1st Chakra Root Muladhara
1st Chakra Root
Mūlādhāra
The Chakras of Matter
The first three chakras, starting at the base of the spine are chakras of matter. They are more physical in nature. We will begin with the first Chakra of Matter-Root Chakra – Mūlādhāra
The Root Chakra is named Mūlādhāra in sanskrit. The Root Chakra is the first of our energy centers and forms the basis and the starting point for our development. The vital life force energy of Root Chakra begins at conception and continues with life force energy dividing the cells during Embryogenesis. The spinal column begins to develop from the bottom (root chakra) moving to up (crown chakra), and then organs begin to develop.
The Root Chakra is associated with the first task we undertake after birth, and that is to determine “Do I belong here?” …on this Earth and in this family system. It is not a conceptual question based on (thinking) cognition. It is instinctual.
Root chakra—Mūlādhāra is the most instinctual of all chakras – it is your survival center. The primal energy of survival is fight, flight, or freeze response and is initiated from Root chakra energy. This is your primal, animal nature of survival.
This is the chakra that controls our animal nature and governed by the predominant survival sense of smell, then taste. This is the very primitive sensing of the world that a newborn infant engages in, commonly called “rooting” as the baby, through its mouth and sense of smell, turns her/his head, ’rooting’ around, and sensing her/his way to food. Overtime if this primal survival need is met, the infant will move directly to the object without searching. and the infant found his/her first primitive affirmation that he/she does belong in this world and that survival will be supported.
When you consider psychologist Erik Erickson’s stages of development, the first stage—trust versus mistrust—is closely related to Root chakra development. As an infant, if your caregivers consistently provided you what you needed to survive (food, water, love, affection, and emotional calm), then you felt secure in the world. You felt that the world was a place that could be trusted to provide your basic needs. However, if your environment was chaotic and/or caregivers emotionally unavailable to you and/or if your caregivers withheld, delayed, or were inconsistent in giving you what you needed, then you will lack trust and security, and may find yourself with Root chakra imbalance or blockages. Whether or not you feel secure now is significantly impacted by how safe you felt as a small child.
Root chakra—Mūlādhāra is the chakra of stability, security, and our basic needs. The root chakra is comprised of whatever grounds you to stability in your life. This includes your basic needs such as food, water, shelter, safety, as well as your emotional needs of interconnection, and being fearless. When these needs are met, you feel grounded and safe. It is the most important Chakra as this is the Fundamental (or Mool) Chakra.
The Root Chakra is associated with the physical body that includes the adrenal glands, colon, kidneys, skeleton/bones, muscles, and arterial blood that flows through the left chamber of the heart, carrying oxygen and nutrients to our body tissue.
The Root Chakra provides the links between our energetic system and the physical world and is our base for our life force energy. It gives us the motivation to eat, sleep and procreate. When it comes to our psychological and spiritual nature, it helps us develop our personal integrity, self-esteem and sense of belonging.
The energies of the Root Chakra help us to feel grounded and connected to this Earth, giving us a place for our life to ‘take root’ and for the flow of energies to propel us forward on our life journey. When these energies are stuck, stagnant, imbalanced, or blocked, our vitality and zest for life are also compromised. This can happen when our sense of belonging in the world is threatened in some way, or is experienced as traumatic, leaving us feeling a deep sense of insecurity.
Imbalance in life force energy in the Root Chakra can leave us feeling restless or experiencing a lack of energy, which may be expressed as anxiety, worry, panic, depression, frustration, resentment, anger/rage, or having no interest in the world or in our own survival. We may also experience symptoms such as being threatened, chronically feel as if we don’t fit in or belong, and experience insecurity and low self-esteem. Mental signs: poor focus, disorganized, pessimism, negative thinking about life and narrow thinking
However, when the Root Chakra is balanced and energy can flow freely, it helps us increase the sense of belonging, feeling secure in our actions and choices, and have the ability to hold an increased sense of self-worth. Mental: Improved concentration, persistence, clear thinking, ability to set goals, ability to prioritize. Emotional: passion, love, excitement, determination.
The journey to heal trauma /psychological wounds held in Root chakra is facilitated by deeper work with psychotherapy (i.e. trauma psychotherapy), Reiki-Tummo, specific yoga asanas, tai chi, and movement meditation that removes stagnate accumulated emotional energies.
