanced by pranayama (special breathing techniques). One example is alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhana).
When a person's root chakra is closed, it means that something substantial is missing. The power of the root chakra is unavailable as is the power to fuel the above chakras. It sends out its energy, connecting with others as well as the surrounding environment. It can make others feel physically secure or it can convey threat, hostility and aggression. It is a basic and primal connection. The demon of the root chakra is fear, and facing our fears can help to open muladhara. Some of these fears could be that we do not have enough, are not enough, or are not worthy. However, fear is merely a projection of the mind and can be overcome.
Muladhara connects us to the universal force, the whole. When people are divided against themselves, they carry conflicting primal beliefs and responses. These splits show up in the energy of the root chakra. For example, a male may not be receptive to his feminine energy within, or a female to her masculine energy within.
This chakra deals with our survival, the right to be here. That is: our jobs; health; wealth; homes and families, social order and vehicles. If one perpetually has problems with any or all of these areas, it could be that this person has an unresolved conflict and is trapped in the first chakra.
If someone is over-developed in this chakra, and not aware of it, that person could be perceived as a know-it-all, or accumulates a lot of things (greed). If the energy is balanced, the person will tend to have a strong life intention, be courageous as well as a healer. If the energy is very blocked or under-active, the person may become suicidal or constantly depressed.
If you experience this, you can ask yourself the following: Who is responsible for your survival? What keeps you from wanting to be here? From whom do you need permission to take care of yourself? Are you connecting with your body, listening to it and administering to its needs? How much of your thinking is unrealistic day-dreaming?
According to Anodea Judith, developing our ability to have things begins with self worth and developing our self worth begins with our ability to have things. The task of mastering the first chakra is ultimately to understand and heal the body; to learn to feel it, accept it, love it and validate it.
The mantra for this chakra is “Lam”. Wearing red can also help to cultivate energy in this chakra. Yoga Journal's Stephanie Snyder has a wonderful set to help bring muladhara into balance, which you can find HERE. I have used this set myself and by the end of the set, had re-established the connection with my root chakra and felt so much better in and about myself. It takes about 20-30 minutes and is suitable for beginners, intermediate and advanced yogi's (or anyone that just wants to calm down the crazy in their head, or reconnect with themselves!) ;)
Over time, we learn to understand our bodies and discover deeper parts of ourselves. Self-nurturance is a key to taking care of the body by eating well, getting enough rest and exercising. Finding the right balance is essential.
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