Posted by Jackie Gaston
First – root – chakra Muladhara
Ever wondered what the chakra system is and how it works for you? This is the second in a series of posts in which I'll do my best to help you make sense of your chakra syste. It's helpful to read this post first.
I tend to think about the first chakra as the baby of your chakras. It is the id. It is concerned with survival and security. It is our primal connection to the physical aspects of our beings and to the earth.
Symbol: Four red petals, square with a down-facing triangle
Location: base of the spine in the perineum
Color: red
Musical note: C
Scent: Sandalwood, oak moss, Frankincense
Stones: hematite, garnet, red jasper
Body parts associated with: kidneys, bladder, legs, lymphatic system, skeletal system, nose, adrenal glands
Sense: smell
Foods: Proteins, minerals and , of course, root vegetables.
Asanas: Mountain pose, Bridge pose, Warrior one
http://life.gaiam.com/article/chakra-guide-root-chakra
Planet: Saturn
Astrological sign: Taurus
Element: Earth
The first chakra provides the base for all other chakras and the energy it draws moves through the others and upward toward the crown. It seeks security above all else and is the seat of the flight or fight instinct. Its affinity for the earth element leads it to also seek balance, trust, groundedness and good health. It channels earth energy and finds connection to solid ground and nature. It ideally has a balance of both masculine and feminine energy.
The astrological sign most closely associated with the first chakra is Taurus which is no surprise since Taurus is considered one of the most powerful signs in terms of money and financial well being.
The first chakra is influenced by Saturn. According to Thomas Moore, Saturn's function is one of deep contemplation and intuitive insight. Marsilio Ficino related Saturn to eternal life and called it the true home of the soul. As the first chakra is also called the root chakra, we have a tendency to relate it only to the earth and our physical security. However, its relationship to Saturn seems to indicate a connection to the larger cosmic body. We feel its pull most in young adulthood, the time when we are beginning to implement whatever plans we have for our lives, and in the later part of middle age when we are looking at how far we have come and how to spend our older years. Saturn's passage through our lives relates to feelings of control....how much control we feel that we have or don't have over things that matter to us. It rules discipline, work and duty and how we incorporate each in our lives and, more importantly how we feel about our accomplishments or lack thereof.
The sense of smell is most associated with the first chakra because it is our most primal sense. It seems to be fully present at birth and triggers the most vivid memories.
Signs of an out of balance or stuck root chakra include anxiety, the feeling of not having enough, over eating, unspecified anger and not feeling settled or secure. Other signs may be tripping, falling, bumping into things and general clumsiness. Since it is ruled by Saturn, depression may also be a sign of an unbalanced first chakra.
A person who operates from a balanced root chakra displays confidence and ease in manifesting wanted things and situations. As someone who feels at ease in his/her own skin, this person is trustworthy and attracts others who seek balance and security.
Meditations for First Chakra:
I recommend doing these meditations in a seated lotus position or as close as you can get to seated lotus with your hands palms down on your knees. If this is impossible for you, sit in a chair with your feet firmly planted on the ground.
Close your eyes and take three long deep breaths. Hold each breath for a few seconds before completely exhaling.
Relax into the pose and your breath.
Meditation one:
Repeat this mantra over and over in your mind or out loud.
“I forgive myself.”
Keep in mind that self forgiveness is a way of letting yourself off the hook for perceived short comings. After a few minutes, you will probably start to name things for which you feel the need for self forgiveness. Past mistakes, things you feel that you may have done 'wrong' to yourself or others.
You may feel sadness but it is more likely that you will start to feel relief.
Feel free to question why you feel the need for forgiveness Be open to receiving an answer.
Stay with it for as long as you feel that you need to. This may be for a just a few minutes or an extended amount of time. Just stay with it. You will know when it is time to come out of the meditative state.
Meditation Two:
Follow the same steps as in meditation one but use one or more of the following mantras:
I love all of the money that comes to me.
I appreciate every dollar in my account.
I am so happy to have my home.
Thanks for reading this article. You can get a head start on the rest of the chakra posts by requesting my free ebook available here.
