Ch / 3 Sacral Chakra—Svadisthana

The Sacral Chakra sits between the reproductive organs, in the center of your lower abdomen, and represents the life force of creative potential. Here is the domain of creation and procreation, the well of potential for what will be. When the Sacral Chakra is blocked, or isn’t spinning with ease, your sense of creative potential is blocked. This might manifest in an apparent lack of inspiration for a creative project; an inability to pursue your art, or a loss of interest in it; or physical infertility.

In many cases, Sacral Chakra blocks last for years, if not decades, and in Western cultures are often thought to be associated with age. Many people think it is natural to lose inspiration, sexual desire or passion, and the ability to conceive a child with age. While there are natural physical limitations to childbearing, you can (and should!) receive inspiration and desire sexual intimacy well into the later years of life. After all, the best years of life are often the later years, when earned wisdom shapes experience and helps prevent the mistakes of youth. So, too, should the later years of life be full of laughter, intimacy, and creative exploration.

At the Sacral Chakra, it is possible to heal trauma from sexual abuse in the past or present, as well as medical procedures like hysterectomies, Caesarian sections, and abortion. Healing sexual trauma as a means of overcoming infertility or boosting creativity may seem strange at first, but everything is related in energy work, bound by region of the body and center of energy. Anything you bring into being in this life—whether it is a child, a new idea or invention, a project, some kind of service to others, or leadership in any capacity—is governed by the Sacral Chakra.

For many women, blockage in the Sacral Chakra leads to the closing-off of sexual intimacy in relationships and can have far-reaching consequences, including depression and loss of hope as well as separation and divorce, in dire cases. If this sounds familiar, know that help is on the way! This chapter offers tips and strategies for opening and healing this important energy center. Your vitality—and, thus, your happiness—depends on it. You are meant to live a full, sexy, vibrant life.

Embodiment Exercise: Sacral Chakra Induction

This Sacral Chakra induction is designed to help introduce you to the energies of this chakra, which governs all creative and procreative endeavors. If you are ready to explore the art and the passion of your life, this is your chance. Use this short meditation to guide you.

1/ Become mindfully aware of your thoughts now, and bring them into this moment. Notice the objects around you, the Earth beneath you, and take a moment to look around your life and recognize how many of the people, things, and structures in your life exist because you made them. Yes, you! To connect here at the Sacral Chakra, it is important for you to view yourself as a sacred, creative vessel of inspiration, a veritable fountain of passion and desire that overflows into all aspects of your life. You might imagine your desire and your passion as rivers of water or flowing lava from an ancient volcano. Visualize your deepest essence pouring out of you like water or liquid fire, nourishing or melting everything in its path. You are tapping into a river of your own power. Feel it bring you to life, one cell at a time.

2/ Some believe that sexual energy is only necessary in a relationship with a partner, but in fact sexual energy is the currency of the entire universe. Every being, every vibrational creature understands and responds to sexual frequencies. This means that seduction is about honoring the value of what you have to offer, and sharing it with others from a place of deeply shared desire for connection. That connection can be emotional or physical, or it can simply be a neutral vibration without attachment. When you see yourself as the Seductress, as the one who enchants and seduces, how does that feel? Let the energy of the Seductress drape itself around you like a gorgeous velvet shawl. Feel its soft warmth around you and then consider how you can bring that luxurious sensuality into your life.

3/ Ask yourself which experiences in your life today bring you pleasure. Make a mental list of those activities or experiences, noting the ones you have engaged in within the last twelve months. Then, commit to bringing more of these experiences into your life. If you are in a relationship, consider involving your partner in this inventory. It can be very exciting to bring shared passions and desires to life!

4/ Once you have connected with the energies of the Seductress and identified the desires you wish to access and fulfill, give thanks for the blessings these desires will bring to your life. So begins the cycle of abundance and prosperity, rooted in faith, trust, and sweet surrender.

By consciously reconnecting with your ability to desire and be desired, you will feel empowered, and empowerment fuels health, self-esteem, and, by extension, happiness. Thus, doing the work of the Sacral Chakra—while sometimes painful and difficult, especially if childhood trauma is triggered—is still very much a worthwhile venture. When you align and clear the Sacral Chakra, your entire life receives an infusion of passion and creative courage. Get ready to feel alive and inspired! Nothing is more important, because no one is more important than you when it comes to your soul’s development. It’s time to put you first.

