Location: The sacral cakra is located deep in the lower abdomen
Colour: Orange
Element: Water
Function: Desire, pleasure, sexuality, procreation
Inner State: Feelings
Body Parts: Womb, genitals, kidneys, bladder, circulatory system
Malfunction: Stiff lower back or hips, uterine/bladder/kidney troubles, impotence, frigidity
(Wheels of Life)
Once we have explored the root cakra, reflected on our ability to feel grounded and safe, and begun making more conscious choices in how we go about building the foundation for our well being on all levels (physical, emotional, spritual), we are ready to dive into the second cakra. In sanskrit, this cakra is called svadhisthana and means sweetness. By engaging with the playful, fluid energy of this center, we can begin to establish flexibility and a desire to move from the stillness of the root to the movement of the sacral cakra.
The lovely thing about the cakra model is that one “level” builds on the previous; there is always interplay between the centres. The more the lower energy centres are explored and engaged, the more easily we engage the energy of the upper cakra-s. So already, you may be able to see how taking the time to rest, restore, ground, and feel safe (the work of the root) allows us to then go out into the world, interact with others, and begin to manifest our desires. The second cakra is all about creativity, change, flow. It is about examining our relationships to others, to change, and to our emotions; to letting things evolve and flow as they are meant to…
Questions to ponder (relating the sacral cakra to food):
Do you consider the preparation of your meals and snacks a pleasure or a chore?
Are your food choices rigid (“I only eat eggs at breakfast”; “We eat pizza every Wednesday” etc.) or can you stand in your kitchen, tune into what your body needs, and allow your food choices to be responsive to your needs?
Are you open to examining your nutritional habits and making small changes?
Do you prefer to eat with others or alone?
How much creativity do you bring into your food prep? When was the last time you tried a new recipe?
Practices to strengthen the sacral cakra:
When you are out walking, at work, or running errands, start to notice the colour orange. Let it jump out at you!
If you tend to eat alone, see if you can plan a meal with a friend this week.
Begin to connect emotions with specific cravings (e.g when you feel sad, do you reach for sweet, salty crunchy…)
Organize a potluck!
Wear comfy, flowy clothes that you feel good in this week…maybe add a bit more colour than usual!
The element associated with the sacral cakra is water…drink more!
Strengthen the creative energy of this centre by adding lots of colour to your meals.
Be playful with your food…have fun arranging it on your plate.
Play your favourite music and sing along while you prepare your dinner.
Foods to strengthen the sacral cakra:
As you go about your week, try to incorporate one of these foods into each meal. As you prepare and eat your meals, take the time to acknowledge that you are adding these foods in order to engage the energy of water, to strengthen your ability to be creative and playful in whatever way resonates with you, and to wake up the energy body!
But don’t leave the root behind! Continue to refer to the tips in last week’s entry so that by the end of the 7 weeks, you will have built a collection of simple tools to nourish your entire physical and energetic being.
Fats: Fats can change from liquid to solid and back again, beautifully resonating with the quality of change associated with the second cakra. This nutrient provides us with both flexibility and stability in the cell membranes of our body. An appropriate amount of saturated fat allows our cell membranes to maintain stability (too much and they become rigid, making it difficult for nutrients to come in and waste to exit); an appropriate amount of unsaturated fat allows for the proper amount of flow in and out of cells.
Sources: olive oil, butter, coconut oil, ghee, grapeseed oil, avocado, olives…
Fish: What better way to connect with water than to eat foods that live in our lakes and oceans? Salmon is the perfect food for the sacral cakra as it is the colour orange, is a high source of essential fatty acids, and lives in the water. (Obviously we need to be careful about how much fish we consume and from where we source it due to concerns around mercury and fish farming).
Sources: salmon and any other seafood that brings you pleasure!
Orange foods: Why not be playful and see how many creative ways you can bring orange into your diet this week! Be conscious each time you eat orange food so that your mind and energy body are connected in your efforts to engage the sacral cakra.
Sources: oranges, cantaloupe, mandarins, mangoes, nectarines, peaches, papayas, tangerines, carrots, orange peppers, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, yams, salmon
Recipes:
JUICE: Try my very favourite juice! Juice apples, carrots, ginger and lemon. It’s hard not to connect with pleasure when you sip this!
SMOOTHIE: Blend orange juice, plain yogurt, half a banana, a large handful of cantaloupe and a scoop of protein powder. Ground some flaxseeds to add essential fatty acids.
ORANGE SOUPS: Try the Thai Sweet Potato Soup or Curried Apple Squash Soup on my blog.
YAM PECAN BAKE (sweet and orange…perfect!):
5 medium yams
15 oz can of lite coconut milk
¼ cup agave nectar
¼ cup pecans, chopped
¼ cup unsweetened, shredded coconut
½ tsp cinnamon
dash of nutmeg
Bake yams in oven for 1 hour at 350°F or until soft. Peel skin off and put yams into large bowl. Break into small pieces using a fork. Pour coconut milk onto yams, stirring and mashing the mixture to make it smooth. Add agave nectar, pecans, shredded coconut and mix well. Pour into medium-sized casserole dish to serve. Top with pecans and shredded coconut. Serve either warm or cold. (Serves 4)
~Chakra Foods for Optimum Health
What a wonderful article.