Our body is constantly communicating with the energies around us. Each chakra conserves and channels the prana energy in our astral body (our light/energy) and affects the balance of our physical body. The Sacral chakra or Svadhishthana chakra is the second energy center among the 7 vital chakras. The location of this chakra can be described as being in the lower abdomen, four fingers below the navel

Svadhishthana means “abode of the self,” supporting personal expansion and exploration of sexuality, desires, and creativity.

The Sacral chakra is connected to the bladder, kidneys, and reproductive organs. The element, which is water stands for flow and flexibility. This energy helps to let go, embrace transformation, and change in life.

The Sacral chakra is feminine energy, the color associated with it is orange, and the symbol for it is a lotus flower with six petals and a crescent moon in the middle. The petals of the lotus flower represent the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth. The main circle symbolizes the element of water. The crescent moon is silver-colored and represents the link between the energy of the moon and water and since the Sacral chakra is related to the genitals it also represents the menstrual cycle which usually lasts 6 days (for most women) and is represented by the same amount of petals in the symbol. According to Sahara Rose, the founder of Rose Gold Goddesses, the divine feminine mystery school, the colors and symbols associated with the various energy centers reflect the vibration of the chakras. These colors and symbols came to the mind of the ancient rishis when they meditated on the energy of the chakras. The Sat Nam mantra (also known as, the Biji (or seed) mantra) of the Svadhishthana chakra is Vam. Sat means “truth” and Nam means “name” and together it translates to, “I am truth.”

The Svadhisthana chakra is associated with the water element, says Rose. Water is all about flow, flexibility, and freedom of expression in relation to emotions and sensuality. This energy center, when balanced, provides direct access to flow, flexibility, and pleasure.

By working with this chakra, you control your relationships with others and with yourself. Personally, you will find that you have unlimited creative power and a healthy relationship with joy. You will also understand your deeper emotions and learn to deal with the depth of your feelings. You will express your desires, needs, and emotions more freely with others. You will also learn to express yourself more skillfully and begin to set healthy boundaries.

PROPERTIES OF THE SVADHISHTHANA

The Flow Rate Of The Water Element
There’s an immense force of flow in the water element. This energy must be contained to avoid devastating consequences. When the Sacral chakra is balanced, our emotions flow through us without any judgment. Admitting these feelings increases our ability to reason and express our desires in-depth. This restores harmony and balance in us.

Balanced Orange Energy
The association with the color orange, like a sunrise, is a symbol of awareness. Orange is the color of purity and activity. We project the life we want into this chakra. The qualities that this color reveals are joy, faith, self-confidence, and balanced energy.

The Sexual Energy Of The Sacral Chakra
The Sacral chakra allows us to shape our desires. As the center of affection, the Sacral chakra awakens the power of creativity. It will enable a person to discover the ability to choose and create intimate connections. Motivated by joy, the Sacral chakra promotes emotional well-being. It plays an active role in our sexual relations and in expressing our emotional needs and desires.

Relationships And Emotional Intimacy
The Svadhishthana chakra also has to do with personal identity and how it reacts to the magnetic forces of the physical world. When the second chakra goes berserk, it leads to emotional turmoil, perversity, lack of creativity, and obsession with sexual thoughts. A Sacral chakra has the harmonized ability to take risks and experience compassion and positivity.

WHY THE SACRAL CHAKRA SHOULD BE ALIGNED?

When the Sacral chakra is in healthy alignment, it can generate energy for creativity, movement, reproduction, desire, pleasure, and relationships. You will have the ability to express your wants and needs in relationships freely, and pleasure will be a priority. Creativity and visualization will be easy to control when your sacrum is aligned.

When the Sacral chakra is misaligned, you can feel emotionally and physically weak, depressed, oversensitive, and anxious, which can signify disturbed energy. Feeling insecure in a relationship with irresistible or obsessive behavior is a sign of an imbalanced Sacral chakra. It also affects the connection to physical things, such as work and career.

