the root chakra

Our bodies are only a temporary home for our spirit. They possess a knowledge of self-healing that is deeply transformative–all you have to do is tune-in and listen. Simply by observing the body, you can see where healing needs to take place. This is why when you are looking to strengthen the mind-body connection you are always instructed to begin at the root.

The first chakra is the foundation for building the entire rainbow energy body, it is the energy point that anchors us to our auric field. Before you can build upwards, you have to establish a strong foundation; the root chakra also represents the connection point we have with the Earth. It is how we stay grounded. Themes surrounding stability and security play a role here. It is paramount to first feel safe and secure in the body before you can rise and open the remaining chakras.

root chakra symbol

muladhara

The sanskrit name for the root chakra, Muladhara, means “root support” and is associated with the colour red. It is located at the base of the spine and is the first of the (main) seven chakras.

development of the first chakra

Age: womb – 12 months
Includes: physical growth, motor development and bonding
Theme: Learning to navigate the world through the physical body

The first chakra is undergoing development from the moment a baby is conceived. The connection to the mother that begins in the womb will impact the psychological and physical health of that child’s life well into the future. Metaphysical healing reveals the root for certain autoimmune disease and other psychosomatic symptoms that only develop late into adulthood, can be traced back to events that happened during the womb phase.

Once a baby has been born, it becomes separate from its mother which leads to the issues that can further compromise the development of the root chakra. Unlike before, during their experience of being kept safe in the womb, there is now a realization that their survival needs may not be met and this can cause fear. This newfound separation can change the dynamic of how they interact within their new environment, introducing them to a secondary theme of trust. They have to be able to learn and trust that their needs will be met. Through this process, of trusting the support from the outside world can they successfully develop their first chakra and overcome its shadow of fear.

In the early stages of life, a newborn baby is entirely dependent on their support system, with little power of what is readily available and provided. Within its first year a baby can only rely on its body to tell it what it needs, and if these instinctual needs aren’t met, it can leave a negative lasting imprint.

After about 6 months, once a baby begins to take their first steps, a shift happens where the chakra centres become stacked. This provides a new way for the energy to travel, promoting the life force to flow upwards, which promotes the development of the remaining chakras.

common issues

survival

fear of foundational needs not being met, under a constant threat of survival
environment promotes severe deprivation

roots (childhood)

unhealthy or toxic childhood environment, ancestral trauma passed on
victim of physical abuse, no sense of safety

grounding

no connection to the body or the Earth
unable to transfer thoughts & desires into actions while respecting boundaries or limitations

money & manifestation

inability to expand beyond survival needs to enjoy a sense of freedom
unable to be consistent or committed

traumas or abuse

A threat to a child’s safety or survival will have a detrimental effect on its continual development. The impact of a traumatic event from the child’s first year of life, can result with internal struggles that could take years to unwind. For instance, a child who has grown up experiencing threats to their safety or survival has no foundation of what it feels like to be secure. Conversely, a child who has experienced an idea upbringing will have the base of a solid foundation that will help them to withstand any hardships that they could face later on, throughout their life.

Here are five traumas and abuses that would compromise the development of the second chakra:

Birth Trauma
Ideally a newborn is well received in an environment that promotes immediate mother-child bonding. Although, in reality, many babies are taken directly from their birth mother.
Abandonment/Neglect
Physical or emotional distance from birth parents can be seen as abandonment by the child, whether intentional or not. With adoption, there is still an abandonment that occurs on a foundational level and therefore adoptive families have to remain aware of their need to provide extra security for the child.
Serious Illness/Malnourishment
The mother’s emotional state as she feeds her baby is very important as imprints are formed early and can instruct an inherited attitude for the rest of the child’s life. This includes the quality and quantity of nourishment available or offered and if there was any force or manipulation surrounding giving the food. The imprint created from these factors will affect the child’s future ability to listen to their body and respond to their hunger cues.
Physical Abuse
Although physical abuse at any age can effect the development of important psychological aspects; with a child it directly undermine’s the development of the first chakra. It not only instigates betrayal, but perpetrates a continual sense of survival, shattering the root chakra. It also impacts other energy centres as unhealthy coping mechanisms develop later on.

signs of disharmony

You’ll notice how easy life gets to be when you heal from your past and balance your chakras. You will feel completely empowered, more confident, and energized. You will experience living with an intuitive connection to your body and live with a renewed sense of purpose. Your physical, emotional and spiritual health will all be thriving.

Imbalances with the root chakra have a strong impact on the rest of the energy body. Without a strong root chakra, the other energy centres will not be able to open. For most people, this is where healing stays for the majority of their lives. This is because with the hustle and bustle of our day and the constant grind for fear of deadlines and bills being met; our nervous system is in a constant state of overdrive. The frequent overstimulation of the mind leads the body to cope with the added stress by continuing to become further and further disconnected. This avoidance to heal this connection becomes normal as we continue to live and progress through life furthering the disembodiment. We are accepting that stress and tension is part of our reality when in truth it is not.

