Category: Spirituality

Nestled in the centre of our neck, this chakra acts as a portal for authentic self-expression and effective communication. In Sanskrit, the throat chakra is called Vishuddha which translates to ‘pure’ or ‘purification’. It holds the power to harmonise our inner thoughts with the external world, allowing our truth to be heard.

The throat chakra resonates with the colour blue, symbolising the vastness of the sky and the boundless potential of our voice. When the throat chakra is balanced, we communicate with clarity, creativity, and compassion, having the space to freely express our truth. However, when this chakra becomes blocked, our voice may feel silenced, leading to difficulties in expressing ourselves and misunderstandings in our relationships, as well as stifling our creativity.

Recognising blockages in the throat chakra is a crucial step in the healing process. Pay attention to moments when you struggle to find the right words or when you feel hesitant to speak your truth. Physical symptoms like throat infections, tension in the neck and shoulders, or a chronic sore throat may also indicate an imbalance in this chakra.

Crystal Healing

Crystals carry powerful vibrations that can aid in chakra balancing. For the throat chakra, try working with Aquamarine, Lapis Lazuli, Amazonite, Sodalite, Blue Lace Agate, Angelite, or Blue Apatite. Hold the crystal close to your throat as you meditate or wear it as jewellery to harness its calming and harmonising energy.

Yoga Poses

As a trained yogi, I can attest to the restorative power different types of yoga have on both our physical and spiritual being. Engaging in specific yoga poses can help open and balance the throat chakra. Poses like Fish (Matsyasana), Fish Variation (Matsyasana Variation), and Plough  (Halasana) can gently stretch the neck and stimulate the throat region. As you move through these postures, imagine a river of soothing blue light flowing through your throat, releasing any stagnant energy.

Breathwork

I can never overstate the power of breathwork. Breath is particularly important to this chakra as the throat is a major component of the body’s respiratory system. Conscious breathing exercises like Lion’s Breath and Ujjayi Breath can invigorate the throat chakra. Lion’s Breath involves taking a deep inhale and exhaling forcefully while sticking out your tongue and opening your eyes wide. Ujjayi Breath, on the other hand, is a gentle constriction of the throat during both inhalation and exhalation, creating a soothing oceanic sound. These breath practices help clear any energetic obstacles, allowing your voice to flow freely.

Aromatherapy 

Aromatherapy can be a powerful tool in balancing the throat chakra, as the throat is intricately connected to the nose. Essential oils and incense work their magic by engaging our sense of smell. Eucalyptus, with its invigorating and clarifying properties, not only clears the airways but also promotes mental clarity. Sage, renowned for its purifying qualities, helps release energetic blockages that hinder self-expression. Diffuse these cleansing scents in your space or gently apply diluted oils to your throat area during meditation, and let their healing aroma embrace your soul.

Picture a garden filled with vibrant flowers, each petal holding a story. Our inner child is like that garden, a treasury of memories, emotions, and experiences from our childhood. Inner child healing is the act of acknowledging, understanding and nurturing this young, vulnerable aspect of ourselves. By exploring our past, we gain insights into the wounds that have shaped our beliefs, behaviours, and relationships. This sacred practice empowers us to heal those wounds, releasing patterns that no longer serve us, and reclaiming our authenticity.

Possessing a healing, loving and calming energy, the heart chakra connects the physical realm with the spiritual. It serves as our centre for unconditional love, compassion, empathy and joy – and working with it can often reveal deep and profound truths.

Hypnotherapy 

Led by the whispers of the subconscious, hypnotherapy takes us on a journey into our inner realms. We access memories and emotions that may be buried within through deep relaxation and focused attention. This transformative practice allows us to reframe past experiences, heal wounds, and foster a profound sense of self-acceptance. Guided meditations are a helpful way to practise hypnotherapy, and thanks to the wonders of the internet, you can even find videos specifically created for inner child healing.

Dancing, Singing, and Painting 

Expressive arts are like spells that enchant our inner child. These rituals awaken the childlike spirit, unleashing joy, creativity, and healing. Creativity is a uniquely human experience and has a powerful impact on our souls. I’ve written before about how movement helps awaken both the body and the mind, and dancing is a fun, child-like way to embrace movement. Dance with abandon, sing melodies that resonate within your being, and let the colours of your paintbrush dance across the canvas.

