What Is The Sacral Chakra?

A blocked Sacral Chakra can make you feel like you’ve lost control of your life and unable to retake hold of the reins. Sacral chakra energy is directly related to, and is nurtured by, that of the root chakra. Considered feminine in quality, sacral chakra energy — located in the lower abdomen — is what gives you the ability to be open with and nurture yourself and others.  The second chakra is centered on personal identity or personal play in the external world and how it responds to the seductive forces of the physical world. Therefore, if the second chakra is blocked or unbalanced, it can lead to addictions of drugs, sex, gambling and money.

While the first chakra builds fences for protection, the second chakra stockpiles rocks (adrenaline) to defend itself. The problem is we often perceive that we need more powerful rocks to do the job. The other side always seems to have a bigger pile than we do, and the perceived threat escalates. The Cold War was a perfect example of second-chakra thinking on a global scale. When the United States entered into the Cold War, many were convinced that the Russians had bigger navies and better warplanes than we did. In reality, the Russian navy was rusting and sinking, and its warplanes were no match for ours. The second chakra is the motivator of bullies and cowards. Bravado and posturing are inspired by this chakra.

The second chakra is also home to passion. It expresses itself through creativity and intimacy. In the first chakra we reproduce. In the second chakra we make love to our beloved. The Sanskrit name for this center is svadhisthana, which means “dwelling place of the self.”  

The negative expressions of the second chakra are anger and fear. Shamans believe that fear is the great enemy. It is a cunning adversary that you must not engage, because the moment you do, it will sap your strength and emerge victorious. The task is to get to know and befriend your fear. Use it as a warning mechanism and not as a trigger for the fight-or-flight response. Fear is the absence of love and you must learn to embrace it. When we have emptied ourselves of fear we can meet our adversaries in person and know that they are no different from us. We are both expressions of the same life force.

The energy of the second chakra, sometimes known as the sacral chakra or Svadhisthana, is the power of partnerships, how we begin to relate to others outside the family tribe, the creative exploration of life and relationships, sexuality, and discovering the power of choice.

The sacral chakra resonates with our need for relationships and our need to control or create the dynamics of our physical world. The second chakra shifts from obeying tribal, family authority, and allows us to discover satisfying relationships and interests of our own.