If you’re interested in the subtle energies of the physical body and how they affect your overall wellbeing, you might want to learn more about the flow of energy in chakras. Let’s explore the sacral chakra, signs of a healthy and blocked sacral chakra, and healing techniques.
What is a chakra?
Chakras are circular energies or “wheel of light” that regulate the physical body. These energy focal points stack along the midline of the body and is an ancient teaching that originated in India. There are seven chakras and the sacral chakra is the second among seven.
Chakras are thought to provide subtle energy that helps your organs, mind, and intellect work at their best level. Chakras and spiritual energy have not been thoroughly examined in medical studies, but they may help you think about your own mind and body like any religion or belief – The 7 Chakras for Healing and Energy, Web MD
The second chakra: sacral
The sacral chakra, or svadhisthana in Sanskrit, is located in the lower abdomen, between the navel and genitals. Svadhisthana means sweetness and its name, sacral chakra, is derived from its focus in the lower abdomen or sacral plexus. The sacral chakra’s symbol is the crescent moon within a circle and it represents creativity, movement, emotions, sexuality and the expansion of one’s individuality.
Is your sacral chakra balanced?
The second chakra is about the ability of having a healthy sense of self through movement, feeling sensations, emotional intelligence and pleasure. Movement means moving the physical body to release emotions that we are holding in. This can be through exercise or even in less strenuous activities like walking, stretching or easy dancing. Movement and emotions are intertwined in such a way that we let go of stuck emotions as we move while at the same time feeling the sensations in our body. Emotional intelligence is awareness of what, how, and why we feel the wide range of emotions that we experience, like pain and pleasure.
Signs of a balanced sacral chakra include:
- Graceful movement
- Emotional intelligence
- Ability to experience pleasure
- Nurturing to self and others
- Ability to change
- Having healthy boundaries
How does the sacral chakra get blocked?
When emotions, pleasure, creativity and movement are repressed during our developmental years as a child, we experience a lot of disconnect, dulled feelings and shame. Too little or too much touch and affection can cause some blocks. A negative or traumatic experience, often sexually, can also cause an energy imbalance in the sacral plexus. Those are only a few examples. When such things happen, we struggle to feel emotions and pleasure. We lack a sense of individuality and struggle to fully be the person we are meant to be.
A blocked sacral chakra can be either excessive or deficient. An excessive second chakra manifests as having weak boundaries, inability to contain feelings, emotional dependency, and lack of sexual and emotional discretion. In contrast, a deficient second chakra manifests as having strict boundaries, discomfort in displays of affections, denial of pleasure, fear of change, and lack of emotional and sexual expression. As with most things, finding a healthy balance is key.
Negative experiences or traumas that block the second chakra:
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Physical abuse
- Violent situations
- Extreme religiousness or moral severity
Healing and restoring balance
Reclaiming the right to feel is the first step to healing the sacral chakra. Having repressed emotions is something many of us have had to experience or is currently experiencing. Your feelings are valid and you have the right to feel them.
If the second chakra is deficient, emotional release can restore balance. Emotional release or letting go is a big part of sacral chakra healing. For example, if you can’t feel pleasure, then letting go of some deep-rooted guilt can free your energy blocks.
If the second chakra is excessive, containment or holding the emotion first to fully understand it before releasing, can also restore balance to the second chakra. A person who has pleasure addiction or extreme mood swings may have a blocked chakra that is due to excess. For example, if you have extreme cravings, taking a pause and letting yourself just feel the emotions first before acting on them can help. This way, you can have introspection and gain some understanding about your motivations. Sometimes simply slowing things down can be very helpful. This can integrate the emotions and help you decide to take an action that is healthier for your wellbeing.
Healing practices include:
- Movement (gentle activity such as taking walks, fitness exercises or yoga)
- Setting healthy boundaries
- Assigning healthy pleasures
- Emotional release or containment as appropriate
- Professional programs for addictions
By being aware of our holding patterns, we can set to restore balance in our sacral chakra and reinstate its natural healing process. We can do this by actively doing healing practices and inner work. By restoring the energy flow in the second chakra, we can continue to grow and move forward in our spiritual journey.
Recommended Reading
Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self