CORRESPONDENCES FOR THE SACRAL CHAKRA

goddesses

BASTET, ISHTAR, RATI

gemstones

CARNELIAN, GOLDSTONE, IMPERIAL TOPAZ, ORANGE CALCITE, PEACH MOONSTONE, SHIVA LINGAM, SUNSTONE, TANGERINE QUARTZ

tarot card

MAJOR ARCANA: THE EMPRESS

runes

URUZ, KENAZ

essential oils/herbs

BLOOD ORANGE, CINNAMON CASSIA, FENNEL, GINGER, TANGERINE, VANILLA, YLANG YLANG

planets

JUPITER, MERCURY

Reflection Questions for the Sacral Chakra

As you begin to ponder the questions in this section, ask your spirit guides to support you in channeling wisdom from your higher self in order to receive a download that can guide your practice. To do so, close your eyes and imagine yourself in the center of a circle. Then, imagine that the circle is formed of spirit beings, each of whom has a divine connection to you—as a guardian, an ancestor, or an ascended master teacher. Ask them to support you as you explore your passion and your creativity and to offer sacred inspiration to guide you. (If you are unsure what your passions might be, ask your spirit guides to show you through signs and symbols.)

Gather a few tools to accompany you as you journal and reflect. Reach for carnelian and blue lace agate, which will raise a powerful creative vibration. Or, brew a cup of Sacral Chakra tea by infusing damiana, ginger, and fennel in hot water for 5 minutes, inhaling the spicy aroma before you sip and enjoy the warming herbs. When you are ready, let these questions guide you:

1/ How has your sexual desire and physical passion changed in the past year? How are you relating on a physical level to your partner, or to yourself if you are not currently in a relationship?

2/ When you consider the archetype of the Seductress or Enchantress, notice the emotions that emerge for you. Remember that in ancient times, the concept of sacred sexuality was alive and well: Sex was considered to be one way to raise a powerful energetic frequency that could then be channeled in different directions to manifest will. To which areas of your life could you direct the flow of your sexual energy in order to manifest what you desire? Where do you need to “loosen up” and let go in your life, feeling less concerned about what others think and becoming more mindful of your own desires?

3/ What does intimacy mean to you? What intimacy do you enjoy in your life right now, and in what parts of your life do you desire deeper intimacy with others? If you could instantly manifest your desires for intimacy right here and right now, what would that look like?

When you are ready to close your reflective writing, thank your spirit guides and higher self for attending you while you write, and blow out your candles. Store any gems you’ve used and other writing tools together in a special place so that you’ll have them handy when you want to do more reflective writing in the future.

Goddesses of the Sacral Chakra

BASTET

Bastet, Ishtar, and Rati come forward as the goddesses of the Sacral Chakra, and have much to teach about the sensual power of passion and desire. Rati is the Hindu goddess of love, lust, and physical desire, as well as sexual intercourse and the physical union of Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine. Ishtar was the famed Mesopotamian goddess of desire, and the tales of her lusty adventures continue to inspire women today to connect with their innermost sensual selves. Within all women lies a (sometimes dormant) goddess of sex and desire; the key is to liberate and summon her, welcoming her energy into all aspects of your life and honoring it as sacred. Bastet, daughter of sun god Ra in the Egyptian pantheon, is the supreme goddess of pleasure. A feline goddess who is depicted with a cat’s head, she governed sensuality and pleasure of every kind. Simply setting the intention to work with these goddesses and to bring more of their subtle, seductive, and feline qualities into being will help you to access their energies in your own daily life. You can also call upon them by name, followed by the words, “Be with me now.”

“…A FELINE GODDESS WHO IS DEPICTED WITH A CAT’S HEAD, [BASTET] GOVERNED SENSUALITY AND PLEASURE OF EVERY KIND.

GEMSTONES, ESSENTIAL OILS, AND HERBS OF THE SACRAL CHAKRA

Sacral Chakra Gemstones

CARNELIAN is the gemstone version of caffeine, giving you a turbo boost of energy to help you stimulate creativity and complete even the most arduous of tasks. If you need to move more confidently in the world, use carnelian as your secret empowerment weapon.

GOLDSTONE contains natural copper and thus supports healthy circulation. Goldstone conducts energy beautifully, and so it can help you feel more balanced, aligned, and empowered. Hold it during intercourse to improve blood flow and strengthen the intensity of orgasms.

IMPERIAL TOPAZ, one of the rarest of all topaz colors, is a deep orange talisman of strength and power. Its fiery orange glow is linked to its reputation as an aphrodisiac.

ORANGE CALCITE is said to help with erectile dysfunction and sexual performance issues. Men report that orange calcite facilitates sexual stamina and endurance, while women report that it helps counter the effects of menopause on sex drive. SHIVA LINGAM represents the sacred integration of Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine energies.

