The Water Element
By Rachel Donovan Geller, Founder & CEO of MOONS
It was during my 200 hour Yoga teacher training that I discovered the chakra system, and with it, a lens in which to view, understand and connect with every feeling, emotion and symptom I’ve ever had.
Chakra in Sanskrit means wheel. The seven chakras are the main energy centers of the body from your root to your crown. They are spinning disks of energy that should stay open and aligned, as they correspond to our nervous system, major organs, and affect our emotional and physical well-being.
Svadhisthana, the Sacral Chakra is the second chakra located at the lower abdomen or sacral plexus. It is the energy center known for pleasure, connection, movement and creativity. A balanced sacral chakra radiates abundance, confidence, and sensuality. A blocked second chakra causes guilt, stress, anxiety and a general lack of desire.
The Sacral Chakra’s element is water, so I took this month’s water theme as an opportunity to reflect and check in with my second chakra.
2.5 years into a pandemic, parenthood, and early stage start-up-life has definitely misaligned all of my chakras to some degree but in my moment of truth I recognized that my Sacral Chakra is completely blocked.
Not to sound dramatic (I am a deeply grateful human who finds joy in the everyday), but guilt has taken on a whole new meaning for me these past two years. Guilt as a working parent has become a part of me. I feel guilty for working. Guilty for not working enough. Guilty for being here. Guilty for not being there. Guilty for not emailing, texting, slacking, calling or DM'ing back on time. Guilty for being tired. Guilty for wanting alone time. Guilty for ‘letting myself go’. Guilty for sick days. Guilty for days off. I feel guilty for...pretty much everything.
Guilty. Guilty. Guilty.
No wonder I feel blocked. Guilt is the demon of the Sacral Chakra because it restricts the free flow of movement and the second chakras main purpose is to get energy moving through the body. Its element water represents movement, flow, letting go, and accepting change. So in order to rebalance and align my second chakra, I too, commit to movement, flow, letting go and accepting change with a few mindful rituals.
If you’re feeling guilty, blocked or stressed, please join me in the rituals below:
MOVEMENT.
Standing pelvic circles: Stand with your hands on your lower abdomen. Take a deep breath as you connect to your sacral chakra. Start by making tiny circles with your torso. Go around in one direction 5 or 6 times and then switch directions. Continue with slightly bigger circles. Repeat.
FLOW.
LETTING GO.
Write down the thing that you feel the most guilty about on a piece of paper. Then flush that piece of paper in the toilet and watch it wash away.
ACCEPTING CHANGE.
Daily Mantra - I am flexible, adaptable, and open to change.
For a deeper understanding of the chakra system, treat yourself to the book Eastern Body, Western Mind by Anodea Judith. It won’t disappoint.
