The Sacral Chakra
Sacral Chakra:
- Sanskrit Name: Swadhisthana
- Color: Orange
- Element: Water
- Sense: Taste
- Location: Two centimeters below the navel
The Sanskrit word for the sacral chakra loosely translates to “one’s own dwelling,” as this energy center relates to our personal identity and our ability to feel all our emotions. With this chakra, we must learn to feel to heal. It is also the seat of pleasure, creativity, sexuality, and passion.
The sacral chakra is depicted as a beautiful six-petaled lotus flower with a vibrant orange color. In the center of this lotus flower is a yellow crescent moon, symbolizing the key element of this chakra: water. The six petals represent six different energy vortices, described as ripples or fluctuations of the mind. These six are affection, destruction, delusion, suspicion, contempt, and distrust. In the Yogic and Hindu tradition, we aim to calm this “mental chatter” through movement, breathing, and meditation.
This chakra also relates to our personal identity, how we see ourselves, and our place in the world. It prompts us to ask, “Who am I?”. On an energetic level, the sacral chakra is the home of our emotional body. It governs our ability to feel and process emotions. When this chakra is vibrant and healthy, we have emotional intelligence and are able to acknowledge and even welcome everything we feel.
Problems with this chakra manifest as issues with the associated organs, such as urinary infections, lower back pain, and impotence. Emotionally, this chakra is connected to our self-esteem, specifically our self-worth around pleasure, sexuality, and creativity.