Shadow Work 

Just like the moon reflects light and darkness, our inner child carries joy and pain within it. Shadow work involves delving into the depths of our subconscious, embracing and integrating the aspects of ourselves that we’ve disowned or suppressed. Shining a light on our shadows brings healing and wholeness to our inner child.

Journaling

A magical tool to unlock the secrets within, journaling provides a safe space for our inner child to express itself. Through writing, we can release emotions, uncover hidden desires, and gain profound insights. Let the words flow like ink from a pen, allowing your inner child to speak its truth and find solace on the page.

The heart chakra sees us approach the halfway point on our journey through the seven chakras in my Chakra Chapters series. I’ve previously covered the Root Chakra, Sacral Chakra and Solar Plexus Chakra, so make sure to read those blogs, too. 

Known in Sanskrit as Anahata, which roughly translates to unhurt or unbeaten, the heart chakra sits in the centre of our chests and the chakra system. It acts as a bridge between the upper and lower energy centres. As you would expect, the heart chakra is all about giving and receiving love – and therefore plays a pivotal role in determining the relationships we have with ourselves and others.

Possessing a healing, loving and calming energy, the heart chakra connects the physical realm with the spiritual. It serves as our centre for unconditional love, compassion, empathy and joy – and working with it can often reveal deep and profound truths.

Cacao Ceremony & Chanting

I’ve talked about the heart-opening powers of cacao in a previous blog all about spiritual healing plants, but incorporating drinking cacao in a heart chakra ceremony takes it to a whole new level! Cacao offers a gentle high without any mind-altering effects and opens your heart allowing you to tap into a healing childlike energy. I set the scene with either rose, lavender or jasmine incense – all scents strongly associated with tapping into the love frequency. I then like to chant Yam, which is the mantra that vibrates with the energy of the heart chakra and brings about peace, compassion, joy, love and contentment for yourself and those around you. 

Yoga 

Movement is an incredible medicine – especially when looking to shift a blockage. When it comes to the heart chakra, practising backbends of any sort is a fantastic way to open up the front body. These yoga poses can be intense and put a strain on your lower back if you’re not adequately warmed up, so make sure to start slow with simple backbends like Cobra Pose, Cat/Cow Pose and Puppy Pose before embarking on more intense postures such as Camel Pose, Wheel Pose or Fish Pose. Remember that you don’t always have to go to the fullest expression of the asana, use blocks and bolsters to support you as needed to make sure you’re getting the full benefits rather than straining your way through. 

Crystal Healing 

I love using crystals when working to open my chakras. Crystals in the chakra’s associated colour of green are wonderfully beneficial, such as jade, emerald, green aventurine, malachite and moldavite. Pink crystals that vibrate with the love frequency are other great alternatives, such as rose quartz, rhodonite and rhodochrosite for cultivating self-compassion and joy. Thanks to its central location, you can easily work with crystals to heal your heart chakra by wearing them around your neck with jewellery or as a pendant. You can also hold the crystals while you meditate, keep them near your bed or use them in a Reiki session. 

Holotropic Breathwork

If you feel your heart chakra is particularly misaligned, then you can always look into holotropic breathwork as a practice to help release the blockage. While emotionally and physically intense, it can have a truly transformational effect. Holotropic breathwork is usually guided by a trained facilitator who will take you through a series of controlled breathing patterns to place you in a state of altered consciousness. Once in that state, you’ll find you can move beyond your body and ego to deeply connect with yourself. The deep connection and understanding will help heal your heart chakra. 

Since exploring further into spirituality and completing my training in sound healing, I’ve discovered how deeply transformative this wellness practice is! With its roots in many ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians, Greeks and Chinese, sound has been used for its therapeutic effects on the mind and body. 

One of the things I love most about this wellness practice is its ability to promote healing on many levels. Whether I’m experiencing physical discomfort, emotional distress, or spiritual disconnection, sound healing has the power to help me find relief and restore balance to my life. 

If you’re curious about learning more about this,it’s vital to understand that sound waves have the power to affect us on many levels, from our physical bodies to our emotional and spiritual wellbeing. To harness this power, I have used a variety of tools, including singing bowls, tuning forks, chimes, and gongs, to create a vibrational frequency that can promote relaxation, release tension, and restore balance to the body and mind.