PEACH MOONSTONE harnesses the creative powers of the moon phases. It is thought to represent the waxing gibbous moon phase that is most often aligned to manifestation.

SUNSTONE is the leadership stone for politicians, teachers, and managers of all kinds. It activates the fire within, helping you connect to untapped potential and enthusiasm.

TANGERINE QUARTZ boosts sex drive and brings sexy thoughts of lusty connection to the bearer. It is believed to be an aphrodisiac that can support male sexual performance and improve sexual endurance.

Consider working with your Sacral Chakra gemstones at sunset, as Sacral Chakra energies are most heightened in the early evening hours. Lie down comfortably, removing shoes or other items that feel restrictive to you, and then place your Sacral Chakra gemstones across your lower abdomen, either in a circle or in a line—whatever feels most comfortable and aligned with your intuition. Next, stretch your arms out to your sides and imagine a bright orange ray of light beaming down to you from the Sun. Warm and potent like the Sun itself, it casts its orange ray of heavenly creative light across the stones you have placed, charging and infusing them with universal wisdom about passion and connection. Give thanks for this burst of light wisdom and commit to embodying it every day as you walk your path. And so it is.

Sacral Chakra Herbs and Essential Oils

Ginger helps create a stronger flow of chi through the reproductive organs to stimulate sexual passion and interest. Cinnamon cassia boosts metabolism and purifies the system, while blood orange brings welcome energies of joy, prosperity, and power. Tangerine reconnects you with the Inner Child, helping you feel more innately playful, happy, and carefree. Ylang ylang is nature’s most potent aphrodisiac after Damiana and offers an added benefit of enhancing intuition. Vanilla is the queen of the orchid family and brings you a sense of sweet benevolence, activating energies of peaceful leadership and selfless service. Last but not least, fennel eases digestive troubles while enhancing memory.

Many of these herbs and fruits can be used in teas. Citrus tea is a perfect wake-me-up, while ginger tea helps soothe sore tummies and activates creative energies. Diffuse vanilla resin or ylang ylang essential oil in your home to invite sweet spirits and help create a calming, enjoyable environment for guests. (That said, the combo of vanilla and ylang ylang is extremely seductive, so use it wisely!)

During the holidays, try making the recipe shown here to activate the energies of the Sacral Chakra fruits, herbs, and spices while adding some Yuletide magic to your home environment.

Yuletide Simmering Herbal Blend for Sensuality, Inspiration, and Creativity

Ingredients

• 4 blood oranges and/or orange slices

• Fresh ginger, sliced

• 10 whole cloves

• 5 cinnamon sticks

• 10 cardamom pods

Bring a few quarts of water to a gentle boil on your stove, then reduce the heat to a simmer and add all the ingredients to the water. Your home will be filled with the most enchanting yuletide scent, but you and your guests will also enjoy energies of prosperity, happiness, comfort, joy, and health. Let the blend simmer for as long as you like, adding more water if necessary. You can also simmer these herbs in apple cider or red wine, then strain out the fruit slices and herbs before sipping. Amen, A’ho, So it is.

Tarot Card, Rune, and Planet of the Sacral Chakra

Major Arcana: The Empress

The Empress is the Mother of the Major Arcana, pregnant with life and possibility. Seated in her velvet robe of beauty and aesthetic magic, she represents luxury and manifestation. She is also the only figure in the Major Arcana who is carrying a child; in this way, she comes to represent both motherhood as well as the capacity to birth other energies, such as new projects. She is the embodiment of creative potential. Connect with The Empress to express more of your maternal or creative power, as well as your divine beauty.

To connect with The Empress, imagine yourself as a fertile, pregnant being, full of life and possibility. What would it look like for you to be full of a new idea or new project, incubating a concept or gestating a new piece of art? What are you meant to deliver or give birth to in this lifetime? The Empress wants to know. Sit for a moment and speak to her of your desires. She will fuel them, inspire them, and help you carry them safely until it is time to bring them fully into the world in material form.

Runes: Uruz and Kenaz

Uruz and Kenaz are the runes of personal success, power, and deep understanding. The mantra of the Sacral Chakra is “I create,” and it is here that your deepest understanding of your purpose in this lifetime becomes manifest. Uruz ensures that whatever you create will be met and received with success, and Kenaz helps you to cull the lessons from what you create, so that you continue to learn as you manifest new life and new projects. When you are in the initial stages of a new project or new idea, call upon Uruz and Kenaz to support you and inspire you from within. Both of these runes facilitate success with any new beginning.

