The Throat Chakra is the first of the spiritual chakras, being the center of our self-expression. To be open and aligned with your 5th chakra is to speak, listen and express yourself from a higher form of communication.
Sanskrit Word – Vissuddha
Purpose – Communication + Creativity
Color – Blue
Location – Throat
Identity – Creative
Orientation – Self-expression
Demon – Lies
Element – Sound
Sense – Hearing
Chief Operating Quality – Resonance
Glands – Thyroid + Parathyroid
Symbol – Lotus with 16 petals
Animals – Elephant, bull, and lion
Celestial Planet – Mercury
Corresponding Verb – I Speak
Yoga Path – Mantra Yoga
Gods + Hindu Deities – Ganga (the river goddess, related to purification) and Sarasvati
Archangel – Michael
SYMBOLIC MEANING OF VISUDDHA
The sixteen lotus petals surrounding the fifth chakra symbol are often inscribed with sanskrit letter; namely the vowels. Why vowels? They represent the breathy, airy elements of words — just like ether is the airy element of space.
The inverted triangle of the throat chakra symbol is also symbolic of spiritual growth. The downward position is affiliated with the gathering of information, while the widening upward sides represent the blossoming knowledge leading to Enlightenment.
BALANCED 5TH CHAKRA CHARACTERISTICS –
- Clear communication
- Good listener
- Good sense of timing and rhythm
- Resonant voice
- Lives creatively
DEFICIENT 5TH CHAKRA –
- Fear of speaking
- Small, weak voice
- Difficulty putting feelings into words
- Introversion
- Shyness
- Tone deaf
- Poor rhythm
EXCESSIVE 5TH CHAKRA –
- Too much talking, talking as a defense
- Inability to listen, poor auditory comprehension
- Gossiping
- Dominating voice
- Makes interruptions
PHYSICAL MALFUNCTIONS –
- Disorders of the throat, ears, voice + neck
- Tightness of the jaw
- Toxicity (due to the chakra’s name, which means “purification”)
NEEDS + ISSUES –
- Communication
- Creativity
- Listening
- Resonance
- Finding one’s own voice
Sacred sounds used in meditation and chanting called mantras. The word comes from “man” meaning mind and “try” which means protection or instrument. Thus, a mantra is a tool for protecting our minds from the traps of non-productive cycles of thought and action.
Mantras serve as focusing devices for making the mind one-pointed and calm. A mantra is designed to awaken the mind from its habitual sleep or ignorance.
Using an affirmation that we repeat to ourselves everyday, such as “I am love” the rhythm of the repetition helps to infuse that meaning into our consciousness.
Invest energy into what you want and not what you don’t want. We are co-creators and using our ability as manifestors we can write and speak into existence what exactly we desire.
Learning Basic Rights – To speak and be heard
Developmental Stage – 7 to 12 years
Developmental Tasks –
- Creative expression
- Communication skills
- Symbolic thinking
TRAUMAS + ABUSES –
- Lies and mixed messages
- Surrounded by verbal abuse, constant yelling
- Excessive criticism (blocks creativity)
- Secrets (threats for telling)
- Authoritarian parents (“don’t talk back”)
- Alcoholic, chemical-dependent family (don’t talk, don’t trust and don’t feel)
- Loosen neck and shoulders
- Release voice
- Singing, chanting, toning
- Storytelling
- Journal writing
- Automatic writing
- Practice silence (if excessive)
- Non-goal oriented creativity
- Psychotherapy : (Learn communication skills, complete communications, letter writing, inner child communication, voice dialog)
Mercury is the ruler of the 5th chakra, and is also known as the messenger planet; it speaks in terms of logic and reasoning. Mercury represents how we think and how we communicate our thoughts and emotions – so it’s no surprise that Mercury rules professions dealing with writing, teaching, speaking, books and publications!
HINT: During a mercury retrograde, communications tend to get fouled up and travel plans are disrupted. Its a perfect time to communicate by listening than speaking; Focus on resonating with others, slowing down life and seeing things from a new perspective.
Communication is a creative process, the more skilled we are at this art, the more creative the process becomes. While creativity is often associated with the 2nd chakra (where we create life), creativity is also a form of expression, where it resonates deeply with the fifth chakra.
Creativity is characterized by the ability to perceive the world in new ways to find hidden patterns, to make connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena, and to generate solutions.
The process of creation is a process of inner discovery. We become channels for spiritual information, learning a language more universal than human tongues. Creativity releases our inner power in the way.
Ask yourself –
Do I find it difficult to express my thoughts or feelings?
Do I find it hard to resonate with the world around me?
Do I have a fear of speaking?
Do I struggle at listening to others?
Do I get caught up in gossip?
Do I whine and complain a lot?
Do I struggle with Thyroid, Metabolism, or Glucose issues?
Do I feel out of sync with my life?
Did my family have a hard time communicating to each other?
Growing up, did I feel excessively criticized?
Did I struggle with inspiration or feel blocked in my creativity?
If you answered “yes” to more than one, you’re 5th chakra is imbalanced.