Crystal healing is a wellness practice that works by using the unique energetic properties of crystals and gemstones to support all aspects of our wellbeing. When we use crystals for healing, we’re essentially tapping into the natural vibrational energy of the earth, which can help to restore balance and harmony within our own energy systems. 

The power of crystals isn’t a new discovery – they have been used for thousands of years for protection, health and emotional healing! During my studies, I learned that in India, Ayurvedic medicine has long recognised the healing properties of gems and minerals, and Native American tribes also have a rich history of using crystals in their healing ceremonies.

When working with crystals, I like to focus on setting intentions and using specific stones that resonate with my goals or needs. For example, I might use rose quartz to promote self-love, citrine to enhance creativity, or amethyst to support spiritual growth and connection.

When the radiant energy of the solar plexus chakra is stifled, it can cause a blockage that can wreak havoc on our physical and emotional well-being. It’s like a dam blocking the flow of a powerful river, preventing its natural force from flowing freely. This can lead to a variety of physical symptoms, such as digestive issues, weight gain, and adrenal fatigue, as well as emotional ones, such as feelings of powerlessness, low self-esteem, and a lack of motivation.

It’s important to be mindful of the factors that can contribute to the blockage of our solar plexus chakra. This can include negative self-talk, toxic relationships, and a lack of self-care. To prevent blockages from occurring, one must cultivate self-love and set boundaries that honour our inner power. It’s time to awaken the fiery passion within and unleash our true potential.

Thankfully, there are many ways to prevent and release blockages in the solar plexus chakra. By practising yoga, meditation, or spending time in nature, we can connect with our inner power and strengthen our sense of self-worth. We can also engage in practices that stoke the flames of our inner fire, such as creative expression, journaling, or setting intentions that align with our highest purpose. Remember, the power of the solar plexus chakra resides within us, waiting to be unleashed.

Eating yellow foods 

A simple and delicious way to nourish your solar plexus chakra is to eat more yellow foods. Incorporating more of these sunny-hued foods into your diet can help to activate and balance this chakra, as they are associated with the colour of the solar plexus chakra itself. Yellow foods like bananas, squash, turmeric, and lemon are not only vibrant and pleasing to the eye, but they also contain nutrients that support digestive health and boost energy levels. By consuming yellow foods, you can tap into the healing power of nature and connect with the energy of the sun. 

If you want to take your solar plexus chakra balancing to the next level, consider incorporating a vegan or plant-based diet into your lifestyle. Eating a diet that is rich in whole, plant-based foods not only supports physical health, but it can also help to promote a more compassionate and mindful way of living. This can in turn help to cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness and connection with the world around us.

To use these crystals, you can simply place them on or near your solar plexus chakra during meditation or throughout the day. You can also carry them with you as a reminder of your intentions to balance your solar plexus chakra. If you’re feeling called to a certain crystal, trust your intuition and work with it in whatever way feels right for you.

Self-Reiki

Reiki is a form of energy healing that can be used to balance the chakras. With Reiki self-healing, you can focus on healing your own energy centres, including the solar plexus chakra. To do this, simply find a quiet and comfortable space where you can relax and focus on your breath. Place your hands on your solar plexus chakra and visualise a warm, healing energy flowing through your hands and into your chakra. You can also use symbols or affirmations to enhance the Reiki energy.

Self-Reiki can be a powerful tool for balancing the solar plexus chakra, as it allows you to connect with your inner power and promote self-healing. It can also help to release any negative emotions or thoughts that may be contributing to a blockage in this chakra. As a trained Reiki practitioner myself, I can attest to the healing benefits of this powerful ritual.

Are you curious about the ancient practice of smudging? For centuries, various cultures have used smudge sticks for their spiritual and energetic benefits. These bundles of dried herbs, leaves and flowers are ignited and used to cleanse and purify the energy of objects and spaces. It’s like waving a magic wand, except instead of spells, you get to banish negative energy and fill your space with good vibes! 

