I can vaguely remember a time when I was just around thirteen years old, in the midst of an earth-shattering pandemic. Vowing to uphold social distancing procedures, my days were limited to leisurely walks around the neighborhood where my sister and I would kill time, before we inevitably returned home.

It was during one such walk that I had thrown out my back, and had begun to hobble up and down the street, hollering in pain. I had somehow managed to twist half my spine. My sister, laughing, proceeded to hit me, thinking it was all a joke. Screaming at her, I limped back to our house. Years have passed since then, and I haven’t stopped to consider this insignificant memory until recently. How had a thirteen year old managed to throw her back?

Lower back pain is so common in modern-day society, we hardly even think before prescribing another medication; or heading to a physical therapist or chiropractor. While all of these treatments are undoubtedly fruitful, we continuously fail to address the root cause of lumbar pain. At the end of the day, we are all made up of energy. When our body presents a physical ailment, it is more often than not the product of internal energy imbalances.

When I think of energy, I like to consider it on a societal level, as well as an individual level. Modern society propagates values, and principles which are sometimes at odds with the human spirit’s desire for inner peace. This, then creates a toxic environment within which one’s own energy cannot prosper. For example, the emotional upheaval which prevailed early on in the pandemic, had a cascading effect on my body’s ability to balance its own energy centers, and thus, resulted in energy imbalances and lower back pain. The societal turmoil of the pandemic likewise had a lasting impact on many people’s mental, physical, and energetic health.

Energetic health can be assessed using the seven energy centers. Known as chakras, each center governs a particular bodily function, and spiritual function. Lower back pain is a sign of a weak sacral chakra, which is located in the pelvic and lumbar areas. Otherwise known as Svadhisthana, the sacral chakra is the “place of being.” It represents one’s ability to flow with life and all of the challenges they encounter. It is also said to symbolize one’s creative expression, zest for life, inner child, and capacity for intimacy. Symbols associated with the sacral chakra include water, the lotus flower, the color orange, and the moon. The Hindu goddess, Parvati is said to preside over this chakra. This chakra is also representative of one’s divine feminine energy.

In a society dominated by masculine energy, it’s not surprising that so many of us end up with a blocked sacral chakra. Like the moon, the sacral chakra symbolizes one’s ability to wax and wane with the tides of change, and not resist life but be willing to receive abundance in all of its forms. Today’s overly-capitalistic and productivity obsessed society, undermines the value and inner wisdom of the divine feminine. As a result, many choose to suppress, or learn to suppress, their creativity, joy, and zest for life. Other traumatic experiences may also result in sacral chakra blockage.

There are several symptoms of sacral chakra blockage, including: isolation, lack of creativity, anxiety, depression, and immense fear. Often, this fear may manifest as a fear of change, or a fear of dying (in both a literal and figurative sense). A closed sacral chakra also results in reduced emotional awareness, and fear of emotional turmoil.

To heal the sacral chakra, there are numerous practices which can be incorporated into daily life. Yoga, meditation, and affirmations, are all valid ways of healing. Yoga has specific poses which can strengthen individual chakras and unify the body with mind and soul. Furthermore, consuming a diet rich in root vegetables, and beta-carotene may also help to restore balance.

It’s important to note that sacral chakra healing becomes much easier once the root chakra is also balanced. The sacral chakra and root chakra work together to create a sense of stability, and safety within your body. Thus, starting with root chakra healing provides the foundation for your sacral chakra to flourish. A balanced sacral chakra results in stronger intuition, enhanced creativity, and improved emotional regulation.

Lastly, please realize that there is not a strong scientific backing for the existence of chakras. They are merely energy, just as all other life on this planet. Chakra healing, yoga, and other spiritual and somatic practices can be implemented in conjunction with modern medicinal practices to guarantee better treatment outcomes, and alignment between mind, body, and soul.

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References

Stokes, Victoria. “How to Balance the Sacral Chakra for Greater Sensuality, Intimacy, and Creativity.” Healthline, 26 Apr. 2023, http://www.healthline.com/health/mind-body/sacral-chakra. Accessed 29 July 2024.