Grounding, Healing, and Expanding The Root Chakra
There is a connection between Planet Earth below our feet and our own Earth and Water elements. Our Root Chakra (Muladhara) is the most dense and vibrates at the lowest frequency of the Chakras. It’s not a coincidence that our two lowest Major Chakras, Muladhara and Swadhisthana, relate to the two passive Elements that are concerned with receiving energy. We are meant to root into the Earth and source her power.
We’ll be exploring the Muladhara Chakra and how it relates to Kundalini Ascension through the Sciatic Nerve, Sacral Plexus, and Earth Star Chakra. Grounding, healing, and expanding the Muladhara Chakra is necessary for the Ascension of Kundalini. A Kundalini awakening allows one to realize their full Spiritual potential and is absolutely necessary for Spiritual evolution. The Kundalini awakening process can be a massive uprooting for most of us and requires the process of intense purification. Knowing how to stay grounded can mitigate these massive changes happening to our energy field. At the end of this article, I’ve included two grounding practices that have worked best for me on my spiritual journey. Happy reading friends..
Muladhara Chakra and its Properties
Muladhara Chakra, also known as Root or Earth Chakra, is located between the coccyx (tailbone) and the perineum. It’s well known that Muladhara is the center of our physical energy and responsible for keeping us grounded. This makes sense as to why it’s the lowest of the Seven Major Chakras and related to Saturn, the most dense and slow-moving of the Seven Ancient Planets. In order to become realigned to the present moment, we must slow down and tend to the connection of our Root Chakra and Earth Star Chakra. Muladhara is related to Karma and our life cycles. It’s masculine (positive) in nature and typically spins clockwise in males, and counterclockwise in females.
An open and active Muladhara relates to feeling confident, stable, and grounded.
While an under-active or stagnant Muladhara relates to feeling anxious, fearful, or even paranoid. If this Chakra is overactive we can have feelings of greediness, attachments to materialistic properties, and selfishness. Those who have an open and well-balanced Muladhara Chakra have an easy time manifesting the life they desire because of their strong connection to Earth Star Chakra, our source of stable energy. Think of Earth Star Chakra as a battery for Muladhara.
The resting place of Kundalini is in coccyx region, coiled 3 1/2 times waiting to be awakened to it’s full potential. In order to awaken Kundalini, there needs to be an influx of energy to the Muladhara and Swadhisthana Chakras. The Sacrum represents our Holy Temple. It houses, governs, and protects the genital organs, plexuses, and lower subtle energy centers. All of which play a massive role in activating the Kundalini Awakening process. These two chakras are related to the two passive elements that are concerned with receiving energy, Earth and Water. Muladhara is our vessel for receiving Earth’s energy, while Swadhisthana is our emotional container. Swadhisthana also holds our sexual energy and represents the subconscious mind and instincts. It’s been shown that sexual energy, turned inward, has transformative effects on raising Consciousness.
Your Sacral Plexus and Sciatic Nerve
Something very special about Muladhara is its energy lines extending from our sacral plexus, down our legs, and into our feet. This connection is there to inextricably tether us to Planet Earth. How amazing is that?!
The Sacral Plexus and the Sciatic Nerve are the two main factors at play when becoming a grounded individual. The Sacral Plexus is a nerve plexus that provides motor and sensory nerves for the pelvis, most of the lower legs, and feet. Muladhara Chakra sits just below the Sacral Plexus, between the coccyx and perineum. Muladhara’s Chakric stem originates at the third and fourth sacral vertebrae (S3–4), which is a part of the Sacral Plexus.
The Sciatic Nerve is the largest peripheral nerve in the human body and functions as the root for the nervous system by grounding us to Planet Earth. Measuring about 2cm in diameter, it was formed by the union of five nerve roots from the Sacral Plexus and splits into two major branches behind the knee (tibial nerve and common peripheral nerve). The Sciatic Nerve extends from the Sacral Plexus, down the legs, and into the sole.
All physical symptoms are manifestations of the quality of the Chakric energies.
