Chakra Guide

Your chakras connect your physical and emotional bodies to your etheric (spiritual) body. Energy flows through the chakras. However, when they are blocked or overactive, you may experience emotional, physical, or spiritual issues associated with the blockage of energy in that location. 
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First Chakra
Your first chakra (Muladhara) is located at the base of your spine. It is also known as your root or base chakra and is the foundation of your chakra/energetic system. Its color is red. This is where your mental, emotional, and physical health are built. Emotional issues associated with first chakra issues include having a sense of safety and security, standing up for yourself, honor, abandonment, and others. Physical issues involve the feet and legs, lower spine, immune system, and your bones. Blockages or overactivity of this chakra may cause health problems like lower back pain, immune disorders, addictions, or depression, among others.

If you are having physical, mental, spiritual, or emotional issues associated with your first chakra (see previous post), you can use various energy healing methods to help balance the energy in this location. Crystals: Use red or black crystals, such as garnet, black tourmaline, ruby, or obsidian. Place them near or on the root chakra and meditate on the color red. You can also use the musical tone associated with the root chakra, which is C or C#. The solfeggio is 396 Hz. There are great solfeggio smart phone apps (my favorite is from Glenn Harrold). The mantra for the first chakra is Lam. Essential oils for this chakra include cinnamon, patchouli, and nutmeg.

In general for all chakras, if the chakra is underactive, physical and emotional issues tend to be congestive - or blocked. If it is overactive, they tend to be flowing. For example in the first chakra, blocked nerves (numbness and tingling or neuropathy), constipation, circulation issues, or spinal misalignments/disc protrusions are all indicative of an underactive chakra. Emotionally, depression and excessive fear or worry about safety are indications of blocked energy. If the chakra is overactive, you might experience physical issues like diarrhea or varicose veins and emotional/mental/spiritual issues such as hyper vigilance, OCD, or anxiety. If your immune system is in hyper drive (as is often believed in autoimmune disorders), this may be the result of an overactive first chakra. If immunity is underactive or impaired, it may be the result of an underactive root chakra. When working with crystals, choose opaque colored crystals (like obsidian) for overactive energies (opaque absorbs) and clear crystals (like red garnet) for underactive energies (clear amplifies).

You can also eat and move to nourish and support your first chakra. Since this is your grounding chakra, grounded foods, such as root veggies (think parsnips, carrots, onions, sweet potatoes), are beneficial. Red foods (naturally occurring red - not Kool-Aid red or red dye) such as radishes, red meat (pastured, not factory farmed), berries, red apples, and red carrots are also nourishing for this chakra. As for movement, seek grounded, earthy movements. Walking and dancing (especially barefoot) are great for the root chakra. Tai chi (done barefoot) is another good practice, as are other forms of martial arts that encourage you to work from the ground up. Yoga with lying and seated asana, as well as grounded asanas like Mountain Pose or Savasana are also beneficial to this chakra. Lower body work is also helpful - working leg muscles and pelvic floor muscles (think kegels).

Second Chakra
Also known as Swadhisthana or your sacral chakra, your second chakra is orange in color. It is associated with emotional issues like belonging (your place in a tribe), oneness, prosperity, family loyalty, and connection. Physical issues associated with your second chakra might include problems with the stomach and intestines, pelvis, and reproductive organs. Emotionally, second chakra issues might include sexual problems or eating disorders.

For an over- or under-active second chakra, you can use orange or brown crystals, such as carnelian or smoky quartz. Remember, clear crystals help clear blockages (amplification), while opaque crystals help tone down overactivity (absorption). The mantra for this chakra is "vam," and the corresponding note is D or D#. Try using a tuning fork or singing bowl in this frequency. You can also use a solfeggio of 417 Hz. Essential oils that can help with this chakra include orange, tangerine, and bergamot among others.

Remember, an underactive second chakra will be congestive. For example, anorexia and amenorrhea may result from a blocked second chakra. In general, overactive issues will be flowing - so heavy menstruation may be due to overactivity of this area.

Nourishing foods for the second chakra include citrus fruits (particularly oranges), as well as other orange fruits and veggies like orange peppers, nectarines, and carrots. Salmon is beneficial for this chakra, as well. Movement that helps the second chakra involves core strengthening and flexibility. Yoga twisting postures are particularly helpful, as are activities like planks or balancing movements.

Third Chakra
Also known as the solar plexus chakra or Manipura, your third chakra is yellow or gold in color. This is the chakra of self-esteem and self-confidence. It's also where you develop a sense of self as separate from your tribal and/or family identity. Additionally, it's a chakra of law and order, social/societal rules, and function within a group.

The third chakra vibrates at 528 Hz (you can choose this solfeggio to help balance it), which is the note of E. You can also balance it using the mantra "Ram." Golden or yellow crystals work with the third chakra, such as citrine (pictured), amber, pyrite, and yellow tiger's eye. Perhaps not surprisingly, lemon essential oils are fabulous for your third chakra, as is lemon grass and tea tree oil.

Physical issues associated with the third chakra include disorders of the upper GI system, arthritis, impaired digestion, liver and kidney disorders, and breathing issues (such as asthma). As with other chakras, if the chakra is underactive, the physical and emotional/spiritual issues will be congested or poorly flowing (such as a gallbladder obstruction), while an overactive chakra will be issues that have greater flow, such as excessive self-esteem or having a big ego. Opaque gold crystals (pyrite, tiger's eye) absorb excessive energy to create balance, while clear crystals (amber, citrine) will increase flow.

