Root or Base Chakra (Muladhara Chakra):
Healing, Meditation, Meaning, Stones & Crystals

The Base Chakra or Root Chakra (either one is correct) is the “foundation” that supports all the rest of you. In fact, its Sanskrit name is Muladhara, is made up of Sanskrit words: Mula (root) and Adhara (support, base). It’s the spiritual energy wheel that sits at the base of your spine. You can’t build a strong house without a foundation—and it’s the same thing with our BodyHouse.

Root or Base Chakra Table of Contents

What is the Root Chakra & What Does It Do?
Root Chakra Symbol
Where is the Root Chakra?
What is the Root Chakra Responsible For?
Root Chakra Meaning & Symbolism
How to Heal The Root Chakra
How to Unblock the Root Chakra
How to Balance the Root Chakra
How to Heal the Root Chakra Naturally
How to Activate the Root Chakra
Grounding the Root Chakra
Activation
Root Chakra Affirmations
Root Chakra Crystals & Stones
Root Chakra Frequency
Return to the 7 Chakras Colors & Meanings

What is the Root Chakra & What Does It Do?

The Root Chakra is one of the seven energy centers in the human subtle body.

A balanced root chakra can bring feelings of safety, security, and stability, promoting emotional resilience.
Imbalance in the root chakra may lead to anxiety, insecurity, or a lack of trust in oneself and others.
Addressing the root chakra can support a sense of belonging, confidence, and trust in the world.

Now let’s get back to the ‘subtle body’. Well, it’s not really tangible, which makes it a little difficult to scrutinize, at least with our normal senses. According to the Bhagavad Gita, the subtle body comprises the mind, intellect, and ego. All the chakras make their home in this space, living in harmony.

There are six more chakras to learn about. But we are starting from the ground up. In examining “what is the root chakra,” it helps to know it’s seated at the base of your spine. Yep, you are sitting on it (so to speak). If your root chakra is out of alignment, you may feel depressed, anxious, distracted, or stuck.

A less obvious symptom of base chakra being disordered is the sense of having no place or space. Don’t worry, you can fix this imbalance once you recognize the odd, almost lopsided vibrations hovering around. It’s easy to see why keeping your spiritual senses open to the energetic changes around and within you is so important.

“Our bodies have five senses: touch, smell, taste, sight, hearing. But not to be overlooked are the senses of our souls: intuition, peace, foresight, trust, empathy. The differences between people lie in their use of these senses; most people don’t know anything about the inner senses while a few people rely on them just as they rely on their physical senses, and in fact probably even more.”
― C. JoyBell C

As you might expect (spoiler alert), the Root Chakra (muladhara) has associations with the Earth Element. The name muladhara aptly means “the root of existence.” This spinning wheel of energy radiates with personal security, matters of home, relationships, and, of course, grounding.

Through this chakra, there’s a refreshing awareness of the world. Even in the craziness of urban living, you can reconnect with nature through the Root Chakra. In the words of Gary Snyder (a poet and ecological activist), “Nature is not a place to visit; it is home,” and while it sounds cliche, there is really no place like home.

Root Chakra Symbol

The symbol for the muladhara chakra first appeared in spiritual texts around 1500 BCE. It appears as a four-petaled lotus. The lotus is an ancient emblem of spiritual awakening. In the middle of the petals, there’s a circle. Then the circle has a square, and the square is an inverted triangle. Whew. That’s a lot for one little flower.

The root chakra symbol flower is bright red, speaking of physicality and material things. Red is also the color of security and strength. Some say the four petals symbolize the Earth, Air, Fire, and Water elements (the foundation for survival).

What about the circle in the root chakra symbol? It is the perfect representation of unity and never-ending movement. The square suggests stability and foundations. And the downward-pointing triangle directs our attention to grounding and connecting to the Mother.

Where is the Root Chakra?

Think of your body like a house. You have a walkway, windows, and rooms, each of which has a purpose. Because your soul is unique, your house is like no other, but it needs a strong, dependable foundation. So where is the Root Chakra? It’s right at the base of your spine. The spine gives our bodies structure and has nerves connecting the brain with the body.

I cannot help but wonder about every time a mother says, “Stand up straight.” Posture matters in your chakra sequence. Unattended, bad posture can interrupt Kundalini’s energy going through the body. When you ask, where is the root chakra? It’s tidily tucked into the tailbone. Kundalini begins here and moves through your energy centers. Have pleasant shivers up your spine? That is the vital force moving upward, providing healthy energy to your entire self.