When you heal your Svadhisthana, you will feel:

❖ A great feeling of inspiration
❖ Trust the expression of your true self
❖ Can fulfill the desires of your heart
❖ A deeper and more satisfying connection in your relationships
❖ More present and able to fully interact with the world around you

When you stop seeking pleasure and denying pain, you will find a healthy balance between your participation in the present. You will learn to appreciate what you have instead of looking for instant gratification. Instead of dreading the discomfort, you can handle it until it is over.

As energy flows through this chakra, we allow others to see our vulnerabilities and take risks with resistance to failure.

The Sacral chakra may be the most common blockage, but healing this chakra is one of the most uplifting feelings out there. Like the rest of our chakras, an imbalance can be viewed as two different things, hyperactive or underactive. To access the power of the Sacral Chakra, the goal is to find balance.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF AN OVERACTIVE SACRAL CHAKRA?

An overactive Sacral chakra means that a lot of energy is distributed throughout the body. Since the Sacral chakra controls emotions, overactive energy creates an overwhelming feeling. The deeper experience of emotions and extreme mood swings indicate an over-sensitive nature. Feeling dissatisfied with life can lead to addictive behaviors due to the constant struggle to satisfy everything and everyone.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF AN UNDERACTIVE SACRAL CHAKRA?

An underactive Sacral chakra can affect our general health, both physical and mental well-being. When the Sacral chakra is blocked, feelings of lack of control will invade, ranging from insecurity to inability to cope with life changes. The way you freely express your own desires is also detrimental to your artistic skills. In addition, being dependent on or codependent on others creates a psychological imbalance that leads to withdrawal from oneself.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A BLOCKED SACRAL CHAKRA?

The energy trapped in the chakras can manifest in our emotional, spiritual, and even physical bodies. The physical symptoms of blocked chakras often occur in the area of the blocked energy center. When the Sacral chakra is out of alignment, one or more of the following signs may occur:

Physical signs
❖ Chronic back pain
❖ Ovarian cysts and other reproductive problems
❖ Urinary tract infection
❖ Impotence
❖ Painful intercourse
❖ Bladder and kidney complications
❖ Other pelvic problems – lower abs
❖ Low libido

Mental signs
Blocked Sacral chakras can seriously affect the quality of our minds and thoughts. Mentally, blocked Sacral energy can manifest itself in problems like codependency or feeling dominated by our emotions. Other signs that your Sacral chakra may be blocked:

❖ Excessive sexual fantasy
❖ Overall lack of interest in sex
❖ Difficulty expressing your emotions and needs
❖ Fear of pleasure
❖ Lack of creativity
❖ Tiredness
❖ Lack of pleasure
❖ Uncertainty
❖ Detachment

CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF SACRAL CHAKRA BLOCKAGES

All chakras blockages can manifest in physical, mental, or emotional expressions. These are the most common examples of what blockages look like to most of us struggling here.

Low Self-Esteem
When we live in fear of what others think of us or what we think of ourselves, the Sacral chakra can become blocked. An example of low self-esteem is when we repeat shameful memories or mistakes in our minds. Holding on to a negative emotion such as shame makes us unable to develop our full strength, creativity, and self-confidence.

Another example is that we cannot face criticism or dissenting opinions. Overcoming this lack of self-esteem, we need to learn to fully love and appreciate ourselves in all aspects of our being, rather than looking for it in the outside world.

Lack of Fulfillment Svadhisthana stands for the experience of joy and pleasure. When in balance, we experience these emotions through a fulfilling life path. In fact, when there is balance, we even learn to find joy in pain because we are so happy with the challenges on our way. When we are not living a full life, we try to be distracted by other forms of gratification and satisfaction.

Inability To Develop Intimate Relationships
When the Sacral chakra is blocked, you may not be able to access your personal power, which affects creativity and your ability to have a passionate, trusting, self-worthy relationship to pursue your desires and express your individuality. If you are clinging to past relationships or injuries, it may be time to heal your Sacral chakra. When we let go of shame, we gain the confidence to face the world with a strong sense of identity and individuality.