As for nutrition and movement, enjoy yellow foods (naturally occurring yellow - not processed dyed foods), such as squash, lemons, yellow peppers, melon, pineapple, and poultry. Nuts and seeds are also great sources of nutrition for this chakra, as are whole grain foods like quinoa and millet. For exercise, yoga balancing poses are great for the third chakra (such as tree pose), as well as poses that build heat in the body and require deep breathing from the diaphragm. Twists serve this purpose well. Martial arts are also excellent for the third chakra, particularly strikes and blocks. Dance in which you isolate the rib cage, such as modern dance, belly dance, and jazz dance are also excellent workouts for helping the energy move through this chakra.

Fourth Chakra
Your heart chakra, or Anahata, is the center point between the lower and upper chakras. It's color is green. It serves as a bridge between body and spirit. The main issue associated with this chakra is love (unconditional love for self and others). It's also associated with balance, grief, forgiveness, loneliness, and self-centeredness.

The mantra for balancing this chakra is "Yam." To tune it with frequency, it vibrates at 639 Hz, which is the note of F or F#. Crystals that help balance the energies here tend to be green, such as peridot, green calcite, green tourmaline, malachite, moss agate, or emerald. Rose quartz is also balancing for the heart chakra. Jasmine and rose are traditional essential oils that can help balance heart chakra energy.

Physical issues associated with this chakra include heart problems like arrhythmia and blockages, rib and middle back pain, respiratory disease, or breast cancer. As with other chakras, blocked or poorly moving energy will tend to result in congestive types of issues (for example, COPD) while overactivity of this chakra will result in flowing issues (such as high blood pressure).

Foods for the heart include anything that is naturally green: leafy greens, broccoli, zucchini, green bell peppers and green chili peppers, avocados. Green algae is also good for the heart chakra, as is seaweed. Energetically, cardiovascular types of exercise are good for the heart chakra (and they are physically good for your heart, as well) - anything that causes a sustained heart rate of about 120-140 beats per minute for 20 minutes or so - like walking or dancing. You can also enjoy yoga poses that open the heart, such as upward facing dog or back bending poses.

Fifth Chakra
Your throat chakra, or Vishuddha is the color blue. It is associated with issues such as speaking your truth, expressing creativity, surrendering to Divine will, following your dreams, having integrity, and expressing yourself.

Blue crystals can help balance this chakra. This would include crystals like lapis lazuli, blue zircon, tanzanite, blue kyanite, sodalite, sapphire, and turquoise. The mantra for this chakra is "Ham," and it vibrates to the frequency of 741 Hz, G or G#.

Physical issues that may arise from the throat chakra include thyroid issues, GERD, tooth and gum problems, respiratory issues, or jaw pain. A blocked throat chakra may cause congestive issues, such as hypothyroidism, while an overactive throat chakra may lead to issues of excess, such as hyperthyroidism. Opaque blue crystals (sodalite, lapis lazuli, turquoise) will absorb excess energy of an overactive throat chakra, while clear crystals (celestite, sapphire, fluorite) will amplify underactive energy in this chakra.

You've probably noticed a trend of eating foods in a naturally occurring color to match the chakra. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of naturally occurring blue foods (and blue Otter Pops don't count :( ). Blueberries are good for this chakra. Fruit and vegetable juices are, as well, as are tart fruits. Foods that soothe the throat, such as broths and soups, are also excellent for this chakra. For movement, gentle vocal exercises (like singing and chanting) are great for this chakra, as are deep breathing exercises and breathwork.

Sixth Chakra
Your sixth chart, also known as your third eye or Ajna is located in the center of your forehead. You may see people call the color of the chakra indigo or violet. It is associated with intuition, reasoning, intellect, mental health, psychic ability, open-mindedness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to learn from experience.

Most often, you will see violet or purple crystals associated with balancing this chakra (although some people also use blue crystals). These might include amethyst, sugilite, purple fluorite, iolite, and tanzanite. The chakra vibrates to the frequency 852 Hz, which is the note A or A#. Essential oils for balancing this chakra include peppermint, clary sage, lavender, rosemary, and sandalwood.

Physical issues associated with the sixth chakra may include headaches, mental illness, sinus and ear problems, pineal gland disorders, and vision problems. As with other chakras, blockages or under activity may lead to congestive types of disorders, such as a sinus infection, while overactive energy may lead to disorders of excess flow, such as migraines or cerebral hemorrhage. You can balance over-assertive energy with opaque crystals like sugilite (which will absorb) or balance under-active energy with clear crystals, like purple fluorite, which will amplify.

Foods for this chakra would be those considered "brain foods," like fish, nuts, and seeds that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, as well as purple foods like plums, eggplant, and dark chocolate. Meditation and pranayama (yoga breathing) are excellent third eye workouts. Child's pose is also an excellent third eye pose. Other exercises for this chakra include mental exercises, or any type of workout that involves intense focus and concentration, including martial arts.

Seventh Chakra
Your 7th chakra is also known as the crown chakra or Sahasrara. You will typically see two colors associated with this chakra - white and violet. Issues associated with this chakra include connection to the Divine, ethics and values, universal trust, compassion, spirituality, and understanding your greater/higher nature.

Crystals that work well with this chakra are clear or white, and include clear quartz, moonstone, labradorite, selenite, phenacite, petalite, and many others. There is no mantra for this chakra - the mantra is silence. The chakra vibrates at the frequency of 963Hz, or the note of B. Essential oils that are helpful in balancing this chakra include sandalwood, rose, frankincense, jasmine, and neroli.

Physical issues associated with the crown chakra include neurological disorders, pituitary disorders, nerve pain, stress, and cognitive function disorders.

​This chakra is all about connection to Divine and spirit, so foods don't affect it as they do lower chakras. When working to balance the seventh chakra, eat lightly and choose light, nutritious plant foods. Likewise, physical exercise doesn't impact this chakra like it would lower chakras. Instead, engage in meditation or prayer, and use breathing techniques such as alternate nostril breathing.