The energy of Root chakra allows us to harness courage, resourcefulness and the will to live during challenging times. Root chakra connects us with spiritual energies of our ancestors, and our ancestors challenges and triumphs. Since Root Chakra carries our ancestral memories, basically everyone experiences challenges or imbalances within Root chakra.
War, famine, natural disasters, and any events that threaten our basic survival, are all recorded within energies of the Root chakra. These memories are imprinted in the subtle body (i.e life energy) and are passed down from generation to generation creating unconscious generational patterns. It is our work to take responsibility for our own lives and bring to light that which is unconscious or latent.
The Karmas of our past lives and current life Karma, like seeds, also rest in the energy field of Root Chakra. The seeds that were planted lay dormant or latent, but when the conditions are met, the seeds/energies will manifest/present/arise in many forms: mental, emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual.
From every thought, intention, or act that we perform or have performed, a seed is sown in the Root Chakra and will sooner or later rise into the light. In each lifetime, we have planted innumerable seeds.
The first of the seven energy centers, Mūlādhāra is also the most dense of the seven chakras. The main color of this chakra is red which is also the most dense color of all chakra colors. Red is the slowest of all the wavelengths within the visible spectrum, yet, it is the most stimulating color. It pulls the retina forward so all of our energy and attention is focused outward.
That is why we use red color for the stop lights and stop signs. The root chakra color commands attention. It signals danger to us. We act immediately. Red is the color of the life force. It is the color of blood and the first color we come into contact when we are born. Red means energy and our connection with the Earth and carries the promise of survival.
The Bīja Mantra (Seed Mantra) of the Mūlādhāra Chakra is LĀM, the sound of spiritual awakening. It releases tensions and removes blockages in this Chakra and activates its energy. And so the process of awakening the dormant powers within us and raising them into consciousness begins. Beautiful and healing experiences together with happy moments emerge from the past giving us strength and inspiration to continue on our path. But together with the pleasant experiences, we can also go through painful feelings in the Mūlādhāra Chakra. Buried hurts, unprocessed emotional traumas, and disappointments that were deeply etched into our consciousness come to the surface so they can finally be healed and resolved.
Disappointment is not necessarily something negative. It means a transition, a step in our development, a teaching. Every learning step in our life is accompanied by the correction of a false idea, by “disillusionment”. The Mūlādhāra Chakra is often full to the brim with painful disillusionments. But, when we work our way through these misfortunes with wisdom they are transformed into valuable experiences and opportunities for development.
For as long as we live we will be confronted with problems. The ignorant take them merely as a nuisance and misfortune, but the wise regard them as valuable and beneficial experiences. When we learn from them and begin to work on ourselves we progress in our spiritual development. If we do not do this we remain stuck in the suffering and continue to replay the painful lessons.
First Chakra—Mūlādhāra
Quick Reference
All of the seven chakras are important and interconnected with each other. Usually, balancing one chakra will create change in another chakra. It is important though to balance the Root Chakra first, before we proceed to others, or we will lack the stability and rootedness necessary for true transformation and personal growth.
We cannot grow and change unless we feel safe and secure. Mūlādhāra governs survival.
- Sanskrit name: Muladhara – root support
Mūla = Root, Origin, Essence
Ādhāra = Basis, Foundation - Physical Location: Coccyx, first three vertebrae at the base of the spine
- Endocrine gland: Adrenal cortex/Adrenal glands (fight-flight
- Organs/regions: bladder, colon/large intestine, skeleton, foot, leg, teeth, arterial blood flow to left chamber of heart
- Developmental stage: womb to 12-months
- Balanced/flowing energy: When this chakra is open/energy flowing, we feel safe, at home in the world, and fearless.
- Imbalanced: Root Chakra is blocked by fear and various forms of trauma. sluggish, eating disorder.
- Psychological symptoms of blockage include: anxiety disorders, fear, panic attacks, worry, overthinking, depression, nightmares, emotionally disconnected, disconnected from the body, anger/rage.
- Physical symptoms of blockage include: lethargic and physically drained, problems in the colon, with the bladder, with elimination, or with lower back, left arm, leg, or feet issues, Inflammation, cramps. In men, prostate problems may occur. Eating disorders may also be a sign of a root chakra imbalance.
- Root Chakra governs our physical energies—giving us a sense of safety and security with other people, ourselves, and trusting in life. Without balancing it, no matter how hard we try, higher chakras can not be healed / unblocked/ flow until Root chakra—Mūlādhāra is flowing.