First – root – chakra Muladhara
Ever wondered what the chakra system is and how it works for you? This is the second in a series of posts in which I'll do my best to help you make sense of your chakra syste. It's helpful to read this post first.
I tend to think about the first chakra as the baby of your chakras. It is the id. It is concerned with survival and security. It is our primal connection to the physical aspects of our beings and to the earth.
Symbol: Four red petals, square with a down-facing triangle
Location: base of the spine in the perineum
Color: red
Musical note: C
Scent: Sandalwood, oak moss, Frankincense
Stones: hematite, garnet, red jasper
Body parts associated with: kidneys, bladder, legs, lymphatic system, skeletal system, nose, adrenal glands
Sense: smell
Foods: Proteins, minerals and , of course, root vegetables.
Asanas: Mountain pose, Bridge pose, Warrior one
http://life.gaiam.com/article/chakra-guide-root-chakra
Planet: Saturn
Astrological sign: Taurus
Element: Earth
The first chakra provides the base for all other chakras and the energy it draws moves through the others and upward toward the crown. It seeks security above all else and is the seat of the flight or fight instinct. Its affinity for the earth element leads it to also seek balance, trust, groundedness and good health. It channels earth energy and finds connection to solid ground and nature. It ideally has a balance of both masculine and feminine energy.
The astrological sign most closely associated with the first chakra is Taurus which is no surprise since Taurus is considered one of the most powerful signs in terms of money and financial well being.
The first chakra is influenced by Saturn. According to Thomas Moore, Saturn's function is one of deep contemplation and intuitive insight. Marsilio Ficino related Saturn to eternal life and called it the true home of the soul. As the first chakra is also called the root chakra, we have a tendency to relate it only to the earth and our physical security. However, its relationship to Saturn seems to indicate a connection to the larger cosmic body. We feel its pull most in young adulthood, the time when we are beginning to implement whatever plans we have for our lives, and in the later part of middle age when we are looking at how far we have come and how to spend our older years. Saturn's passage through our lives relates to feelings of control....how much control we feel that we have or don't have over things that matter to us. It rules discipline, work and duty and how we incorporate each in our lives and, more importantly how we feel about our accomplishments or lack thereof.
The sense of smell is most associated with the first chakra because it is our most primal sense. It seems to be fully present at birth and triggers the most vivid memories.
Signs of an out of balance or stuck root chakra include anxiety, the feeling of not having enough, over eating, unspecified anger and not feeling settled or secure. Other signs may be tripping, falling, bumping into things and general clumsiness. Since it is ruled by Saturn, depression may also be a sign of an unbalanced first chakra.
A person who operates from a balanced root chakra displays confidence and ease in manifesting wanted things and situations. As someone who feels at ease in his/her own skin, this person is trustworthy and attracts others who seek balance and security.
Meditations for First Chakra:
I recommend doing these meditations in a seated lotus position or as close as you can get to seated lotus with your hands palms down on your knees. If this is impossible for you, sit in a chair with your feet firmly planted on the ground.
Close your eyes and take three long deep breaths. Hold each breath for a few seconds before completely exhaling.
Relax into the pose and your breath.
Meditation one:
Repeat this mantra over and over in your mind or out loud.
“I forgive myself.”
Keep in mind that self forgiveness is a way of letting yourself off the hook for perceived short comings. After a few minutes, you will probably start to name things for which you feel the need for self forgiveness. Past mistakes, things you feel that you may have done 'wrong' to yourself or others.
You may feel sadness but it is more likely that you will start to feel relief.
Feel free to question why you feel the need for forgiveness Be open to receiving an answer.
Stay with it for as long as you feel that you need to. This may be for a just a few minutes or an extended amount of time. Just stay with it. You will know when it is time to come out of the meditative state.
Meditation Two:
Follow the same steps as in meditation one but use one or more of the following mantras:
I love all of the money that comes to me.
I appreciate every dollar in my account.
I am so happy to have my home.
Thanks for reading this article. You can get a head start on the rest of the chakra posts by requesting my free ebook available here.
RSS Feed