The sacral chakra is the second chakra. It is associated with the emotional body, sensuality, and creativity. Its element is water and as such, its energy is characterized by flow and flexibility. The function of the sacral chakra is directed by the principle of creativity.
The Sacral Chakra
LOCATION: lower abdomen centered between the pelvis and the navel center
REPRESENTS: life vitality, self gratification, passion
ASSOCIATED ANATOMY: sacral vertebra, reproductive organs, lower back, hips
BODILY FUNCTIONS: Circulation, Urinary Function, Reproduction
PHYSICAL ELEMENT: Water
COLOR: Orange
AFFIRMATION: I feel
Understanding the subtle changes in our physical body and emotions can lead us to understand more about who we are. By paying close attention we can find out throughout self discovery what we need to feel more balanced and harmonious.
Balanced: Feelings of creativity, playfulness, and sensual and sexual pleasure, feelings of wellness, plenty, pleasure, and joy, feeling of fully connected and attuned to their physical and emotional centers. Comfortable within your own body and aware of their emotions. Sexual and non-sexual relationships are healthy, and they are based on trust and mutual respect. A person with a balanced sacral chakra has a passion for life that is expressed in everything they do.
Excessive: When this chakra is overactive there is an excessive sex drive, compulsive behaviors, and tension or frustration. Often the person is overly emotional, hypersensitive, and emotionally dependent. An overactive sacral chakra can result in lustful, arrogant, or conceited behavior, and an aggressive desire to control others.
Deficient: When this chakra is under active you may feel unemotional, guarded, have a denial of pleasure, lack of desire or passion, feelings of sexual repression and self-deprivation, difficulties with 1:1 relationships and reciprocity. A person with an insufficient sacral chakra feels out of touch of their body and emotions. An underdeveloped sacral chakra can manifest as distrust, resentment, fear, apathy, pessimism, and anti-social conduct. It can also show up as continually worrying about what others think and always following the crowd.
ESSENTIAL OILS FOR THE SACRAL CHAKRA
Apply the essential oils to the bottoms of the feet and/or roll along the low abdomen.
Aromatically: apply the oils to your palms and cup your nose and take deep, long breaths.
Clary Sage: Assists in opening creative channels and clearing up creative blocks. Clary sage is a great choice for helping change perceptions and see their limiting belief system. This is a great choice also for the third eye chakra in it support of visioning and imagining new possibilities. For the sacral chakra this oil helps the creative side and brings in a sense of hope and lightens the emotions.
Patchouli: Helps individuals appreciate the magnificence of the physical body. This oils helps with releasing judgments and issues related to the body and helps with body image and general body dislike. Patchouli brings a sense of connection to the physical body and helps with confidence. Additionally, patchouli is an excellent choice for becoming physically expressive and becoming fully present in their own body.
Ylang Ylang: A powerful remedy for releasing emotional trauma from the past. This oil is a great choice for any emotional healing and helps with releasing bottled up emotions like anger, sadness and resentment. Ylang ylang is playful, healing and brings about emotional connection.
Bergamot: Relieves feelings of despair, self-judgment, and low self-esteem. This beautiful oil helps with self-acceptance and self-love–both so important in our interpersonal relationships. Bergamot is a wonderful option for those seeing optimism, hope and feelings of being good enough as it reawakens the soul and offers courage to share with others the inner self.
Wild Orange: This oil addresses a wide variety of emotional issues. By inspiring abundance, creativity, fun, spontaneity, and playfulness will orange brings out the the joy in our lives. Wild orange also assists in our natural creative sense and inspires limitless solutions to our lives. The playful and creative aspect to this oil is perfect for the sacral chakra.
GEMSTONE FOR THE SACRAL CHAKRA
Carnelian is known as an artist’s stone. Carnelian crystal is a warm, vibrant stone that boosts confidence and the power of true expression. This stone empowers your self-confidence in all aspects of your life – from relationships and professional pursuits to personal projects. Carnelian is the ultimate sacral chakra stone for its fiery orange energy. The inspiring stone opens you to the infinite world of creative passion. Carnelian helps increase physical energy, personal power, creativity, flow and compassion. Carry this stone in your pocket or wear on your body.
YOGA FOR THE SACRAL CHAKRA
When we feel stuck, we often isolate ourselves or seek to escape. Unfortunately this creates a cycle of feeling alone and disconnected. A balanced sacral chakra can bring with it sense of creativity and connection to other people. Balance Your Sacral Chakra with the following yoga postures.
Goddess Pose: The sacral chakra’s element is water. Indeed, connecting with water is another way to help heal the sacral. The Goddess pose is a powerful way to revitalize and renew the body, mind, and spirit. Vital energy can freely move down through the pelvis and legs and into the earth for grounding. However, fear, pain, and anxiety can cause this energy to become blocked. Goddess pose opens up the hips and chest so that power, strength, and energy can circulate freely. Goddess pose asks us to get in touch with the divine feminine within ourselves, balancing our strength and power with deep inner wisdom.
Reverse Warrior Pose: By giving the side of your heart an opportunity to shine (as a side bend rather than a back bend), this posture offers all sorts of positive vibes, including a boost of self-esteem and perseverance. Sometimes referred to as the peaceful warrior pose it is used in yoga to remind students to show up with love and intention in day-to-day life. When practicing reverse warrior, ask yourself to consider beliefs in your life from another perspective. Remebering that there are two sides to each coin we can foster relationships with fluidity and understanding.
Wide Legged Forward Bend: This pose offers an excellent opportunity to explore the harmonious and clear-headed quality of having a balanced mind. In this pose we feel the earthiness of the lower body while the mind grows spacious and tranquil. It’s no surprise that this pose is often used as a balm for frayed or anxious nerves while also offering a deep stretch for the hips.
Seated Forward Bend: The seated forward bend can help us clear our minds and work on stretching and strengthening our physical bodies. Our minds are a powerful tool that, when we allow ourselves to focus on us for a change, can boost inner strength and self-awareness. This pose tones the muscles of the spine and helps to restore the energy levels in the body.
Reclined Bound Angle Pose: This pose is excellent for firing up a more passionate side. Generally this pose concludes a yoga session to end in a beautiful relaxing way to gain control over the body and the mind. This pose is incredible to relieve stress levels and to cure anxiety.