How to Balance Your Root Chakra

This article addresses holistic healing methods to harmonize an unbalanced root chakra.

The root chakra is the first chakra, located at the base of the spine in the human body. It also resides at the perineum and the hammock of the pelvic floor muscles

It is associated with the color red, the Earth element and grounding.

The root chakra is known as Muladhara in Sanskrit and on the material plane, it is associated with the qualities of financial and home security, safety, financial matters, physical health and financial abundance.

When healthy and in balance, the root chakra tends to show as a strong stable home, solid foundations in life, stability, physical and financial security, robust health and the ability to face life's challenges with ease.

Unbalanced, this chakra can appear as physical ailments within the body, such as constipation or diarrhea, circulation issues, weak legs, sciatica and even eating disorders. Emotionally, this chakra can manifest negatively as depression, anxiety, fear, restlessness, feeling directionless, not feeling at home anywhere and fear of being abandoned.

-HOW TO HEAL YOUR ROOT CHAKRA-

There are several holistic ways to heal a blocked or overly-open root chakra and bring it back into balance.

1) SPEAKING OR WRITING POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

For many people, writing or speaking positive affirmations routinely help to manifest changes in the outer world. Some strong affirmations for this chakra include:

· 'I am secure and happy in my home.'

· 'Wherever I am, I am safe and secure.'

· 'I am stable, grounded and relaxed in the moment.'

· 'The Universe will always provide for me.'

· 'The Universe will always support me and show me where I need to go next.'

· 'I am anchored to the earth and supported by the Universe.'

· 'I have a healthy body, a healthy mind and an abundant life.'

· 'I feel safe in the flow and ever changing rhythm of life.'

· 'Just like a tree or a star, I have a right to be here.'

· 'I am open to possibilities.'

· 'I nurture my body with healthy food, clean water, exercise, relaxation and connection with nature.'

· 'I trust in the goodness of life.'

· 'I trust myself.'

· 'I trust life to take care of me.'

· 'I am grateful for all of the challenges that helped me to grow and transform.'

2) CRYSTAL HEALING

Crystals come directly from the Earth and are living pieces of Earth energy. They carry high positive vibrations and can pull up the vibration of a person to match it. For this reason, you can call upon your crystal friends to raise your vibration when you´re in a funk!! For the root chakra, opt for red crystals such as red jasper, bloodstone, red carnelian and garnet. Black crystals are very grounding also so choose hematite, tourmaline, jet or obsidian. Smokey quartz, bloodstone and other brownish or Earthy-toned crystals are also good for this chakra.

Carry the crystals with you physically near to the chakra if you can, e.g. in a trouser or skirt pocket. Alternatively, you can place a, or several crystals, strategically in your home to enjoy a boost in personal power and grounding.

3) GROUNDING, EARTHY AND PROTEIN-DENSE FOODS

Eating certain foods can also act as potent healers for the root chakra!!

Protein-dense foods are recommended to ground and stabilize a person who is feeling anxious or in ´fight-or-flight´mode - common states of an unbalanced root chakra. Protein grounds the body and provides it with the building blocks for physical strength. Proteins can include animal sources, or vegan and vegetarian sources such as beans, tofu, spinach, almonds and oatmeal.

As well as protein, consuming physically red-coloured foods can also fortify this chakra, as the colour red has a slower-moving and heavier vibration than the other colours of the rainbow. Examples include strawberries, raspberries, cherries, red apples, red onions, beetroot, red bell peppers, red quinoa and tomatoes.

Last but not least, root vegetables such as garlic, onions, carrots, beets, parsnips and potatoes all infuse this red chakra with additional Earth energy, as their roots have been embedded deeply within the soil. If you can, buy organic for the higher soil (i.e. nutritional) quality.

4) ESSENTIAL OILS

Like crystals, essential oils are also known to carry strong energetic frequencies that raise the vibration of humans!! For the root, choose flowery and earthy essential oils such as Ylang-Ylang, Rosemary, Patchouli, Sandalwood and Myrrh.

5) MEDITATION AND VISUALISATION

There are many different meditations and visualization techniques for the root chakra.

Here is one you can try yourself:

Standing tall, spine long, shoulders back and gazing straight ahead, keep the heels planted and gently scrunch the toes to pick up an imaginary pen with your toes. This will create a strong medial arch in both feet. Then, firmly grounding the bases of the big toes down into the floor, proceed to release 'pen' and relax the toes. Repeat this process until you are happy with the strength of the medial arches in your feet. This will give you a nice energetic lift from the Earth up through the feet and all the way up through the legs and the pelvis. Now, visualize beams of white light shooting down from each of the four corners of the foot, on both feet, so that in total you have eight beams of white light radiating down from the four corners of both feet. Imagine these beams of light radiating right down into the centre of the Earth´s core, where they join with a great, swirling, crackling glowing ball of red sparking energy. Now, imagine this red energy coming back up from the Earth and travelling up and up until it reaches the base of your feet. See the red energy permeating your feet, filling the cells with strong, powerful, solid red light. Your feet are firmly, securely and strongly rooted down into the Earth. See the red light travelling further up your calves, your thighs and filling your pelvic bowl with this securing, rooting, grounding, Earth energy. At the same time, lift the spine and firm the shoulderblades down the spine, keeping the upper body connected to the sky. Earth below you and heaven above you. Enjoy the feeling of the love, stability and deep connection to the Earth through this energy that roots you firmly in the ground.

6) OTHER TECHNIQUES

Connecting with nature, e.g. touching trees, plants or flowers, walking barefoot, gardening and hiking outdoors.

Cooking nourishing and healthy meals.

Surrounding yourself with Earthy colors and the colour red.

Try the techniques that appeal to you the most and call upon them when you want to soothe this chakra back into harmony!