Unblocking Svadhisthana "Sacral" Chakra for Women to Heal
*This is the 3rd blog in my chakra series related to emotional/physical/spiritual wellbeing. Here is a link to the first in the series, a brief overview of the chakra system. If you are not familiar with the chakra system I recommend reading this first: https://www.alicebluetherapy.com/blog/processing-trauma-through-the-chakra-system
Water. A river flowing strongly, hugging the curves of the mountains and the soft river banks. The ocean raging, gray lightning, and then calm skied ripples in the waves. Svadhisthana is our 2nd chakra in the system, located in the lower abdomen below the navel, next to our reproductive system and kidneys. This chakra is surrounded by, enveloped in, the element of water. It’s the home of our creativity and sensuality, the flow we bring into the world. It is located at the sacrum, directly above the root. Orange is the color that makes this Chakra glow during visualization or in ancient art. Svadhisthana Chakra is our place of sensuality and creativity, and by engaging the chakra, thus freeing up stagnation, women can create a loving relationship with our expression, sexuality, and creativity.
Trauma in Svadhisthana
When this chakra is out of balance, we can feel heavy creative blocks or an imbalance in our relationship to sexuality. Women are taught to hold onto guilt and shame related to their bodies, specifically our connection to sexuality. We are growing up in a society where messages are being crammed into our consciousness whether we like it or not: “Change your lips, your ass, your stomach, your thighs, etc, forever” “You’re being dramatic,” “You should really smile more.” These internalized messages start to collect and signal to us that our sexuality is bad, aka we are bad. This creates a lack of trust and safety within us and a blocked Svadhisthana chakra.
In addition to these assaults on our freedom of mind/body/spirit, some have experienced sexual abuse. Sexual abuse at any point in our life can create serious wounding in this chakra, and somatic trauma therapy can be incredibly supportive. Our body reacts with tight hips, pelvic pain, abdominal pain. We feel stuck, uncertain as to what our true passion in the world is. The things we used to enjoy or dream about as a kid don’t feel exciting or even possible. We must create safety in the mind/body/spirit to be able to free Svadhistana. These memories are waiting for the safety and the flow in the body to be able to release.
Awaken the Flow in Svadhisthana
When you have experienced repression of your sexuality and creativity, you deserve to feel free. When you have experiences sexual abuse, you deserve the support and safety to release the negative effects from your body. It is important to find a healing practitioner to lead you in the journey to release your trauma in tandem with these experiences:
PLAY! Do anything that invokes childlike nature: ride bikes, make a fairy house outside, read a children’s book you used to enjoy
Create! Write, draw, play music, grow a garden, design a building, etc.
Listen to improvisational music like funk or jazz or the Grateful Dead
Practice yoga postures that move into the hips and pelvis in a dynamic way
Do something you’ve always wanted to do, but perhaps felt scared (improv group, rock climbing, open mic)
Hang out with other women who honor their desires and live in their creative freedom
Chant “Vam,” the Sanskrit mantra to balance this chakra
There is an emphasis on play when deciding how to balance your 2nd Chakra. Notice where your body feels inspired and what feels exciting to you. This chakra is surrounded by water energy and a trust in your internal flow. Women have an innate ability to go with the flow and listen to cycles, both internally and in the natural world. In a world where men have tried to control our bodies for so long, listening to our sensuality, creativity, and sexual energy can be a reclaiming process. Starting therapy as a women is a way to heal from a lens that acknowledges the systemic pressures and wounds that exist in our world. Svadhisthana is the chakra brimming with your creativity, waiting to be strengthened and unleashed.