Characteristics of Chakras
Our energy centres or Chakras vibrate at different frequencies as they transmit energy. Each of the seven main chakras is associated with its own unique set of characteristics including a vibrational frequency, a colour, an element, spiritual qualities, a seed-syllable or bīja mantra*, a sense organ, and an endocrine gland. You will find here the key characteristics of the seven chakras to help you better understand your energy centres.
*Bija means seed. Bija mantras are one-syllable seed sounds that are meant to be said aloud. These bija mantras help to activate the energy of the chakras, purify and cleanse them.
Muladhara or Root Chakra
Muladhara or Root Chakra is our first chakra, located at the base of the spine near the perineum, and is primarily concerned with physical survival. It is our instinctual fight or flight response.
It is red in colour, has the element of Earth and the beej mantra LAM.
It represents stability, financial independence, money, physical security, grounding, foundation, family, your connection to the earth, your uniqueness; and supports the body functions of legs, feet, bones, large intestine, and adrenal glands.
Characteristics of Muladhara:
When in balance:
- When your Muladhara is active, clear, and functioning well, you feel very grounded and secure, both physically and emotionally, knowing you are safe, supported, and seen.
- You feel confident in your ability to withstand challenges independently. You feel adequate and capable.
- You are comfortable in our physical body and feel motivated toward physical activity.
- You like to maintain a steady income and are capable of acquiring material possessions, for a tangible feeling of security.
- You have good self-esteem, great survival instincts and are fine to spend time with yourself when needed.
- You maintain a sense of happiness about being active and successful
When in excess:
- When the Muladhara is overactive, you feel sluggish and unable to make progress in your life, on personal or professional levels, and you feel stagnant in your primary relationships.
- Your body can become stiff and heavy, setting in laziness and stagnation.
- Your self-confidence may turn into self-centredness and you desire to dominate others, creating greed in you.
- You may be overly materialistic; may go beyond just acquiring possessions, all the way to grabbing and stealing them.
When in lack:
- When your Muladhara is deficient or if the energy is blocked, it can give you an ungrounded, dizzy, anxious feeling moving you towards dominance, egoism, bluntness of action and speech, and lack of consideration for others.
- A blocked Muladhara can result in physical issues like arthritis, constipation, and bladder or colon problems, or emotionally through feeling insecure about finances or our basic needs and well-being.
- Your physical health may be weak, and strenuous activities will be difficult to endure, due to lack of stability and strength.
- You might be uncomfortable in your body and find it easier to sit and think about doing something rather than doing it. Daydreaming is preferred.
- It might become difficult to interact in social situations and strong criticism from someone could be a crushing experience.
- You might get prone to self-doubt and make fear of survival very prominent.