we've established a simple but direct layout for the root chakra and how to identify where each of us stands in our own energy center. so now for the call to action ~ how to begin and what to expect.
as was mentioned in the previous journal, the first and most important thing anyone can do to maintain or gain balance in this energy center is to get moving. walking can be the most effective on a basic level. it gets people in nature, feet to the earth and breathing fresh air, but as was mentioned, that's just a start.
since we have covered the basics of excessive and deficient energy, understanding what to do with that is the task at hand. let's begin with excess energy.
how does one become excessive in the first place? some of that is going to come down to an individual's constitution. even as small children we cope in different ways to different stimuli. excess energy in this chakra generally comes from a need to feel grounded and supported, so behaviors such as hoarding and excessive eating can manifest. having 'things' can produce a similar feeling to attachment, while eating, which is a root chakra activity, can give a feeling of heaviness or grounding. ultimately, we are looking to 'be here now' and gaining a sense of attachment and grounding can provide that. these things can be quite common where neglect and abandonment may have played a role in a child's life.
as for the deficient energy, that's an entirely different approach. these individuals actually are looking to 'disappear'. if there is physical, verbal, or mental abuse the child could just want to disappear and not attract the energy to them. this can form in ways such as isolation, lack of eating, and fear. this means of coping is to protect oneself by being unseen and unheard to not incur harsh reactions from a threatening environment. these persons can become anxious, fearful, lack good health, and become quite underweight. these reactions can come from a more physically unsafe upbringing though these can interchange between physical abuse and emotional or physical neglect. again, each person is different and can respond in accordance to his or her own predisposition.
one thing that can be a common denominator in both excessive and deficient energies in this chakra is eating disorders. the excessive energy would be more prone to compulsive overeating and binge eating whereas the deficient could show signs of bulimia or anorexia. again, we are discussing possibilities and brief examples. the goal here is to bring to light some basic yet common signs of these energy centers and what things can look like if balance is missing.
this brings us to 'where do we go from here'. as has been discussed, movement is key but identifying within oneself to really see what's going on and why ~ that is the goal. while movement can get the energy going or discharge too much, meditation and yoga can be great tools for going inward to start seeing beyond the symptoms to the root cause.
while these things can be corrected with knowledge, such as is provided here, if you feel you or someone you know needs greater understanding and support, perhaps outside sources for assistance could be what is needed, at least in the early stages.
to summarize, identify where you are if you feel these things resonate for you. determine if you are excessive or deficient and identify what aspects of these imbalances are manifesting and how. once you have been able to do this, start taking baby steps for your greater overall health with things such as movement, mediation, and yoga.
one last thing to keep in mind when working with this chakra is fear. fear likes to take center stage in this chakra if balance is lacking. notice if what you fear is still present in your life or a shadow of it. begin working on trust exercises; for example, talk to a friend or family member on a level that requires and grows trust. fear can be crippling so the best thing any of us can do is stand in the face of our fears and not only take our power back but learn how to let go of what is no longer there or is no longer needed, which prepares us for journeying into the second chakra which has strong ties in letting go.
if you have any questions at all about the root chakra, please contact me at dawngriggs@prism-yoga.com
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