Located slightly below the navel, the second chakra corresponds to the sacral plexus nerve ganglion that connects to the sciatic nerve. Its color is a bright orange. The principal element of the first chakra is the earth, while that of the second chakra is water, so this chakra has a lot to do with bodily functions involving fluids, like urine, tears and blood. It is connected to the moon, which pulls at the ocean tides and a woman’s menses.
The second chakra is also about duality, the force of attraction and desire for something other than ourselves. An important theme is to honor the self and to honor one another. As the center of emotion and pleasure, this chakra involves the body in movement. Emotions are what happens when your consciousness moves through your body—the emotion is the resulting feeling. It is also the seat of your inner child in both of its aspects: the divine child and its nemesis, the wounded child.
The second chakra is also about duality, the force of attraction and desire for something other than ourselves. An important theme is to honor the self and to honor one another. As the center of emotion and pleasure, this chakra involves the body in movement. Emotions are what happens when your consciousness moves through your body—the emotion is the resulting feeling. It is also the seat of your inner child in both of its aspects: the divine child and its nemesis, the wounded child.
HEALTHY SECOND CHAKRA
When our 1st chakra survival needs (shelter, clothing, food) are met, we think about pleasure. The second chakra is the center of the pleasure principle, about embracing the body and the sweetness of you and your soul. It is the very seat of our creativity, of that childlike wonder that we once had and can still create when the conditions are right. What have you created that made you feel good? The second chakra, when it’s functioning correctly, can inspire great creativity.
A healthy second chakra has strong boundaries and is able to say “no.” You won’t prostitute yourself financially, sexually, or ethically. The more you understand how well your second chakra is functioning or NOT functioning, the more you can stop the kind of behavior you detest, like over-eating, over-whining, over-fawning, over-pleasing. When you clear out your second chakra and make it strong (along with your third), you’ll be in charge of your own behavior.
A healthy second chakra has strong boundaries and is able to say “no.” You won’t prostitute yourself financially, sexually, or ethically. The more you understand how well your second chakra is functioning or NOT functioning, the more you can stop the kind of behavior you detest, like over-eating, over-whining, over-fawning, over-pleasing. When you clear out your second chakra and make it strong (along with your third), you’ll be in charge of your own behavior.
This chakra is about balance between giving and receiving—a good flow of energy. Are you able to give and receive pleasure? Money and other stuff? When this chakra is in balance, you understand your own motives and the consequences of your actions. You don’t try to control others.
This chakra is about balance between giving and receiving—a good flow of energy. Are you able to give and receive pleasure? Money and other stuff? When this chakra is in balance, you understand your own motives and the consequences of your actions. You don’t try to control others.
DISTORTED SECOND CHAKRA
A distorted second chakra is all about neediness. The message is “I can’t.” This person often has unhealthy boundaries or none at all. They may be important when it comes to relationships, money, sex. This person may have a martyr complex, endlessly saying, “It’s not fair!” A major distortion in this chakra shows up as addiction—to food, drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, shopping, excessive exercise, chocolate—the list is endless.
An upsetting event or series of events distorts the chakras. A chakra can be distorted by being deficient or excessive. When excessive, it’s all about “me” and self-serving. There may be excessive emotions—often anger, even rage. This person wants to control others.
A NOTE ABOUT ANGER
Anger is not a true emotion; it is almost always another emotion that was blocked— such as grief or fear or embarrassment—that wasn’t expressed. These blocked emotions go right back into the body. Express all your emotions in appropriate ways (journaling, chopping wood, talking to a therapist, etc.) so you can move through them and not have to go into anger. We can all stand to do a self check when it comes to our second chakra.
A NOTE ABOUT ANGER
Anger is not a true emotion; it is almost always another emotion that was blocked— such as grief or fear or embarrassment—that wasn’t expressed. These blocked emotions go right back into the body. Express all your emotions in appropriate ways (journaling, chopping wood, talking to a therapist, etc.) so you can move through them and not have to go into anger. We can all stand to do a self check when it comes to our second chakra.
DO YOU HAVE AN UNHEALTHY SECOND CHAKRA?
• Are you prone to negative attitudes?
• Have you sold out for money, or power, or sex?
• Do you chronically feel lonely or abandoned?
• Do you give of yourself excessively (and then get angry when the people you’re trying to please don’t seem appreciative enough)?
