Named Vishuddha in Sanskrit, it is also known as the throat or fifth chakra. This chakra is our center for self-expression. We hold our voice here physically and symbolically. Our own unique vibrational imprint is held here.
How Do Chakras Become Blocked?
Chakras can be understood as energy centers that are gathered around the midline of the body and work their way up the spine. They gather around major organs and can be visualized as small vortexes of energy within the body that also radiate their energy outwards about one foot.
The chakras encompass the emotional, physical, and spiritual layers that correlate to that specific chakras purpose. Each chakra holds a different aspect of our psyche as well as has different elements and physical organs associated with it.
The chakra system works similar to a river segmented into seven sections. If one section becomes clogged it will affect the water flow within the other sections of the river. Each chakra can become blocked by suppressed emotions, fears, and holding onto what we need to let go of for our evolution.
Louise Hays, an author of many books such as Heal Your Body A-Z and You Can Heal Your Life, wrote these on the concept that our thoughts and emotions are what creates disease within the body. She goes to explain how negative emotions manifest within the body and work as a mirror to reflect back to us what is going on within our inner world.
The chakra system similarly works as a mirror into our emotions and beliefs around what the energy that chakra represents. We can look into imbalances and pain within the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual bodies and trace it back through the chakra system to the chakra it correlates with and find ways to heal it.
Symptoms Of A Blocked Throat Chakra
Vishudda controls the thyroid gland, vocal cords, gums, tongue, jaw, shoulders, ears, and teeth. When the throat chakra is out of balance it can take the form of asthma, hearing problems, coughing, and bronchitis.
When the fifth chakra is imbalanced it will manifest physically in symptoms such as losing your voice, ear infections, sore throat, mouth ulcers, TMJ, tight shoulder, or neck pain.
Emotionally when the throat chakra is blocked it can manifest as a fear of speaking or following your truth, doubting your value or worth, struggling to set boundaries, or even stumbling over words. This, of course, can also take the form of lying, manipulation, aggressive language, and belittling.
When we demonstrate poor listening skills, lack of confidence, and shyness it can bring us to look at this chakra center. These blockages include feeling rejected, having social anxiety, fear of public speaking, and feeling unsatisfied within the career.
To learn more about how to heal the throat chakra click here.
What Are The Gifts Of An Open Throat Chakra?
When the throat chakra is open we can easily speak our boundaries, share our truth with others, and communicate both verbally and nonverbally clearly and effectively. The throat chakra gives us the gift of being able to share our unique voice with the world.
It manifests as a healthy balance between both listening and speaking. This includes feeling satisfied within our career and the image we view ourselves in.
Someone with an open throat chakra will enjoy exploring themselves and the different viewpoints of the world around them. They will strive to create understanding and can keep their minds open and calmly communicate during disagreements.
How Can We Balance The Throat Chakra?
To balance the throat chakra there are many tools you can use. A simple and daily tool you can use is mindfulness when listening and intentionality when speaking. Within speaking intentionally, this includes consciously speaking up when necessary, verbalizing your needs, and choosing your words precisely. Click here to learn more about the power of your words.
Other techniques you can use include chanting, which holds many benefits. This is because when you are doing so in a meditative state you can consciously become aware of any emotions or physical sensations that arise while connecting to this chakra through chanting.
Any emotions that arise when you are intentionally connecting to the throat chakra will be surfacing as a healing process. Stay present, objectively witness them, and hold compassion for yourself as this is how you can bring healing to your chakras.
You can journal about them, dance them out, or simply sit with them. Follow your intuition on how would best serve you while these emotions run through you.