Planets: Jupiter and Mercury

Jupiter is the planet of manifestation and creation, so it makes sense that it’s one of the planets of the Sacral Chakra. Seeing Mercury, the planet of communication, here may be a surprise to you, but Sacral Chakra work requires you to access your voice and communicate your desires in order to gather the resources you need. If you can dream it, and if you can communicate it, you can create it!

Jupiter is the planet representing evolution in your own time. Where Saturn demands timely development and evolution, Jupiter holds a gentler expectation of your growth: Here you are free to grow on a timeline that serves you. Mercury’s forward and retrograde motions bring you opportunities to practice communication and then to reflect on where you might be able to improve your communication skills.

With both planets, learning is not only allowed but encouraged, and reflection becomes a natural part of the learning process. After all, the Sacral Chakra sits on the threshold of the lower and central chakras, the gateway to a higher level of conscious awareness.

Archetype of the Sacral Chakra

The Temptress and The Saint emerge as the archetypes of Sacral Chakra energies. The Temptress is the part of you that feels her deepest desires in a visceral way and longs to share that physical passion with a partner who can meet her halfway. She also serves to strengthen your confidence and mirror your beauty to you. The Temptress is not just a seductress in the realm of sex or physical expressions of desire; she also represents the broader temptation to all kinds of pleasures, worldly and otherworldly.

The Saint is a figure on the other side of the desire spectrum who hides her desires, sacrificing them to the needs and desires of the Greater Good. Sometimes the Saint emerges out of need or circumstance, when life demands that your needs come second (or third, or ninth) to those of others around you. However, the Saint is a reminder of the dangers of not honoring your own needs as sacred, for the Saint cannot manifest or create without channeling her passion. The Temptress, then, emerges to inspire you while the Saint in some ways is a reminder never to let go of your needs, even if you must prioritize others at certain times in your life. You matter, too. You stand between Saint and Temptress, giver and receiver of pleasure.

Mantra of the Sacral Chakra

Samba Sadashiva is a Sanskrit mantra written in homage to the Lord Shiva in the Hindu tradition. He is the divine partner to Shakti, with whom he represents the whole of Creation. Shiva represents what must be erased or destroyed in order to create. Think of the things, people, places, or experiences that have had to melt away from, or transform in, your life for you to ascend to new levels of spiritual development. Think of what you have had to release with grace in order to welcome what is new. Even though it is always difficult to suffer a loss of any kind, especially when what you lose is dear to you in some way, remember to move as quickly as possible to a place of gratitude, for without loss you would not know the power of receiving. When you let go of what no longer serves you, you create new space for growth, permitting the Universe to fill with all the things you desire now. You have already let go of so much that has weighed you down; give yourself a sweet hug and reflect on the processes that have led you to this moment. Then, let yourself feel the building excitement of what lies ahead in your life. You have only begun to tap your creative potential.

Embodiment Exercise: Sacral Chakra Activation

Sacral Chakra activation helps you initiate a series of energy events to prompt a stronger flow of energy to and from this particular chakra. If your passion center has been dormant, now is the time to awaken and receive the wisdom of the Sacral Chakra. Use this meditation to guide you.

1/ First, know that so much is ahead of you and so much stored energy waits to take form through you: with your hands, through your heart, in your mind, through your womb. As you consider the many ways in which you express your given creativity, dream for a moment about creative outlets you have not yet explored. Where in nature are you finding sacred inspiration? Perhaps it is the changing color of Gaia’s leaves this season, the swath of colors at this evening’s sunset, or the stark simplicity of a smooth, gray sea on a rainy day that will inspire you to consider new ways of connecting to the beauty around you.

2/ Move back into the present moment. Allow yourself the gift of feeling your physical desires. Summon your inner Temptress and bring her seductive, mysterious, irresistible fire to your awareness. Then imagine summoning the energy of the fire element for courage, stamina, and strength. Feel the power of the ancient Divine Feminine rise within you: It is the essence of queens, rulers, priestesses, and wise women of all kinds from all places across all time. They seek connection with you, and they seek to create through you. You become an open channel for their cosmic wisdom. In this way, you not only channel the Divine Feminine, you become the Divine Feminine. Your womb gestates art, beauty, and life.

3/ Now allow yourself a moment to enjoy what you have seen and experienced. You are so divinely beautiful and vibrating with possibility. Give thanks to your spirit guides, guardian angels, and ancestors who are also celebrating your passion and potential. Know that you are the product of many centuries and generations of love. Amen, A’ho, So it is.

May you always know the depths of your own beauty, your own passion, and your own creativity.

Amen, A’ho, So it is. And on we go.