As someone who practises spirituality and meditation, I use smudge sticks as a part of my daily rituals to deepen my connection with the divine and to create a sacred space for myself. I’ve mentioned in a previous blog how I use a smudge stick during my candle-gazing rituals, as they help guide me to a more transcendental state of mind for meditation. 

But that’s not all that smudge sticks can be used for! The possibilities are endless, from enhancing uplifting or peaceful energy, to cleansing spaces and raising vibrations. If you’re still curious to explore the vast potential of smudge sticks, then read on for more!

Smudge sticks are an ancient and powerful tool used for a variety of purposes, but none quite as popular as cleansing and protection. When it comes to selecting a herb for this purpose, Sage reigns supreme. With a wide range of variations including Desert Sage, Cedar Sage, and the ever-popular White Sage, this herb has been revered by Indigenous tribes as a vital component of their spiritual ceremonies. And for good reason! Its potent aroma is known to repel negative energy and attract positivity, making it an essential addition to any sacred space.

But Sage isn’t your only choice when it comes to cleansing and protection – Juniper and Dragon’s Blood smudge sticks are also just as effective! Juniper is thought to have incredible protection qualities, with its smoke creating a barrier between yourself and negative forces. Dragon’s blood smudge sticks, made from the resin of Dragon trees, can help in strengthening your aura. 

To harness the powerful energy of these smudge sticks, I carefully light the end of the bundle and allow the fragrant smoke to permeate every corner of the space. I focus my intention on releasing any negative energy and welcoming in cleansing and protective energies to fill the space. I allow the sweet fragrance to envelope me, and take a deep breath, allowing myself to be fully present in the moment.

When I’m looking to bring in new and uplifting energy, I turn to lemongrass as a smudge stick. Its refreshing and citrusy aroma is believed to enhance mental clarity and promote positive energy. Using lemongrass in my smudging rituals helps me clear out any negative energy and fill my space with a renewed sense of optimism and positivity.

To incorporate lemongrass into my smudging ritual, I light the end of the bundle and let the fragrant smoke waft throughout the entire space. As the smoke rises, I envision a renewed sense of energy and optimism permeating the atmosphere, uplifting my mood and bringing a fresh perspective to my day.

Lavender is a herb I use for my smudge sticks when I want to bring forth a calming energy. It has a soothing scent that can promote relaxation and peace. We’re all aware of how potent lavender is for aiding a good night’s sleep, hence its popular use in room sprays and essential oils. However, burning a bundle of dried lavender is a far better natural alternative, as it eliminates the harsh chemicals that are often added into synthetic products. 

When I want to invoke calming energy, I light the end of the bundle and let the smoke spread throughout the space, making sure to reach every corner. As part of my nightly rituals, I visualise peaceful and calming energy entering into my space to aid a restful and restorative night’s sleep.

Also known as shamanic snuff, Amazonian Hapé is a psychotropic spiritual healing plant used for thousands of years in sacred rituals. Derived from a type of tobacco plant known as mapacho, Hapé isn’t to be smoked like cigarettes but instead administered through the nose.

While tobacco is the main component in Hapé, the final medicine is a mixture of other sacred healing plants. The exact mix of tree barks, leaves, seeds and roots also included is a closely guarded secret by each shaman, meaning each experience is slightly different depending on the combination of the other plants’ healing properties. The ingredients are combined and ground down with a pestle and mortar into a light-coloured powder before being strained through a fine mesh. 

Since Hapé is a psychotropic substance, it’s really important to pay attention to your set (mindset) and setting (physical environment). You want to create an internal and external space that feels safe and intentional. For your set, my advice is to go into the Hapé ceremony with a clear intention in mind. This could be to answer a question you’ve had, find guidance or deepen your connection with yourself. For your setting, choose a space that feels sacred to you with safe energy. If anything doesn’t feel right, it’s best to take a moment to pause, step back and only proceed if you feel comfortable doing so. 

It remains an ancient cultural practice that is still commonly used by Amazonian tribes to enhance their night vision while hunting, but it is fast becoming widely recognised for its additional spiritual healing benefits. These benefits include detoxifying your body, increasing visual perception, clearing pent-up anger, resetting your energetic field, treating ocular diseases and it can even be used in conjunction with other practices to heal depression, anxiety and addiction. 

