How to Heal + Open Your Crown Chakra: A Complete Guide

We’ve finally made it to the last post in our chakras series! Today it’s all about the crown chakra. As the final chakra in the system, it has a unique role in human spirituality, connection, and consciousness.

If you want to start at the beginning, check out the first post in this series on the root chakra, followed by the sacral chakra, solar plexus chakra, heart chakra, throat chakra, and third eye chakra.

Table of Contents

The Crown Chakra at a Glance

The crown chakra, or sahasrāra chakra in Sanskrit, is known as “the bridge to the cosmos.” It is the most spiritual in nature of all seven chakras. Located above the crown of the head, it acts as the individual’s center of spirit, enlightenment, wisdom, universal consciousness, and connection to higher guidance. In a sense, the crown chakra is our highest potential. It governs interaction & communication with the universe, one’s senses of inspiration & devotion, union with the higher self & the divine, and deeper understanding; simultaneously, it is responsible for a healthy spiritual life.

Some people like to think of the crown chakra as a kind of umbilical cord to the divine, whereby we as human beings are connected to the oneness of all things. Because of this direct connection, it is important that we do not conceptualize ourselves as being completely separated from the divine; instead, that greater universal force is merely a larger expansion of the same energy which makes us up, too.

This chakra allows for the experiences of unity and universal connectedness, as well as the integration of the whole. It has a masculine energy and is represented by the color violet, or sometimes white, while its symbol is a circle with one thousand petals. Elementally, it is associated with thought and silence, and its mantra is, “I know.”

Crown Chakra On the Earth

Just as there is a crown chakra in the human body’s chakra system, our planet has a crown chakra and a respective system of Earth chakras, too. The crown Earth chakra is located at Mount Kailash, a nearly 22,000-foot tall peak in Tibet which is regarded as the crown jewel of the Himalayas. Nicknamed, “the roof of the world,” Mount Kailash is considered to be the most sacred mountain in the entire range.

In fact, Tibetans consider the mountain so holy that no one dares offend the divine by attempting to climb it. Mount Kailash seems to be the perfect location for the crown chakra because, both physically and non-physically, through grandeur and sacredness, the mountain acts as the Earthly embodiment of connection to spirit.

What Happens When Your Crown Chakra is Blocked or Out of Balance

If the crown chakra is out of balance or plagued by stuck energy, a range of emotional cues can act as red flags pointing in the direction of the problem. Common indicators of trouble with the crown chakra include difficulty meditating, difficulty feeling connected, and spiritual disinterest, as well as boredom, feeling antsy with the mundane, not feeling connected to one’s purpose or wisdom, or desiring complete isolation.

Perhaps the strongest signs of an unbalanced crown chakra are depression, apathy, and skepticism. Meanwhile, still others include stubbornness, excessive sarcasm, and narrow-mindedness.

How to Heal Your Crown Chakra

One way to target the alignment of the crown chakra is through moving the body. Specific yoga asanas like headstands, for example, can be beneficial for moving energy through the crown region. Following along with a guided yoga routine such as this 7th Chakra Yoga Class, Crown Chakra Vin to Yin, or Crown Chakra Balancing Flow could be a great place to start. Even trying something as simple as lying upside down to get blood flow moving to the top of the head can help, so don’t worry that being a yoga novice will keep you from being able to align this chakra. Another common approach to aligning this chakra is Emotional Freedom Technique, more colloquially referred to as “tapping.” (I talk about tapping here!)

There are plenty of non-physical tools to help balance the crown chakra, as well. One such tool is visualization, a form of meditation which controls the focus. For the crown chakra, imagine bright white or violet light pouring into the top of the head. Or, try a guided meditation designed for the crown chakra, like I share here.

One tip which is especially helpful for those finding it difficult to meditate is this: instead of being the mind, simply watch the mind. Additionally, consider using earplugs while meditating to achieve a few moments of true silence, which could be hugely helpful for the alignment of the crown chakra. Along the same vein, practice intentional stillness. Lastly, use vibrations of the verbalized seed syllable “om,” (pronounced with an “oh” vowel sound, not an “ah” vowel sound) to target the crown chakra.

Crown Chakra Affirmations

Affirmations are another great way to bring the crown chakra into alignment. They can be used alone, in pairs or sets, or in conjunction with other activities like yoga and meditation. Perhaps the simplest way to employ them is to incorporate them into a daily routine in order to create consistent spiritual mindfulness. Some affirmations for the crown chakra could be:

I am connected to the Universe and to everything around me.
I am guided by something greater than myself.
I have access to wisdom and peace.
I honor my spirit and the divine within me.

Other methods of balancing this chakra include aromatherapy and crystals (more on that below!). For one thing, diffusing or applying essential oils like lavender and jasmine can be calming and soothing for the crown chakra, while oils like cedar wood, sandalwood, frankincense & myrrh can be stimulating.

While incorporating certain foods into the diet is a typical practice for the other six chakras in the system, the crown chakra requires something a bit different: fasting, which acts as a form of spiritual nourishment rather than bodily nourishment. A period of refraining from food provides a break from worrying about physical demands so that the entire focus may be devoted to one’s spirituality and higher consciousness. This should only be done under the guidance of a qualified medical professional.

Since the elements which correlate with the crown chakra are thought and silence, it could also be beneficial to seek out an environment which is conducive to both of those things: most notably, a silent meditation retreat. I completed ten days of silent meditation in Thailand, and it was an incredibly growing experience. There are countless meditation retreats all over the world, with many in Thailand especially. If this seems like too much of a jump from zero to sixty, consider taking a self-guided journey to a few of the many gorgeous temples of Southeast Asia, such as those in Chiang Rai, Thailand and Indonesia.

The Best Crystals for Balancing Your Crown Chakra

chena hot springs — It’s a nice soak, especially in the early AM

Stones that help with the crown chakra assist in clearing any blockages related to spirit and enlightenment. As a chakra so connected with spirituality, white and clear crystals are used for addressing problems with this chakra. Clear Quartz is a popular stone for clearing any negative energy that can be blocking your chakra. Diamonds are a powerful stone for this chakra in terms of releasing energy and bringing illumination. Purple stones are also connected with the crown chakra, with the most popular being Amethyst. Other healing stones for the crown chakra include Apophyllite, Selenite, Lavender Quartz, and Sugilite.

How to Meditate with crystals – A beginner’s guide

Each chakra plays an important role in empowering us to be our best selves, and this one is no exception. Our connection to something greater allows us to approach our lives with purpose, divine inspiration, wonder, and a broader perspective. Further, aligned crown chakras can remind us all of our connectedness to each other and all things, encouraging us to live from a place of unity and lovingkindness — what a beautiful world we could create.

Thank you for joining me on this journey through the chakras. If you’d like to learn more, join me for a free week of chakra meditations, and check out our virtual chakra retreat!