If you’re a spirituality enthusiast like me, you’ve probably heard of the 7 chakra symbols. Perhaps in a yoga class, from your friend who practices meditation, or in a documentary about consciousness or emotional healing.
Although it has become more popular with the growth in popularity in New Age philosophies, the chakra system is an ancient and complex energy practice that originated in India first mentioned in the sacred texts of the Vedas around 1000 BC.
Below I will take you through everything you need to know about these energy points and their significance.
What are the chakra symbols?
Chakra means “wheel” in Sanskrit and refers to the different energy points in your body that should be kept aligned and open for healing and maintaining your physical and emotional well-being.
Although some say there are over 100 different chakras in our body, there are seven main ones that we should pay attention to. Each of them has a specific symbol, color, name, area, and health focus.
The geometric shapes linked with each of the 7 chakras aren’t just beautiful designs. They represent much more than that.
Where did chakra symbols come from?
In tantric texts, the chakras have a mandala, which are ritual symbols that represent the universe. The circular design of each mandala speaks about the belief that everything is connected and life never ends from a spiritual point of view.
These symbols are meant to help us during our meditation and yoga practices since they free our minds from recurrent thoughts and toxic emotions, leading us to relax through chakra balancing.
What are the 7 major chakra symbols?
The seven chakra symbols represent the sacred geometry found in the universe. Yoga is one of the most powerful practices to align ourselves with this geometry. It may now be used for aesthetic and fitness purposes, but it is actually a way of adjusting our inner world with the cosmos.
As soon as we learn to move our body in certain positions, the sacred and perfect geometry surrounding us can move into our physical form, bringing us healing and spiritual growth. Likewise, when kundalini energy flows through our seven chakras, we gain access to a higher state of consciousness.
Let’s now explore each chakra symbol’s meaning and discover how to use them to grow.
Root chakra symbol meaning
The root chakra or Muladhara chakra is linked with the earth element. Earth represents our physical body, our base or foundation.
It is symbolized by the color red and a lotus flower with four petals, a square, and a downward pointing triangle.
This symbol stands for the birth of human consciousness, stability, grounding, and rigidity.
A blocked root chakra can manifest in constipation, colon problems, and insecurity about our finances or basic needs. When this chakra is open and fully aligned, we feel secure and grounded—both emotionally and physically.
Sacral chakra symbol meaning
The sacral chakra or Svadhisthana is linked with the water element, representing fluidity, movement, and flow.
Its outlined by the color orange and a lotus flower with six petals, three circles, and a crescent moon.
The six petals represent those qualities we must overcome to purify this chakra, such as cruelty, anger, jealousy, pride, desire, and hatred. The circles symbolize life, death, and rebirth, and the moon represents nature cycles.
This chakra is associated with our feelings of self-worth, and its blockage can manifest in sexual impotence and lack of creativity.
Solar plexus symbol meaning
The solar plexus or Manipura chakra is associated with the fire element and the sun. It’s represented by the color yellow, a lotus flower with ten petals, and a downward pointing triangle.
The ten petals stand for the pranas that live within us. The inverted triangle represents the energy of the lower chakras concentrating and then going upwards to the higher chakras.
This is the chakra of our personal power, self-esteem, and confidence.
Heart chakra symbol meaning
The heart chakra, also known as Anahata chakra, is linked to the air element, representing our relationships, connection, love, and compassion.
It is symbolized by the color green, a lotus flower with twelve petals, representing the qualities associated with the heart—bliss, harmony, love, peace, understanding, empathy, kindness, forgiveness, unity, clarity, compassion, and purity.
The symbol also includes a hexagram, which stands for the female and male energies united.
People with a heart chakra blockage feel insecure, lonely, scared, and isolated.
Throat chakra symbol meaning
The throat chakra or Vishudda is related to the ether element, representing communication, purification, and authenticity.
It is symbolized by the color blue, a lotus flower with sixteen petals, embodying the vowels of Sanskrit that are light and easy to pronounce. It is also symbolized by a downward pointing triangle, the channel to our soul and consciousness, and a circle representing the full moon or a purified mind.
Blocks in the throat chakra can manifest in gossiping, speaking without thinking, or having trouble expressing your mind. When in alignment, we can talk and listen with compassion and feel empowered through conversations because we are authentic with our inner selves.
Third eye chakra symbol meaning
The third eye chakra, or Ajna chakra, is linked to the light dimension. It represents the awakening of the pineal gland and the center of wisdom and gravity.
Its symbolized by the chakra color indigo, a lotus flower with two petals, and a downward pointing triangle. It means the duality between the self and God and our connection with the divine.
The blockages of this chakra can manifest in having trouble listening to reality (AKA, a know-it-all) or disconnection with our intuition and imagination. However, when it’s open and aligned, we can follow our inner compass and see the big picture of our circumstances.
Crown chakra symbol meaning
The crown chakra, or Sahasrara chakra, is associated with empty space. It represents our spiritual transcendence and the merging with the infinite and divine source of creation.
Its color is violet, and its symbol has a lotus flower with a thousand petals, representing our connection to the divine, prosperity, and eternity.
It also has a circle that symbolizes a full moon or the awakening of our conscious mind.
The crown chakra is linked to the rest of the chakras, which influences our organs, brain, and nervous system. This chakra is considered the chakra of spiritual enlightenment, and it symbolizes the connection with our life purpose.
Opening this chakra will help keep the rest of the seven chakras open, and the person will experience bliss and a sense of direction.
How can you work with the 7 chakras for healing?
The best way to bring balance and open the chakras to align your physical body with the cosmos include yoga postures, breathing practices, and meditation.
To unblock the root chakra, you can practice any pose that helps balance your body, such as the tree, the mountain, or the warrior pose. Any of these practices will help you establish a better relationship with the foundation of your body.
To unlock the sacral chakra, you could practice poses that strengthen your pelvic areas, such as the bridge, lizard, or pigeon pose.
Since the solar plexus chakra is associated with your inner fire, core strengthening poses such as boat or triangle will bring more balance to this chakra.
Regarding the heart chakra, you can practice the cow face pose and humble warrior, which will open your shoulders, chest, and arms so you can embrace the people you love in your life.
Plow and fish are excellent poses for opening the throat chakra. The third eye chakra requires postures that connect your upper body with your lower body, so poses like a forward fold or folded eagle are excellent for unlocking this space.
And finally, the crown chakra needs a pose where you can relax and connect with your higher self, such as Savasana. This pose strengthens the link to your spirit, reminding you of where you came from and where you are going.
It is natural for you to feel attracted or hooked to one of the chakra symbols in particular. If so, you should pay attention to the qualities it represents and work on healing the wounds related to that chakra.
Throughout our life, we will encounter problems related to specific chakras without realizing it. At times, we may feel unable to support ourselves financially, while at other times, we may lack the ability to trust people, or perhaps we will lose the connection with our intuition.
Helping to unblock the energy through our chakra system can be a huge step you may not have considered.
External Resources
The 7 Chakras
Reiki Crystal Chakra Cleansing — Balancing & Clearing Chakra Blockages