Chakra 5 of 7 · Vishuddha
Throat chakra
Your voice, your truth-telling era. Saying the thing, kindly.
- Sanskrit
- Vishuddha
- Where
- The throat
- Colour
- Blue
- Element
- Ether (space)
- Mantra
- HAM
Signs it’s a little off
- ✧ You swallow what you actually want to say
- ✧ You overshare, then feel weird about it
- ✧ You hate how your voice sounds
- ✧ Small talk is fine, real talk feels impossible
What the throat chakra is
The throat chakra is chakra number five, right at your throat. In Sanskrit it's Vishuddha, which means "especially pure". Its element is ether, or space, the stuff sound travels through, and the traditional lotus has sixteen petals. In the modern colour system it's sky blue.
It's the chakra of expression: speaking up, singing, writing, and also listening. It's about saying what you mean, out loud, with your whole chest, but nicely.
Signs your throat chakra is blocked
People often notice:
- swallowing your words, then replaying the conversation in the shower
- saying "it's fine" when it's very much not fine
- talking a lot without really saying anything
- feeling shy about your voice, or never singing, even alone
Balanced, the throat chakra feels like clear skies. You can say "actually, I'd prefer the other one" and the world keeps spinning.
A humming practice for the throat chakra
This is bee breath, or bhramari in Sanskrit. It's literally humming, and it feels amazing.
- Sit comfortably with your spine tall. Close your eyes.
- Optional: gently press the little flap at the front of each ear closed with your index fingers.
- Breathe in through your nose.
- Breathe out slowly while humming like a bee, mouth closed. Feel your throat and face buzz.
- Repeat for a few minutes. Then switch to chanting HAM (like "hum" with an a) on the exhale.
Bee breath, then HAM
3 minutes, with a soft chime at the end.
Practice
Two minutes of bee breath
Breathe in through your nose, then hum on a long exhale with your mouth closed, like a bee. Optional: press your ear flaps closed with your index fingers. Two minutes.
Practice
Sing one whole song out loud
In the car, the shower, your kitchen. One full song, out loud, badly if necessary. Your throat chakra will be clapping.
Throat chakra affirmations
- My voice matters.
- I can say the true thing, kindly.
- I listen as well as I speak.
Other little ways to open your throat chakra
- Sing in the car. Badly is fine. Badly is preferred.
- Send the text you've been drafting for three days.
- Journal for five minutes without stopping. Say it on paper first.
- Drink something warm and soothing, like herbal tea with honey ☁️
FAQ
What colour is the throat chakra?
Blue, usually a bright sky blue, in the modern colour system. Older texts describe a smoky purple lotus with a white circle, the symbol for space.
What is the throat chakra mantra?
HAM, its bija (seed) mantra. Chant it on the exhale and feel the vibration in your throat.
Where is the throat chakra?
At the throat, around the larynx and the base of the neck.
What blocks the throat chakra?
In the chakra system it's said to close up when you hold back what you want to say, or when you don't feel heard. Speaking up in small, safe ways is the classic way to work with it.