The throat chakra, how we express ourselves in this world and also the gateway to connect with our spiritual selves. Learn all about this energy center in this post + 6 things you can do if your throat chakra is blocked.
Working with your chakras can open you up to explore new dimensions of your being and facilitate profound self-healing.
So far, we’ve explored the lower three chakras and the middle chakra. We’re continuing to move up through the chakra system and have arrived at the first of the upper chakras—the throat chakra.
While the lower three chakras primarily govern our interactions within the material world, the upper chakras provide an opportunity to connect with our spiritual selves and embrace the mysteries of the unknown. It’s a transformative journey well worth undertaking.
Engaging with the material world and the lower chakras is vital, as we are here to experience life as humans. However, when we become excessively consumed by the material realm, we risk missing out on the profound beauty and wisdom of the spiritual world. The term “spiritual world” is used here in a broad sense, allowing for individual interpretation and understanding.
If you’re new to the chakras and want to learn more about the basics, read this post here: What Are The Chakras?
Otherwise, let’s delve into what the throat chakra is all about.
What is the throat chakra?
The throat chakra holds the position of the fifth chakra within the chakra system.
Physically, it’s situated in the region that aligns with the throat, but its influence extends beyond that focal point. The throat chakra is also associated with your entire neck and jaw area as well as your ears.
The primary purpose of this energy center is to enable us to express our true selves. While vocal expression is a significant aspect, the throat chakra encompasses all forms of self-expression. It invites us to embrace and embody our true essence without being constrained by external influences.
It’s important to acknowledge that in certain parts of the world, this may not be as easily attainable. But if we are fortunate enough to reside in a place that allows us the freedom to be ourselves, it becomes crucial to embrace that opportunity and honor our unique expression.
The element of ether
The element of the throat chakra is ether or space.
It’s also considered ‘sound’ as well because ether and sound are interconnected.
Ether or space is all around us at all times. You can think of ether as the subtle vibrations throughout the universe or as subtle energy shifts.
Sound is made up of vibrations, so we can interact with ether through sound and through using our voice.
Ether helps us to focus on our spiritual side. It allows us to bring our awareness beyond space & time which can open the door for us to explore new aspects of our being.
Communication and the throat chakra
We’ll get into specific practices that you can do for the throat chakra later in this post, but the essence of keeping this chakra balanced is really quite simple.
Communication is an integral aspect of the throat chakra and communication is how we find connection.
To keep the throat chakras energy balanced, speak words that uplift others and listen without judgment. This is the core of this energy center and is a simple way to keep the energy here flowing in a healthy manner.
The power of your voice
The throat chakra helps us express the creativity that we develop through the energy of our sacral chakra.
Using our voice is an extremely valuable tool that we can use not only to express creativity and to uplift others, but also to help ourselves along our own spiritual journeys.
Your voice can help you break free from limitations of your mind.
We’ll talk more about how you can do this through mantra but for now, I just want you to remember the power of your voice.
Throat Chakra = Vishuddha Chakra
In Sanskrit, the throat chakra is known as vishuddha. Vishuddha translates to pure or purification.
Purification doesn’t need to be anything crazy when we apply it to working with the throat chakra. It can simply be working towards our own healing and working towards letting go of what no longer serves us.
- Can we let go of stuck, stagnant energy to allow for growth within ourselves?
- Can we work towards opening ourselves to the spiritual world while continuing to partake in the material world?
Sound in itself has a purifying effect in that it can shift our mood and perspective. Think about how listening to different types of music impacts you; sound is powerful.
Sound can be healing in this way when we choose to speak uplifting words, listen to uplifting things, and when we open ourselves up to speak our ‘truth’ and to be unapologetically who we are.
What does an unbalanced throat chakra look like?
Remember, this is looking deeper into our energetic connection to the mind and body. While working with your energy can most definitely create profound effects, it’s not intended to replace medical treatment. If you’re experiencing physical, mental, or emotional symptoms, consult with your medical doctor.
When the throat chakra is unbalanced, it may present as someone having difficulty expressing their needs. It can also relate to difficulty communicating with others or difficulty expressing your true self due to fear of judgment.
Physical symptoms can include issues relating to the neck, jaw, or thyroid.
Let’s now look at 6 ways you can balance your throat chakra.
If the throat chakra is blocked, these suggestions can help free the energy here.
