How to Open Your Spiritual Chakras

Co-authored by Karina Klimtchuk, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM

Last Updated: February 7, 2023 References Approved

Opening and activating your chakras contribute to your overall well-being and help your instincts join forces with your feelings and thoughts. According to Hindu, Buddhist, and Kabbalah belief, chakras (called Sephirot in Hebrew) are vast pools of energy in our bodies that govern our psychological qualities.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Karina Klimtchuk, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM
Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine
Expert Interview. 25 August 2021.} So what happens if your chakras are blocked or overactive? If your chakras aren’t balanced, it isn’t easy to find peace within yourself. To help you unblock and activate your spiritual chakras, we’ve put together a guide to becoming aware of the chakras, as well as a reliable technique designed to open them.

1

Open all 7 chakras to find balance.

As you open your chakras, you don’t need to worry about making overactive chakras less active. Overactive chakras simply compensate for the inactivity of closed chakras. Once you’ve opened all of the chakras, the energy evens out by itself and becomes balanced. There are said to be seven main chakras (Sephirot) in all. We have four in our upper body, which govern our mental properties, and three in the lower body, which govern our instinctual properties. They are:^{[2]
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- The Muladhara (root) chakra.
- The Svadhisthana (sacral) chakra.
- The Manipura (solar plexus) chakra.
- The Anahata (heart) chakra.
- The Visuddhi (throat) chakra.
- The Ajna (third eye) chakra.
- The Sahasrara (crown) chakra.
- In Hebrew, the order of the sephirot is: Chesed (upper right), Gevurah (upper left), Tiferet (middle), Netzach (lower right), Hod (lower left), Yesod (middle), and Malkut (lower middle).

2

Open the Root Chakra (red).

This chakra helps you stay physically aware and feel comfortable in a variety of situations. When you open this chakra, you’ll feel well-balanced and sensible, stable and secure. You’ll feel present in what’s happening right now and connected to your physical body.^{[3]
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Research source} If the root chakra is under-active, you might feel anxious, scattered, and even unwelcome in social situations. If it's overactive, you might find yourself acting materialistic and greedy. Here’s how to open and balance your root chakra:
- Use your body and become aware of it. You can do yoga, walk around the block, or even clean your house.
- Stand up straight and relaxed, put your feet shoulder-width apart, and slightly bend your knees to ground yourself. Move your pelvis forward a little, and keep your body balanced so that your weight is evenly distributed over the soles of your feet. Sink your weight forward and stay in this position for several minutes.
- After grounding yourself, sit cross-legged, and let the tips of your thumb and index finger touch gently in a peaceful motion.
- Concentrate on the root chakra at the spot in between the genitals and the anus.
- Silently, yet clearly, chant the sound "LAM."
- Let yourself relax, focusing on the chakra, its meaning, and how it affects your life. Keep doing this until you are completely relaxed. You may feel a "clean" feeling rush over you.
- Visualize a closed red flower. Imagine very powerful energy radiating from it, slowly opening and showing four red petals full of energy.
- Contract, the perineum, hold your breath, and release.

3

Open the Sacral Chakra (Orange).

Your sacral chakra deals with raw feelings, fluidity, and sexuality. If it’s open, you’ll be able to release your feelings freely and go with the flow.^{[4]
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Research source} You’ll be open to connection and passion, and you might even feel more outgoing. If it's under-active, you can get stuck in an unemotional or impassive state and have a tough time opening up to other people. If it's overactive, you might be overly sensitive and emotional and have a high sex drive. Follow this process to open the sacral chakra and achieve balance:
- Sit on your knees, with your back straight but relaxed.
- Lay your hands in your lap, palms ups, on top of each other. Put your left hand underneath, let the palm touch the back fingers of the right hand, and let the thumbs touch gently.
- Concentrate on the Sacral Chakra and what it stands for at the sacral bone (lower back).
- Silently, yet clearly, chant the sound "VAM."
- Let yourself relax, still thinking about the chakra, its meaning, and how it affects your life.
- Keep doing this until you are completely relaxed. Again, you may have a "clean" feeling.

4

Open the Navel Chakra (yellow).

Also called the solar plexus chakra, your navel chakra is connected to confidence, generosity, and joy. When it opens, you’ll feel an abundance of warmth, control, and empowerment.^{[5]
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Research source} If your navel chakra is under-active, you’ll tend to be passive, indecisive, and apprehensive. If it's over-active, you might tend to be arrogant and aggressive. You can open your navel chakra like this:^{[6]
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- Sit on your knees, with your back straight, but relaxed.
- Put your hands before your stomach, slightly below your solar plexus. Let the fingers join at the tops, all pointing away from you. Cross the thumbs and straighten the fingers (this is important).
- Concentrate on the Navel Chakra and what it stands for, at the spine, slightly above the navel.
- Silently, yet clearly, chant the sound "RAM."
- Let yourself relax and continue to think about the chakra, its meaning, and how it affects your life.
- Keep doing this until you are completely relaxed.

5

Open the Heart Chakra (green).

The heart chakra is all about love, caring, and endearment. When it’s open, you’ll seem compassionate and friendly, always working in amicable relationships.^{[7]
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Research source} If it's under-active, you might tend to act cold and unfriendly. If it's over-active, you’ll tend to be so "loving" towards people that you suffocate them, and that might even make you look selfish. Find balance and open your heart chakra with this easy process:
- Sit cross-legged.
- Let the tips of your index finger and thumb touch both hands.
- Put your left hand on your left knee and your right hand in front of the lower part of your breastbone.
- Concentrate on the Heart Chakra and what it stands for at the spine level with the heart.
- Silently, but clearly, chant the sound "YAM."
- All this time, continue to relax your body and think of the chakra, its meaning, and how it does or should affect your life.
- Keep doing this until you are completely relaxed, and the "clean" feeling returns and/or intensifies within your body.

