Journey Through the Chakras- “Sahasrara” Crown Chakra
The Crown Chakra “ Sahasrara”
For our last and final week on the chakras, we’ll be discussing the 7th chakra, the Crown, “ Sahasrara”, which is located right above the top of your head. As the final chakra in the system, it has a unique role in human spirituality, connection, and consciousness. Your crown chakra represents your spiritual connection to yourself, others, and the universe. It also plays a role in your life’s purpose.
The crown chakra 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.
The color for the crown chakra is violet or white and here we don’t chant a seed sound, here we just listen. Elementally, it is associated with thought and silence, and its mantra is, “I know.” This is the point where we receive communication back from wherever/whomever we are sending them out to, based on our own personal beliefs.
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.
So, what can we do to bring our Crown Chakra into balance or open it?
Practicing meditation, prayer, and daily silence are disciplines that lead to increased moments of spiritual connection. In fact, these are the only means by which you will experience the essence of Sahasrara, according to the Yoga Sutras.
While silence is the most powerful and important way to opening the seventh chakra, there are some other practices that support this chakra. For example, two pranayama (breathing techniques) you can do before meditation include Nadi Shodhana, (alternate nostril breathing), and Kapalabhati, (skull shining breath).
Inverted yoga asanas such as Salamba Sirsasana (headstand ) and Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog ) can help stimulate the seventh chakra, as well as any posture that brings the crown of the head to the floor such as Matsyasana (fish pose). 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. This is why we make space for inversions in every Vinyasa class at Key Largo Yoga, we want to give you the opportunity, even for a few minutes a day, to stimulate your crown.
Once activated, we feel connected to each other and everything in the universe. Our connection to something greater allows us to approach our lives with purpose, divine inspiration, wonder, and a broader perspective. Additionally, aligned crown chakras can remind us of all of our connectedness to each other and all things, encouraging us to live from a place of unity and lovingkindness and remind us of what a beautiful world we could create.
For this week’s homework, try and sit in silence for 3 minutes every day. No phone, no music, no distractions. And if that is easy, try for 5 minutes the next day, and see how many days you can keep it going. Before long, you’ll feel more conscious and connected and definitely more at peace.
Thank you all for sharing in this journey through the chakras with us. I hope you’ve enjoyed it!
Until next week- see you on your mats,
Jessica