Chakra Series: SVĀDHIṢṬHĀNA, Sacral Chakra
THE SECOND CHAKRA: SVĀDHIṢṬHĀNA, SACRAL
स्वाधिष्ठान
“You can’t use up creativity; the more you use, the more you have.” -Maya Angelou
This post covers the second chakra, Svadhisthana. If you want to learn more about chakras in general or the first chakra, please see my previous posts.
The Svadhisthana chakra is located in the lower abdomen below the navel. Due to its dwelling place, this chakra is often associated with sexual identity and experience. Certainly, this is a significant part of what this chakra is all about but it isn’t the whole picture. This chakra is more generally affiliated with creativity, emotion, and our right to feel. This is also an exciting chakra because if we are balancing the chakras in succession, working with this one means we have met our physiological needs. We have taken care of our most basic necessities and now we are able to look a little deeper into the internal self, our inner desires.
Svadhisthana means “dwelling place” or “her favourite standing place.” It is associated with the element of water, the sense of taste, and is represented by a six-petaled, vermillion (red/orange) lotus. The first five chakras have attending animals and Svadhisthana’s is a crocodile symbolizing subterranean movement of the karmas. The mantra associated with the Svadhisthana chakra is “VAM,” pronounced “vum.” The seven mantras of the chakras are chanted in succession, meant to be a cleansing ritual.
Energetically, the sacral chakra is tied to sensations, feelings, desires, sexuality, emotions, pleasure, connection, and self-gratification. Guilt is what interferes with the health and balance of this chakra. This is because guilt can inhibit us from exploring our desires, and reaching out to others. If you remember from my initial post, this chakra is associated with safety in Maslow’s Hierarchy. Feeling safe is what can allow us to start to explore our desires and our own inner creativity.
It makes sense that after meeting our basic physical needs in balancing the root chakra, our next focus can be meeting our needs in connection to each other. Our interdependence becomes so clear when things are thrown off balance. As I am writing this, I am in what we are currently calling “social isolation.” It is the Spring of 2020 and our government is calling for all of us to be physically distant to slow the spread of covid-19. This physical distance is to take care of our basic needs of survival.
A pleasant surprise for me in the midst of this global crisis is the increase in intimacy for so many of my personal relationships. Despite the physical distance, I feel I’ve been given an opportunity to harness my social energy and direct it in more compassionate and fulfilling ways. Instead of allowing that time and energy to be at the will of my daily environments and schedule, I am choosing to connect to those dearest to me, to have video chats filled with deeply encouraging and helpful conversations, to look my partner in the eyes for longer. We have the time now to indulge in and enjoy playful or quiet spaces when before, most days we spent fifteen minutes catching each other up on our days before it was time to sleep and recharge for the next one. I am realizing that this new, undivided intimacy is the type that fills and nourishes me. It has been a surprising gift during this time. In light of this study on the second chakra based in connection, creativity, and intimacy, I wish you all the beautiful and unexpected gifts this time of social isolation can bring.
May you be well
May you be safe
May you be loved
May you embody love
Reflection
What does it feel like for you to be fulfilled in a relationship? What is your relational energy spent on? What elements in a relationship make it feel safe for you to be authentic? What elements discourage your authenticity? Can you think of a time in your life when this type of nourishing intimacy was difficult to cultivate? I realize this may be the situation for you right now. I know for so many people living alone or in unsafe spaces that do not allow authenticity or healthy intimacy, the circumstances we now find ourselves in are furthering imbalance. What tools do you have to nourish yourself? Remember that this chakra is also associated with creativity. What can we cultivate in ourselves and for ourselves to keep us nourished? What reminds you of your innate goodness?
Meditation
If you have a willing partner, try this meditation. Sit back to back in a comfortable seated position. Place your hands comfortably on your lap or one on your heart, one on your belly. Close the eyes. Begin to breathe into your back body. As you inhale, feel your back further press into your partner’s. Try to sync your breath to your partner’s breath without speaking. Continue this for 5-10 minutes. Have a debrief with your partner. What did it feel like to breathe together? Was it difficult? Awkward? Cozy? Warm? Unsettling?
Asana
Pelvic Clock
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor about hip distance apart. Place your hands on either side of your pelvis. Imagine your pelvis as a bowl. Tip the bowl forward by arching the low back. This is similar to the shape of cow pose. Tilt the bowl backward by drawing the tailbone forward. This is similar to your cat pose. Come back to neutral and tip the bowl to the left by letting the right side of your hip come toward your armpit, stretching the left side of the body. Now tip the bowl right. Can you create circles with the bowl? Explore all ranges of movement.
Goddess
Come to stand, step the feet wide with the toes turned out about 45 degrees. Bend into the knees allowing them to track toward the feet until they are just above the ankles. Allow the hips to sink low. Bring the arms into a cactus position with the shoulders wide. Stay here for 5-10 breaths before pressing firmly into the legs to stand back up.
Supta Baddha Konasana (or Sleepy Butterfly)
Find two blocks or two books with the same thickness and a blanket. Place the blanket down for a pillow and come onto the back body. Bring the soles of the feet together and allow the knees to come wide. Prop the blocks or books underneath the thighs. Breathe into the hips. This is a restorative pose and can be held up to 20 minutes. If the sensation in the hips becomes too intense, bring the knees together and allow the legs to come long.
