Sacral Chakra: Everything You Need to Know

Welcome to the second chakra in the body – the center of our creativity, sexuality, and inspiration.

Not sure what the chakras are? Check out the first post in this series about the root chakra, the history, and how to bring your energy into balance.

The Sacral Chakra at a Glance

The sacral chakra, or swadisthana chakra in Sanskrit, has received the nicknames, “the sex chakra,” “the social chakra,” and “the creation chakra.” Located in the center of the lower belly or, as some believe, in the genital area, it acts as the individual’s center of pleasure and passion — both sensually and creatively. This chakra governs reproductive systems and processes, sexuality, relationships, emotions, and sense of adventure.

Sexuality tends to be the first thing that comes to mind at the thought of the sacral chakra, but creativity is an often overlooked aspect of it as well. It is important to remember that this chakra isn’t only concerned with sex (and the same goes for Tantra). In fact, at its most broad, the sacral chakra simply governs passion and pleasure, phenomena which manifest themselves in our lives via two avenues. On one side is creativity and zeal for life — think of finding enjoyment by creating something like a piece of art, a recipe, or even a business, as well as just having fun in life. On the other side is sensuality, in the sense of embracing one’s own natural human sexuality.

The sacral chakra has a feminine energy and is symbolized by a flower and crescent moon. Elementally, the sacral chakra is associated with water, and its mantra is, “I feel.”

On the Earth

The chakras of the human body also exist on Earth! The planet’s sacral chakra is believed to be located at Lake Titicaca in Peru and Bolivia. The massive lake ranks in the 20 largest in the world, and it is divided almost perfectly in half by the Peruvian-Bolivian border. As the sacral chakra’s element is water, it makes sense that a large body of freshwater would be the location of the earth’s sacral chakra.

In addition, the lake is the location of an island named Isla del Sol (or, Island of the Sun) which was once home to the Incas, who considered the lake sacred. Even more interesting is the archaeological discovery of a submerged ancient temple! Legend has it that Titicaca possesses both masculine and feminine energies, which makes it a perfect representation of human sexuality as the earth’s sacral chakra.

When Blocked or Out of Balance

When the sacral chakra is out of alignment or blocked, issues with the reproductive system can pop up, including menstrual cramps, urinary tract infections, a significant increase or decrease in sexual interest, and lower back pain. Problems with the bladder, kidneys, or adrenal glands can also arise. Of course, this is not to suggest these symptoms aren’t from something else entirely and nothing in here can replace a doctor’s advice.

From an emotional standpoint, one might feel closed off, opposed to spontaneity, uncomfortable in one’s own body, or shameful about sexuality. Not feeling sensual or having difficulty pursuing creative endeavors are other potential problems resulting from an out-of-alignment sacral chakra. Luckily, there are a wide variety of approaches to combat this and bring the chakra back into balance.

How to Heal Your Sacral Chakra

For one thing, physical movement can be beneficial, especially when targeted at the sacral chakra region through exercises like hip circles. This helps to bring energy and circulation to the chakra, which can help increase the flow of energy through the chakra. Along the same vein, certain yoga asanas can help realign the sacral chakra: Warrior II, goddess pose, low lunge, and pigeon pose are some of the most notable. Try a yoga routine like yoga for creativity, yin yoga for the sacral chakra, or yoga & affirmations for creativity & sensuality.

Meditation can also help align this chakra. I’ve listed some specific meditations that are great for the sacral chakra here. Sound meditation, too, is a fantastic tool: just as one would slowly let out the sound, “lam,” to help align the root chakra, the same would be done here, but with the sound, “vam.” (The a sound in this seed syllable is pronounced like that of the word, “lawn,” not of the word, “van.”) Taking time to let the vibrations of this vocalization ring through the area of the sacral chakra can be a quick and restorative practice for the sacral chakra.

Affirmations are another powerful tool for balancing the chakras. Some affirmations to target the sacral chakra are:

• I am grateful for the body which supports and empowers me.
• I am thankful and joyful to be me.
• I accept, embrace, and celebrate my body.
• I honor my natural sexuality.
• I open myself up for creativity and passion to flow through me.

Other methods for balancing the sacral chakra include aromatherapy, the use of crystals, and the incorporation of certain foods into the diet. Scents like sandalwood, ylang ylang, and orange help to clear the sacral chakra of problematic energy.

Eating bright orange foods — like tangerines, carrots, and sweet potatoes — can also help to keep the sacral chakra in balance or rebalance it.

Another way to get in touch with the sacral chakra is to spend time in environments that are suited to its element of water. These types of locations often are conducive for those feelings of pleasure and adventure that the sacral chakra is connected to. Think places with big lakes, like Whitefish, Montana and Lake Tahoe, or islands like Hawaii (the Big Island is my favorite), the Philippines (there are countless stunning islands to choose from), Greece (with five island chains), and Indonesia (Raja Ampat is amazing). Even if getting out into a location like these is not a possibility, something as simple as going for a swim or taking a bath can be beneficial! Simply seeking out whatever aquatic setting is available can be a step in the right direction.

Lastly, create! Whether it’s starting a new creative hobby or picking up an old one, pursuing a new idea or project, or even making a gift for a loved one, the act of creating can do wonders for the sacral chakra. It doesn’t have to be crafty or artistic, either. Creating anything, no matter how big, small, or tactile, is powerful.

The Best Crystals for Balancing Your Sacral Chakra

The sacral chakra represents sexuality and creativity. Using crystals to balance this chakra can help bring out one’s inner sense of adventure, as well as emotional openness. Crystals used to heal this chakra are usually orange, which is the color that is associated with this chakra. 

Orange Calcite is especially used for healing any emotional issues. For blockages related to the sexual realm, Carnelian has been regarded as a stone related to femininity and intimacy. Other stones for this chakra include Sunstone, Moonstone, and Tangerine Quartz.

When we work to take care of our sacral chakras, we are ensuring that we can approach life with the zeal we all desire. From healthy sexuality and an equally healthy sense of adventure to strong social connections and feelings of connectedness, the sacral chakra plays a powerful role in our overall wellbeing and the balance of our lives.