“The word ‘Svadhisthana‘ is derived from two Sanskrit words, ‘Swa’ and ‘Adhisthana’ where swa means ‘one’s own’ and ‘adhisthana’ means abode” Svadhisthana Chakra – Everything You Need to Know
Day 14 of my sobriety journey. We are just under a week into lent. The initial shock of making a change may be starting to wear off as our minds begin to accept that there could be a new reality where an old habit no longer resides.
It is at this point we may start to become a little creative to find ways to adjust to a different way of being. We also may wish to share what we are doing with others now that we are a few days in and the initial thought of giving something up has some gravitas behind it.
Today I am writing about the Svadhisthana chakra. It is the second chakra and it is Orange.
This is the painting of the Svadhisthana Chakra I made in January 2021
From Learn The Meaning Behind Each Chakra: this symbol represents a lotus flower and circles to “represent the cyclical nature of birth, death, and rebirth. The tangential circles also create a crescent moon shape, which is a nice reminder of the connection between creativity and the phases of the moon”
It is known as the Sacral chakra due to its location at sacrum. If you were to envision this chakra at the front part of the body, it is located below the naval in the mid-abdominal area.
Svadhisthana is also known as the Creation chakra or Sexual Chakra. It is the place in the body where creativity, sensuality, and worthiness abide. Our nature is to create; be it life, various forms of the arts, or using our minds to problem solve. Reproduction as a form of creation derives from sex, which is why there is a link between sensuality and creativity. This chakra also represents the power of choice, individuality, as well as relations to others.
Creation is a part of the circle of life. The moon and its phases are often associated with the female menstrual cycle. It is during the reproductive years when this cycle governs the ability to create new life.
Of the 5 elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether), this chakra is associated with the flowy and loose nature of water.
The flowy, moving quality of water represents moving from the individualize self to others, building relationships and creating new things from inside the self into the outer world. If we were to move up Maslow’s triangle to the next rung past survival and security, we find ourselves at a place where a sense of belonging and relation with others is needed.
When this sacral chakra is balanced or open, our ability to “go with the flow” is strengthened, and our ability to surrender and tune into our true feelings is heightened. However, when this area is imbalanced or blocked we may feel unable to express ourselves emotionally or creatively. We might also feel overly emotional.
To break old habits or create new ones, we can tap into the qualities of this chakra where the power of choice and the ability to create can help us to solidify new ways of doing things. When we are able to go with the flow and be in touch with how we are really feeling, it will be easier to find solutions that work for our personal needs.
Last week I explained how the koshas are akin to 5 sheaths that are layered in between our own individual light or soul and the outside world. The next layer of the koshas which is associated with the sacral chakra is the pranamaya kosha.
Prana means life force energy. It is similar to what the Chinese tradition refers to as chi. Prana is everywhere. It governs our energetic body.
The visual below shows how the sheath of prana or life force is what is in between our mental body and physical body. It is the gateway or link from mental to physical. It is related to the miracle of bringing life from seemingly nowhere into the outer world. That miracle is managed by this vital energy we call prana.
We can strengthen prana by doing breath work. We can also direct it through our mind and movement.
When we suddenly crave or desire a habit we are trying to break, that craving originates in the mind before we do anything about it. Not unlike every other thought, if we notice the thought before we act on it with the physical body; we can adjust our auto response and make better choices. When we do that, we are redirecting prana from a well-worn auto pattern, into a new pathway that will help to govern the outcome we desire. The Svadhisthana chakra represents the power of choice. Prana is the force behind that power and it will move in the way the mind directs it to move whether we are making those choices consciously or unconsciously.
Seed mantras as I wrote about last week are shortcut words to a lengthier explanation of an intention that we can chant repeatedly to connect to the universal energies and help will aid in making this intention a reality.
Since Sanskrit is a vibrational language, the words correlate to the energic vibrations of the intention, mood, or object they describe. Repeating mantras help us to fill our mind with something we consciously want to put in there.
The seed mantra for the Svadhisthana chakra is VAM. Chanting VAM helps to cleanse blockages in this chakra, allowing for creativity to freely flow, as water does when it is not otherwise blocked.
The way I could use the seed mantra VAM to as an intention for a new life of sobriety would be to create more space between the moment I may desire to drink and the old auto response to do it. Where there is space and freedom, there is the clear ability to notice the desire and direct the outcome from the old habit to the new.
As mentioned above, the element of this chakra is water; which is a solid. If the old habit is blocked and locked in, like water; the only response is to go down the tunnel that it is directed toward. However, once we create space for water to flow, it can be directed through a myriad of endless possibilities in any direction. Particularly possibilities we desire.
The Prana Vayus are the 5 ways in which energy moves throughout the body. Yoga poses aid in moving energy in particular ways. The prana vayu associated with the sacral chakra is called Vyana.
The force of Vyana moves from the center out into all directions in the entire body. Isn’t that how unencumbered water would flow? Isn’t the creation of the universe via the Big Bang just that? A force from the center leading into every direction. Vyana is what coordinates and connects prana. It is not generated from the sacral chakra or any place in particular. But Vyana is what this chakra represents – creation and life energy.
Yoga poses in which Vyana can be directed are through folds and hip openers. Every good hip opener begins with a core understanding of a proper seat, as they are mostly done on the ground. Some poses that grow out of seat are Butterfly, Cow Face, Head to knee pose (seated forward fold), Wide legged straddles, and Pigeon to name a few.
Going slightly off the beaten path here I can’t help but think of the phrase “the issues live in our tissues” when I think about hip openers. It is not unusual for a student to cry in pigeon. I’ve done it myself. It is said that the hips hold a lot of emotion and when we open the hips the emotions are able to pass. Emotions usually block us from moving forward to a desired outcome.
Whether or not there is truth to “the issues live in our tissues”; I’m willing to try something that can’t hurt in order to break old habits and create space for new ones!
Until next week…
If you are ready – come grab a seat with me and let’s talk about Easy Sitting Pose to calm the mind and get the creativity flowing.
Easy Seated Pose:
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I just finished doing a 40 day kundalini yoga program last Monday I love yoga and I started about two months ago listening to a nightly manifestation meditation. Thank for sharing your knowledge of yoga.
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