6

Open the Throat Chakra (light blue).

This chakra plays into self-expression and communication. When the chakra is open, expressing yourself is easy, and you might find yourself pursuing art and other forms of creative expression. If your throat chakra is blocked, you might have trouble expressing your feelings, frequently use negative words, and feel disconnected from others.^{[8]
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Research source} Lying is another telltale sign of a blocked throat chakra. However, if the throat chakra is overactive, you might tend to speak too much and have trouble stepping back to listen to others. Unblock your throat chakra like this:
- Sit on your knees.
- Cross your fingers on the inside of your hands without the thumbs. Let the thumbs touch at the tops, and pull them up a bit.
- Concentrate on the Throat Chakra and what it stands for at the base of the throat.
- Silently, but clearly, chant the sound "HAM."
- All this time, keep on relaxing your body, thinking of the chakra, its meaning, and how it does or should affect your life.
- Keep doing this for about five minutes, and the "clean" feeling will intensify once again.

7

Open the Third Eye Chakra (Indigo).

As its name implies, this chakra deals with insight. Opening your third eye is thought to provide a deep window into your spiritual life.^{[9]
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Research source} You can tell it’s open if you have excellent clairvoyance and tend to dream a lot. If it's under-active, you tend to look to other people to think for you. You might find yourself relying on beliefs and feeling confused most of the time. If your third eye is over-active, you might tend to live in a world of imagination all day long. You can open your third eye with this easy meditation:
- Sit cross-legged.
- Put your hands in front of the lower part of the breast. The middle fingers should be straight and touch the tops, pointing away from you. The other fingers are bent and touch the two upper phalanges. The thumbs point toward you and meet at the top.
- Concentrate on the Third Eye Chakra and what it stands for, a little above the center of the two eyebrows.
- Silently, but clearly, chant the sound "OM" or "AUM."
- Relax your body and continue to think of the chakra, its meaning, and how it affects your life.
- Keep doing this until the same "clean" feeling seems to come back or intensify.

8

Open the Crown Chakra (purple).

This is the seventh and most spiritual chakra. It’s linked to wisdom and the experience of being one with the universe. When this chakra is open, you’ll find it easier to be open-minded and become more aware of the world and its connection to yourself. If it's under-active, you can tend to not be very spiritual and you can get stuck in rigid thinking.^{[10]
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Research source} If the crown chakra is overactive, you’ll tend to intellectualize things all the time, and you might even prioritize spirituality over your bodily needs (food, water, shelter). Try this to open your crown chakra:
- Sit cross-legged.
- Lay your hand on your stomach. Let the little fingers point up and away from you, touching at their tops, and cross the rest of the fingers with the left thumb underneath the right.
- Concentrate on the Crown Chakra and what it stands for at the very top of your head.
- Silently, but clearly, chant the sound "NG" (yes, this chant is as hard as it looks).
- All this time, your body should now be totally relaxed, and your mind should be at peace. However, do not stop concentrating on the Crown Chakra.
- This [[Meditate for Beginners}meditation]] is the longest and should take no less than ten minutes.
- Don't use this meditation for the Crown Chakra if your Root Chakra is not strong or open. Before dealing with this last chakra, you need a strong "foundation" first, which the Root exercises will present to you.

9

Open your chakras with crystals.

Crystals are a powerful, quick way to unblock your chakras. Choose a crystal that corresponds to the properties and color of that chakra. Lie on the floor with your back to the ground, and place the crystal on the chakra’s location on your body.^{[11]
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Research source} Close your eyes and envision that crystal’s color surrounding the specific chakra and slowly spreading through your body. Open your eyes slowly after 5-10 minutes.^{[12]
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Research source} Check out each chakra’s color and corresponding crystals you can use below:^{[13]
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- The root chakra (red/black): jasper or black tourmaline
- The sacral chakra (orange): such as carnelian or citrine
- The solar plexus chakra (yellow): yellow jasper or citrine
- The heart chakra (green/pink): green aventurine or rose quartz
- The throat chakra (blue): turquoise or angelite
- The third eye chakra (indigo): sodalite or lapis lazuli
- The crown chakra (violet/white): amethyst or clear quartz

Expert Q&A

Question

What exactly is a chakra?

Karina Klimtchuk, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM
Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine
Dr. Karina Klimtchuk is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, Faculty Member at Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Owner of Kai Wellness. She specializes in holistic health, Chinese herbal medicine, and functional medicine. Dr. Klimtchuk also helps patients through emotional and spiritual trauma. She holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology from The University of Massachusetts, Boston, a Master's from Emperor's College in Santa Monica, CA, and a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.

Karina Klimtchuk, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM

Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine

Expert Answer

Chakras are "energy centers" in your body that correspond with your glandular system.
Question

How can I open my chakra naturally?

Karina Klimtchuk, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM
Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine
Dr. Karina Klimtchuk is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, Faculty Member at Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Owner of Kai Wellness. She specializes in holistic health, Chinese herbal medicine, and functional medicine. Dr. Klimtchuk also helps patients through emotional and spiritual trauma. She holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology from The University of Massachusetts, Boston, a Master's from Emperor's College in Santa Monica, CA, and a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.

Karina Klimtchuk, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM

Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine

Expert Answer

According to ancient Yogic practices, chakra centers can be activated through meditating, chanting mantras, doing specialized breathing exercises, using certain ayurvedic herbs, and doing physical exercises like yoga asana.