The Fifth Chakra

The fifth chakra, or Vishuddhi is located at the neck. It is symbolized by a silver crescent within a white circle, with 16 pale blue, or turquoise petals. The animal totem of the fifth chakra is the white elephant. The musical note that resonates with this chakra is “G”.  It is considered the communication chakra and its color is blue.

The fifth chakra rules the shoulders (with the fourth chakra), as well as the neck, throat, vocal chords and esophagus. The corresponding gland is the thyroid. Foods to stimulate the fifth chakra include blueberries and water. Physically, Vishuddhi governs communication, emotionally it governs independence, mentally it governs fluent thought, and spiritually it governs a sense of security.

To speak and to speak well are two things.  A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks ~ Ben Jonson

This chakra is where we use our words (spoken and written) to heal or harm others. Everything we say comes back to us energetically and karmically. If we use our voice and communication power to hurt others, gossip, lie, write negative reviews or negative posts and comments about others, not listen to and acknowledge others as they speak, this energy causes us physical and spiritual harm.

Words have power. Each word has a vibration. Positive words about others and compliments have a high vibration that raise our vibration, as well as the recipients vibration. Negative words and harmful. Hurtful comments about others lowers our vibration and makes us susceptible to other people harming us in the same way.

Yogi Bhajan reminds us to keep our “tongue pure”. In the age of information, the Aquarian age, this also means to keep our fingers pure and realize that today’s communication through the Internet has the same power as the spoken word and the tongue!

A fifth chakra out of alignment can create physical problems with the corresponding body parts ruled by this chakra. This includes chronic colds, sore throats, coughs, raspy voice, problems with singing, neck problems, shoulder tension, problems swallowing and depression.

If this energy is out of alignment, it can make us compulsive and impulsive in our communication, such as posting something negative on Facebook and then deleting later when we have a chance to calm down and think it through. A need to be competitive and viewing others as competition also stems from this area, as well as depression from allowing negative thoughts to manifest into reality, as either the spoken or written word.

No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous ~ Henry Brooks Adams

This chakra really represents balance. If we shut down our emotions and don’t communicate honestly, we will feel disconnected from others, angry, depressed and powerless. We must find our personal power through this chakra. All words must be spoken and written with truth, dignity and grace.

When this chakra is well-aligned it makes one feel connected to others. One feels powerful. A well-aligned throat chakra makes one want to sing, give speeches, act, communicate with loved ones and want to spread joy with their words. When this chakra is in alignment we hear our true voice, and the sound and quality of our voice can actually change. This is our true voice.

The following is a meditation for the fifth chakra aimed at dignity and grace. Vishuddha mean “purification” in Sanskirt. In addition to the following meditation, crying is also a great fourth and fifth chakra cleanser. I also recommend singing, Kundalini mantras and spending one day a week saying or writing  only positive things about and to others.

1. Sit in the easy pose (on the ground, legs bent, spine straight).

2. Close eyes.

3. Roll your eyes up to the brow point, as if you are looking at something on your forehead while your eyes are closed.

4. Rub your hands together to create heat and energy.

5. Place hands in gyan mudra (index touching the thumbs). Straighten the spine, drop the shoulders and tuck the chin in slightly to create neck lock.

6. Chant “Humee Hum Brahm Hum” without using the tip of the tongue at all. Use only the root of the tongue to chant. You may feel a muscle soreness in the vocal chords which are attached to the back of the tongue. This is also useful as a singing exercise. Chant for 11 minutes.

This is an eight part series on the chakras:

The First Chakra

The Second Chakra

The Third Chakra

The Fourth Chakra

The Fifth Chakra

The Sixth Chakra