Welcome back to the chakra series. We’ve made it to the upper chakras and what a journey it has been! This is the week where things get really fun. I mentioned in the last article that I LOVE talking about the throat, third eye and crown chakras and you are all about to learn why.
Lets dig in.
The throat chakra, also known as Vishuddha is the first of the “higher” or spiritual chakras. It’s associated with the element of aether (akasha) and it’s color is blue. Most people think of the type of blue associated with the throat as a sapphire color. The mantra for this chakra is HAM.
Vishuddha regulates communication, truth and self expression in the form of showing your most authentic self on a daily basis. It is also responsible for listening. This is different from plain old hearing. It controls your ability to hear and process what others are saying.
Physically, the throat chakra is in control of the head, neck, throat, mouth, thyroid and parathyroid gland. Issues with any of these could be a sign of an imbalance in this chakra.
Signs of a blocked throat chakra are social anxiety, stubbornness, detachment or a lack of creativity. If you find yourself staying quiet, not speaking your mind, or generally making yourself “smaller”, you have a block and that could be a “traumatic” experience coming through. When overactive, you may speak too much, forget to listen, and really push for your voice to be heard.
I want to circle back to the listening aspect of the throat chakra because this is important and I think one of the biggest signs of an imbalance. When you are having a conversation with someone, do you find yourself constantly thinking of what you are going to say next, when the other person hasn’t even finished a sentence yet? I must admit, I am probably one of the worst offenders of this. My mind is always running and when I have conversations I want to get my point across so I can make sure that it’s heard but a lot of times I end up not completely engaging in the moment because I’m so caught up in what I want to get out.
This happens a lot. I’m there with that other person but I am actually doing them a disservice and being the best friend, wife, daughter, practitioner etc that I can be because I want them to hear and understand me but I’m not giving them the same respect. As humans we don’t do this intentionally, everyone wants to be heard. But it’s the truly balanced that can step back from all the voices in their heads and focus on the words and underlying meanings of what someone else is saying to them and then forming a response.
That thought brings us to the first way to balance the throat chakra, which is mindfully speaking. Words have power and the things you say come to fruition so it’s important to think before you speak. This does not mean that you can’t say what you are thinking. You absolutely can but make sure you are saying what you want in an impactful way. It’s imperative to speak your truth, even if you are scared to. Talk openly to others everyday. Work on speaking about your feelings, even if it’s uncomfortable. These are all ways to ensure a good flow in the throat chakra.
I understand that it’s hard for some to talk about how they feel and I have a solution. I know I talked about this in the last article but it really does help. Try journaling! Instead of starting a gratitude journal, try writing down how you feel throughout the day. Write down anything you feel like you can’t say out loud to anyone else but write it down like you are actually talking to the person you would actually say it to. It will help you to let go of the situation and feel like you are being validated without saying it in person. Eventually, you can try slowly speaking your truth out loud for others to hear.
I get it. I know it’s hard to put yourself in a vulnerable position. What if someone laughs at you for how you feel. Or what if you were in a relationship where you were put down for feeling anything emotional or for saying how you feel. I’ve been there. I was in an emotionally abusive relationship for years and it took me years after I left to break all the negative habits that I accumulated, including speaking my truth. When I started dating my now husband, I was always terrified of saying anything that contradicted what he thought because I was scared of starting a fight. I know now that that wasn’t right and that’s not what happens in a real relationship but the fear was there. It took years of work to change those habits and our relationship is the strongest it’s ever been!
It is 100% possible to change but that change will take dedication and hard work. So start small; write in a journal and work you way up to looking people in the eye and telling them how you feel. Try getting a neck massage to relieve any tension and help get that energy flowing again. Try sound healing with a gong, singing bowls, tuning forks, etc. It really works! You can also try the crystals, essential oils, yoga poses and affirmations below! I would definitely recommend trying affirmations for the throat chakra. Say them to yourself as often as you remember. The more consistent you are, the better results you will see.
My last recommendation would be to get a reiki session. Yes, here is another shameless plug for our reiki business- LOL. Getting a reiki session will help you to release the traumas that are blocking up your throat chakra. It will most likely be a process of multiple sessions but the end results will be worth it.
Other Tips and Tricks to Balance your Chakra
Nutrition: Eat more blue foods. Pretty self explanatory, right?
Essential Oils: Frankincense, clove, rosemary, myrrh
Crystals: Blue cyanite, larimar, tanzanite, azurite, aquamarine, lapis lazuli
Yoga: Fish, lion, plow pose
Affirmations:
- I have the right to speak the truth and hear the truth
- I have good communications with others
- I have vital creative energy
- My life is enriched by creative expression
- I willingly release negativity that blocks me from speaking the truth
- I am the truth
So tell me, what is blocking your throat chakra? What are you doing on a daily basis to balance it out? Please let us know in the comments. We are almost to the end! Stay tuned for next week’s chakra, and a personal favorite of mine, the third eye chakra!