As you know, the chakras are “spinning wheels” of energy, which means that they need to maintain a certain charge to function. If a chakra is balanced, it is receiving and sharing in the flow of energy–working in tandem with the other chakras. However, when there is too much activating energy on offer, it can “overcharge” that energy centre to operate in an excessive state. You can learn to see the differences between an underactive or excessive chakra (in others) through observing others; by how they carry themselves (posture), the experiences they attract, or watching the emotions they portray.

shadows of the root chakra

The shadow of fear lives in the root chakra. As mentioned fear is triggered when there are threats to our survival. This is an especially challenging energy to overcome if you experienced challenges having your needs being met in your childhood, or if the environment of your upbringing was embedded with violence. Fear became the modelled state of your awareness and it was all that you knew.

Along with (survival) fear, thare are other shadows that can arise from an unbalanced root chakra. For instance, with someone who has an excessive energy centre, they could have issues surrounding anger and act out in rage. Or, become overly focused on the physical and become addicted to objectifying the body, or even overwork themselves to the point of exhaustion.

Below is a visual representation of what an imbalanced root chakra would look like and how its circulating energy behaves.

underactive vs. excessive

underactive energy

Inward energy is dispersed randomly throughout the body with lack of grounding. This can manifest as someone who struggles with commitment, consistency or follow-through. Some other signs of a deficient root chakra are:

fidgeting/restlessness
difficulty concentrating
feeling disconnected to the body
poor grooming or hygiene
prioritizing higher chakras; spiritual knowledge, dreams
poor boundaries

excessive energy

Excess energy in the root chakra can be seen as excess weight surrounding the lower body. This weight could be excess fat or rigid muscle. Some other signs of an excessive root chakra are:

resistance to change
feeling stiff, sluggish or unable to get off the ground
overvalue of routine, security, financial achievements
meticulous or obsessed with appearance
overly protective of boundaries (to prevent change)
cynical about spirituality or creative ideas

healing work

To establish strong roots and build a steady foundation, it requires consistency and dedication. We are all unique in our experiences, so what may need attention for healing in one person could be different than the next. It’s most important to find a modality that works for you. Before you begin any holistic healing for the root chakra, evaluate your current relationship with your body and your connection to the Earth. Do you feel safe, embodied, and fully grounded? Take a look at the characteristics of an underactive or excessive root chakra—can you relate more to one side than the other? If you want to balance the root chakra, shift your focus towards creating your own sense of security. Become someone who is reliable, consistent, trustworthy and grounded. Imagine what your habits would be and visualize what your life would be like if you already had a healthy relationship with your body, great physical fitness, abundant wealth, and prosperity.

Below are some ideas of healing work to guide you with getting started.

heal the mind-body connection

practice listening to bodily sensations and releasing the judgement of what emotions come up for you
practice communicating with your body by giving a voice to it; ask questions and listen to what it has to say

womb & ancestral healing

question where harmful thoughts or patterns started–were there any traumas that originated from the early years in your life?
try regressive therapies like hypnosis for help with bringing events from the past to the surface

ground with nature

ground your energy with nature with Earthing–walking barefoot on a natural surface like sand, or grass
if you notice you have an underactive or blocked root chakra, spend more of your (work) day on your feet

support for healing

Every energy center has its own frequency, and we attract experiences based on our resonant frequency. The root chakra carries a frequency of 396 Hz. This is useful if you want to utilize sound healing modalities which involves listening to that energy centre’s note or frequency and using the body’s ability to resonate with the same note to bring it into perfect balance.

To further your healing journey, you can also include lifestyle changes that will help achieve this balance. Each chakra centre has a related food (or drink), aromatherapy scent, preferred form of exercise, healing crystal, Sanskrit chant, and affirmation (mantra).

Daily Affirmation: I am rooted in this present moment

Chant: LAM (lahm)
Vowel sound: Ohhhh (road)

Solfeggio Frequency: 496 Hz

Sound Bowl Frequency: 396 Hz
Music Note: C

Aromatherapy: Cedar, Myrrh, Patchouli

Food: Protein

Exercise: Weightlifting (Strength Training)
Yoga Pose: Warrior Pose

Healing Crystals: Hematite or Bloodstone

Please note: The above lifestyle suggestions do not include recommendations for addressing the emotional or mental healing work that could be an underlying factor for challenges with the root chakra. As mentioned, the root chakra harbours trauma and painful experiences. While the modalities listed above can strengthen and significantly heal the root chakra, these tools are most effective with releasing repressed emotions so that they can come up and into your awareness. To release past traumatic events properly, the emotions will need to be processed with the necessary and appropriate professional help.

Coach’s Note: A coach is useful for applying accountability to make the helpful and necessary changes for self-improvement. They can help you discover where you may be struggling and guide you on how to get to the root of the issue. A mentor or coach is effective in providing a pathway for you to follow to reach your goals. However, it is not replacement for medical attention or professional therapy to identify the impact of past personal trauma.