Since the eyes are incredibly sensitive, administering Sananga can be uncomfortable, and I personally find it quite painful. However, the burning sensation only lasts a few minutes and is actually a big part of the ceremony and the plant’s healing powers. The ceremony leader will guide you through the pain with some deep breathing. Riding through the discomfort is worthwhile as you’ll reap the benefits of the endorphin rush that comes after. I usually experience a sense of detoxification, intense relaxation and overall feel much lighter emotionally and physically.

While it is a potent medicine, you can administer it yourself without a guided ceremony, so long as you double-check (and triple-check) your source is reputable and thoroughly educate yourself beforehand.

Since embarking on my spiritual healing journey, I’ve come to understand how integral it is for me to feel rooted. Connecting with the Earth on a deeper level helps me feel a sense of oneness and calm with myself, others and the world around me. Because of this, I have such a strong sense of gratitude for everything Mother Nature provides. And one of her many gifts is the power of healing plants.

I’ve enjoyed documenting my experience with spiritual healing plants and taking note of how each medicine makes me feel and draws me deeper into my inner self for some time now. In my last blog on the topic, I looked into the powers of Cacao and Blue Lotus, both of which are great if you’ve just started out experimenting with this type of healing. This blog, however, takes things a bit further by looking at slightly more potent plants: Amazonian Hapé and Sananga. 

Since both plants have the potential for more powerful spiritual transformations, I would advise you thoroughly research each medicine and read about other people’s experiences – which I hope this blog will help you with! When you’re confident in your decision, be mindful of your mental state and surroundings (which I go into more detail below) to make sure you feel as supported as possible to let the plants work their magic.

As mentioned, Hapé is administered through the nose, but it’s not snorted or inhaled, instead, it is blown forcefully up the nostrils. If served by someone else they will use a Tepi applicator instrument, and if serving yourself then you’ll need to use a v-shaped Kuripe pipe. 

It’s administered first to the left nostril, signifying death and then to the right for rebirth. It can feel a little uncomfortable when it’s blown into the nose, but this passes, and you’ll quickly begin to feel the effects. It instantly opens and cleanses the pineal gland and relaxes the body. Personally, I find it calms me while raising my awareness, making it perfect before a meditation. 

It goes without saying, always seek out a reputable practitioner to administer or supply Hapé!

Another Amazonian spiritual medicine, Sananga is made from the roots and bark of a shrub found in Brazil and the rest of South America. This healing plant is typically administered as a liquid eye drop, which is extracted by grinding the root and bark into a fine powder to release the juice. 

A pink-coloured crystal belonging to the mineral class of quartz, also known as hyaline quartz, rose quartz is a translucent crystal with a trigonal central system. It is one of the most abundant and inexpensive crystals – making it perfect for jewellery. 

With its blushed feminine hue, there’s no surprise that rose quartz represents love and compassion. This crystal will inspire you to love yourself, especially in times of loneliness and abandonment, and is a great tool for healing the heart. Rose quartz is ripe with emotional healing properties for negative feelings, too. It has the power to release bad emotions like grief, anger, jealousy, stress and rage, so you can convert them into joy and self-love instead.

Making the most of the stone’s compassionate energy, I like to keep rose quartz in my bedroom to increase the love vibrations. Since we’re 80% water and rose quartz is a very high-frequency crystal, I find placing it in my water every morning helps to set me on the right path for the day ahead. 

A purple variety of quartz, amethyst is a semiprecious stone with a glassy lustre and forms part of the hexagonal crystal system. Thanks to its ability to change under the influence of different lights and temperatures, the stone can evolve with the body and create a close connection with our life experiences. 

One of the most powerful gemstones of its kind, amethyst has strong healing properties and is known for its ability to purify, create serenity and overcome sadness. With its spiritual awareness and protective nature, it can balance your emotions making it a great stone to have by your side during a time of loss. Amethyst’s warming purple colour acts as a natural tranquiliser and a spiritual connection, believed to welcome intuitive energies and enhance our psychic abilities.

I tend not to use amethysts on my body when I’m feeling distracted as it can increase feelings of anxiety. Instead, I prefer to keep them in my bedroom as they help me reach a deep state of sleep and induce psychic dreams as I’m able to connect with my mind on a deeper level.

