The root chakra

"Put seeds and cover them.

Blades will sprout

you do your work."

Rumi

As I'm sure you'd all agree, every journey begins with a single step.

In Chakra Balancing Anodea Judith suggests we take this step by making solid contact with earth, the element of the first chakra. So it if fitting that we begin our journey upward through the chakras by initially going down.

.

Located at the base of the spine, this chakra forms our foundation. It represents the element earth, and is therefore related to our survival instincts, and to our sense of grounding and connection to our bodies and the physical plane.

.

Ideally this chakra brings us health, prosperity, security, and dynamic presence.

.

The root chakra represents how we interface with the physical ealm: our body, home, finances, work, and environment. It represents our physical identity -- the ability to identiy with our body and its needs.

.

Increasing your contact with the natural world is an essential part of first chakra development. To treat the physical world as sacred is to honor what you do with your body and environment, the food you eat, the things you buy, and your means of livelihood.

.

On a psychological level, the root chakra is associated with the survival instinct and the will to live, hence your basic health and vitality. As te final chakra in the descending current, it is here that you bring things into manifestation or completion. In order to fully manifest, you must be able to ground your energy into the earth.

.

Chakra Attributes

1. Sanskrit name: Muladhara, meaning root support
2. Color: Red
3. Element: Earth
4. Function: Survival, grounding

Excessive characteristics:

• heaviness, sluggishness, slow movements
• resistance to change
• overeating, obesity,
• hoarding
• material fixation, greediness
• workaholism
• excessive spending

Deficient characteristics:

• fear, anxiety
• resistance to strucutre
• anorexia, underweight
• spaciness, flightiness, vagueness
• disconnection from your body
• restlessness, inability to sit still
• difficulty manifesting

Balanced characteristics: The following characteristics indicated a balanced first chakra. They are also the rewards that come from first chakra work.

• Groundedness
• Physical health
• Being comfortable in your body
• A sense of safety and security
• Stability and solidity
• Right livelihood
• Prosperity
• Ability to be still
• Presence in the here and now

Healing Essence of the Chakra

.

Located at the base of the spine, it governs all aspects of grounding, inner security, sexuality, and safety issues brought from childhood or past lives. Becoming conscious of the first chakra allows one to tap into a life affirming power that is deep and profound.

.

Keywords: Grounding, Sexuality, Life Affirming, Primal, Foundation

.

Those of you who have bought Anodea Judith's Chakra Balancing Kit can move on to their workbooks, and if you like, blog your responses and link back to this post.

.

For those of you who don't have the book but would like to know a bit more about the first chakra, visit Anodea Judith's site.

Affirmations to practice this week:

• I enjoy being in my body and I nourish it each day.
• I am connected to the earth and the safe foundation it provides for my future growth.
• I believe in my abundance.

You might want to answer these questions:

1. What is your relationship to your body, diet and exercise?
2. Do you suffer from any physical ailments?
3. Is your home environment nurturing & clean?
4. Are you on top of your finances?
5. Are you satisfied in your work?
6. How regularly do you spend time in nature?
7. Does fear hold you back in your life?
8. Can you take care of details and stay centred?

-------------------------

See participant's responses:

1. Mich
2. Angela Eclectic Recovery (see response in comments section)
3. Hélène Deroubaix
4. Anna