The One Chakra That Matters Most

Here’s why, what you need to know about it and how to best tend to it.

In some ways, this is the hardest piece to write because every single chakra plays an integral role in holistic healing. If you haven’t read the chakra series (root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, crown) I wrote in the fall, please do, so you can see how much depth and respect I have for each and every chakra. You can access all 14 of those articles in the archives.

When I talk about chakras I’m talking about an invisible framework through which I explore the holistic self. Each chakra provides a unique perspective through which we can assess and tend to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of health.

Chakras are not physical, anatomical structures. We certainly didn’t discuss them in the gross anatomy lab in medical school. However, we did observe anatomical structures in cadavers that correspond with the locations of the chakras. The fact that there are large plexuses of nerves and endocrine glands corresponding to the chakras may suggest that there are designated points on and around the body where our ability to perceive extrasensory information and translate it into our physiology, may be heightened. Because of this, I think about the chakras as doorways between that which we’re conscious of and that which we’re not.

So much of the healing process is about becoming conscious of the unconscious- looking into our blindspots and becoming self aware- so whether your healing from an autoimmune condition, irritable bowel syndrome, a fear of abandonment or a broken heart, the chakra system has a lot to offer.

Just as every organ in the physical body has a essential function and purpose, each of the chakras has a unique and necessary role to play in the subtle or energetic dimension of self. I associate each chakra with a unique theme and a wound pattern, and I regularly see all seven in my private practice- so it may be surprising to hear that I think that there is one chakra that matters more than the rest … but I do.

Before I tell you which one it is, I want to tell you which one it’s not! All six of the other chakras deserve an explanation but the one I want to talk about is the root chakra.

I’m letting you in on a little dialogue in my own mind here- because when I asked myself which chakra matters most, my first instinct was to say the root. The root chakra is the foundation. It is the first of the seven chakras to develop and it holds our attachment patterns, our oldest memories, dating as far back as pre-birth.

The root where we learn to trust that we are safe in this world, as our authentic selves. It is where we embody the knowing that we deserve to be loved and held simply because we incarnated. It is where we remember who we really are and that life is a both a gift and our birthright.

It’s in the root chakra that we reclaim the health of the physical body, and the extraordinary gift of the sensory experience. It’s where we cultivate the courage to take off the masks we wear in attempt to secure love and attachment. The root chakra is what allows us to live life to the fullest in our naked authenticity.

Without a sense of safety, healing is impossible- the nervous system will make sure of that. So when it comes to healing, why doesn’t the root chakra matter most?

Here’s why …

Because while the root chakra is where we cultivate safety and trust in the body, the crown chakra is where we create safety and trust in the great unknown. At the root, we need our physical form to do the same work we do at the crown- only the crown does not require form. In other words, we can cultivate safety and trust at the crown chakra and allow gravity to bring it down into the root. And this is why the root chakra is not the one that matters most.

Which chakra do you think matters most, and why? Tell me in the comments.

In my opinion the chakra that matters most is …