What is the Root Chakra Responsible For?

So, what lives in the basement of your BodyHouse? Think back to when you were a little kid. I don’t know about you, but the basement was where all my scary monsters lived. (I always hated it when Mom would tell me to go down and pull a package of hamburger out of the freezer.) There was no logical reason for that fear.

What is the Root Chakra responsible for? This base is all about survival and security: it couples with our Lizard/instinctual brain that simply feels and doesn’t reason things out. Thus, you turn on all the lights and get back to safety as soon as possible.

The Root Chakra is a memory center. Knowledge from the past remains here. Those are experiences you can draw on for making positive choices.

Let’s take a peek:

The physical needs like food, water, and shelter
Housing ancestral memories
The source of your senses of taste and smell

The Root Chakra also holds your Early Warning System: when all of a sudden your senses scream NOT HERE! NOT NOW! NOT SAFE! GET OUT! That’s your Base Chakra doing its best to ring the alarm bell to get your attention. It’s usually a bad idea to brush off those feelings. You must trust your instincts and move to higher ground.

It’s no surprise that the Base Chakra is also where your fight-or-flight instinct lives. Basically (pun intended), the Base Chakra is where we have all the tools we need to ground ourselves and get those essential roots growing. And, just like those unrelenting hair roots, every once in a while, this energy center will need a touch-up.

Root Chakra Meaning & Symbolism

The key to the Root Chakra meaning and symbolism begins with its representation: a beautiful four-petaled lotus. The Vedas speak about it as early as 1500 BCE.

Inspired artists pained the lotus with four petals. Each petal has a word on it. When written together, means “the voice of Vishnu.” This makes more sense when you know that In Hinduism, Vishnu was the God of preservation. He who saved and helped maintain humankind again and again.

With this in mind, the root chakra’s meaning and symbolism couldn’t be more clear. It includes self-management and determination. Essentially, the Base Chakra translated into a motivational poster would read, “Keep on keepin’ on.”

You can discover more about‌ the Root Chakra’s connotations in the color red, which resonates with this energy center. Red is the life force. Your power begins here, as does your passion. Red has a sense of action, but for when you’re in danger. Then remember that “red means stop.” Root chakra meaning and symbolism say that when you are working with this chakra, be assured you won’t be idle. Get a good night’s sleep!

How to Heal The Root Chakra

When you’re tired, confused, insecure, restless, or have low self-esteem, it’s quite possible that your Base Chakra is out of whack. As your spiritual awareness grows, you become more attuned to such changes. The energy flowing through your body has ebbs and flows. You want to keep yourself tuned up in body, mind and spirit, so what to do? How to heal the Root Chakra?

Thankfully, there are a lot of ways to improve your muladhara’s health, and they take little time (bonus prize!). The easiest one is to stand up and move. When the root chakra experiences trouble, your energy often wanes with it. Taking a good walk, even a few blocks can help. Listen to your body when figuring out how to heal the root chakra. Your tush tells all.

Do you remember how I talked about this energy center being red? By extension, eating red food right now is a good idea. Have a tomato, some fresh apples, or a strawberry. Also, think about root vegetables like carrots and parsnips. Snack a little throughout the day. Hey, when do you ever get coking to nibble? Munch on!

If you’d like to envelop your subtle body with aromatics like incense that targets the Root Chakra, there are various options. Suggestions include rosemary, myrrh, ginger, rosewood, sandalwood, patchouli, ylang-ylang, and vetiver. If you’re planning on using scents on your skin, try not to overdo it. A little goes a long way.

How to Unblock the Root Chakra

Some people with clogged-up root chakras experience constipation. What clearer signal could there be? Other signs of this powder center’s obstruction include restless sleep, constantly lacking energy, little willpower, negativity, and erratic behavior. It’s possible to experience an existential crisis and feel you’re losing faith.

But when you figure out that this energy center’s jammed, the next question is understandably, how to unblock the Base Chakra? Well, dance! Activity gets things back in motion. Get your shimmy on. If you like hiking or gardening, those work too.

You can also unblock the muladhara by using sound therapy. There’s no question that what we hear affects our mind, body, and emotions. If you hear the sound of a loud crow in the black of night, your mind might race for meaning. Emotionally, there’s fear, and as a result, your body stiffens. On the other hand, the consistent sound of a drum mirrors the heartbeat. Slow drumming calms and centers.

