The Sacral Chakra

The sacral chakra is the second energy center in the body, closely related to the root chakra. Its location is two fingers below the navel, essentially where the reproductive organs reside. This chakra also governs other organs such as the kidneys, and bladder and the endocrine system.

A creative energy center

Because this area of the body creates new life, creativity is what this chakra imbibes. Creating new life doesn’t only mean creating new humans. This creativity includes art, projects, ideas – anything that requires a creative mindset – and even relationships.

The sacral chakra teaches you to take care of your emotional needs. It is related to the root chakra which governs your physical needs.

The unbalanced sacral chakra

An unbalanced sacral chakra has some surprising physical manifestations. Because of the location of this energy center, physical issues with regard to reproduction, the endocrine system, or the body’s elimination system arise because of an unbalanced chakra. This includes issues such as infertility, prostate cancer, bursitis in the hip and more.

Human sexuality

Interestingly, western society takes a “Puritan-esque” approach to the expression of sexuality. The idea for centuries has been that people must be chaste, that sex is “sinful,” and even an embarrassing thing to talk about. With a lifetime of suppressing creativity, emotional release, or downplaying human sexual needs, it’s not surprising that men often develop prostate cancer later in life, or that infertility is a growing issue for both men and women.

When the sacral chakra goes into overdrive, as a way to compensate for other unbalanced chakras in the body (or its own imbalance), sexual addiction can happen. In fact, addictions of any kind – work, alcohol, etc. – point to an unbalanced sacral chakra.

Lastly, have you ever noticed how western society, especially US society, does not fully celebrate the arts? If a child says, “I want to be a doctor,” family and friends usually celebrate. But if a child says, “I want to be an artist,” that child might hear, “you should have a backup plan.” This message at the societal level contributes to an unbalanced chakra.

Bringing the Second Chakra Into Balance

Meditation

As a meditation teacher, I suggest that meditation always be in your toolbox of things you can use for chakra balancing, but as a life-enhancing tool. It’s not a cure-all and it takes awhile to feel the benefits (though not always), but it is worthwhile.

I wrote and created the guided meditation below for helping to balance the sacral chakra. See the bottom of this post for the script.

Make things and release!

In addition, get to creating! You don’t have to be a professional artist, either. Color in a coloring book. Take creative pictures. Create a new routine. Write a story. If you’re more logically-minded, turn math problems into fractals (no joke!).

Let out your emotions. Climb to the top of a mountain and scream until you can’t scream any more. Let yourself have a laughing fit.

Kundalini Dancing

Another way to help you balance your sacral chakra is to do some kundalini dancing. Plant your feet, put on some meditative rhythmic music, and let your body flow with the energy. Pre-determine the time you will dance and don’t let yourself stop until the time is up.

Make use of gems, stones, oils, & colors

The color orange represents the sacral chakra. The more you bring “orange” into your life, the better for balancing this chakra.

Carry stones like carnelian, amber, sunstone, or bronzite as jewelry or in your pocket. Use essential oils such as orange (of course!), ylang ylang, or sandalwood when you meditate, or wear with a carrier oil.

Wear orange clothing. Eat orange foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, oranges and papaya.

Fall in love with yourself

Just as the sacral chakra governs relationships with others, it plays a role the relationship with yourself. Think about that. How good is the relationship with yourself?

Ask yourself: Do you treat your body well? Are you kind to yourself? Do you thank yourself for all the hard work you do every day?

Only you know the answers to those questions. My guess, however, is that you aren’t thinking kind thoughts about yourself. Next time you look in the mirror, instead of being critical, think about what is good about your body.

By loving yourself, you treat the “vessel” well. You nourish it and give it enough water. You allow it to rest. You set healthy boundaries and you allow for the healthy expression of your sexuality. You exercise, and practice mindfulness. This can help bring your chakra into balance.

Go for the healing

Your reproductive organs carry the genes of your mother and your mother’s mother and all those relatives before you. Whatever traumas these folks experienced were imprinted in your genetic memory. Add to that any trauma you may have experienced during the course of this life. This doesn’t just include physical trauma, but societal trauma, personal feelings towards your body and your reproductive organs.

It’s worth it to explore this theme in a gentle way. Journal about your feelings toward your own sexuality. If you feel guilt or shame, it’s worth exploring why and deconstructing what is behind that.

This core, this center of the body is connected to life. Fully living and embracing all that you are comes with love and acceptance of all of yourself.

I found a beautiful video by SoulToz who experienced an awakening. She talks about the sacral chakra at length. I encourage you – whether you’re male or female – to take a look. It’s truly beautiful and she taught me some things, too.

