Third Eye Chakra: Opening, Blockage, Signs & Symptoms

Your physical and energy bodies exist in a balance. When one gets thrown off, the other suffers as well. In Hindu Tantra, there are energetic gateways called chakras interspersed throughout the energy body.

When these are open and healthy, energy is able to flow freely and both the physical and energy bodies thrive. When one or more chakras become blocked, this is no longer the case. The sixth chakra is the third eye chakra, called Ajna.

About the Third Eye Chakra

In Sanskrit, Ajna roughly means “command.” It’s said to reside between the brows, at the approximate location of the pineal gland. This chakra is represented by the color dark blue (indigo), and a transparent lotus flower with two petals. Its seed mantra is “Om.”

Third eye chakra symbol.

Ajna is associated with intuition, inner vision, and the subconscious mind. It’s said to be the link between humans and ultimate reality. It’s the last chakra before the crown chakra, which is tied to spirituality and connection to the divine.

Blocked Third Eye Chakra Signs & Symptoms

The third eye chakra may be blocked by superficiality and an inflated ego.

Both of these are a form of lying to oneself — when we refuse to see things as they really are, beneath the surface, we cut ourselves off from the intuition and subconscious perception of Ajna. This results in a blockage, which can have a number of symptoms.

Signs an symptoms of a blocked third eye chakra include:

  • A judgmental and hypercritical attitude.
  • Difficulty trusting one’s own perceptions. A blocked third eye can lead us to second-guess ourselves.
  • A sense of disconnection from other people.
  • A sense of disconnection from nature and one’s environment.
  • Depression, anxiety, or other mood imbalances.
  • A lack of dreams, or poor dream recall.

Physically, a blocked third eye chakra may manifest as:

  • Insomnia.
  • Waking without feeling rested.
  • Repeated bouts of eye strain.
  • Migraines.
  • Tension headaches.
  • Sensitivity to light.

Third Eye Chakra Opening Signs & Symptoms

When energy flow is restored to this chakra, it can produce a different set of symptoms. This is especially true if the chakra has been blocked for a long time — you may become used to living with a blockage, and feeling your chakra open can be confusing, and even unpleasant.

If Ajna is beginning to open, you may experience some of the following symptoms.

Signs and symptoms of an opening third eye chakra include:

  • Emotional sensitivity. You may laugh or cry more easily.
  • Sensitivity to others’ energies. Being around some people may make you feel energized, while others may make you feel drained, or even sad.
  • Flashes of intuition.
  • Clairvoyance, claircognizance, or clairaudience. There are a variety of ways in which out subconscious and prophetic abilities speak to us. When Ajna begins to open, these may become more apparent.
  • Vivid, memorable, or lucid dreams.

Physically, an opening third eye chakra may produce:

  • A feeling of pressure or tension in the brow area.
  • Changes to sleep patterns.
  • Migraines.
  • Sensitivity to sound.

Methods to Heal, Balance & Open the Third Eye Chakra

The chakras are sensitive. Just as there are a variety of ways for a blockage to develop, there are multiple techniques for releasing one.

These can be used one at a time or all together, depending on what’s most appropriate for you and your specific situation. Consider trying:

Meditation and Visualization

Sit upright, legs crossed and hands resting on your knees. Close your eyes, and consciously relax your body. Let your chin drop toward your chest, and your shoulders fall away from your ears.

Take several deep breaths — inhale for a count of four, hold for a count of two, and exhale for a count of seven. When you feel prepared, picture your third eye chakra as a sphere of indigo in your brow area.

Take a moment to interpret it. Is it spinning? How fast or slow? Is its color bright, sickly, or dulled? Begin drawing deep blue energy into this area.

Let it build in your third eye, opening, balancing, and healing it. When you feel that you have taken in enough, open your eyes. Raise your head, stand, and shake out your arms and legs.

Lucid Dreaming

Lucid dreaming refers to maintaining awareness during dreaming. It’s described as knowing that a dream is taking place, which allows the dreamer to use this state to do and see whatever they want.

Achieving a lucid dream state takes time and practice, but can be a very healing experience for the third eye chakra. Many of the herbs, crystals, and meditative practices involved in achieving this dream state also overlap with those used to open and balance the third eye.

