The root chakra, or Muladhara, is the first of the seven chakras. Located at the base of the spine, its Sanskrit name means “base” or “foundation”, providing some insight into its purpose. The root chakra is related to our survival instincts and grounds us in the physical plane.
It is often associated with rich reds and earth tones.
When the root chakra is blocked, we might experience problems related to our base needs. Issues surrounding food, shelter and security are often entwined with blockages in our root chakra.
So what are the warning signs that indicate our root chakra may be blocked?
Survival Mode
A constant feeling of being in survival mode can indicate a blocked root chakra. When every day feels like a struggle just to survive, just to make rent and put food on the table, the cause may be a blockage in the root chakra. We can feel constantly on edge, consumed by fear and viewing the world as a risk-filled, dangerous place.
In cases like these, we must work to heal our root chakra and unblock it to remove ourselves from this survival mentality.
Without doing so, we might miss opportunities to escape the fear that rules us and remain in fight or flight mode for the foreseeable future.
Eating Disorders or Food Issues
Even when our lives are not explicitly centred around survival, these unconscious concerns can manifest themselves in issues surrounding food.
A blocked root chakra can cause us to eat poorly, consuming whatever food is available fastest and with the least effort.
While someone with a healthy, balanced root chakra may spend a little time preparing and cooking a healthy, balanced meal, our blocked root chakra might compel us to opt for take-out, fast food or cheap microwaveable meals.
Work Related Stress
Stress over job security is another fear that may be related to a blockage in your root chakra. In our modern lives, feeling secure in our jobs has taken over as a primary survival concern as our jobs provide us with food, shelter and safety.
When our root chakra is blocked, our basest fears manifest themselves in worries that we may lose our jobs or miss an opportunity for a promotion or pay rise.
Fear
The overarching theme, as we can see, is fear. A blocked root chakra hampers our ability to understand, process and ultimately move past fear.
Those of us that suffer from anxiety may be experiencing a blocked root chakra.
Fear often paralyses us, which is an entirely natural reaction. But when we experience fear, anxiety and other warning signs, we should work to heal our root chakra, bring it into balance.
