Root Chakra
The Foundation of Inner Stability and a Sense of Safety
According to the symbolism of the Medicine Wheel, autumn draws us towards the earth, the material world and our physical body. Ancient Eastern spiritual traditions offer a similar message, connecting these themes to the root chakra (Muladhara), the energy centre at the base of the spine, between the tailbone and the perineum.
According to chakra teachings, the root chakra represents our connection with the Earth, the body and the feeling that we are safe.
It is considered the foundation of the energy system, upon which our physical and energetic body, as well as the chakras that follow, are built. Like the roots of a tree, when the foundation is healthy and balanced, health, well-being and strength can grow from it.
Its main role is to ground and regulate our sense of safety, survival, stability, and basic trust in life. When the root chakra is balanced, we feel comfortable in our body and in the world we live in, and we can face life's challenges more easily. This does not mean that difficulties disappear, but that we experience them with greater inner strength and stability.
When this energy centre is weakened, feelings of insecurity, excessive worry and restlessness may arise, and we may feel depressed or anxious. We may also feel as if we have no solid ground beneath our feet or are disconnected from the Earth.
And autumn is precisely the time that invites us to reconnect with our body and with nature.
Contact with the earth, through gardening, for example, is one of the simplest ways to reconnect with the ground beneath us and strengthen our sense of inner stability. While the days and the soil are still warm, we can walk barefoot on the grass or sit beneath a tree and simply take some time for ourselves.
Outdoor activities such as walking, running and hiking are ideal ways to strengthen the body while also supporting our connection with the root chakra.
When we put our phone away and bring our attention to our steps, our breath and the sounds of nature, our focus shifts from the mind back into the body. We become more present in our body and in the here and now.
How Can We Cultivate Stability and Presence?
🌳 Tree Practice
Lean against the trunk of a tree.
Close your eyes and breathe. Feel the stability of the tree.
With each breath, allow yourself to sense a little more of its stability, strength and support.
Now imagine that you, too, are growing roots deep into the earth. Feel how these roots anchor and support you.
Allow yourself to feel stability, strength and support within.
🦶🦶 Barefoot Walking Practice
Walk barefoot on the grass. Consciously notice the contact between your feet and the ground.
Notice how your thoughts gradually begin to settle.
Let your attention move from your head into your body.
Feel your breath, your presence in the body and your ability to be in the present moment.
Questions for Inner Reflection
What gives me a sense of stability at this point in my life?
What would I like to strengthen in my life so that I can stand more firmly on my foundations?
How able am I to be present in my body?
What can I do to become even more present in my body?
You don’t need to find every answer. Sometimes simply carrying a question for a while is enough.