- Element: Earth (Earth is our mother, our body is formed from her elements. She supports and nourishes us)
- Mantra seed syllable: LAM
- Color: Red Our various mental states and emotions are related to specific Chakra color frequencies. Red is dense frequency.
- Bodhisattva: Red Tara embodying compassion
- Amitaba: magnetizing the red fire element, the aggregates of discernment, pure perception, profound awareness of the shunyata of all phenomenas
- Square with 4 Lotus Petals. See Featured Image Mandala of this post
- Sensory: primary smell (olfaction)
Balancing Root Chakra-Mūlādhāra
- Stones/Gems: garnet, red jasper, black tourmaline, and bloodstone. You can place the gemstone on the area of the chakra while lying down to help open and align it. Or wear it.
- Physical exercise (Yang & Yin)
- Nutrition: eating red fruits (beets, tomatoes, strawberries, cherries)
- Connecting to the earth, walking barefoot on the grass, gardening, are just some activities to balance the root chakra.
- Healing vibrations /Sound baths with frequency specific to Root chakra . Our various mental states and emotions are related to specific Chakra sound frequencies. When exposed long enough to a resonant Chakra sound frequency, the Chakras will be brought into balance; and when your Chakras are in balance, so is your mind and emotions. my YouTube channel has playlists for Soundbaths and there is a specific ChakRas energy healing that I recommend based on 4-years of clinical healing research.
- Asana (yoga poses): Primary focus on YIN (acceptance)
* Pavanamuktasana—knee to chest pose
* Janu Sirsansana—head to knee Pose
* Padmasana—lotus flexion
* Malasana—squatting pose
* Tadasana —mountain pose
* Shavasana—corpse pose
* Virabhadrasana I —Warrior I (*this is a yang pose, but strengthens courage, make sure to stand barefoot on earth) - Movement Meditation for removing blockages and balancing
While meditation does connect you to a higher spiritual plane, it also serves to ground you. You may not always be able to trust that the world will give you what you need to survive, but connection to your higher self and trust in a power higher than yourself will give you what you need to feel safe. - Psychotherapy: type of psychotherapy modalities: Interpersonal, Psychodynamic, Object Relations, & Contemplative for Root cause(s) and integration for healing, and specific behavioral solutions for symptom manifestations.
- Reiki-Tummo energy healing
- Essential Oils: *Sandalwood, Rosewood, Rosemary, Black Pepper, Cedar, Clove, Ginger, frankincense, Myrrh
1st Root Chakra- Mūlādhāra Affirmations:
I feel centered
I am home
I am connected to my body
My body is my home
I feel safe and secure
I stand for my values, truth, and justice
I have what I need
I am kind and compassionate to myself
I am infinite possibilities
I am grateful for challenges because they make me stronger
I am fearless
I trust myself
I love myself
I trust true source which is universal divine mother providing for my basic needs
I nurture myself with healthy food, clean water, clean air, exercise, relaxation, and connection to nature
This Blog: Root Chakra- Mūlādhāra is Series of blogs starting with the Introduction Blog of the 7 main Chakras and progressing through a teaching on each of the 7 main chakras.
Wonderful and informative article, thank you.
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I read this at the right time, everything in this article is so clear and understanding. Thank you!
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for this information.
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Made me smile!
Thank you very much for helping me understand this better it’s an area I was lacking in and in doing biofeedback lately I needed better understanding of the symptomatic scope. I found my mom’s Neuro disease is responding especially well to the chakra biofeedback frequencies to where I have her able to say words when she could hardly grunt just last week. Thank you.
Wonderful and very informative content article….
Very informative, clearly explained, helpful and written in an inspirational way…Loved it..Thank you..
I have been practicing root chakra meditation and yoga for a couple of months. Coinciding with this , the close relationship I once had with my only sister, has changed into an uncomfortable one that feels tense and stressful . We are physically far away from each other ( 8 hours of driving) so communication is by telephone or text . Can you give any insight why this is happening ? I am not comfortable with the feeling s I have with the relationship.
Hello, I over came your article searching up my root chakra. I have had 3 energy healers that have seen my root chakra as bloody, sticky nothing they have ever seen before and nothing they could even explain to me . I have seen dark holes myself, if you have any idea what this might be from or where I can search info about it I would appreciate it.
Extraordinary ! Pls mail me anything and everything about chakras ,meditation : [email protected]
I have a question why do I experience pain such as tail bone pain or hemmeriods after doing root meditation? Am I doing something wrong. Please help. I do the other chakras Like crown, throat-sacral no pain. The only 2 painful spots are root and 3rd eye.
