The Throat Chakra

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the Throat Chakra

Colour: Pale blue, greenish-blue
Element: Ether
Sense: Hearing
Fundamental Principle: Resonance of being
Body Association: Neck, throat, jaw, ears, voice, trachea, bronchial tubes, upper lungs, oesophagus and arms
Gland: Thyroid, which regulates the transformation of food into energy via our metabolism. It also controls the iodine metabolism and the balance of calcium in our blood and tissue.

Purpose and Function

The 5th chakra (Throat Chakra) is located between the depression in the neck and the larynx, beginning at the cervical vertebra. It starts at the cervical vertebra. The Throat Chakra is the centre of the human capacity of expression, communication and inspiration. As an important link between the lower chakras and the Crown Chakra, the Throat Chakra serves as a bridge between our thoughts and feeling, impulses and reactions. Here we express our laughter, crying, feelings of love and happiness, anxiety, aggressiveness, intentions, desires, as well as our ideas, knowledge and perceptions of the inner worlds. The Throat Chakra enables us to reflect on our thoughts and actions. The more we develop the Throat Chakra, the more aware we are of our mental body and our ability to distinguish between our mental and emotional, ethereal and physical bodies. As a result, our thoughts are no longer dominated by our feelings and physical sensations. Ether is regarded in Yoga teaching as the basic element which forms the lower chakras — earth, water, fire and air. The light blue colour of ether is the medium of the spoken word and the communicating element of information. If we are calm and listen to our inner and outer space, we will be granted the deepest level of knowledge, known as the Akasha (the astral light where all the events, thoughts and feelings that have occurred since the beginning of time are recorded.) We communicate our inner life through the spoken word, as well as through gestures and creative forms of expression (ie. music, the performing arts, dancing, etc.) The Sacral Chakra and the Throat Chakra link with the energies of the other chakras into an etheric form which is communicated to the outside world. Since we can only express that which we find in ourselves, we need to distance ourselves to reflect on our thoughts and actions. The Throat Chakra enables us this certain distance. In other words, we need to develop the Throat Chakra to become more conscious of our mental body and distinguish between the factors of the mental, emotional, ethereal and physical bodies. In this way, our thoughts are no longer dominated by feelings and physical sensations. Hearing is also assigned to the Throat Chakra. Open your ears and listen to the voices of Creation. Here we also hear our inner voice and communicate with our inner spirit and receive inspiration.

Harmonious Functioning

When the Throat Chakra is completely open, your feelings, thoughts and inner knowledge are expressed freely and without fear. You express your inner honesty towards yourself and others by your upright posture. You possess the ability to fully express yourself with your entire personality, and at the same time, you remain silent and listen to others with all your heart and understanding. Your speech is imaginative and colourful and clear, and your voice is full and melodious. When faced with difficulties and resistance you can say “no” — if that is what you truly mean. You are not swayed or manipulated by people’s opinions. You maintain your independence, freedom and self-determination. You have no prejudices. You are open and aware of the reality of the subtle dimensions from which you receive the guidance of your inner voice. You trust yourself in the hands of this guidance. You possess the capability to communicate directly with life of all spheres of existence, and where applicable, you pass the knowledge you have gained onto others without fearing their reactions and opinions.

Disharmonious Functioning

If the energies in your Throat Chakra are blocked or closed, then the communication link between your mind and body will be blocked — Either you find it difficult to reflect upon your feelings and you express your unresolved emotions in thoughtless actions, or, you may hide inside your intellect and deny your emotions a right to live and be heard. The only feelings you permit are those which you have self-judged and that do not contradict the judgement of the people around you. You have an unconscious feeling of guilt and your own inherent fears prevent you from seeing and showing your true Self. You cannot express your deepest thoughts and feelings freely. Your language may be noisy, unpleasant and offensive, or cold, indifferent and business-like. You may stutter. Your voice is loud but your words lack the depth of meaning. You try to appear strong; you do not permit yourself to show any weakness, and you probably place yourself under a lot of pressure. You use your excessive expressive capabilities to manipulate others or to attract attention to yourself. Although you may possess deep, inner knowledge, you are afraid to live and/or express it because you fear judgement from others. In order to release this deep knowledge, you may express it in the form of poems, paintings or other forms of similar expression, then reluctantly, openly share it with others. You cannot show and express yourself well, if at all. You withdraw your inner Self completely. You are shy, quiet, withdrawn, and when you talk, you talk about trivial matters. You quickly get a lump in your throat if you try to express your deeper thoughts and feelings. Your voice sounds forced. When this happens, you may stutter. You feel uncertain. You are afraid of the judgement of others. You are out of touch with your soul, therefore, you do not trust your intuitive powers. If you do not develop your Throat Chakra, you will find yourself imprisoned in a small restrictive space surrounded by your own self-built walls. Your insecurities dominate your life.