• Do you sacrifice your own dreams and goals to get someone else’s approval?
• Do you have a sense of impotence?
• Are you overly concerned about the opinions of others?
• Are you afraid of change?
• Are you unable to let things go, and tend to be revengeful?
• Do you lack ethics?
• Do you have an unhealthy response to authority?
• Do you do the right thing for everybody except yourself?
• Are you an energy vampire?
• Have you sold out for money, or power, or sex?
• Do you chronically feel lonely or abandoned?
• Do you give of yourself excessively (and then get angry when the people you’re trying to please don’t seem appreciative enough)?
• Do you sacrifice your own dreams and goals to get someone else’s approval?
• Do you have a sense of impotence?
• Are you overly concerned about the opinions of others?
• Are you afraid of change?
• Are you unable to let things go, and tend to be revengeful?
• Do you lack ethics?
• Do you have an unhealthy response to authority?
• Do you do the right thing for everybody except yourself?
• Are you an energy vampire?
REPRODUCTIVE GLANDS
We assimilate universal consciousness through our chakras and the energy goes from the chakra into the dominant related gland. The first chakra is connected to the adrenals; the second is connected to the ovaries in women and the prostate in men. Here’s a short list of the physical problems that can result from problems in the area of the second chakra:
• Sexual dysfunction, impotence, frigidity, or promiscuity
• In women: fibroids, endometriosis, PID, menstrual dysfunction, ovarian cysts or cancer
• In men: prostate problems or cancer
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis
• Appendicitis
• Chronic low back pain or sciatica
• Bladder or urinary problems
• Sexual dysfunction, impotence, frigidity, or promiscuity
• In women: fibroids, endometriosis, PID, menstrual dysfunction, ovarian cysts or cancer
• In men: prostate problems or cancer
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis
• Appendicitis
• Chronic low back pain or sciatica
• Bladder or urinary problems
The main second chakra organs are the large and small intestines. They separate the pure from the impure; truth from lies. When the second chakra is unbalanced, a person can’t assimilate truth. For example, a child whose mother always says “I love you” but he knows she’s lying may hold in his anger and store it in the intestines. Years later, he may develop IBD or colitis or diverticulitis. (If it ends in “itis,” that always means inflammation, which always means anger.) We hold certain emotions in particular areas of the body, such as anger in the liver and the colon. Hemorrhoids are also a case of repressed anger, as are bladder infections. Women with sexual dysfunction, disease of second chakra organs, or problems like miscarriages or recurrent STDs should look at underlying second chakra issues.
The main second chakra organs are the large and small intestines. They separate the pure from the impure; truth from lies. When the second chakra is unbalanced, a person can’t assimilate truth. For example, a child whose mother always says “I love you” but he knows she’s lying may hold in his anger and store it in the intestines. Years later, he may develop IBD or colitis or diverticulitis. (If it ends in “itis,” that always means inflammation, which always means anger.) We hold certain emotions in particular areas of the body, such as anger in the liver and the colon. Hemorrhoids are also a case of repressed anger, as are bladder infections. Women with sexual dysfunction, disease of second chakra organs, or problems like miscarriages or recurrent STDs should look at underlying second chakra issues.
ACTIVITY
1. Move your body: Take 10 minutes and dance by yourself to your favorite music. What movement feels best to you? Slow and sensuous or wildly abandoned? What doesn’t work? What feelings come up when you dance? Get in touch with how you feel when you are moving your body.
2. Nurture your sensuality: Indulge in a yummy treat once a week, luxuriate in a bubble bath or use scented oils, treat yourself to a special lunch with a friend, or . . .
3. Nurture your sexuality: Whether you’re currently with a partner or not, it’s always good to keep the sexual energy moving—use fantasy or erotic books or romantic movies or sexy clothing or flirtatious conversation or . . .
1. Move your body: Take 10 minutes and dance by yourself to your favorite music. What movement feels best to you? Slow and sensuous or wildly abandoned? What doesn’t work? What feelings come up when you dance? Get in touch with how you feel when you are moving your body.
2. Nurture your sensuality: Indulge in a yummy treat once a week, luxuriate in a bubble bath or use scented oils, treat yourself to a special lunch with a friend, or . . .
3. Nurture your sexuality: Whether you’re currently with a partner or not, it’s always good to keep the sexual energy moving—use fantasy or erotic books or romantic movies or sexy clothing or flirtatious conversation or . . .