Sahasrara - The Crown Chakra

Sahasrara, like Ajna, is beyond the considerations of the body.  It opens when all the other chakras are in balance. It is located in the brain and is described in yogic texts as having a thousand and one petals. It is also in the area of the pineal gland, which produces and regulates some hormones including melatonin.

This chakra represents knowing your true path and living your life accordingly.  It is far removed from the root chakra’s will to survive.  Some people describe the opening of the crown chakra as a surrender to divine will, or being as one with the universe.  The ego withers and is replaced by a universal consciousness.

The crown chakra sees life entirely from a spiritual perspective.  When it is closed or there is a block, there is a refusal to engage in, or even believe in, the spiritual. This complete denial can often lead to arrogance and materialism.

Because the crown chakra gives life meaning, your life generally takes a completely new direction when it is open, and that direction comes from having a (re)new sense of purpose: the purpose of life and of your soul.  By honouring your true self, you love and honour the rest of creation.   

By opening yourself up to the spirit of creation, you learn your true purpose, you receive guidance on your spiritual path and you are able to recognise soul mates.  Often you see the world through new eyes, viewing it with a sense of wonder that you last knew when you were a child.

You begin to understand that life is glorious just the way it is, that everybody is where they are at right now because – consciously or unconsciously – they chose to be there, in that very place, in that very position. Everything is perfect – it can’t be any other way. 

This chakra sees through the delusions of the ego and views them and the rest of life with a certain detachment.  It creates an inner calm that often draws others to you. With peaceful serenity others will be drawn to you in the midst of their own struggles and from this vantage point you may well be able to see the bigger picture for them and be able to support and guide them without getting emotionally involved.

You are deeply connected to the divine and you know that this is what physical life is all about, the cut and thrust, there are no accidents, if people wanted to lead different lives then they would be leading them, everyone is free to choose, only most people don’t know it.  Whether we recognize it or not, we all yearn for oneness with the divine and, through the crown chakra, we may sometimes make that ultimate connection.

An imbalance in the crown chakra can result in depression, migraine-type headaches, the inability to learn, sensitivity to light, sound and the environment, and extreme fatigue. Emotionally, you might have issues with self-knowledge and greater power, experience constant confusion, carry prejudices, have a fear of alienation, suffer with insomnia and have rigid thoughts on religion and spirituality.  

There are various things you can do to connect more fully with this centre

·       Wear white;

·       Bring white flowers into your life;

·       Hold/wear clear quartz;

·       Pray;

·       Listen to devotional music;

·       Chant devotional mantra;

·       Transcendental meditation;

·       Yoga (headstand is said to assist);

·       Ayurveda;

·       Conscious breathing;

·       Being in a spiritual environment like an ashram;

·       Visiting dolmens and standing stones;

·       Burning incense such as Nag Champa;

·       Burning sage.

 Colour: Violet 

Bija Seed Mantra: A silent Om

Yantra: Thousand and one petals.

Related organs: Pineal gland, brain. 

Balanced attributes: Pure knowing, wisdom, grace, integration, oneness with all that is.

Examples of possible chakra deficiency or excess: Fanatical religious beliefs, forgetfulness, dark night of the soul. Schizophrenia.