MULADHARA
The 1st chakra, Muladhara, also know as "the Root" is associated with the colour red and the qualities of groundedness, connection to the Heart of our Earth Mother, survival, strength, physical self, safety, tribal and family karma, courage, determination, origin and generation of life force and PRESENCE.
Muladhara is the seat of Kundalini Shakti (energy) - the infinite potential of being, infinite resourcefulness and when balanced offers us adaptability, fearlessness, stability and a sense of deep trust in the flow of life.
The muladhara can be felt at the base of the spine and its prana flows downward to the excretory system. However, in Himalayan Kriya yoga practices we draw the Shakti up from this knot at the root and bring it up the along the spinal energy channel known as the Sushumna, through all the chakras and eventually into the heart, throat, third eye and crown.
Sushumna means a joyful (sukha) mind (mana). When this central energy channel is flowing clearly and freely, like the Saraswati river that it represents in yogic teachings, then we have a joyful mind, and therefore, a joyful life. When kundalini has risen through all the chakras, we have transcended humanity’s base survival fears and existential angst that are at the “root” of suffering. Already when the kundalini reaches the heart, we can have great awakenings, deep compassion and insights into the true nature of reality ~ in yoga, this is known as cosmic consciousness. When our kundalini reaches Ajna (third eye) and Sahasrara (crown), we enter the realms of God consciousness.
As long as our kundalini remains swirling at the root and within the lower triangle of the first three chakras, we are primarily motivated by the earthly realm, craving and aversion, the conditioned mind, karma and samskaras.
ASTROLOGY & MANTRA
The planet connected to the root chakra is Saturn and the deity is Shiva. Many people associate Shiva with destruction and Saturn with negativity; however, it is by facing and overcoming our deepest fears and releasing the attachments we carry to the physical world, body and mind, that we are truly liberated and then Saturn becomes exalted at the Heart and Shiva becomes our great connection to our true Self, the stillness of pure consciousness and our dharma.
Chant the great mantra Om Namah Shivaya to connect with Shiva and Saturn at the root and tune into the great power waiting to be unleashed as it rises up the spine from the root to the third eye as the great life force of Shakti!
Chant the bija sound “LAM” for several minutes and focus your attention on Muladhara (your root). You may place your hands in front of Muladhara to help you focus your awareness upon this chakra and channel the healing vibrations of the mantra into the chakra.
The Universal law that governs the root is the Law of Generation - it is our Source of constant energy, our Life Force, our Vitality and generated by the polarity of Creation. Everything is destroyed in order to be created again. Everything is being born again and again and again. Everything is constantly transforming itSelf.
Everything is ALL the time creating new realities in the NOW.
The Root chakra relates to our core survival needs: food, water, shelter & safety. It is the energy centre closest to the Earth and when balanced, supports our sense of being grounded and connected to ALL life as that which we ARE. Tat Tvam Asi
The invitation of the Root is to make peace with uncertainty, to trust that Divine Mother is supporting us and that we have everything we need for She has never failed us. Nature is not “the enemy” to conquer. Balancing of the Root brings confidence in our ability to fulfill our deepest needs and desires.
Our sense of safety is directly connected to the origin of Life Force, being connected and being in present moment awareness where we can feel safe. In order to heal, we must feel safe so any crisis in our lives that manifests as a result of being out of sync with our Natural rhythm will affect our core Root chakra. When we are continuously in the fight or flight mode (sympathetic nervous system) we cannot ground into this sense of safety and this can and will set off a chain of biochemical reactions in our bodies. Living a life in constant stress inevitably leads to personal and existential crisis.
However, no matter what challenges us in life, the Divine gift of the Cosmic Mother is that we can choose to tune in and start healing anytime we take our awareness within and consciously make the effort to connect in practice. Once we become connected and balanced, we realize that “lack” is a spell of greed. Fear leads us to forget we are powerful transformers / alchemists of energy. We are channels, creators and generators of Life Force energy and with daily practice and tuning of this energy, we learn to trust it.
SIGNS of IMBALANCE in MULADHARA CHAKRA
An imbalanced Root chakra may manifest in depression, suspicion, worry, anxiety, obsessing over money, obsessing over the safety of loved ones, feeling a constant sense of lack or “not enoughness”, aggression, apathy and can lead to a withdrawing from Life ~ it can keep one in a mundane state of consciousness where one is deeply held by fear of life.
There is a fear of the unknown, as well as, a fear of losing the known leading to a sense of instability and reactivity ~ life is “battled with”, rather than harmonized with simply because one's consciousness state is not grounded and therefore constantly fluctuates in reaction to changing life circumstances. It may also manifest as hoarding, overworking, hostility, greed, quick temper, anger, stagnation and a sense of living an ever-repetitive pattern of the past. For example, one may find themselves aware of repeatedly thinking the same self-defeating thoughts such as, "life is hard" or, "things do not work out for me"… this is the state of living and creating karma ~ life is a self-fulfilling prophecy at this level of consciousness although we cannot see this to be true until we elevate ourselves from it.
