Root chakra: our foundation & grounding
Artwork from www.hollysiera.com (Holly Sierra Art)
How do you feel about the image above? What does it elicit for you? Do you relate to the roots extending downward from her dress? Where in your body do you feel a reaction? Take a moment to sit and reflect.
Hmm, take a breath now. Let it out slowly so that we can relax into our energetic base. Recall that the Sanskrit name for the Root Chakra is “Muladhara”, meaning root existence. Thus, this energetic center located at the base of our spine is our foundation, our connectedness to our deep rooted self. When thinking about our root self we turn to the basic needs. This may sound familiar, especially if you are aware of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs; the basic life needs of security, stability, and survival. Optimal functioning of the Root Chakra leads to feeling safe with inner security of who we are, what we have (food, shelter, clothing), and how we relate/interact with others in our life. If our Root Chakra is blocked or out of alignment, we may feel insecure in life’s basic needs, disconnected from our true inner self and/or the world around us, and out of harmony with people in our life. Should the Root Chakra be overactive, there may be feelings of greed, lust for power, or aggression.
Physical manifestations of Root Chakra blockage:
Problems with feet, legs, rectum, lower body
Sciatica
Eating disorders
Constipation
Fear of financial instability
Lack of focus/scatter brained
Inability to sit still
Decreased energy
Feeling ungrounded
Feeling overall insecure
Lethargy/Unmotivated
Anxiety/Depression
To begin activating your Root Chakra, you could start wearing or incorporating the color red into your daily life. Getting into the psychology of the color red, I recommend looking here for more detailed information on red and many other colors. From www.colorsexplained.com, we understand that red is an action color; red demands attention, action, enhances physical needs, and may be dramatic and a sign of disruption or danger. Combined with the Muladhara energy of basic life needs, this color theory begins to paint a picture of our intense human needs and desires. How are you feeling about your Root Chakra and the association with the color red? Take notes, write down your thoughts and feelings as we move along!
As I am writing this, I am sitting outdoors listening to the sounds of nature around me with my bare feet on the ground. When was the last time you had your feet on the ground with no barrier between the soles of your feet and the earth? I ask because, as shown in the graphic above, Earth is the element associated with the Root Chakra. This practice of “grounding” is essential for connectedness with the Earth’s energetic fields; for many years, this practice has been thought of as woo woo and left to those of us who are a bit “crunchy” or “hippie dippy trippy”, but the research is FINALLY proving what we innately knew to be true. The Earth provides us with everything we need to promote health and wellness within ourselves. Conclusions from these studies report grounding to be effective against chronic inflammations, autoimmune disorders, and an important source of antioxidant defenses. I will list studies below because, as you know, I am a nurse who backs up my practices with evidence based research as well as historical accounting! A great line from James L Oschman, Gaétan Chevalier & Richard Brown (2015) about grounding is as follows: “it is a system requiring occasional recharging by conductive contact with the Earth’s surface- the “battery” for all planetary life- to be effective.”
Grounding is a wonderful time to begin to incorporate Mindfulness practices into your routine. Mindfulness can be described as an approach to life that appreciates the very moment one is in; not the past which has come and gone, nor the future which has yet to happen. To clarify some confusion about mindfulness- Meditation is Mindfulness, but Mindfulness is not ONLY Meditation. I will post more about Mindfulness as its own topic another time.
I would like to invite you at this time to take the time to find a comfortable space outdoors, remove your socks and shoes, and listen to the following Mindfulness Activity. Please feel free to close your eyes or do whatever feels right for you.
How did that feel for you? Did anything specific come up for you? Were you able to let go and follow your breath? All good questions to ask yourself following this activity. If you were unable to find an outdoor space at this time, or whenever you need to refer back to this exercise, I recommend utilizing essential oils and aromatherapy. The benefits of aromatherapy are being studied as their own therapeutic value as well as an adjuvant treatment. Oils associated with the Root Chakra include:
Cedarwood
Eucalyptus
Frankincense
Ginger
Lavendar
Myrrh
Patchouli
Sandalwood
Vetiver
Moving onto the next component of working with the Root Chakra, we will look at the associated crystals. Crystals have their own unique makeup and properties that work with the body. As a whole, the crystals associated with the Root Chakra tend to be darker in color. I recommend researching and using the following crystals in your Root Chakra work:
Black Onyx
Bloodstone
Carnelian
Garnet
Hematite
Red Goldstone
Red Jasper
Red Tiger’s Eye
Smoky Quartz
Tourmaline
And finally, my favorite, Affirmations for the Root Chakra! Affirmations are statements that assert something is true and/or exists. Statements that are positive and reinforce the mindset you desire are a strong tool to utilize in your Mindfulness practices. Since the Root Chakra is often referred to as the “I am” center, you will see that many of the statements begin with the same phrase. I believe affirmations work best when they are easily visible throughout the day. I write my affirmations on Post-It notes and stick them on the side of my nightstand where I see them upon waking. I also recommend setting a photo of affirmations as the lock screen or background of your cell phone or tablet. Here is a list of Root Chakra Affirmations to get you started, but please feel free to search for more or even create your own!
Root Chakra Affirmations
I am safe and secure
I am rooted in this present moment
I am strong, steady, and grounded
I am optimistic and focused
I am supported
I am worthy of support
I am connected to my body
I am home in my body
I have a right to be here
I trust the Universe to guide me
I am connected to and guided by Mother Earth
I am abundant within myself
I am tuned into positivity and prosperity
If you are interested in working further on your Root Chakra via Journaling, Shadow Work, yoga poses, nutrition & more, you can contact me via the Contact Me form on this website, message me on social media, or email stefanie@orangeblossomholisticwellness.com!
Thank you for joining me today 🍊🏵️
References for your own review:
Babar Ali, Naser Ali Al-Wabel, Saiba Shams, Aftab Ahamad, Shah Alam Khan, Firoz Anwar. Essential oils used in aromatherapy: A systemic review. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, Volume 5, Issue 8, 2015, pg 601-311. ISSN 2221-1691, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjth.2015.05.007
James L Oschman, Gaétan Chevalier & Richard Brown (2015) The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, Journal of Inflammation Research, 8:, 83-96, DOI: 10.2147/JIR.S69656
PatilVC, VyasP. Ayurveda concept of Yoga Chakras and their Anatomical aspects. Himalayan J H Sci [Internet].2022 Jun15 [cited 2022 Jun15]; 7(2):25-28. Available from:http://www.hjhs.co.in/index.php/hjhs/article/view/133
Sinatra, S. T., Oschman, J. L., Chevalier, G., & Sinatra, D. (2017). Electric nutrition: The surprising health and healing benefits of biological grounding (Earthing). Altern Ther Health Med, 23(5), 8-16.
Wendy Menigoz, Tracy T. Latz, Robin A. Ely, Cimone Kamei, Gregory Melvin, Drew Sinatra: Integrative and lifestyle medicine strategies should include Earthing (grounding): Review of research evidence and clinical observation. EXPLORE, Volume 16, Issue 3, 2020. Pages 152-160. ISSN 1550-8307