When we experience Sciatic Nerve pain, it’s a sign of a grounding issue. Just as the Vagus nerve is a physical representation of the Kundalini energy, the Sciatic Nerve is a biological representation of the energy channels connecting us to Earth Star Chakra.
Your Earth Star Chakra and Grounding
The Ida and Pingala Nadis start in the Muladhara Chakra but receive their feminine and masculine energies from the primary energy channels in the leg via the Earth Star Chakra. Earth Star Chakra, also known as Vasundhara (“Daughter of Earth”) is considered a Transpersonal Chakra. It sits about six inches below the feet. This Transpersonal Chakra also takes on the name of “Super-Root” for a very intentional reason. The Earth Star acts as the bridge between our individual consciousness and the Collective Consciousness of Planet Earth (Mother Gaia).
The Foot Chakras are our medium of communication between the Major Chakras and the Earth Star.
That’s why practices that directly involve nature like walking barefoot in nature, meditation, witnessing, gardening, mindful eating, etc. help to ground us. Doing so will energize the Earth Star Chakra and therefore feed and heal Muladhara Chakra. This is where Ascension begins.
The Earth Star allows us to stay grounded despite the wear and tear of our day-to-day lives that seek to unground us. This connection allows us to stay on the path of our life’s purpose and not allow our thoughts to control us. Instead, our personal and transpersonal parts of our Soul become rooted in Planet Earth’s magnetic core through its electromagnetic field. So, let’s explore my two most effective practices to become grounded and stabilized.
Grounding Practices for the Root Chakra
Playing in Nature
Yes, it seems so simple, because it is! One of the best ways to ground ourselves and balance our Root Chakra is through interfacing with Mother Gaia. Go on a walk, take a hike, swim in a lake, feel the sand, and sit underneath a big beautiful tree. One of the best ways to feel the earth’s natural calming energy field is by being present and playful in nature.
With our busy schedules, I know that there are a lot of us who struggle with just getting enough direct sunlight every day. For those people, I recommend you set a timer or a time of day where every day you show up to connect with nature. If you usually have coffee before work, take it outside and stand with your bare feet in the earth. If your lunch breaks are usually at your desk, take them to the bench outside your building. Small changes make a huge impact, you just have to be willing to make those small changes.
Grounding Meditation:
Start by sitting in a comfortable meditation asana. Ex. Padmasana (Lotus pose) or Sukhasana (Easy sitting pose) and gently close the eyes.
Rest the hands on the knees, palms facing up. Breathe in fully and stand your spine up tall, but comfortably. Exhale fully through the mouth and relax the shoulders away from the ears.
Begin to witness the breath coming in and out through the nostrils. Pay attention to how the chest fills up, how the ribcage expands, how the belly fills up. As you exhale, feel the ribcage deflate, and how the diaphragm rises. We’re simply here to notice the subtlety of our body taking in Prana with every inhale, and how the body and mind find comfort with every exhale. Take as long as you need here.
Connect the ring finger and thumb together while straightening out the rest of your fingers. You’re now performing Prithvi Mudra. This balances the Earth elements in the body, making us grounded and stable. It raises our endurance, confidence, and strength while improving chronic fatigue, weight gain, and any bone, cartilage, nail, hair, and skin issues. Prithvi Mudra has been known to increase our immunity in the body and elevate nasal disorders.
Begin to send your awareness to the Muladhara Chakra (in between the coccyx and perineum). You can visualize the traditional Muladhara Chakra (a red, 4 petalled Lotus flower). You can also visualize a glowing red orb or really anything that helps you focus on your Root Chakra center. Every time you take a breath in, imagine the Chakra expanding, and as you exhale slightly contracting. As if you’re breathing life into your Root Chakra (which you are). Stay here for as long as you need.
When it’s time to come out, seal in your practice with a couple rounds of deep breaths. Keep the eyes closed and start to take notice of the quality of the mind, body, emotions, and thoughts. Carry the calmness and graciousness you gave to yourself today through every act you perform in life.
— Taylor Whitney