If the Muladhara is very out of balance and the energy cannot flow so that it is has become like a very tight knot, then total inertia, depression, fear, relentless stress and physical disease is the result. However, the very good news is that there are many things one can do to balance and realign all of the chakras and the entire energetic system of the human being, which is the Source of our being human at all.
CHAKRA ALIGNMENT
To heal and balance this chakra we must come into alignment with present moment awareness and we must learn to accept that we are ENOUGH.
To begin healing and balancing our Root chakra we may need to do some "Shadow work" to begin exploring the source of our fears. This will help us to shift our awareness to our authentic Self and help us to release the urge to fight, protect or defend against a hidden “enemy”. Shadow work is simply a term used to describe doing the self-healing work of taking a very honest look at ourselves... our thoughts, behaviours, motivations and patterns. It means taking radical responsibility for ourselves for that is the Spiritual path ~ to realize oneself as the cause and not the effect of life's experiences is perhaps one of the most powerful and transformative choices one can make, but it requires that we find a way to see a much bigger picture of ourselves and that we also surrender judgment.
Anytime we do shadow work we are raising our Vibration (even if it does not feel like it in the moment). It is only by shining the light on our shadows that they are revealed and it is only by learning to accept these shadow aspects of our Self that we can begin to truly know who we are and let go of what no longer serves us. We simply cannot let go of things we do not acknowledge; therefore, if you feel fear, do not try to push it away or numb the pain - look at it and allow yourself to be open to discovering what experience or beliefs motivate this sense of fear.
From the yogic perspective, self-love is self-knowing and self-acceptance for we cannot love what we do not know and judgment creates separation, anxiety, fear and all the emotions which keep us out of tune.
JYOTISH
There are many insights to be gathered from your Vedic birth chart analysis. In every reading we looking into your physical, astral, energetic, karmic, dharmic and eternal soul self. For example, if one’s Moon is strongly aspected / afflicted by Saturn, this very often results in bouts of depression and they can be severe. However, there are many remedies for strengthening the Moon and harmonizing with Saturn which can alleviate this often debilitating challenge. These practices require a certain maturity and readiness to take responsibility for one’s state of consciousness, but when sincerely practiced with an open mind and devoted heart, can dramatically and quickly improve one’s life.
This is just one of many examples that illustrates the kinds of insights we receive into one’s self with the Science and Light of Jyotish. The true depth of insight available is very challenging to express in words, as with all yogic teachings, Jyotish must be experienced to be realized and understood.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES FOR BALANCING MULADHARA
Practise grounding meditations. Sit outside on the Earth as often as you can, walk barefoot, eat root vegetables, cleanse in the Ocean, Lakes and Streams and practise GRATITUDE for all that you are and all that you have.
Each breath is a gift and something for which to be grateful. Find ways to give back to the Earth and others as often as possible. Hug your loved ones often. Practices being present and really listening to others when they speak to you - this alone will drastically change the nature of your experience being human and relating to others.
If you have a daily yogic practice, open and close your practice with gratitude and connect your energetic roots through your core to the core of our Earth Mother… And / or, create a gratitude journal and reflect upon your blessings every day.
The red fire of Earth ignites thru this channel and may burn away all fear when lit and flamed in meditation with breath and awareness.
Within the Himalayan Kriya yoga tradition there are a series of chakra clearing, cleansing and charging kriyas. 1:1 initiation into these powerful practices are available through myself and in every Jyotish reading, guidelines for specific practices are given that support you in balancing your, unique chakra system.
Understanding the Universal Law of Generation is to learn that if we cannot trust we are supported, we cannot be trusted and this creates an inner conflict for us humans.
ASANA: Use the power of Surya to burn away your fear: practise Sun Salutations, Goddess Squat, Warrior Series and Child pose to open and activate the root chakra.
Remember you are LOVE and LOVE IS a Super Power.
SADHANA
Check out the Chakra Balancing Himalaya Kriya Yoga Practise (available through 1:1 initiation and videos coming soon to this website as well) and practice for a series of 21, 40 or 90 days to align, heal and balance your chakras.
Finally, if you feel you need more support and guidance, please email me for 1:1 Jyotish consultation and yogic initiation into spiritual practices and a customized daily Sadhana practise created specifically for you that will help you to align, heal and transform your current challenges into opportunities for tremendous growth!
As within, so without! Om Shanti Shanti Shanti. Hari Om Tat Sat!
Healing Affirmations:
Ahum Brahmasmi
I am right here, right NOW.
I am present moment awareness. I embrace Life.
I am embrace Change.
I am grounded to Earth and connected to the crystalline grid.
My body is vibrantly healthy.
My earth body is a temple for my Soul.
I have the strength of Source.
I AM the Source.