Characteristics of Chakras
Chakras, meaning “wheel” or “disk” in Sanskrit, are thought to be portals through which the main energetic channels of the body flow.
There are more than 72,000 energetic channels in the body called nadis and like veins carrying blood through the body, nadis are pathways carrying vital life force energy or “prana,” throughout your entire being.
Our seven main chakras align on the axis from the base of the spine to the crown of the head, and each chakra 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.
Today, we will have a look at the fifth chakra – Vishuddha or Throat Chakra.
Vishuddha or Throat Chakra
As its name suggests, Vishuddha or Throat Chakra, is located in the area of the throat and governs the anatomical regions of the thyroid, parathyroid, jaw, neck, mouth, tongue, and larynx. It plays a vital role in communication, creativity, and self-expression and enables you to find your voice and speak your truth.
It is blue in colour, has the element of Sound or Space/Ether and has the beej mantra ‘HAM’ (pronounced as ‘HUM’).
This fifth chakra has an outward moving force which expands in the same way that sound moves out in all directions from any source of vibration. The thyroid and parathyroid glands are controlled by this chakra, and in turn these glands control the body’s metabolism and the regulation of calcium in the blood.
At the molecular level, the vibrations of the Vishuddha Chakra harmonise the bonds and relations between atoms and molecules that make up our being; when disharmony prevails, it leads to disintegration and disease.
Emotional signs that denote a blocked throat chakra include feelings of depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem and an inability to talk confidently and express true feelings.
This chakra is associated with truth, clarity and responsibility and a person centered in this energy will have an active intellect and usually be a progressive thinker, open minded, always interested in new ideas, and a constant seeker of a new way of life.
The attributes of Vishuddha or Throat Chakra include listening, speaking, singing, writing, telepathy, and any of the arts related to sound and language.
Characteristics of Vishuddha:
When in balance:
- When the energy in the Throat Chakra is strong and balanced, it gives you the ability and confidence to express yourself freely and keeps you totally grounded in the present moment.
- You become compassionate and more spiritually oriented.
- You are expressive, articulate; your speech is more impactful with fewer words and your creative thinking is enhanced.
- You get stronger emotionally and become a good listener.
- You develop a flair for languages, and will be academic, intelligent and love to learn and explore new ideas. You are also drawn to travel and explore new places; may even enjoy a nomadic life.
- Singing and acting come naturally to you, and you might even be creative with sound and music.
- You love to explore new ideas.
- You get bold, even fearless, versatile, and easily develop technological skills.
When in excess:
- When the energy in the Vishuddha Chakra is too strong or the chakra too open, you may struggle with a need for recognition, attention and may tend to be an over achiever.
- You may not listen enough, talk loudly or excessively, and tend to get argumentative often.
- You may not be truthful, so the need to talk leads to fabrication.
- With a continuous need to talk, you may be other thinking and with too many scattered ideas, have a hard time focusing.
When in lack:
- When the energy in the Throat Chakra is weak or depleted, you get anxious and fearful about speaking your personal truth. As such, your voice may be timid and your expression week.
- You face communication issues and lack in creativity. You may fear public speaking and have a low self-esteem.
- When in conflict with others, you are unforgiving.
- You usually resist change, exploring new ideas, technology or even travelling to new places – you are content just being with what is known to you.