Amazonite, or  “The Hope Stone”, is a variety of potassium feldspar, in the microcline mineral class. Part of the triclinic crystal system, it has a  glassy lustre. It is mostly recognised for its cool blue or green colouring; a gentle colour scheme that reflects the earth’s natural beauty. Amazonite helps us to prioritise the good over the bad as it calls on our inner strength and commitment to apply that can-do attitude to everything we do.

Amazonite has the power to restore calm, ward off negative thoughts and grant a sense of peace. Replacing confusion with clarity, this gemstone can guide you through your emotional healing journey when you’re experiencing anger, fear or confusion. Helpful for those with past trauma, amazonite can soak up toxic attitudes – whether from yourself or others – and leave you with a clear path to let go of negativity.

This stone is also connected to the heart chakra, by allowing love to be given and received, and the throat chakra, to open up communication channels and create healthy boundaries. During my chakra healing regime, I like to place amazonite on my throat chakra and chant “HAM” to rebalance this part of my body and focus on the positive healing effects.

Identified by its tranquil shade of green, jade is another popular stone. A silicate mineral often synonymous with East Asian art, it is part of the jadeite class and has a monoclinic crystal system. Inspired by the ancient world, the stone is often placed within the home to cleanse the environment and create beautiful decorations, but can also be worn to ignite feelings of luck, happiness and energy for the user. 

Jade’s meaning translates to confidence, acceptance and health – whether that’s emotional, spiritual or physical. Mentally, the stone can encourage feelings of self-sufficiency and the need to dispel negative thought patterns so you’re able to love and accept yourself more easily.

Since rose quartz and jade both deal with compassion and heart healing, I like to combine these crystals and place them on my heart chakra to connect with their energies. My daily beauty routine utilises these crystals together, too, as they have significant benefits for the skin. Whilst rose quartz helps stimulate blood circulation and create a more natural glow, jade releases its healing powers when placed close to the skin.

Part of the feldspar mineral group and an orthoclase stone, the moonstone is made of sodium potassium aluminium silicate which creates that pearly opalescent look. Deeply connected to the moon, this stone acts as a symbol of the goddess spirit, balancing feminine, hormonal energy. 

A powerful tool for creating emotional balance, this gemstone ensures you are moving in flow with the world around you and is known for helping to create new beginnings. Replacing feelings of overwhelm, the moonstone can create harmony with its naturally calming effects. Connected to the cosmos, the moonstone is deeply spiritual allowing you to connect with and heal the heart, third eye and crown chakras. 

My favourite is the peach moonstone, which helps to light up the dark to wash away fears and anxieties. I use this stone during my moon cycle to calm the cramps, as it has great healing powers for the female body. For me, the moonstone goes hand in hand with rose quartz, as both work in unison to calm female energies and increase feelings of compassion – I tend to keep both together in my bedroom and let them work their magic.

A member of the chalcedony family, carnelian is a silica mineral with a hexagonal crystal system and a glassy lustre. Known for its warm red and brown colouring, it is often referred to as ‘The Sunset Stone’. The stone was blessed by ancient Egyptians who tied the orange carnelian to feminine energy, the menstrual cycle and fertility. Whilst the red carnelian represents masculine energy and embracing new, emerging energies, this stone can stimulate feelings of love, passion and courage for its user.

A potent healing crystal, the carnelian is all about bringing your internal powers to light and giving you a bright burst of energy, banishing feelings of misplacement and fatigue. With the power to give you the drive you need to prosper and conquer – especially with tasks of a creative nature – it’s no surprise that it’s also considered ‘The Artist’s Stone’, encouraging feelings of spontaneity. Once your creative juices are flowing (and your spirit), you’ll be granted the power to let go of anger – which could have been holding you back. 

The sacral chakra is found in the lower belly and inner pelvis. It is known in Sanskrit as svadhisthana, translating to “one’s own dwelling.” The second in your seven chakras, the sacral chakra is represented by the colour orange and the element of water, which is all about flow, flexibility and freedom of expression. So, it’s no surprise that it is associated with the emotional body, sensuality and creativity. 

When balanced, the sacral chakra allows us to tap into the pleasure and enjoyment of life. You will feel a sense of ease and comfort in your own body (or dwelling, if you like), which makes you feel comfortable inviting people to share your sacred space. As a result, your relationship with yourself and others will feel nurturing, pleasurable and harmonious. 