Addictive Behavior
Chances are that if you’ve ever experienced addiction, you are likely to have a Sacral chakra blockage. The Sacral chakra represents involvement in pleasure plus joy without feeling the need to be incessantly satisfied. An excessive desire for joy generally represents an overactive Svadhisthana.

HEALING YOUR SACRAL CHAKRA IS EASY

In the Sacral chakra, the ego meets the world. You’ve got the power to manifest beautiful things and to appreciate and love yourself as a fully valued human being through the healing of the Sacral chakra. A balanced Svadhisthana enables us to express our sense of self. It presupposes the sense of identity and oneness that we discover in the Root chakra. It also helps us share these gifts with the world in vulnerable and powerful ways.

In addition to being open to creativity in your daily life, you can balance your second chakra by having a healthy sex life and honoring and respecting your body. Get in touch with your emotions and see if there are any feelings that you are holding onto. Advocate for a healthy way of dealing with these emotions.

Although the chakras can be blocked by certain habits and imbalances in the body, mind, and spirit, we can realign these energy centers with the right tools and care.

Here Are Some Ways to Balance Your Sacral Chakra for Optimal Creativity, Joy, and Emotional Expression:

Ida Nadi Breathing
Breathing through the left nostril called Ida Nadi breathing helps open the second chakra by bringing in moon energy. Simply close your right nostril with the first two fingers of your right hand and inhale and exhale through your left nostril for just 8-10 breaths. (Photo just for giggles).

Burn Incense and the Svadhisthana Essential Oils
There are powerful healing properties in aromatherapy that can restore feelings of sensuality and creativity.

Try burning cleansing scents such as:

❖ Cardamom

❖ Neroli

❖ Bergamot

❖ Sweet Orange

❖ Tangerine

❖ Spearmint

❖ Patchouli

❖ Ylang Ylang

❖ Rose

❖ Clary Sage

These incense help to open the Sacral chakra. You can choose the same essential oils as well, unless you’re pregnant.

Crystals
Stones and crystals help the Sacral chakra remove all blockages associated with the emotional body. As this chakra is related to self-love, orange crystals are recommended to solve problems in this chakra. Citrine is a popular stone for removing negative energy that could be blocking your chakra. Orange Calcite is another powerful stone for this chakra for emotional release. There are several other healing stones for the Sacral chakra, such as:

❖ Coral

❖ Orange Aventurine

❖ Carnelian

❖ Hematite

❖ Sunstone

❖ Red Jasper

Affirmations
Affirmations are a positive way to heal negative programming that may be ingrained in the subconscious. If there is negative programming, it is the cause of the chakra imbalance. Affirmations can help reprogram the subconscious into a positive state of mind and raise energetic vibrations.

When you repeat affirmations, you set intentions that break old habits and create new ones. Try to repeat the affirmations out loud in your head or write them down to open the Sacral chakra.

Here Are Some Examples of Affirmations to Help Balance the Sacral Chakra:

❖ “I feel passionate”
❖ “I am a creative being”
❖ “I have limits that protect me”
❖ “I feel more joy and satisfaction every day”
❖ “I feel the flow of inspiration and creativity”
❖ “I feel good inside and my body is alive”
❖ “I deserve to be happy and to meet my needs”
❖ “I feel confident expressing my sexual self in fun, creative, and healthy ways”
❖ “I attract relationships with good and loving people who support me”
❖ “I accept change and make the most of my future”

Eat Orange Foods
You can also heal the Sacral chakra with certain kinds of food by focusing on orange-based foods, meaty fruits, healthy fats, and anti-inflammatory foods. Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids are especially good for this chakra.

Some examples of these foods are:

❖ Salmon

❖ Nuts and seeds

❖ Coconut oil

❖ Cinnamon

❖ Oranges

❖ Sweet potatoes

❖ Carrots

❖ Kimchi

❖ Butternut squash

Release Yourself To Be Vulnerable
I know it sounds scary, but when you’re willing to give your all in relationships without being bound by the outcome, you become vulnerable, and that’s a good thing. If you don’t believe vulnerability is a superpower, read Brene Brown’s books. Vulnerability exposes you to genuine relationships, real intimacy, and true love.