Only you have the answer to that. Think deeply as to what the cause is, not just the symptom. It will come to you ❤️
Thank you.
Thank you!
Thank you for this article was a very insightful read but I got to share with a group did Ida Keeling to meditations with thank you very much
Thank you for taking the time to write this article. I found it very informative. Love anlight!
Thanks for sharing very helpful information. God bless you!
This info was REALLY helpful and the affirmations are amazing. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you so much for all that you shared in the article on the Muladhara Chakra.
Thank you <3
I just came across your site, thank you for the teachings. I found them very simple to understand and extremely helpful at the same time. Thank You for the Sharing of your knowledge and wisdom…
This an absolutely fabulous read. Really well rounded and covers a lot of areas. You are wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing this 🙏❤️
This article was really informative! I truly appreciate you taking the time to write it. It is one of the most succinct and informative quick references I’ve read.
This is very educative. Thank you so much
What a descriptive information ,hats off to your efforts,God bless you dear Doctor
thank you so much
Great article, very informative and helpful. Thank you!
Thank you for this guide! I truly enjoyed reading your article. It is comprehensive, yet practical and with no excess information. The affirmations are awesome!
This article is incredibly helpful thank you so much for sharing and taking time to put together. Your work is appreciated.
Very helpful. I’m taking a course on chakras and wanted some extra information, and your article is perfect! Thanks.
So Good
Thank you .
It is so beautifully, clearly written .
It summarizes all the aspect of this topic.
I love essential oils and stones. This shows me different approaches to use them .
It’s nearly impossible to find educated people in this particular topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Great article, thank you. I am very curious about the connection of the root chakra with left chamber arterial blood flow and wondered if there is a connection between early childhood trauma and heart disease, as a manifestation of unhealed root chakra issues. I’d be curious to hear about what you find in your practice.
Blessings.
💖
A thorough and compassionate article!
Thank you, will try to practise muladhara stabilization exercises today. Let`s see how it goes 🙂
Thank you for sharing your healing with the world and me. Sending so much love to you
Beautiful article and so much tiny details and clarity!
🙏👍🌟
Great article.
Where do I read about the other chakras?
I have just learnt that I am dominated by this chakra and it is in need of some balancing. I feel that I was lead here as I am studying Psychology, with the goal of becoming a Clinical Psychologist. I hope to be as holistic as you in my practise. Thank you for this post and I will be reading more of your blog in the future.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge on this topic. Very very helpful and thorough information. Much love and positive vibes 💜
I really enjoyed this informative and thorough article on Root chakra. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise
Thank you for a great piece of the base chakra. It’s pretty beneficial, thanks for sharing.
Hello Everyone, thank you for your comments. The remaining main 6 Chakras are written and in my desktop folder along with 64 other articles that I also need to enter into my website ~ WordPress. I am just learning about making my 1st website. My clinical (patients) are my priority… and I had some family illnesses and losses. So, I am wearing many hats. Thank you for your understanding and patience. Dr. Shawna
Hi Dr. Shawna,
I’m sorry for your losses…I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon. I wish you best of lucks!
Hello Dr. Shawna and cheers again for sharing your beautiful work.
Could you please let me know when you will be publishing the remaining chakras?
Your work deserves to be shared verbally as well.
Regards
Jaro
Hi Dr Shawna
Looking forward to the remaining articles on the chakras
A excellent succinct article.
Thank you
Hi Dr Shawana,
Firstly thank you for sharing such an in depth Article about the root chakra! Very nicely explained mam! Waiting for the other 6 chakra explainations! Gratitude and love !
Thank you so much for your wonderful article,I’ve had groin pain for many years and feel that this is just what I needed,bless you 🙏🙏🙏💕💕💕
I too have had groin pain for 8 months, waiting for Hospital appointment. Decided to help myself and started to meditate. For 3 weeks now my pain has diminished considerable and I am able to walk upright. Meditation on the root chakra has been a Gods send. Also found the crystal Chrysocolla helped when placed on the groin.
Good luck
Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Many thanks, However I am having problems with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I can’t join it. Is there anyone else having similar RSS problems? Anyone who knows the answer will you kindly respond? Thanks!!
Well explained. I really enjoy reading this detailed article. I am sure I will be coming back to read it again and again as each time I read it I learn something new…
Thank you
Thanks for this inspirational and very well written article.
Thank you for this beautiful gift of healing wisdom! Namaste.
