Chakra Series: MŪLĀDHĀRA, Root Chakra
THE FIRST CHAKRA: MULADHARA, ROOT
“The quest for wholeness can never begin on the external level. It is always an inside job.”
- Dr. Shefali Tsabary
We’ll begin our study of the seven individual chakras with the start, the root. If you would like an overview on the chakras, please read the previous post, Chakras, an Introduction.
The Muladhara chakra is located at the base of the spine. In the Kundalini tradition, this is where Shakti in the form of a snake lies dormant waiting to be awakened. Kundalini means “she who coils,” and it is said that this is the most important chakra to balance because to awaken Kundalini is to awaken ourselves. Although the path is not typically linear, this is where it begins.
Muladhara means root and this chakra is associated with the element of earth, the sense of smell, and is represented by a dark red four-petaled lotus. The first five chakras have attending animals and Muladhara’s is a seven-trunked elephant symbolizing strength and solidity. The mantra associated with the Muladhara chakra is “LAM,” pronounced “lum.” The seven mantras of the chakras are chanted in succession, meant to be a cleansing ritual.
Energetically, the root chakra is tied to survival instincts, self-preservation, solidity, connection to our bodies, and the physical plane. If you remember from the last post, this chakra is associated with physiological needs in Maslow’s Hierarchy.
I am writing this post in the midst of a quarantine. A time of self-isolation brought on by the pandemic of Covid-19. Certainly, the associations with this root chakra are at the forefront of my mind as they are with so many in the world. Not only am I concerned with keeping myself and those living with me fed and nourished in a basic way, I am also asking myself, “do we feel safe?” Are we doing the things we need to be safe from illness, from being evicted from our home? Are my loved ones safe? The biggest threat to the health and balance of this chakra is of course, fear. So many of us are facing big unknowns during this time. Surely, in a pre-pandemic, healthy life there are unknowns, but a situation such as this brings us back to a basic set of needs, and a basic fear: am I safe?
I encourage you to take a minute at this point to close your eyes. Wherever you are, sit with this question. Feel into your gut, maybe placing a hand or two there. Do I feel safe? If yes, what does that feel like? If no, what does THAT feel like?
I know this is heavy stuff. Maybe for you, it is especially heavy during this time. The thing I’ve experienced about yoga philosophy is that from the outside it often looks very fun and exciting. Look at all these cool coloured wheels of energy that live in my body, symbolizing so many beautiful things! When you start to dig a bit, the nature of this work is that you will find yourself confronting those things you often hide, or repress, the things that aren’t so pretty to look at. I’m here to say that this is also exciting! Just like in our physical practice, if we can sit with the discomfort, make it through three more breaths, we come out of our postures stronger, more resilient. The root chakra of stability is a beautiful example of another opportunity to practice this.
Often, while studying yoga philosophy, I have a sudden feeling of being held and loved and cared for. This is because in the midst of being confronted with some difficult realities, right in the thick of it, the way through suddenly becomes clear. This is in large part because of the work already done for us by the ancient yogis. They have gifted us with solutions, a way out of fear, a way to find balance and stability.
Remember that this chakra is associated with the physical plane. To balance it, this is where we must go. To dispel fear, we engage in practices that help us to reconnect to the body, our physical environment and the earth.
Take a moment now to calm the mind by focusing on your environment. Move through the senses. First, notice five things that you can see. Try to pick out something that you don’t usually notice. Second, notice four things you can currently feel, the texture of your clothing, the surface your hands, your thighs, your feet rest on. Third, notice 3 things that you can hear. Again, try to pick out the things you don’t normally notice, your refrigerator humming, the wind outside. Fourth, notice 2 things you can smell, either pleasant or unpleasant. Finally, notice one thing you can taste.
How do you feel? Can you take another minute to return to your gut, to pick out any sensations, to ask yourself, “Do I feel safe?”
Besides attuning ourselves to our environments, we can balance this chakra by returning to nature, taking a walk outside, working in the garden. When we can connect to the natural world, and especially when we can nourish our natural world, we can begin to tune into the way it is nourishing us. Our world consistently provides us with oxygen, with food, with water, with people to love. We know that when we take care of our world, it can take better care of us. We can rest in its innate stability and resilience, and we can use this reality as inspiration for our own practices.
On that note, I’m offering some additional reflection questions, and a few yoga asana practices to help you further ground into your Muladhara chakra, your root, your own inner stability. Enjoy and as always, please feel free to email me at emily@puresilience.com with any questions or comments.