Developing a regular lucid dreaming practice is beneficial for strengthening and stimulating this energy center, keeping it open and healthy.

Hallucingens

The responsible, supervised use of hallucinogenic compounds can also help open and stimulate this chakra. These help dissolve the border between one’s perception of reality, the invisible realms, and the subconscious.

They can help the user see and acknowledge things they may be ignoring, and facilitate the healing of old trauma and emotional wounds.

For hallucinogens to be helpful, the user must be adequately physically and emotionally prepared for the experience — having a seasoned user or medical professional available may help.

The legality of this practice also varies from area to area. If hallucinogens aren’t possible, the use of mild entheogens can also help.

Sound Healing

Energy is vibration. So is sound. Different frequencies correspond to different energy states, and some resonate with specific chakras.

For the third eye, the best frequency is 852 Hz. Listening to this frequency, or music tuned to it, can help stimulate and heal the third eye.

Chanting the chakra’s seed mantra is said to have the same effect. For Ajna, this is “Om.”

Crystals and Stones

Crystals and stones are said to be energy in a physical form. They all have their own vibrational frequencies, and some correspond to specific chakras.

Wearing crystals near the chakra, or placing them there during meditation, can help stimulate and open these energy centers. For best results, this practice can be combined with meditation, chanting, and sound healing.

The third eye chakra resonates with stones associated with intuition and meditation. Amethyst and labradorite, for example, stimulate these abilities while healing this chakra. Rutilated quartz is an almost universal blockage remover.

See also: Check out the Best Crystals & Stones for the Third Eye Chakra here.

Herbs and Foods

What you eat impacts your physical body’s energy — anyone who has ever had to nap after a large meal can attest to that. It also affects your energy body. Certain herbs and foods help open and heal the chakras.

For the third eye, herbs such as eyebright help clear energy blockages, stimulate creativity, enhance focus, and enhance intuition, while passionflower can help people whose Ajna blockages cause insomnia.

Blue and purple foods, as well as those that naturally contain caffeine, like coffee, yerba mate, or chocolate, can also enhance the action of Ajna.

Aromatherapy

Consuming herbs and foods allows your body to assimilate their nutrients and active compounds. Aromatherapy operates in a similar fashion, albeit on a different level.

Every scent is caused by volatile compounds. When you smell something, the cilia in your nasal passages pick up molecules of these compounds, introducing them into the body.

Aromatherapy can have a profound impact on mood and mental state, while also letting the body take in minute amounts of concentrated plant medicine.

Clary sage, lavender, and frankincense oils are ideal for working on the third eye. These can be diluted into a neutral oil and used to anoint the brow area, or placed directly into aromatherapy jewelry.

They may also be suitable for diffusing, but use caution if you life with pets or small children — essential oils are very potent and concentrated, and can be toxic to animals and kids.

See also: Check out the Best Herbs & Essential Oils for the Third Eye Chakra here.

Color

Color’s impact on mood is well established. Scientists also know how each color corresponds to a different wavelength of energy across the visible spectrum. Surrounding yourself with a color means surrounding yourself with its energy.

For Ajna, the best color to use is indigo. It doesn’t matter how you choose to do this — decorate with it, paint with it, or wear it. The important thing is immersing yourself in indigo energy.

Exercise

Exercise enhances the circulation of blood throughout your body. It has a similar effect on the energy body, by enhancing the flow of life force energy. Performing exercises that target specific chakras is a great way to help heal and open them.

For the brow chakra, some of the best exercises are yoga asanas that encourage the flow of blood and life force energy to the head.

Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog), Balasana (child’s pose), and Sirsasana (headstand) all support Ajna’s health and function.

Energy Work

A blocked third eye chakra can make you feel cut off, including from your own subtle energies. This may make it difficult to start the process of healing and opening this energy center.

If you aren’t sure where to get started, or which techniques might be most effective for you, you might want to consult an experienced energy worker. Certified Reiki practitioners, massage therapists, and sound healers can help you start your healing journey.


Your third eye chakra is where you take in information about your environment and those around you. Unlike your eyes and ears, it operates on a more subtle, subconscious level.

If you’re experiencing the symptoms of a blockage, these techniques can help you restore your third eye and reconnect to your intuition.

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