But remember from other chakra posts, we don’t need to wait for an energy imbalance to work on a chakra. Taking time to keep the energy flow balanced in your chakras can help you keep these areas from becoming blocked in the first place. It can also help strengthen your connection to these energy centers.
6 Ways To Balance The Throat Chakra
1. Neck stretches
Performing stretches through neck muscles such as the upper traps can help free the energy in the throat chakra.
The throat chakra is directly related to the neck, so tight neck muscles can contribute to blocking energy here. Stretching your neck muscles can help to allow for healthy throat chakra energy flow.
If you are looking for a specific yoga pose that is great for opening the throat chakra, fish pose is wonderful.
Precaution: Fish pose is a relatively intense posture and it’s not recommended if you have blood pressure issues, heart disease, neck issues, stomach issues, hernias, headaches, or certain eye issues like glaucoma or retinal issues. You should also avoid fish pose if you’re pregnant.
2. Mantra
In my opinion, practicing mantra is the most powerful way to free a blocked throat chakra. It’s truly a transformational practice.
There are many different types of mantras you can use in your practice. You can practice mantras in your native language or for an extra boost of vibrational power, try out some Sanskrit mantras. I have an entire post that goes into detail on the practice of mantra which you can find here: How Mantras Work & How To Use Them
Mantras can be practiced aloud or silently, but when practicing mantra for the throat chakra, it’s recommended to say your mantra out loud.
3. Listen to uplifting music
The throat chakra is not just about using your voice, it’s also about listening. Listening to uplifting music can be a super powerful way to work on the energy of the throat chakra.
There’s not one specific type of music that you need to listen to in order to work on the throat chakra, but the music should make you feel uplifted and connected to your spiritual side. Remember, the throat chakra is the first of the upper chakras which are more about our spirituality than the material world.
There are so many wonderful artists that create such beautiful, uplifting music. If you’re looking for a recommendation, one of my favorite artists is Jahnavi Harrison.
Explore different types of music and find what resonates with your spiritual self.
As I am writing this post, this tip is being put into action. I felt slightly stuck when I sat down to write today. While I do use sources for my information when writing these chakra posts, I also try to provide you guys with some of my own insight. Anyway, I put on some music that helps me tap into my spiritual side and the words just started flowing to me. In essence, it helped free up my own throat chakra so I could write this post and communicate this information to you all. Just thought I’d share so that you can see that these things actually do work 🙂
4. Spread words of kindness
On a base level, we should already be doing this, but trying to specifically take initiative to speak words of kindness to others can help with the energy of the throat chakra. Give others compliments and offer them uplifting words.
For me personally, I know I often think nice things but sometimes I don’t vocalize it. I don’t know if it’s my naturally introverted nature, but I have to remind myself to say the nice things that I think.
Maybe you’re like me and a simple way to work on this energy center is to say the kind things that come into your head. Or, maybe you need to take a moment to notice the good and then vocalize it.
This is a simple way to work on freeing a blocked throat chakra.
5. Connect with the color blue
The color associated with the throat chakra is blue.
Keeping blue objects in your surroundings or wearing blue is a wonderful way to remind your body and mind of your intention to create balance in the throat chakra.
Did you know blue is one of the rarest colors in nature? I don’t know if this fact has anything to do with the throat chakra specifically, but it is interesting….
6. Chant 'ham'
The throat chakra is associated with the seed sound or bija mantra “Ham.” (Sounds more like “hum” when you say it.) Each chakra has a seed sound that can be used to balance that energy center.
Since the throat chakra’s element is sound, using the bija mantra is extremely powerful for balancing this energy.
I always suggest saying the bija mantra aloud but even more so here. Repeat “ham” as frequently as you intuitively feel necessary, honoring your personal needs and intuition.
There you have 6 different ideas you can use to balance your throat chakra. These ideas are also great to use if your throat chakra is blocked.
Remember, the two simple keys to keeping the throat chakra balanced are speaking uplifting words and listening without judgment.
Embrace the power of your voice and be unapologetically you. May your journey with your throat chakra bring you profound self-discovery, spiritual growth, and meaningful connections with those around you.
Read This Next: How To Work On The Third Eye Chakra
Sources:
Judith, Anodea. Wheels Of Life: The Classic Guide To The Chakra System . Llewellyn Publications, 2019.
Kaivalya, Alanna. Chakra Yoga: A Beginner’s Guide to Chakra Healing. Alanna Kaivalya, 2016.
Discloser: Links included in this post may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links provided I may receive a small commission.