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Svadhisthana Chakra – The Sacral Chakra

The second chakra, located in the sacral plexus, is related to the element of water, to emotions and sexuality. It connects us to others through feeling, desire, sensation, and movement. Ideally this chakra brings us fluidity and grace, depth of feeling, sexual fulfillment, and the ability to accept change

By Arlene Francois

Most people think of kundalini as energy, but really it is just consciousness and every body on earth has access to it. The only difference between an “enlightened” person and an ordinary person is that the kundalini is latent in one and manifest in the other. This is what happens when the kundalini moves out of its normal house in the base chakra and burns ts way to the higher chakras causing our own inner consciousness to light up the world.

The symbols of the chakras in their rich imagery give us a pictorial understanding of the different levels at which this consciousness is awakened. The first chakra with the square and the white elephant tells us we are dealing with earthy, physical vibrations. The consciousness is “I am my body and I am fearful for my security.” Think of the huge body of the elephant – clumsy, slow. He has very poor eyesight and experiences life through very narrow vision. When kundalini has passed through Muladhara chakra and the veil has been lifted, it moves to Svadhisthana chakra  the sacral centre or, more literally, the “the dwelling place of the self”. “Sva” means “that which belongs to itself” and “dhisthana” meaning “its actual place”.

In the course of self-development there is a gradual refinement and escalation of the senses from the tamasic (dark, inert) to the rajasic (heated desire) to the sattvic (harmony, peace) level. While Muladhara chakra is concerned with smell as a sense and our pleasant or unpleasant experiences of smell – our likes and dislikes, or ragadwesha – Svadhisthana is concerned with taste. With regard to food and drink, it’s the tongue we taste with, yet it becomes apparent that taste is also related to other areas of life. The word “taste” also indicates the tasting of an experience and teaches that we should move beyond our likes and dislikes of a particular taste and into the “experience of the tasting” – this is when Svadhisthana chakra begins to open.

Svadhisthana represents the experience of life itself. To do this, it is required that we live in the present state of awareness, and not in the mind of many conscious and subconscious thoughts. Svadhisthana itself is controlled by the subtle or subconscious mind and ruled with emotion. It is closely related to Muladhara where the different samskaras (potential karmas) lie dormant, yet Svadhisthana is where these samskaras find expression. In addition to unconscious desires, Svadhisthana is also especially concerned with sexual desire.

The two lower chakras – Muladhara and Svadhisthana – are about our instincts. One of the prime reasons for yoga is to rise above this lower nature and control our desires.

The Symbol
THE SIX-PETALLED LOTUS – the guiding thought of the lotus symbol is that of purity of mind. The increase in the number of petals indicates an increase of expression, not only in words, but in imagination.
THE CRESCENT MOON – known as Ambhoja Mandala, is luminous, white, cool and receptive. It represents water and water represents imagination, a function of the mind. Uncultivated imagination can lead to fear and a variety of unhealthy mental attitudes. Directed imagination leads to creative expression such as inventions and art.
MAKARA – is the name of the creature that’s a combination of alligator and fish. Its wide mouth swallows up everything without discrimination – an image that accurately sums up the negative aspects of Svadhisthana.

Svadhisthana Chakra
Position: The sacral plexus
Colour: Orange
Sound: Vam
Centre: Pleasure, sexuality, creativity
Gland/Organ: Ovaries and testicles
Sense: Taste

Asanas For Svadhishthana Chakra
Often referred to as the “water chakra”, activation of Svadhisthana chakra regulates and harmonises the fluids of the human body, thus affecting the genital system and easing arthritis and diseases of the blood. Activation of this chakra is a powerful preventative against sexual disorders too. When Paschimotasana (the Seated Forward Bend Pose) is performed correctly, all the vertebrae of the spine and each muscle in the back are stretched and provides a compression or contraction of the stomach followed by the release which increases blood flow to the abdominal region. Also very beneficial are the lower backbends like Matsyasana (the Fish Pose) and Salabhasana (the Locust Pose).