Repeat Affirmations

In balancing the sacral chakra, affirmations can help. See the meditation script below under the affirmations heading for some ideas. Some or all of the them might be useful to you.

You can also chant the word “vam” (often pronounced “vang”) to help balance this chakra. This selected meditation is an hour-long repetition of the seed mantra, vam.

Sacral Chakra Guided Meditation

Beginning the meditation

As you begin this practice, make sure you won’t be disturbed. 

You may sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor, or on a cushion – wherever you may be comfortable. Just be sure the position you find is one that you can maintain long enough for this meditation. Be kind to yourself. If you find that you need to shift, do so with mindfulness and calm. 

When you meditate, it’s okay to have thoughts – they will come! Welcome them. Meditation shouldn’t be a strain. Don’t try too hard. Just bring your gentle, nonjudgmental attention back to this meditation when you find your thoughts have taken you somewhere else. 

Let go of expectations. You have come to your chair or cushion. Let yourself settle into this practice to benefit from this time of calm and silence. Once you begin this meditation, stick with it until the end. 

Settling into the meditation

Close your eyes, or cap them halfway, with a soft, unfocused gaze. 

Bring your awareness to the breath. Notice the rise and fall of the chest, the natural rhythm of breathing. Sit with the breath for a few moments.

If you find your thoughts wandering, gently come back to this sacral chakra meditation. Thoughts are okay. Let them come. Welcome them. Gently let them go by coming back to this meditation. Be kind to yourself. 

Now, take two or three deep yawns. You can “fake yawn” until one comes on. 

Bring your attention back to the breath. Notice the natural rhythm of your breathing. 

Breathe in, deeply, first into your belly and then into your chest. Inhale as much as you can. 

Slowly begin to release the air, starting with your chest, then your belly. Do this for two more breaths.

Lighting the lower chakras

Bring your attention to the root of your being, the base of the spine. A tiny ball of red energy spins there. 

See this energy center as a red pin of light. Allow this red ball of light to grow and surround your body.

Move up a few inches, to the organs of your body that create life. Your creative center. An orange light activates there. It is the size of a pin. 

As you inhale, allow this orange light to grow to the size of a marble. 

Inhale again and grow the light until your entire midsection is surrounded by this creative, warm light energy. 

Allow filaments of this light to infuse your creative organs with warm energy, moving to your kidneys, bladder, and lower vertebrae.

Now allow this light to grow with your next breath. 

Creative Shield

This warm light now surrounds you, as a creative shield. Warm rays of light infuse your whole body with grounded, passionate energy. 

Your entire being basks in warm amber light.

This light infuses you with healthy sexual energy, creative energy, and flourishing relationships. Your relationships with all people are free to grow healthfully, with deep connections and healthy boundaries.

As you breathe, bring the air into your belly. 

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Chanting

Now, inhale to chant.

Vammmmmmmmmmmm.

Inhale to chant.

Vammmmmmmmmmmm.

Inhale to chant.

Vammmmmmmmmmmm.

Vammmmmmmmmmmm.

Vammmmmmmmmmmm.

(continue for two minutes)

Let your breathing return to normal. 

The orange light still surrounds you. All the areas in the sacral chakra absorb this light and awaken. Repeat each of the following affirmations silently or aloud after it is spoken.

Affirmations

I love myself: heart, mind and body.

I take good care of my body vessel, both mentally and physically.

I am open to life and all that it has to offer.

I have confidence and a zest for life.

I am sensual and express myself in healthy ways.

I allow myself to feel the pleasures and abundance of life.

I feel connected to others.

I am a creator and add beauty to the world.

I create healthy boundaries.

Breathe

Spend a couple minutes in silence as you continue to keep this healing light energized.

As you breathe, ribbons of this beautiful light weave in and around your lower abdomen, infusing you with creative, abundant energy.

Ending the meditation

Keep your eyes closed or capped as you near the end of this meditation. 

It’s important to come out of meditation slowly.

Bring your awareness back to the breath. Allow yourself to feel the in and out rhythm of the rise and fall of the breath.

On your next inhale, allow the fingers and toes to wiggle if you wish. Gently shift your arms or legs as needed. 

When you’re ready, open your eyes with a soft downward gaze. Keep your focus inward. 

Open your eyes fully as you’re ready. You may return to your day.

References:

Ultimate Guide to Sacral Chakra Healing for Complete Beginners
6 Ways to Balance Your Sacral Chakra
Sacral Chakra – Svadhisthana
Sacral Chakra: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Your 2nd Chakra
My own experience with chakra opening