The Root Chakra: Grounding and Stability

In a world such as ours, it can sometimes seem impossible to get your feet on the ground and find a sense of stability. Everything is changing at an incredible speed. Sometimes it can seem impossible to know what to believe or to find any semblance of reality in our chaotic world. Focusing on the chakras can give us a sense of stability because grounding and stability begin within the core of our being. So, we begin with the root chakra. The first chakra, the root chakra, is located at the base of the spine.. It relates to the color red and connects us to the earth. On a physical level, conditions associated with this chakra include low vitality. The flaming colors of this chakra are red and orange. Physiologically, this chakra is associated with the endocrine glands. The human endocrine system includes 8 major endocrine glands. There are seven chakras and an eighth, which symbolizes the blending of all seven. This is the center of elimination, instincts, survival, habits, and the ordinary or mundane aspects of everyday life. The root chakra supplies prana to the upper chakras. It is the center of survival and procreation and vibrates with the basic energy of the physical body. The incoming and outgoing breath represent the polarity of this chakra. Going beyond our animal survival instincts means learning to balance the energy within this chakra. When this chakra is malfunctioning, we may feel stuck, clingy, overly stubborn, or show signs of addictive behavior. We may feel disconnected from the material world, the physical body, and concrete reality. We may have difficulty giving and receiving in relationships, feel unstable, or become lost in dreams rather than grounded in reality. Think of it this way – fiery red overstimulates and dark red zaps our vitality. A balanced root chakra is a soft hue of red tinted with a bit of orange. When the root chakra is in balance, our orientation is toward the basic material needs of life—home, money, food, and possessions. It is the focus of survival and reproduction. When we are stable, we relate well to our bodies and to physical reality. We are grounded, dependable, realistic, and secure. The way to balance the chakras is to balance the energy of the body, mind, and soul. Focus on the color red. Imagine taking the bright, fiery red and softening it into gentle hues of red and orange. Focus on your breathing and on the poses that ground us as we attempt to balance this chakra. Let’s begin with Om, followed by a few breaths. Closing Go to your root chakra and feel a sense of stability and grounding. When we are grounded at the base of our being, we can draw that energy upward through the other chakras, creating a stable and balanced sense of self. Here, we are able to find our inner strength. Remember: You must be grounded and stable if you wish to fly. So, whatever you attempt to do this week, stop and take a moment to ground yourself. Begin at your root and work upward toward becoming the most grounded, stable, and best version of who you can be. To fly, you must first be grounded. The Ego and the Root Chakra The ego exists for our protection and survival. But when it takes on the role of righteousness, controlling and dictating, it loses its ability to use the instincts that help keep us grounded and reliable. We sometimes call this flying off the handle. When this happens, the energy of our being becomes unbalanced, and our aura may seem to spew out a bright, fiery red. That is why we sometimes describe anger as being red hot. The ego has an important purpose: survival and protection. But when the ego becomes controlling, it can overpower the deeper wisdom of the soul. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to your soul. When you feel the fiery ego emerging, try to sit quietly and breathe deeply into the root chakra, where you can find your grounding. Imagine the fiery, hot red giving way to a soft hue of light red and orange. From here, lift yourself upward, and you will begin to discover what it means to fly from the soul. Namaste ~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

The Chakras

The word chakra means “wheel.” In a symbolic sense, it represents the wheel of vitality. Our bodies are constantly changing, and to live, they must be supplied with energy from three sources. The first is food, the second is air, and the third is vitality from the etheric, astral, and causal layers of our being. We draw energy from the universe just as we draw energy from our food. We also release energy, just as we eliminate waste from our bodies. The chakras are spinning wheels that both draw energy in and release it. We draw vitality from the causal layer, the focal point of consciousness that carries our personality. We also draw energy from the astral layer, known as the desire body or emotional body. Negative thoughts and emotions produce darker colors in the astral body, and this is reflected in the physical body. That is why, when someone is in a bad mood, they may appear darker or seem to give off a darker energy. It works like this: We pick up energy, or vibrations, from the energy sources around and outside our physical bodies. If we are surrounded by negative or discordant energy, we can pick it up. We must then spin the wheels of the chakras in such a way as to release that energy and restore balance. There are seven major chakras connected to the endocrine system and twenty-one minor chakras throughout the body. When the chakras are in balance, our aura becomes lighter. The condition of the aura, also known as the shadow body, is believed to influence the health of the physical body. The aura can be thought of as an eighth chakra because it represents a blending of all the other chakras. When you walk into a room, you may pick up an energy from another person even before they speak. We call it a vibe or vibration—something we sense as either friendly or hostile. Pay attention to how you feel when you have finished the class today. Do you feel lighter, more peaceful, and more balanced? If so, your aura will reflect that energy. Reflection -The Soul and the Body To fully understand the chakras, we must first understand the relationship between the body and the soul. We often speak of the body as though it is the real self, with the soul as an appendage of the body—almost like a captive balloon floating above us, somehow attached. According to Karma Yoga, this is an inaccurate description. We are souls that possess a body—several bodies, in fact, including the etheric, astral, and causal bodies. The physical body is simply the lower level of energy through which we conduct the business of living in the lower world known as Earth. The chakras are spinning wheels that draw energy in and release energy outward. Be careful with what you draw in and what you throw out. Ego Flip your palms up and extend your index fingers. The index finger represents the ego. The ego believes that it is a body in possession of a soul, with the soul delegated to a lower level than the body. We worry about the body, compare our bodies with others, and continually find fault with and criticize our physical presence on Earth in an attempt to usurp the soul. Now pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to your soul. The soul quietly reminds us that the physical world is superficial and constantly changing. What matters is allowing the soul to be our guide. If we do, we may discover that the soul has a body—not the other way around. The energy we take in and the energy we give off help shape the nature of our lives. The chakras are spinning wheels that remind us to seek balance in all things and, in all things, find balance. Live from your soul, and your aura will reflect it. Namaste ~ may you walk the paht of life with health, happiness and peace. Doctor Lynn