Listen to the radio. Sing to your favorite song (it doesn’t matter if you’re off key). Play a musical instrument (if you have one). Appreciate the sound of gongs and crystal bowls. Or, make a playlist for yourself (and bring headphones). There is a misconception that spiritual music is all instrumental and soft. Guess what? Unblocking that Root Chakra might take a little rock and roll. I will Survive, anyone?

How to Balance the Root Chakra

The advice for healing and unblocking have the same effect on how to balance the root chakra. Adding that to the list is meditation. Now, you don’t have to sit on the floor in an uncomfortable position. In fact, the best type of meditation for the Root Chakra is what’s called a walking meditation. You can get from “here” to “there” and bring symmetry into your subtle body.

When you first start a walking meditation, stand still for a moment. Breathe in and out on the count of three, three times. Now start moving, but be aware of each movement. Make them mindful and purposeful.

If walking and meditation aren’t really your cup of tea, how about a children’s game?
Lie on the ground and look up. Try to find the images in the clouds. In the meanwhile your entire chakra system gets a massage from the earth mother.

Ritual is a second tool in your kit for balancing the Base Chakra. Everything is a ritual of sorts. You get up at the same time daily, walk to the cupboard for coffee, read the paper, etc. But you think little about it. To balance the Root Chakra, tune into your daily rituals.

From a holistic standpoint, you can try reiki, massage, and acupuncture. And what about the roots of your body, your feet? Pedicures have their benefits. Pamper those li’l roots of yours. All that fluffing, buffing, and massaging make those tootsies pretty; you’ll want to flaunt them. And paint those toenails red!

Speaking of which, WEAR red. Doesn’t matter if it’s your favorite hoodie or a cashmere sweater. (Red leggings? Oh baby, yes.) Sling a sexy red belt low on your hips and get that Root Energy going.

And absolutely, and of course, drink red wine. Did we really need to tell you?

How to Heal the Root Chakra Naturally

The word “natural” has vastly different meanings to different people. In answering how to heal the root chakra naturally, I am focusing on approaches that have some connection to the earth and the world.

First, consider your senses. They provide interaction with your environment and feedback from it. When surrounded by noise, seek quiet as a healer. Use the time to reorder your thoughts The energy for organization lives in the Base Chakra. I’d like to move in!

Smells are also very powerful for how to heal your root chakra naturally. If something doesn’t smell right, there’s usually something wrong. The nose knows. This can apply to other people’s aura, smelling overly sweet or nasty (for example). Take care, move away, cleanse your aura, and rebalance your root chakra. If anyone questions your swift retreat, just tell them honestly that there’s something in the air bothering you.

On a more positive note, there are clever ways of using aromatics to heal the Base chakra. You can burn incense or candles scented with clove, patchouli, and sandalwood. If you can’t burn anything, use an air freshener instead. Tip: If you want to get your chosen aroma moving, put a fan nearby and let the wind fill your space with positive root chakra vibes.

For textures, it’s time to get your hands dirty, literally. If you have the opportunity to garden, do so. Playing in (or with) sand works as well. Make mud sculptures or go to a beach and fashion a castle or two. Take someone along for the fun. You can activate a little of your inner child and send some positivity up to the Sacral chakra from the base. Let’s hear it for multitasking!

Taste-wise, return to grounding vegetables like potatoes.
To “see” things that support the root chakra, nature is your friend. Speaking of which, when you want to learn how to heal the root chakra naturally, look no further than Mother Earth (nature=naturally, lol). Fill your vision with trees, rocks, rolling landscapes, etc.

Finally, there is sacred breath. Intentionally breathing in a pattern encourages healing in the chakras. The number for the root chakra is four. So sit quietly. Breathe in on the count of four, thinking about what you want to bring to yourself. Breathe out for a count of four, focusing on what you release.

How to Activate the Root Chakra

There are some great ways how to activate your Root Chakra, and of course, Yoga is at the top of the list. No, we will not suggest posing like a pretzel! In fact, one of the best yoga sutras for Root Chakra is good ol’ Mountain Pose. That’s where you simply stand, feet planted solidly on the ground, and breathe easily, openly, and deeply. Feel that Root Chakra energy reaching right down, creating energetic roots through your feet to give yourself the feeling of strength and stability. Become the king of your mountain. If you’re good at visualizing, see your inner self as that well-routed tree.

Another idea that goes hand in hand with yoga is using mudras. Mudras open your mind and spirit through simple hand movements. When you meditate, touch your index fingers to your thumbs with all other fingers outward. Place your wrists on your knees. Use this pose for at least two minutes of your daily meditations. Visually, your index finger and thumb look ready to snatch something. Symbolically, they can grab the weeds in your figurative garden and pluck them right out.

