The first, or Root Chakra, Muladhara, is located at the base of the spine, the pelvic floor, the perineum, and the first three vertebrae. It, along with the sacral chakra, is one of the main "energy stations" that helps to feed and support the other chakras. The word Muladhara is derived from two Sanskrit words: Mula meaning "root," and Adhara meaning "base" or "support."
The root chakra is, quite literally, our foundation, our center... our deepest connection to the Earth. It is comprised of whatever allows us to feel grounded and centered in our lives. It is how we feel about our basic survival needs, such as food, water, safety, security (our physical needs), as well as our deepest emotional issues, such as anxiety, trust, and letting go of fear.
Our root chakra is greatly influenced by how safe and supported we felt as infants and young children. If our primary needs were met easily and consistently, we learned to develop trust and a sense of security in the world. If our caregivers did not give us what we needed, or delayed in giving it to us, we learned to develop fear or mistrust of the world, and that lack of support or stability could be the cause of root chakra imbalances or blockages.
An over-active Muladhara can manifest as fearfulness, insecurity, nervousness, or resistance to change. An under-active Muladhara can be seen as lacking a sense of security anywhere, codependency, or fears of abandonment.
When our root chakra is balanced, we feel safe, supported by life, strong, and stable. However, when our root chakra is out of balance, we can exhibit both emotional and physical symptoms, such as:
Emotional Symptoms:
Constant fear Anxiety about the future or life in general Fears around money Guilt Nightmares Eating disorders Addictive or obsessive behaviors Materialistic or greedy Insecurity
Physical Symptoms:
Lower back or spinal pain Hip, leg, knee, or foot pain or issues Problems with kidneys or adrenal glands Problems with elimination Inability to sit still Restlessness Unhealthy weight (either over-or-underweight) Chronic fatigue
Root Chakra associated body parts and endocrine glands:
Hips Legs Knees and feet Spine and lower back Adrenal Glands
Root Chakra Affirmations:
"I am always safe." "My home is safe and secure." "I am grounded." "The Universe (God) will always provide for me." "My needs are always met." "I am financially secure." "I feel deeply rooted." "I feel safe and secure." "I trust in the goodness of life." "I trust myself." "I make choices that are good and healthy for me." "I love life."
