The Base or Root Chakra

2nd Mar 2008

Hello lovely people

The base or root chakra can be found at the base of the spine and is the simplest of the seven major chakras. This is the point where we draw up energy from the Earth and into our bodies. It is sometimes called the chakra of the earth, because it keeps us grounded. We are grounded when we have both feet on the ground, i.e. a solid basis and stability.

The base chakra stores kundalini energy (psycho-spiritual energy that is sleeping within the body) in a coiled state of readiness.

This chakra is the basis of our physical strength and sense of taste and smell. It also controls our survival instinct, pleasure and sexuality. The base chakra governs our adrenal glands, excretory system, and all other glands at the base of the spine. These glands are known to affect our personalities. This chakra also governs all that is solid in our bodies i.e. bones, teeth, nails, and hair.

The base chakra is associated with the colour red, which represents physical energy, passion, courage, power, will, desire. This colour also represents the physical and emotional needs of survival and self preservation.

The Hindu symbol for the base chakra is four lotus petals around a square that contains a downward-pointing triangle. Refer here for illustrations of chakras.

Carl Jung, in his book The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious, describes various archetypes of the soul. There are two archetypes that are associated with this chakra. Archetypes can be defined as characters, images, plot patterns, rituals, and settings that are shared by diverse cultures. Archetypes are part of humanity’s “collective unconscious” and they appear in literature, myth, folklore, and rituals from a wide range of cultures. They also manifest themselves in the subconscious thoughts and dreams of people.

The first of these archetypes are the Earth Mother. Both males and females can display the behaviour that shows this archetype. The people that display this type of behaviour acknowledge that they are capable of providing all the physical and emotional security they need for themselves.

The second archetype is that of the Victim. The person that displays this behaviour likes to blame others for their problems. They tend to be vulnerable, needy and ungrounded. Typical victims regard disappointment, separation and loss as something that they cannot control or change.

Where the base chakra is imbalanced, the person can display various symptoms of “shortage” namely anorexia, exhaustion, low blood pressure, and also symptoms of “resistance”, namely arthritis, constipation and obesity.

Where the chakra is too open, it spins too fast. Typical behaviour of a too open base chakra is bullying, being overly materialistic and being self-centred. If the base chakra is over-stimulated, the result is exhaustion.

Where the base chakra is blocked, it spins too slow or not at all. They symptoms of a blocked base chakra are a fearful, emotionally needy person that has low self-esteem.

If the base chakra is not stimulated, the result is inertia, i.e. the person resists change.

When the base chakra is balanced, the person is grounded and healthy, and has a high level of physical energy.

There are ways to keep the base chakra balanced. Two methods that apply to everyone are regular exercise, and avoiding over-indulgence.

A person that displays the Earth Mother archetype (where the root chakra is open) has a need to attend to their inner child by using their imagination, and finding time to play. They need to keep their home safe and comforting, pamper themselves from time to time, and believe that they have their own worth.

A person that displays the opposite Victim archetype (where the root chakra is closed) needs to work on understanding that they have the power to provide everything they need for themselves. They need to take responsibility for their own lives and acknowledge that they have choices and deserve the best.

Read this extract from a short story that illustrates how the root chakra can influence our lives.

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Love and Light
Elsabe