Chakras are energy centers that correspond to aspects of our well-being. When they are open and balanced, they allow energy to flow freely, and we feel relaxed, happy, creative, confident, and spiritually balanced.
When one or more of them become unbalanced or blocked off, we can suffer from any number of physical, emotional, or spiritual maladies. The sacral chakra, Svadhisthana, is the second.
About the Sacral Chakra
The name “Svadhisthana” contains the Sanskrit for “self” and “established.” Together, it roughly translates “where the self is established.” It is located in the lower abdomen, and is represented by the color orange, and a lotus with six petals. Its mantra is “Vam.”
This energy center lies above the root chakra, and below the solar plexus chakra. It’s associated with creativity, desire, pleasure, and confidence.
Blocked Sacral Chakra Signs & Symptoms
Svadhisthana is said to become blocked by trauma and shame. When we’re impacted by shame and trauma, we have trouble enjoying the things that once gave us pleasure, and lose the ability and desire to create.
A blocked sacral chakra can have several symptoms, including:
- Bitterness.
- An inability to take pleasure in things (anhedonia).
- Creative blocks or a lack of inspiration.
- Dulled emotions.
- Feeling brittle or rigid.
- Loss of sexual desire.
- Toxic or dysfunctional relationships.
- Feeling overlooked or insignificant.
Physically, a blocked sacral chakra may manifest as:
- Lower abdominal discomfort.
- Issues related to the reproductive organs.
- Menstrual irregularities.
- Bladder problems.
- Issues with the colon.
Some of these signs may also arise from serious medical conditions. If you’re having physical symptoms, consult a doctor before. Methods for healing, balancing, and unblocking the sacral chakra can be combined with conventional medical treatment, if necessary.
Sacral Chakra Opening Signs & Symptoms
Just like blockages of Svadhisthana can cause specific symptoms, opening can too. When this chakra begins to allow energy to flow through again, you might experience some of the following.
Some signs and symptoms of an opening sacral chakra include:
- An emotional release.
- The resolution of phobias or anxieties.
- Creative inspiration.
- A rebound in your attraction or sexual desire.
- Increased self-esteem.
Physically, you may experience:
- More frequent urination.
- Menstrual regularity.
- A return of arousal.
- Warmth in your lower abdomen.
- Improved colon health.
Methods to Heal, Balance & Open the Sacral Chakra
Everyone’s chakras become blocked for different reasons — one blockage in Svadhisthana might be due to shame, while another might be due to trauma.
That’s why there is an abundance of different methods for opening these energy centers. Feel free to try or combine any of the following:
Meditation and Visualization
Sit in a cross-legged position, spine tall. Breathe deeply and evenly, inhaling for a count of four, holding it for two, and releasing for seven. Repeat this three times.
When you feel relaxed and ready, picture a horizontal wheel of orange light sitting in your lower abdominal area.
Take a moment to assess it. Is it spinning fast or slow? Is the color bright, or dull? These can indicate whether your chakra needs to be opened or balanced.
Picture your body drawing energy up through your first (root) chakra, and into Svadhisthana. Continue breathing deeply and pulling energy into this area until you feel ready to stop.
Sound Healing
Sound is intimately related to the chakras. Each one has their own seed mantra, which is a specific vocal sound that resonates with each energy center. For the sacral chakra, chanting “Vam” can help open and balance it.
Certain frequencies are also associated with each center, and listening to pure tones or music tuned to these frequencies can also have a healing effect on the chakras.
For Svadhisthana, the best frequencies are said to be 288 Hz or 417 Hz. You can easily combine chanting and frequencies with meditation, energy work, aromatherapy, crystal healing, or any other techniques.
Crystals and Stones
The subtle healing energy of crystals and stones is perfect for acting on the chakras. While simply carrying them on you or keeping them within your energy field can help, it’s more effective to place them as close to the chakra as possible.
For Svadhisthana, this means wearing them near the waist (perhaps as a belly chain or belt bucket), or placing them in the pants pockets.
For the sacral chakra, choose stones in shades of orange. Crystals with a stimulating action, like carnelian, are especially helpful.
See also: Check out the Best Crystals & Stones for the Sacral Chakra here.
Herbs and Foods
Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food. Specific medicinal and culinary ingredients can help you calm, enhance, open, and balance Svadhisthana.
Orange herbs and foods, like calendula, are the most helpful. So are gently stimulating ingredients, like cinnamon or paprika.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the olfactory equivalent to food. Inhaling a scent introduces minute amounts of it into the body.
Certain scents, like ylang ylang, are said to have a pleasure-enhancing and aphrodisiac effect that resonates beautifully with the sacral chakra.
For Svadhisthana, dilute a few drops of essential oil into a neutral carrier oil like sunflower seed, jojoba, or sweet almond. Use this mixture as a massage oil, gently rubbing the lower abdomen as you inhale the scent.
You can also wear straight essential oils in specially-designed aromatherapy jewelry. (If you have pets or small children, avoid using diffusers — these release tiny droplets of pure oil into the air, many of which are toxic when ingested by animals or young kids.)
See also: Check out the Best Herbs & Essential Oils for the Sacral Chakra here.
Color
Every chakra has a color (or combination of colors) with which it resonates. For the sacral chakra, the color is orange. In many cultures, this color is associated with success, confidence, optimism, and the sweetness of fresh, ripe fruits.
You can wear more orange, decorate with it, or bring orange flowers or decorative fruits into your home. Take time to sit with this color and absorb its energy.
Exercise
Exercise is part of a holistically healthy lifestyle, so it makes sense that it would act on the chakras to keep the flow of life force energy balanced.
Yoga asanas like Anjaneyasana (low lunge) or Trikonasana (triangle pose) can help open the sacral chakra.
Healthy sexual activity shouldn’t be overlooked as a form of exercise, either. Since the sacral chakra is tied to the reproductive organs and the concept of pleasure, tantric sex can help keep it open and balanced.
If shame or trauma make this difficult or impossible, that’s okay — tantric sex is merely one technique among many for opening this energy center, and you should not push yourself to try it if you aren’t ready.
Energy Work
Sometimes, it may help to have someone experienced in energy manipulation work on the chakras. Techniques like reiki, crystal massage, or sound healing, among others, can be a very valuable aid in opening Svadhisthana.
Your sacral chakra allows you to enjoy life, and express this enjoyment through creativity. When its blocked, it can cut you off from some of the best things that life has to offer — as well as keeping life force energy from flowing properly to the other chakras.
Work with these chakra-opening methods to help return your zest for life.