Grounding the Root Chakra

Believe it or not, a chakra can be too active. Have you become stubborn? Unwilling to give way to new ideas? Being wholly focused on profit? Those are good signs your root chakra is speaking a little too loudly. Think of how the tree that bends a bit has a better chance to withstand a storm. Your toot chakra is not “bending.”

So, how do you go about grounding the root chakra? Visualization is helpful. Think of chakras as volume controls. When the chakra spins wholly to the right, it’s full-on. When it spins wholly left (or doesn’t spin at all), it’s closed.

For this visualization, sit as close to the ground as possible. In your mind’s eye, see the chakra spinning at the base of your spine. Reach out with your hand and slowly turn it left. Don’t go too far. See how just a small adjustment feels. You want to put a soft edge on that hardness. It helps in grounding your root chakra, and once you’re comfortable with the process you can use it for grounding other chakras.

Root Chakra Affirmations

Affirmations should be comfortable for you. If the words aren’t quite right (you’ll stumble over them), then try another affirmation or edit those you know! I advocate trying to create your own root chakra affirmations because those will be most meaningful to you.

Hey, don’t worry about rhyme or exhaustive philosophical proclamations (complete with a cheat sheet). As you can see, these root chakra affirmations aren’t masterful pieces.

The more you get involved, the better. You are your own best advocate for wholeness.

Root Chakra Crystals & Stones

You can’t get more “earthy” than crystals mined from the ground.When you think about it, the entire earth is a root chakra stone. Nonetheless, There are specific root chakra crystals and stones. These include:

Black Tourmaline: As a companion to the root chakra, black tourmaline is highly protective.

Black Obsidian: The spirit of this stone is earthly and primitive. A fantastic helpmate for grounding. Ideal for protection and grounding, too.

Bloodstone: Called the warrior stone, bloodstone hums with the raw might of the root chakra.

Carnelian: This crystal embodies the base chakra’s passion, vibrancy, and confidence.

Garnet: The deep red color matches that of this energy center. Carrying it keeps your root chakra constantly regenerating energy. If you feel powerless, garnet works in conjunction with the Base Chakra to bolster confidence.

Hematite: This stone neutralizes negativity. Use it during meditation during times when busy brain won’t quiet down.

Kyanite: Promotes self-esteem and emotional balance, tying into the root chakra.

Obsidian: This stone is volcanic, coming deep from within the earth. A powerful companion with the root chakra for keeping things on an even keel.

Onyx: Keeps the root chakra’s energy steady.

Red Jasper: An aid for clearing your root chakra. By so doing, your motivation and endurance improve.

Schorl (Black Tourmaline): Long carried as a protective amulet to battle curses, black tourmaline also encourages emotional balance in the energetic body.

Tiger’s Eye:Tigers Eye Meaning and Properties Bearing all the colors of earth, black, gold, and brown, this crystal acts as a reminder that you are the master of your destiny.

How you use Root Chakra crystals and stones is up to you. Some folk like to carry them as you might an amulet. Others place them around a room where they spend a lot of time. Are you at a desk the vast majority of the day? You’re sitting on your root chakra. So keep some Root Chakra crystals and stones on hand.

Root Chakra Frequency

When I talk about Root Chakra frequency it’s somewhat like a radio signal. You have to “tune in” to hear it (or in this case, apply it). Pause… some lackluster information follows (sorry).

This muladhara resonates at 396hz. It’s a vibration that wise people say allays anxiety and fear. Another root chakra frequency is 174hz. Tonalities with either of these frequencies stimulate the root chakra, stressing security and grounding.

There are songs that contain either of these signals, including

John Lennon: Imagine
Leonard Cohen: Hallelujah
The Beatles: Let It Be
Queen: You’re My Best Friend
Elton John: Tiny Dancer

You know those CD’s are around somewhere. Play them!

Root Chakra Meditation

Directed meditation can benefit any chakra. Meditation helps us transform the energies in our chakras to find self-harmony and promote spiritual wholeness. You can use the practice of root chakra meditation for opening, balancing, and cleansing those vital energies.

See, when the chakras work properly, they clear up energetic imbalances. The root chakra creates a healthy foundation on which the rest of the chakras rely. It’s like turning on a light switch, bringing positive energy from the bottom to the top of your body, mind, and spirit.