It really fascinated me the way this is explained short yet very briefed and detailed.
Heart felt gratitude for the effort
thank you! best article i’ve seen on the chakra and super thorough. did you write for the other ones?
Wonderful learning about the 1st Chakra.
Where can I find the others? I am so eager to learn more.
WoW. Simple, Detailed and Sophisticated. Thank you!!!
Wow this was an amazing article thank you, where can i find the other learning, i have never learnt so much in one article thanks so much for creating it, where can i find the other 6?
Thank you so much for sharing this.
Lovely article, thank-you. Did you do anything similar for the other chakras?
Wonderful! Hoping to read more about the other chakras. Thank you so much!
I have the same question about the Chakra Blog Did you ever go beyond the Muladhara chakra? That was in 2017. If so, where can we find the other chakra blog.
OMG. just what I was looking for on the root chakras. Thank you.. Will definitely read for the other chakras. I am from Mauritius .
I have an issue with the first chakra
and this is so valuable , simple and detailed article for me.
And I am so eager to learn more about healing methods regarding with who have grounding issues like me
Thank You.
Very informative and descriptive. Thank you!
Thank you so much
This was very helpfull and informative. Thank you for sharing 🙂
i loved this ! it was very helpful. when are you going to publish in-depth articles about the other ones ?
This article was very helpful! It makes learning a lot easier. Thank you so much!
Hi
I want to know that ,is periods a symptoms of 1st chakra opened ? I first time feel vibrations in first chakra yesterday night . And today morning when i wake up then i got periods before the correct time .
Hi this is so wonderful, do you have these articles on the other 6 chakra also?
thank you 👏🏻
I love this if only I could know how to unblock my root chakra it’s blocked for years.
I love this so much! One distinction though, (silly really) our retina isn’t pulled forward when we see red. We see red by ‘red cones’ in our retina. Out of all our cones(the things that see color) 64% are red cones (specified cones that chemically react efficiently to the color red). This means when our view is impaired, it is easier for us to see red than any other color. Hence why we use red for danger – it’s the color most likely to be seen. Our cones are primarily focused on seeing red colors (or long wavelengths to be exact).
Dear Shawna,
The website listed below is my Seva. I hope you enjoy.
With love
Vaibhav
This is an incredibly insightful article. For someone is not very informed on chakras but is looking for more education I found this to be very helpful and well written. Kind thanks for the effort placed into this, and making it accessible for those looking to educated themselves.
Very informative
ok i really need help to unblock my heart chakra and especially my root chakra is blocked bcz i haven’t had a period since September or October something like that
Good evening, I am just learning of the clearing of my chakras n I would like to say thank you for this information.
Love this, it’s a handy guide for those who wish to learn more about specific chakras. For those who want to learn more about angel numbers or numerology in general, feel free to drop by Takanta 😉
Thanks for sharing! Each chakra symbol incorporates the powerful circle as a reminder of our connection to the universe
https://theyogamandala.com/chakra-symbols-meaning/
This article is extremely informative and eye-opening! Love it!! I think everyone would benefit from an in-depth article like this for all seven main chakras! Thank you!
Thank you! This is so helpful. Do you have posts on the other chakras too?
I am getting pain at lower abdomen and pelvic area after doing muladhara chakra meditation do we get pain at pelvic area after doing muladhara chakra meditation?
This was a really helpful post! It’s a lot simpler to learn.
Wow, very useful artice. Thank you for writing 🙂
Superb. Nicely explained everything about the Root
Chakra. Thanks a lot.
Learning a lot from it,thanks for share info about chakra
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This is a great post!
HI,
I got the best information on this site. Thanks to Dr. Shawna. Before landing on this site, I did not know about this chakra but after reading this article I got full knowledge also I got some of the information on this site.
If you want to know more about it then you can visit this site.
Thanks to Dr. Shawna who gave me to write something on this site.
Thank you for this helpful and comprehensive description. Mahalo and showers of joyful blessings
Very informative
Hello, I’m wondering how energy and blockages occur in a broken coccyx bone? I’m also wondering, if I have a blockage. As my tailbone, is broken in 3 places and my coccyx is off to the left. Please let me know your thoughts and suggestions on this matter. Thank you
very clear and good article easy to understand. Thank you
By providing innovative and valuable information you have opened the gate of heaven within. Thank you Vijay
Thank you for your informative article. Would you have information on the second Chakra?
I look forward to reading it as well.