For those that identify as female, it’s also a great chakra to work on balancing. More than any other chakra, the sacral chakra embodies divine feminine energy. Paying close attention to this chakra could help you enhance your creative expression, improve sexual intimacy and increase your feminine intuition.

When any of the chakras become blocked, the energy it’s associated with becomes stagnant, stopping you from being able to access its gifts. Since an open sacral chakra allows you to access the pleasure and creativity of life, when it’s blocked you are likely to feel detached, isolated, and anxious, experience low libido and a lack of creativity. These feelings may manifest in your behaviour, such as codependency, inability to set personal boundaries or difficulty expressing emotions. 

Physically, you may experience pain and stiffness in the sacral area. For example, you may have lower back pain, joint pain, or other issues such as low energy, kidney or menstrual cycle problems due to a blocked sacral chakra. Emotionally, you may feel consumed by your feelings as though you are drowning in them, find it hard to balance your emotions with extreme ups and downs or use escapism to avoid life. 

Make a habit of closely observing your actions and your energy. You will quickly tell if your sacral chakra is becoming blocked. I like to do daily check-ins to see where my energy is at. This could be making a note when I’m journaling, observing myself during meditation or taking a moment to step back and reflect.

As mentioned earlier, before healing your sacral chakra, you need to make sure your root chakra at the base of your spine is balanced, too. How the chakra imbalance presents itself in you will determine how best to bring it back into alignment. Remember that everyone is on a unique journey and will receive healing in a unique way. Here are some of the methods and practices I’m personally drawn to when I need to get my sacral energy flowing again.

1) Reiki healing

As a KHDA certified reiki master, it’s no surprise I recommend reiki healing as a great way to rebalance your sacral chakra. The Japanese energy healing practice is an ancient tradition, now widely available. During a session, a trained practitioner will identify your blockages and help heal them by transferring universal energy from their hands. I’m happy to share my recommendations if you are local to Dubai, just drop me a message!

2) Get creative 

While a blocked sacral chakra will strip you of your creativity, often the best way to reignite it is to do things that make you feel creative! Energy is compounding. The more of a certain energy you put in, the more you generate. 

You can refuel lost creativity by finding an activity that sparks your curiosity. It will be hard at first, but once you commit, you’ll find yourself easing back in. I usually make music by playing my guitar to bring out my creative energy, or I’ll take time dressing myself up by trying outfit combinations or make-up that I may not have thought of before. I find it’s a fun way to play and not take myself too seriously.

3) Dance around 

If your sacral energy is stagnant, then dancing it out is sure to get it moving. Put on your favourite song and move your body without inhibition to connect with your sacral chakra and energetic self. Make it sensual, make it dynamic, make it slow or make it erratic. Surrender to your body and do whatever it needs to feel alive. Either dance alone and lose yourself in the moment, or dance with a group of friends or loved ones to share their energy and boost your own. 

4) Practice yoga 

If you don’t feel comfortable losing yourself in dance just yet, then a gentle yoga practice targeting the sacral area might be a better place to start. I like to warm up with a couple of sun salutations before working in some hip-opening asanas, either as part of my vinyasa flow or to hold statically. Some great poses to try include Ananda Balasana (happy baby), Utkata Konasana (goddess pose) and Malasana (garland pose).

Whether well into your spiritual journey or starting out, you have likely heard of the root chakra, or chakras more broadly, thanks to popular culture. Whilst mainstream media may use ‘chakra’ as a throwaway term, according to ancient Indian teachings, keeping your chakras in balance is vital for your overall mental, physical and spiritual well-being. 

First mentioned in the sacred Vedas texts, the word chakra means wheel in Sanskrit. It is believed that these spinning energy points reside throughout your body and connect to your energy, major organs and nerves. They need to stay open and aligned to remain in balance. 

Although Indian spiritual master, Sri Amit Ray, identified 114 different chakras within the body, the main chakras most commonly worked with are the seven that run along the spine. Each chakra has a corresponding number, name, colour, specific area and health focus. 

In this series I am calling The Chakra Chapters, I will be doing a deep dive into each of the seven main chakras sharing what they are, how to recognise blockages and how to bring each chakra back into alignment. We’ll work from the bottom up, so today, we’re exploring the root chakra.