The chakra system links to your emotions. When you use a root chakra meditation, it cultivates emotional stability and grows that seemingly ever-elusive sense of inner peace. Being self-aware is part of the picture. The more balanced your chakras, the greater sense you have for trusting your intuition and listening to inner wisdom.

A benefit of chakra meditation, especially the root chakra, is that it’s a means of spiritual expansion. You work from the bottom upward, eventually reaching the stars. The insights that evolve are substantive.

One of the most important roles that root chakra meditation plays is for relaxation. The world can easily rile you up, leaving you tense and distracted. By activating your root chakra, inner calm begins to return.

Root Chakra Mudra

The world is filled with symbolic languages, mudras being one of them. The word mudra in Sanskrit means “gesture or mark.” We see mudras in varying religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Taoism. There are also mudras in Roman art and Indian classical dancing. So, while the exact origin point of mudras remains unknown, the idea is having a physical means, an external form, enhancing the flow of energy (prana) in the subtle body. They’re most often hand positions, as with the root chakra mudra, but may involve other parts of the body.

Those familiar with yoga have likely seen various mudras used in connection with the positions and wondered if there was a purpose for the odd way in which hands pose. There is! There are specific mudras aimed at supporting each chakra individually.

For the simplest root chakra mudra, place your palms a few inches apart in front of your heart (like when you say Namaste). Touch the pointer of each hand to the thumb of each hand. Move your arms down so the wrists rest on your lap and leave them there while meditating, visualizing, or praying.

How to open the Root Chakra

In talking about how to open the root chakra, remember that chakras do not work alone. They are a wholistic energetic system. So if one is out of whack, it can negatively affect the whole of cosmic vibrations intended for your health and wellness. All the approaches mentioned in this article for balancing and healing the root chakra can help with how to open the root chakra- yoga, walking, breathing, visualizations, the senses, and meditation.

How do you know your root chakra has closed? The symptoms may include a new tendency to make uncharacteristically poor decisions. Or, you may jump into the mire of a toxic relationship. When you begin mindfully working on awakening this energy center, there are physical symbols that indicate you’re doing something right. Keep going!

Physical Symptoms of Root Chakra Opening

Having a deeper connection with your environment and nature
Feeling safe and secure
Being aware of your body
Sleeping better
Sensing you’re grounded
Root Chakra Symbol

When you work with Chakras, there’s sometimes this indescribable physical feeling when they are healthy and open. The trick is no one really teaches about what chakra opening feels like, in this case the physical symptoms of Root chakra opening.
Before starting, you should know that your experience, my experience, and Meadow’s experience are wholly unique. Don’t expect your feelings to go by any hard and fast rule. Just open your awareness and check all your senses. Why? Your five senses are how your physical body interacts with the world.

Some describe the physical reaction to the root chakra opening as feeling a bit heavier. It’s as if your feet not only touch the ground but go beyond it (like creating roots). Your awareness of gravity intensifies.

If you’ve felt uncoordinated or uncentered lately, it’s about to pass. When you stand, there’s no wavering. It’s as if no wind could blow you down. Such a posture impacts courage and confidence positively. People will look at you differently because of their subconscious reaction to your frame. In fact, those who may never pay attention suddenly turn their heads and may even start up a conversation.

As the ground chakra opens, the stress in your body caused by fear recedes. Those shoulders you were holding like earrings go back into place. You might also have the sensation of buzzing or heat near your root chakra.

One of the most beautiful physical symptoms resulting from the Root chakra opening is finally seeing and feeling your body is your home. Just ask a few people if they’ve ever felt completely disconnected from their body. Opening the root chakra fixes that.

Also, while you were previously dragging your feet, not wanting to go anywhere or do anything, the root chakra changes that. Your energy, your life force grows. In turn, your body has a new pep in its step. Mental fuzziness clears, and focus returns.

Connecting with your open root chakra supports your drive and your personal dynamic. This relationship expresses itself outwardly with things like skipping (hey, spirituality can be fun, ya know). Whatever is happening within your chakra sequence reflects in your physical self. This is your foundation and cornerstone.

Your eyes might be drawn to things colored red. The hue is vibrationally the power inherent in the root chakra. You might find yourself toying with the soil in one of your plants, enjoying the tactile interaction. Taste? How about suddenly acquiring a craving for root vegetables?

When always on the defense, your fight or flee mechanism goes into motion nearly without thought. Your body is stiff, nearly rigid, even when going from place to place. When the root chakra opens, your survival instinct returns to a healthy balance.

Root or Base Chakra (Muladhara Chakra): Healing, Meditation, Meaning, Stones & Crystals