You don’t have to be a Reiki practitioner to take care of your energy body, which is comprised of meridians and chakras. Meridians are the energy pathways that pass through at least one vital organ and help that organ’s functionality in some way. Chakras are referred to as “energy centers.” Today we will talk about the second or SACRAL CHAKRA. This specific blog series will continue every other month until we have discussed all the seven chakras in sequence.
The sacral chakra extends from the top of the pelvic bone up to the navel and encompasses the small and large intestines. This chakra holds our imaginative, creative and joyful energies. The sacred space is designed to be free from the accumulation of stress, which fits well with the Internal Family System’s description of unburdened exiles. In this model, inner exiles represent the more vulnerable parts of us that may carry burdens of trauma from past experiences. However, once the burdens are released, these parts embody the inherently carefree qualities observed in children. In this way, we can envision this chakra to hold the “sweetness of a person’s soul” and a kind of innocence that we often lose connection with as we age and naturally encounter life’s difficulties. This is also referred to as the womb chakra because it holds the truest essence of “I” that exists before our birth and long after our death. It also encompasses the organs involved in creating a baby. Part of the sacral chakra’s creativity includes the power of trust. This is not the chakra that “makes sense of things.” Instead, it contains a well of trust and a childlike optimism that pulls us to take risks and move toward our greatest passions.
When interpersonal relationships create harm, the sweetness of this chakra becomes hardened and may feel inaccessible. We become suspicious as opposed to trusting and adventurous. There may be a sense of guilt corresponding to the qualities described above. Western culture often punishes people that openly exercise embodiment of this chakra by using labels such as naïve, childish, eccentric, or promiscuous. When overactive, there is a lack of boundaries in relationships or within the concept of “play.” To speak to this latter point, adventure can become impulsive in a way that does harm to ourselves or others. This is where addictive behavior can reside, such as overindulgence in substances, food, sex, or money in attempt to generate a sense of joy or inspiration.
If you want to work on strengthening the sacral chakra, use sandalwood and chamomile essential oils in a diffuser or in bath and body products. Quartz, jade, and citrine gemstones correspond to this chakra. Helpful herbs are cinnamon, clover, and saffron. Try incorporating orange into your wardrobe or diet (orange bell peppers, carrots, oranges, persimmons, and squash). Practice mindfulness or meditation exercises to better align with a sense of wonderment and joy. Spend time creating, dancing or listening to music; stepping outside your comfort zone by being silly; going on an adventure; learning something new and connecting to your sexuality. You are invited to journal on the topic of pleasure by answering the following questions:
1) What is your relationship to the concept of play?
2) Can you allow yourself opportunities to create joy without guilt?
3) How might you suppress or over-emphasize your sexual needs?
4) What are your addictive behaviors and how can they be thwarting your ability to connect to the very qualities you seek?
When the sacral chakra is balanced, we infuse our innate goodness into relationships and the world at large. We act from the heart.