The root is the very first chakra, located at the base of the spine near the tailbone. It is also known as Muladhara, with Mula meaning ‘root’ and Adhara meaning ‘support’ or ‘base.’ This chakra is represented by the colour red and the earth element since it is linked to our ability to feel stable, secure and grounded in life. 

Since the first chakra is at the base of the spine, you can think of it as your foundation. Like a tree, you need to firmly plant your roots into good soil so you can grow tall and stand strong – no matter what the winds of life throw at you. Practically, this means ensuring your basic needs are met. You are more likely to feel secure and grounded with access to food, water, shelter and safety. 

The same goes for feeling emotionally stable, too – when energy flows freely through your root wheel, you feel comfortable in yourself, your familial relationships and your home. You will carry a deep sense of grounding within yourself, which translates into the world around you. When you move through life with a balanced root chakra, you create a solid foundation for opening the chakras above (which we’ll cover in future blogs). 

If an open root chakra helps you feel grounded, then a blocked root chakra makes you feel insecure. An imbalance in the first chakra can manifest itself in a few different ways. Physically you may experience arthritis, constipation, lower back pain, colon issues or bladder problems. If your basic needs aren’t met, emotionally, you may feel anxious, insecure and fearful. You may also experience stressful nightmares. Worries related to safety and stability may pop into your mind, such as finances, familial relationships, job security and stresses around the home. Root chakra imbalance is an uncomfortable sense of feeling unrooted or uprooted. 

If you suspect that your root chakra is blocked, take a moment to assess how your body and mind feel by asking yourself: Do I feel calm? Where do I feel grounded? What is my relationship with myself and the world around me?

Just as there are many ways an imbalance in the root chakra can present itself, there are also several methods to bring your chakra back into alignment. Everyone is unique, and what works for one person may not work for you. So, look at the few options below and try what resonates with you most. 

1. Meditation 

We all know the power of meditation to bring us back to ourselves and our roots. Simply sitting on the floor in a comfortable cross-legged position is incredibly grounding as we physically connect the base of our spines to the ground. Also, taking the time to go inward creates a space where we can trust ourselves to listen to our inner intuition. Believing that the universe will provide all you need to feel safe is a great comfort.

2. Chanting 

To help myself feel more connected to my first chakra, I like to chant the Lam bija mantra. The one-syllable sound’s vibration is believed to activate the root chakra and help release any blockages. It opens you up to prosperity, grounding, security and a feeling of belonging. I like to visualise a red light emanating from the base of my spine while chanting for a full-body experience. 

3. Connecting with nature 

Since the root chakra is associated with the element of earth, a fantastic way to correct an imbalance is to get out into nature. Walk through a meadow, forest or woodland barefoot to reconnect with mother nature and gain some perspective. We are all creatures of the earth, so taking things back to our roots (literally and figuratively) helps restore a sense of belonging. And, whilst you’re there, you can also hug a tree! 

If, like me, you don’t have a forest on your doorstep, try to connect with nature in any way you can. I have the sea nearby, so I like to paddle my feet and let the waves crash against me to feel grounded. 

4. Yoga 

Moving your body through a grounding yoga sequence is a fantastic way to bring your root chakra back into alignment. Concentrate on poses that cultivate a sense of grounding in your feet, legs and pelvic floor. Garland pose, or Malasana, is excellent for literally bringing you closer to the earth while opening your hips and strengthening your ankles. Other poses include Sukhasana (sitting cross-legged), Balasana (child’s pose), Uttanasana (standing forward fold) and Savasana (corpse pose). You can also try a technique called Mula Bandha to create stability in the lower body and control your energy flow. 

5. Reiki healing 

Hailing from Japan, reiki is a form of energy healing. Practitioners are trained to pick up on other people’s energy and can identify any chakra blockages. They use their hands to transfer universal energy from their palms to their patient to help rebalance chakras and encourage emotional and physical healing. Always check your practitioner is certified before committing! 

I hope you can take something away from this blog to help you on your chakra healing journey. The root chakra truly is the foundation for forming a stable energetic epicentre! Up next in The Chakra Chapter series? The sacral chakra.