Ready to learn all about the sacral chakra? Then this post is for you!

What is the Sacral Chakra?

Located below your navel in your lower abdomen, the sacral chakra is your energy center for creativity, passion, joy, and pleasure. When we experience blockages to this energy center, we often become withdrawn, tense, insecure, and needy.

And unfortunately, blockages to the sacral chakra aren’t uncommon, especially if you live in a culture that prioritizes work, efficiency, and practicality over creativity, fun, and play.

Even as someone who has always embraced creativity, I’ve experienced blockages to my sacral chakra for months at a time. A few years ago, I remember having the thought that I didn’t daydream anymore. It was an unexpected and stunning realization, and I couldn’t quite pinpoint when and how it happened. I just knew that I no longer lost myself in my imagination like I used to, and at the time, I wasn’ t sure if I ever would again.

Back then, I didn’t understand that my body had powerful energy centers or that, when balanced, energy flowed freely throughout my body. But in hindsight, I can clearly see how my sacral chakra had been blocked from this energy flow.

I had “grown up,” and as a result, I traded in my inner child for responsible adulthood – something I thought I was supposed to do now that I was out of school, paying bills, and supporting myself.

But since then, I’ve discovered one of the greatest lessons of my life (something that I actually knew inherently as a child but had lost sight of in the confusion of becoming an adult):

Play is not irresponsible. Creativity is not impractical. Fun is not frivolous.

In fact, it is irresponsible not to prioritize these behaviors and pastimes in my everyday life.

Why Balancing the Sacral Chakra is Important

Joy is your birthright.

Is that hard to say?

I know it used to be for me. It was hard for me to believe that anything good was my birthright. And to think that I deserved good stuff? Absolutely not. It felt all kinds of wrong.

But these aren’t the kind of thoughts we have when we act out of a place of love.

These are the kinds of thoughts we have when we’ve been conditioned to believe our worth is tied to our achievements.

Because the truth is, you do deserve joy. And pleasure. And you deserve to feel good in your skin. And to love yourself fully, without conditions.

And if that still doesn’t cut it for you, a balanced sacral chakra is associated with being more open, honest, forgiving, and compassionate.

If you live in a western culture that prioritizes work over play, hustle over relaxation, and being a responsible adult over embracing your inner child, then learning to recognize the signs of an imbalanced sacral chakra – and how to heal this energy center – is pivotal for embracing lifelong happiness.

(Note that I’m definitely not saying work and being a responsible adult are bad things! It’s all about balance!)

In this post, we’re going to cover all things related to the sacral chakra: signs of balance and imbalance, affirmations, journal prompts, how to heal an imbalanced sacral chakra, and various associated attributes.

Sacral Chakra Attributes

• Sanskrit Name: Svadhishthana (Sva = “self”; shthana = “place”)
• Location: Lower abdomen (below your navel)
• Color: Orange
• Body Parts: Womb, Kidney, Bladder, Lower Back, Reproductive Organs
• Symbol: Six-petaled lotus with a moon crescent in the center
• Element: Water
• Mantra: VAM
• Gemstones: Orange Calcite, Jasper, Carnelian, Red Tiger’s Eye, Coral, Fire Opal
• Essential Oils: Orange, Tangerine, Cinnamon, Bergamot, Neroli, Cypress

Signs of a Balanced Sacral Chakra

The sacral chakra is the energy center for creativity, joy, sexuality, and sensuality. While the root chakra is associated with safety and stability, the sacral chakra is associated with seeking pleasure. While these seem unrelated from one another, this is one of the many examples of how the chakras aren’t just seven separate energy centers; rather, they’re one complete system in which energy flows freely (when balanced) among all energy centers.

You see, when our root chakra is balanced, we feel safe, secure, stable, and centered. Feeling safe in our body and in our physical place in life is one of our most basic needs. But as you can imagine, if the root chakra was blocked, it’s likely that the sacral chakra would become imbalanced as well. When we don’t have a steady foundation, we may overcompensate by becoming more controlling, manipulative, and fearful, and it would be difficult to engage in creativity, play, and joy.

Below are some of the signs and characteristics of having a balanced sacral chakra:

• Creative
• Joyful
• Playful
• Prosperous
• Sexual
• Sensual
• Passionate
• Energetic
• Compassionate
• Forgiving
• Open
• Honest
• High self-esteem

Signs of an Imbalanced Sacral Chakra

When the sacral chakra is balanced, we feel joyful, creative, open, passionate, and honest. But when our energy is blocked from flowing freely through this energy center, our joy and passion shrinks. We become withdrawn, tense, and insecure.

It’s also possible for this energy center to become overactive. When this happens, we’re more prone to becoming controlling, manipulative, and aggressive.

Here are some of the signs associated with an imbalanced sacral chakra:

• Withdrawn
• Tense
• Insecure
• Needy
• Codependent
• Irritable
• Controlling
• Manipulative
• Overdramatic
• Aggressive
• Materialistic
• Fearful
• Judgmental
• Prone to addictive behavior
• Lack of creativity
• Fear of pleasure

Physical Signs of an Imbalanced Sacral Chakra

An imbalance in our energy centers affects not only our emotional and mental health but our physical health as well. As the sacral chakra is associated with our reproductive organs, the common physical ailments are correlated to these organs. Other affected body parts include those in neighboring areas of the body, such as the lower back.

These are some of the physical ailments you may experience with an imbalanced sacral chakra:

• Constipation
• Urinary problems
• Lower back pain
• Kidney issues
• Yeast infections

Sacral Chakra Affirmations

Affirmations are a powerful tool in your total self-care routine. When reciting affirmations to balance your sacral chakra, remember to embrace your joy and creativity. Have fun with it!

For example, take the affirmation, “I embrace life with vigor and passion.” You don’t have to recite this statement with the pep of a high school cheerleader, but the affirmation itself won’t help you if you recite it with tension, monotony, or lack of enthusiasm. So whether you’re saying it silently or aloud, make sure to really feel the words in your being. In this example, you want to actually feel vigorous and passionate.

Affirmations

• I am open to the flow of creativity.
• I am creative, passionate, and inspired. 
• My emotions flow freely in a balanced and healthy way. 
• I live a creative, vibrant, passionate life.
• I deeply respect and honor my sacred body.
• I honor my own divine sensuality.
• I am a sensual and passionate being.
• I am cultivating a beautiful life free of stress, worries, or fear.
• I deserve absolute and unconditional bliss.
• I make space in my life for play.
• I radiate passion and prosperity.
• I embrace life with vigor and passion.
• Limitless joy is my birthright.
• I embrace intimacy with others.
• I honor my desires.