Chakra 1 of 7 · Muladhara
Root chakra
Your vibe's foundation. Safe, grounded, held, and honestly a little bit cosy.
- Sanskrit
- Muladhara
- Where
- Base of the spine, the pelvic floor
- Colour
- Red
- Element
- Earth
- Mantra
- LAM
Signs it’s a little off
- ✧ You feel anxious about money, home or safety
- ✧ You can't sit still, or you can't get moving
- ✧ You feel spacey, like you're floating above your life
- ✧ Your body feels like an afterthought
What the root chakra is
Okay so the root chakra is chakra number one, at the very base of your spine. In Sanskrit it's Muladhara, which means something like "root support", and in the chakra system it's all about feeling safe, grounded and, like, held.
It's linked to the earth element, so its whole personality is solid and steady. Traditional texts picture it as a lotus with four petals. In the modern colour system it's red, the deepest, warmest colour of the rainbow.
Everything else stacks on top of it. If your root feels wobbly, it's really hard to feel creative, confident or open, because part of you is still checking the doors are locked.
Signs your root chakra is out of balance
A lot of people describe a wobbly root chakra like this:
- worrying about money, your job or where you live, even when it's fine
- feeling restless and scattered, or heavy and stuck
- that floaty, not-really-in-your-body feeling
- skipping meals, sleep or walks because your body is last on the list
And when it feels balanced? You feel steady. You can handle a plot twist without spiralling. You trust that you'll figure it out.
A 5-minute root chakra practice
You can do this on the floor or on a chair. The point is to feel heavy, in a good way.
- Sit with your feet flat on the floor, or cross-legged with your sit bones on a cushion.
- Rest your hands on your thighs, palms down. Palms down is literally the grounding hand position.
- Breathe slowly into your belly for a few breaths. Feel your weight sink into the floor.
- Start the timer and chant LAM (it rhymes with "mom") on each long exhale, low and slow, like you're humming it into the ground.
- When the chime goes, sit for one more breath before you get up.
LAM, low and slow
3 minutes, with a soft chime at the end.
Practice
A five-minute grounding walk
Walk slowly for five minutes, phone in your pocket. Feel each foot land: heel, ball, toes. Barefoot on grass or sand if you can. Root chakra, but make it a stroll.
Practice
Chant LAM for three minutes
Sit grounded, palms down on your thighs, and chant LAM (rhymes with mom) low and slow on each exhale for three minutes. Root chakra, activated.
Root chakra affirmations
Say these out loud, or write them on a sticky note for your mirror:
- I am safe in my body.
- I have what I need right now.
- I'm allowed to take up space.
Other little ways to feel grounded
- Eat a real, warm meal sitting down. Root veggies are the cutest on-theme option.
- Stand barefoot on grass or sand for two minutes.
- Tidy one small corner of your home. Your space is part of your root.
- Wear red, if you're into colour as a mood ✨
FAQ
What colour is the root chakra?
Red. The rainbow colours come from a modern Western version of the chakra system, and red is the root's. Older texts describe the root lotus as crimson with a yellow square, the symbol for earth.
What is the mantra for the root chakra?
LAM. It's the root chakra's bija, or seed, mantra. Chant it slowly on the exhale, low in your voice.
Where is the root chakra located?
At the base of the spine, around the pelvic floor and the perineum.
What does a blocked root chakra feel like?
People usually describe feeling unsafe, anxious about basics like money or home, restless or stuck, and disconnected from their body. If anxiety is getting in the way of life, talk to a doctor too.