Root Chakra Energy: grounding into the Energetic Revolution

As this is the first chakra in our chakra series, I would like to first explain my understanding of what Chakras are, without delving into mystical territory. As we might sometimes feel uncomfortable exploring things that are not directly related to our culture or the beliefs we grew up with.

The word Chakra translates to wheels; it is a system that was explored in the East, especially by Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist people.  I see them as energy centers or wheels that are located along the spine. They each hold a specific place connected to our meridians, which are known as the energetic equivalent of our blood vessels. There are 12 main channels that connect to our organ systems; meridians are the ones used in Chinese medicine.

Your chakras help energy flow through your body, allowing your energetic self to be in the body and explore the world through the different aspects or lenses that each chakra brings.

Our first energetic point of contact with the Earth is given to us by our Root or Base Chakra.

In Sanskrit, it is called Muladhara which could be translated to Root or foundation, here is where we connect our non-physical self to our physical body.

It is said that we develop this chakra from the uterus. This means that while we are developing this chakra, or activating this energy center, we start to become conscious of our presence in the body and the world. Due to the nature of our species, when this chakra is still activating, our survival is completely in the hands of our parents or caretakers. This fact makes it hard for us to understand that we as individuals are here, that our path is uniquely ours, and that we are the only ones who can take that space. It is gifted to us the moment we choose to come into the body.

Every chakra has an element: the one for the Root Chakra is Earth, because it is solid, strong, stable, and grounding. For me, unlocking the key to my Root Chakra has helped me realize that I have a space in this world. Before opening this chakra, I believed that space would be given to me by someone else other than myself, but I have learned that this space is already mine. The only way to advance in my path is to feel honored and proud of myself, aware that I am in the experience, in the body, and all I need to do is take my place. Every time I do it, everything becomes clearer.

We don’t have much control when it comes to external things, but just like trees do, we can root ourselves into this body, into our physical being. This will help us gain knowledge and understanding of the true place we are holding now.  It is very easy to get pulled by the physical world, and I think in a way, we are supposed to let this happen so that we can gain experience and grow. However, it is important to become conscious of this fact and return to ourselves.

When we root ourselves energetically to the Earth, we take what belongs to us in the most sacred way: we learn to understand the choice we made of being here and everything that it brings with it, when we have coherence with the Universe and the Earth.

A majestic old tree with sprawling roots overlooks a tranquil lakeside, embodying the resilience and strength of nature.

When trauma or difficult situations happen in life, as they usually do, pushing us towards change and expanding our beliefs about ourselves and who we consider ourselves to be, it is important to recognize your body as an essential part of you, to root yourself into whom you think you are at the time; as I started practicing this, I began to recognize that the challenges that appear in my life are unique to me, that they are a big part, whether I like it or not, of who I am, and that for me to move forward in my journey I needed to honor this part of myself and recognize my body with all its challenges so that I could adapt to my world.

I have discovered that some situations activate my root chakra. It helps me feel grounded because my life is about to change, and a new cycle is about to begin. For example, during COVID-19, I was completely taken over by the fear of uncertainty. I didn’t know what was going to happen to me. I lost my two jobs, leaving me without an income. I felt my survival was threatened, as I wasn’t sure if I could go back to my family in Mexico or survive by myself in Canada. As time went by, I began to build a good routine for myself, something that made me happy or just smile as I consciously started to ground myself. Somehow, I discovered that there were little and big things that I could do for myself, which helped me feel that no matter what happened, I could take care of myself. No matter where I was in the world, it would be ok because I was there for myself. 

I discovered that the best teachers for the lower chakras are Trees.

The words from a wise Tree that helped me better understand this chakra were something like this:

“For a tree to grow really tall and for centuries without getting pushed by the wind, for a tree to be stable and become the house of many other beings, the tree needs to grow its roots first. Without firm roots the tree will not stand for long. Without the roots the tree stands alone.”

Just as trees, we have the capability to communicate with the Earth through our Roots, energetic roots that you can imagine coming out of your feet and your spine. This allows you to feel the Earth's energy and learn that no matter where we are, we are protected and connected. The true Mother of our bodies (the Earth) has always provided us with more than we need, and she will never abandon us because, as much as we are a part of her, she is part of us.

¿What does it mean to be here?

To be here means to let your lessons arrive to teach you and to help you explore your true self, and the place you hold while navigating through them. Because the journey is for you to get to know yourself, which can only happen if you are open to the challenges and lessons that make up this wonderful adventure. You are the only constant for the rest of your existence here, or anywhere else. The road to getting to know your true self starts now with one simple step: by allowing yourself to exist. To hold your space, even if you don’t yet understand the lessons, believe me, the more you take your space, the clearer the lessons will become. The more we move authentically through challenges, the more we can accept them, and with practice and multiple “failures,” you will learn to embrace them. These challenges will point you towards your unique path, your unique space. At the end of the day, it is your journey.

Experience the breathtaking connection of opening your Root Chakra.

To activate and cleanse my Root chakra, I like to think about the color Red.  If I can, I like to listen to primal drum beats or something that resembles a heartbeat. This helps me become aware of where I am at the moment, get into my body, feel my heartbeat, and connect with the primitive part of myself given to me by the body. I feel this chakra at the base of my spine, and I imagine it as a spinning wheel, or as a Lotus flower with four petals. To me, each petal represents the four cardinal points, the four elements, or the imagery from sacred geometry of the Earth —a square that is stable and holds its space. I imagine the chakra slowly turning right or left, depending on what I need at the time. I breathe deeply in this area and let my mind wander and explore everything that is going on in my life. The job I might be doing at the time, the relationships I have with friends and family, and my illnesses or ailments. But most importantly, my relationship with myself.

Am I holding space for myself? Am I living or being lived?

I also enjoy using affirmations or mantras as guides towards the right way of exploration, a wonderful one I found for the Root chakra is “I am in here” and “this body is mine”. At the beginning of my journey, I realized with the help of my teacher that it is possible to talk to your body, to guide it towards what you want to explore. A great phrase he taught me is “I open my Root chakra to Unconditional Love”. Intentions are powerful in our world. By consciously saying it out loud and acknowledging our intention, our subconscious mind will do everything in its power to help us explore what we need to. To accomplish this and fulfill our intention. 

Every chakra has a seed sound that creates a specific vibration in your body, allowing you to connect the physical, emotional, and energetic worlds. The seed sound of this chakra is Lam. Try saying this word slowly, “LLLLAAAAMMMMM…” and feel the vibration echo through you.

There is no logical way to access the chakras and activate their perspective, so I recommend you try to get out of your logical mind and start thinking about your place in the Earth. What does it mean to be in your body? Do you take care of yourself?  

Ready to keep exploring your energy centers?

This post is part of a journey through the chakras from Root to Crown — a path where we reconnect with our body, emotions, and soul’s path. It also ties into my upcoming book, A Journey into the Energetic Revolution, where I share personal experiences, reflections, and insights from my journey of self-exploration, inviting you to reflect, question, and expand your own awareness.

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