The fifth chakra of our chakra system is the throat chakra, named in Vishuddha in Sanskrit which means purification. As the source of communication and creativity, the throat chakra is represented by the not one of the traditional four elements, but rather the element sound.
Where Is The Throat Chakra In My Body?
The throat chakra is located right in the center of your throat. Naturally, it is responsible for any issues in the neck, throat, jaw, and ears. If there is any disorders of the voice, the throat chakra also can be held responsible. If one’s voice is strong and clear, and carries substantial vibrations then it is a sign of a healthy Vishuddha, however if the voice is weak and shaky, or overly loud or grating, then it can be a solid indicator of an imbalance in the throat chakra.
What Is The Throat Chakra All About?
“Creativity in the fifth chakra is a consciously willed process. We are literally making our world at each and every moment through our actions, expression, and communication. If I tell someone that I want them to come closer, I am creating intimacy in my life. If I tell them to go away, I am creating solitude, or maybe even alienation. Whether I tell you to pick up eggs and milk at the store or share an idea brewing in my mind, I am engaged in a creative process that is constantly shaping my reality. Creativity is a pure expression of the spirit within us, the natural process of Self as it individuates. It allows the Self to give back to the world an assimilated form of what it has taken in. Creativity is the gateway between the past and future.”
Anodea Judith, Eastern Body, Western Mind
The throat chakra, Vishuddha, is the center of communication and creativity. Often, the second chakra, the sacral chakra, is linked to creativity. This is a common misperception. The creativity in the sacral chakra is unconscious. It is the ablity to create life. When one creates life, one does not consciously create a child who has blue eyes or brown eyes, or a male child or female child. Obviously, there are no creative decision making involved in the act of creating life in the sacral chakra. That is not to say that sexuality and intimacy can not involve creativity, I am merely referring to the fact that creating life inside the sacral chakra does not need conscious creativity. It is the throat chakra, where we make decisions on how to express ourselves that creativity truly resides.
The Throat Chakra And Our Voice
The throat chakra is all about self-expression. It is also about communication— effectively being able to communicate our needs, desires, wishes, and feelings in a way that resonates with our very being.
It is important to realize that we do have more than one voice. Inside our throat chakra is the source of all the voices within us.
“There are also many voices within us. There is the voice that tells us we are no good, the voice that wants above all to be heard, the voice that only whispers silently in the quiet moments we spend alone. Inner dialog between the various parts of ourselves helps us become more integrated. Integration creates resonance. The process of individuation honors and integrates each of our voices, and brings them together as a whole.”
Anodea Judith, Eastern Body, Western Mind
A Balanced and Unbalanced Throat Chakra
A happy and healthy Vishuddha chakra is best recognized in someone who has a strong, clear, and resonant voice. This person will also have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively. A good sense of timing and rhythm is also representative of a balanced throat chakra. Listening is also a key element of Vishuddha, so someone who is a good listener often has a healthy throat chakra.
Traumas and abuses that can impact the throat chakra are being constantly lied to. Lies create a lack of trust in communication, and can damage one’s own ability to dwell in honesty. Secrets are also detrimental to the heart chakra. As is any kind of verbal abuse, or being in the presence of constant yelling. If someone in your life didn’t allow you to speak your truth, then that clearly causes a block in the throat chakra.
Someone who is deficient in the throat chakra might have a small, weak voice that is hard to hear, or hard to understand. They might have a fear of speaking in general, not just in public, but fear of even communicating what they think or how they feel to those they are close to. It might be difficult for people with a block in the throat chakra to put their feelings into words. They also might be shy and introverted, given their fear of speaking and putting themselves out there. A couple obvious signs of a Vishuddha blockage is someone being tone deaf or having poor rhythm,
If someone has excess throat chakra energy, they make be constantly talking, and talking, and talking. They may use talking as a defense to try to avoid certain issues or feelings. By dominating the conversation, they get to control it, and steer it away from things they want to avoid. Such a person would also likely interrupt people frequently, and be a poor listener. Thus, there may be an inability to listen or even poor auditory comprehension.
How To Heal The Throat Chakra?
To heal the throat chakra, start with loosening the neck and shoulders. Focus on dropping the shoulders away from the ears, as it is our tendency to hunch the shoulders upwards to protect our throat. Healing Vishuddha also involves releasing the voice, which can be done with singing, chanting, storytelling, or mantra meditations. If you have excess energy in the throat chakra, one of the best practices of healing is silence. Try to spend a hour in complete silence every day. No music, no podcasts, no speaking. Just silence. A Vipassana retreat would work wonders!
Yoga asanas that are beneficial for removing blockages in the throat chakra are Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana), Camel Pose (Ustrasana), Supported Shoulder Stand (Salamba Sarvangasana), Plow Pose (Halasana), and especially Fish Pose (Matsyasana). Asanas where the head is thrown back and the throat is completely exposed is very healing. It is an act of vulnerability, which most yoga practitioners find to be very cathartic. Also, compressing the throat in asanas like shoulder stand and plow pose stimulate the muscles and glands in the throat and encourage healing to occur.
Throat Chakra Overview
Name: Vishuddha (purification)
Element: Sound
Color: Bright sky blue
Basic Principles: Communication and Creativity
Location: Throat at the pharyngeal plexus
Associated Gland: Thyroid Gland
Negative Power: Lies
Basic Rights: To speak and be heard
Physical Ailments: Issues with the neck, throat, jaw, and ears. Any disorders with the voice as well.
Aroma: Sage
Yoga Poses: Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana), Camel Pose (Ustrasana), Supported Shoulder Stand (Salamba Sarvangasana), Plow Pose (Halasana), and especially Fish Pose (Matsyasana).
Stones:
- Aquamarine: Resembles the sea and reflects a cloudless sky. This also represents the soul as a mirror that reflects the infinite experience of your spirit.
- Turquoise: Within the color we find the reflection of the blue sky and the green earth. It combines the high ideas of the spirit with the life energy of our planet.
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