The THROAT Chakra Overview
Illustration by Cloudy Thurstag
THROAT CHAKRA
Vishuddha
Overview
Location: Area around the throat
Colour: Blue
Sense: Hearing
Element: Ether
Body parts: Throat, thyroid and parathyroid glands, immune and lymphatic system. Ears, jaw, mouth, tongue, larynx, shoulders, and neck.
Description
The clear waters of Communication
The fifth chakra, Vishuddha, is the first of the three spiritual chakras. It is the home of our creative self-expression, communication and authentic identity. To be open and aligned in the fifth chakra is to speak, listen, and express your truth.
Work on the lower chakras will help prepare you for this level of communication. For example, when you align the first and second chakras, it helps with overcoming fear. Opening the third chakra helps you to feel your personal power and have the confidence to express yourself. Knowing what’s in your heart comes when you align the fourth chakra. Then, when it comes to verbalizing your needs, desires, and opinions you’re better able to determine how to be truthful to yourself and others.
Authentic expression is not something that comes easily. There’s a delicate dance between saying what you mean and staying tactful or diplomatic. Often it’s easier to say what the other person may want to hear instead of speaking your truth. Fear of not being accepted, or judgment from the other may hinder your truthful verbal expression.
The Persona
Those people who have a healthy throat chakra often lead fulfilling and distinctive lives. These people are in tune with their thoughts and feelings and know a great deal about their truth. They also make great listeners, writers, and speakers. It’s inspiring to be in their company and they can be influential as well as wonderfully creative.
It’s not always easy to tell if your throat chakra is blocked, but some signs include dental pain, frequent headaches, tension in your jaw, teeth grinding at night, sore throats, if you find yourself frequently interrupting others during conversations and a lack of focus on the topic being discussed, lying, shyness, gossiping, manipulating what you heard others say, low self-esteem, and compulsive eating.
Foods
Blue-hued foods: blueberry, raisin, cranberry, goji berry, plum and rhubarb.
Immune boosting foods.
Herbs to help the throat and thyroid: Sage, elderberries, echinacea, manuka honey and ginger.
Broths and foods to help you feel better when you are ill.
Vitamin C rich foods: Strawberries, parsley and goji berries.
Iodine rich foods: Kelp, sunflower seeds.
Avoidance of stimulating foods such as caffeine and refined sugars
Balancing Activity
Cultivate your voice
Sing! Singing is an amazing throat chakra cleanser, so sing your favourite song out aloud and enjoy opening up your voice to those high notes.
Affirmation
‘I speak my truth and express myself with clarity and confidence.'