Over the next several months, I will be presenting essays on each of the etheric energy centers of the body, called the chakras. Much of the information comes from a comprehensive text, Eastern Body, Western Mind, by Anodea Judith, who practices psychology using the understanding of human developmental theory in conjunction with the functions of each chakra. I hope you will benefit from this insight.
Chakras are described as cones of energy, and sometimes spheres of energy. They are not concrete or physical, but do operate on a vibrational frequency within the body. There are seven major chakras which line up along the spinal column, as well as numerous minor chakras at various other locations.
The first chakra, the root, is located at the base of the spine. It spins in a clockwise direction and its color is red. It is the foundation for all the other chakras. Just as it is important for a house to have a firm foundation, it is important for a person to have a strong root chakra. Ms Judith states, “To build a strong foundation is to gain solidity. Solidity helps us to be firm and make boundaries. Solidity has consistency, repetition, accountability. Our bodies are the solid form of our existence; they have definable boundaries. To be solid is to face what is in front of us without flinching, to remain anchored in truth in the face of opposition, and to remain calm and secure.” [1]
The instinct to survive is a predominant component of the root chakra. We are programmed biologically with the fight or flight response. When we are faced with a fearful situation, our body reacts so we can either stand our ground and defend ourselves, or run away to save ourselves. When the danger is over, the stress hormones we released to take care of the situation return to normal.
In a healthy root chakra, the basic needs of survival are consistently met. From our conception, we receive food, water, shelter, clothing, and love to meet our needs. From this, trust develops. The fight or flight response functions as it should. It occasionally activates and then subsides.
Judith states, “When the first chakra is damaged, we are plagued with issues of survival, including health, money, housing, or job problems. We may find that a basic feeling of safety and security seems to elude us no matter what we do even when there are no real threats to our survival.” [2]
The root chakra develops from the very beginning of life in utero. When the fetus, and later the infant, grows in a positive, supportive environment, this chakra will be strong and healthy. The child feels connection to its physical self with confidence and will have a firm sense of being rightfully on the earth plane. However, when a child’s development is impacted negatively, perhaps with illness, lack of physical care, lack of love, abuse or neglect, the threat to survival becomes very real. This young child’s basic needs have not been met and fear becomes a strong factor. The child’s response to stress becomes the norm, not the exception. As this situation continues, his world view becomes damaged and altered, and he becomes distrustful.
Developing a strong foundation from the onset of life helps us feel at ease in the world, with a growing sense of empowerment. Unfortunately, when our foundation is weak and fear-ridden, life often is difficult, and problematic because we move our energies away from basic life situations that cause us pain. In other words, we suppress the pain we feel, and put our energies into the higher chakras which are mind-centered. This is done on an unconscious level as a means of avoidance. Over time, poor body image, anxiety, poor sleep habits, health problems like high blood pressure, heart trouble, chronic fatigue, weak adrenals, and so much more, may develop.
The state of empowerment or disempowerment accompanies us into adulthood. Whatever level we are at will be reflected when we are reactionary. Reactive living means there is no conscious control over the outcome. This is fine when our lives progress happily, but can be quite damaging when we struggle. Problems will repeat themselves and can intensify when we are disconnected from the source. It is helpful, therefore, to be conscious of our feelings, particularly the fear-based ones on the physical level. We cannot solve a problem that faces us unless we are conscious of it and are actively working to change it in some way.
The importance of being grounded cannot be understated. Grounding keeps us real. It is the sign of a healthy root chakra. It’s about engaging in the physical world, being in nature, exercising, gardening, playing sports for fun; facing difficulties when they come up; being comfortable in the body; engaging the world as an adventurous place, but not one to be feared. It is using the mind for intellectual processes when needed, but happily staying connected to who we really are as physical beings on this planet.
“To combat fear is to strengthen the first chakra. To live with fear is to weaken it.”[3] Face your fears, and work through them. There are many ways to do this. If you can do it yourself, congratulations. If you need help, find it. If you found it, congratulations again. Your life will be much happier and fulfilling when your root chakra is strong.
1 Judith, Anodea, Eastern Body Western Mind, (Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts, 2004), 58
2 Ibid, 59
3 Ibid, 60