Journaling
Another powerful tool for healing the Sacral chakra is keeping a journal. Write a letter or poem to someone (or yourself) to express your feelings or your individuality. You don’t even have to submit it, but just putting your emotions on paper can be very healing.

Sing Out Loud, Dance, Be Goofy
Sing loudly in the car (or shower) a song that arouses the emotions you are feeling. You can also try to dance spontaneously or just act silly. The goal is to have fun and live a creative and joyful life without clinging to what people think of you.

Other ways to open blocked chakras are through the use of yoga, mantras, colors, and gemstones.

Practice Postures That Stabilize Your Sacral Chakra.

Yoga poses, called asanas, help reconnect the physical with the spiritual. Conscious breathing while holding asanas relieves tension in the body and mind.

Yoga asanas that best open and align Svadhisthana are:

Sitting Pelvic Circles: Sit cross-legged or in a half-lotus position with your hands on your knees, and make a torso circle. Go 5 or 6 times in one direction, then change direction. Inhale as you begin to circle your spine from the navel point around forward and exhale as you sink back, rolling back through one hip then through the other, and begin to inhale as you now circle to the front. Move as if you were playing hula hoop.

Baddha Konasana (Butterfly Pose) With A Forward Bend: Bring the soles of your feet together while sitting. Drop your knees to your sides and bring your heels closer to your pelvis. Extend your torso and lean forward as far as you can.

Bhujangasana (Snake Pose): Lie on your stomach with your feet flat on the floor. Put your hands under your shoulders and slowly raise your head, chest, and abdomen up, keeping your belly button on the floor. Be sure to push the pubic bone toward the mat. VAM is the mantra sound that corresponds to the Sacral chakra. By chanting VAM, the vibrations unfold and align the chakra.

Reconnect With Water
The Sacral chakra is related to the water element and our ability to adapt to changes. You can reconnect with this element by spending time in the water, swimming, sitting by the ocean, by a stream, or taking a relaxing bath. Another powerful Sacral healing ritual is Watsu, a form of therapy in which a person is held gently and guided in the water.

THE SACRAL CHAKRA AT A GLANCE

★ Sanskrit Name: Svadhisthana translates as “abode with oneself” in Sanskrit

★ Position: lower abdomen below the coccyx (including lower pelvis, uterus, and genitals)

★ Subtle Body: Emotional body

★ Affirmation: “I can” and “I have”

★ Element: Water

★ Connection to: Emotional self

★ Gland: Reproductive organs

★ Sense: Taste

★ Crystals: Coral, Orange Calcite, Citrine, Orange Aventurine, Carnelian, and Hematite

★ Essential Oils: Sandalwood, Jasmine, Rose, Tangerine, Sweet Orange, and Ylang-Ylang (unless you’re pregnant)

★ Yoga Poses: Goddess pose, Butterfly pose, Snake pose, Twisting Triangle, and Pose of Shiva

★ Signs of Balance: Sensations of creativity, lust, and sensual and sexual pleasure

★ Signs of Imbalance: Addictive/obsessive-compulsive behavior, sexual dysfunction, fear of change, emotional instability. The Sacral chakra is associated with reproductive problems such as infertility, impotence, and menstrual cramps. You may also develop back, kidney, or stomach problems.

★ Personality Traits: Extroverted, happy, emotional well-being, and self-expression

★ Qualities: Emotions, creativity, sensitivity, sexuality, intimacy

★ Key Themes: Sensuality and creativity

★ Mantra/Sound: “VAM” (pronounced like, “VARM”)

CONCLUSION

The Svadhishthana chakra, or Sacral chakra, symbolizes creative potential, the ability to maintain satisfactory relationships, and our sexual energy. This chakra frees the person from behavior control and fear of abandonment. Eliminating this life energy or obsessing over negative thoughts and patterns causes blockages. Restoring the balance of the Sacral chakra creates an independent and self-confident person.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Now that you understand your Sacral chakra a little better, the next chakra to explore is your Solar Chakra!