The effect of grief and loss on our chakras.

Grief and loss can have a profound impact on our chakras – the energy wheels in our subtle body that helps churn energy to help us function optimally.

Usually, a contraction of energy, or an uncontrolled expansion of energy, in any one chakra may affect other chakras as well.

Learn more about the chakras in general in the posts below:

1. The chakras and how they affect us.
2. Earth and water – the first and second chakras.
3. Fire and air – the third and fourth chakras.
4. Ether, light and thought – the throat, third-eye and crown chakras.

Grief and loss affects the various sheaths or koshas of our body. The chakras – being in the pranamaya kosha – would of course also be affected by the experience of bereavement or loss.

Watch the videos below to learn how grief and loss affect each of the seven main chakras in our subtle body.

Grief on the root chakra.

The root chakra, or Muladhara Chakra, means ‘support of the root’ in Sanskrit. It corresponds with the coccygeal plexus of nerves, and it deals with our capacity to survive. The sense related to this chakra is the sense of smell.

Take a watch to find out how grief and loss affects this chakra.

Grief on the sacral chakra.

This chakra, called Svadisthana Chakra in Sanskrit, means ‘one’s own sweet abode’. It relates to the sacral plexus of nerves, and involves our capacity to feel and experience our emotions fully.

It is the chakra of flow and movement, and helps us to assimilate loss. The sense related to this chakra is the sense of taste . Take a watch to find out how grief and loss affects this chakra.

Grief on the solar plexus chakra.

The solar plexus chakra, or Manipira Chakra, means ‘the city of jewels’ in Sanskrit. It relates to our digestion, metabolism, temperature regulation. This is the chakra that connects our willpower to desire, and relates to our ability to shine, to make decisions. The sense related to this chakra is sight. Take a watch to find out how grief and loss affects this chakra.

Grief on the heart chakra.

The heart chakra, or Anahata Chakra, means ‘unstruck’ in Sanskrit – somewhere deep within us is a place which is unstruck – ‘unstricken’.

This chakra relates to our cardiac plexus of nerves that influences the heart and lung functions. It also relates to the thymus gland, which in turn relates to our immune function.

On an energetic level, our heart chakra chakra deals with relational matters – to those around us and to ourselves. Our capacities that are harboured in this chakra are love, compassion, grace, charity and other similar qualities.

The sense related to this chakra is touch. Take a watch to find out how grief and loss affects this chakra.

Grief on the throat chakra.

The throat chakra, or Vishuddha Chakra in Sanskrit, means ‘to purify’. It corresponds to the cervical plexus of nerves and also the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland affects production of adrenaline.

Energetically, this chakra deals with articulation, communication and creativity – all of which is heavily affected when in grief. The sense related to this chakra is the sense of hearing.

CAUTION – do be mindful of your neck while practising throat chakra yoga poses or movement flows, especially if you have neck injuries.

Take a watch to find out how grief and loss affects this chakra.

Grief on the third-eye chakra.

The third-eye chakra, or Ajna Chakra, means ‘command’ in Sanskrit. It is considered to be the command centre for all the chakras below it.

This chakra corresponds with the pineal gland, called ‘the seat of our soul’ (by Rene Descartes) The pineal gland produces melatonin – the biochemical product we need for sleep. This chakra invites us to look inward, and to have faith in our own inner wisdom – which is difficult in grief.

There is no sense corresponding to this chakra as is it beyond the senses.

Take a watch to find out how grief and loss affects this chakra.

Grief on the crown chakra.

The crown chakra, or Sahasrara Chakra, means ‘thousand petals’ in Sanskrit. It relates to the pituitary gland, the control centre of our entire endocrine system.

It is the culmination of the kundalini – the energetic pathway from the base of the spine to crown of head. A healthy energetic flow at this chakra helps the griever see beyond the dual mind into the oneness of creation.

When this chakra has a contraction of energy, we may experience depression, alienation or confusion. This chakra also has a contraction of energy when we experience challenges to our spiritual beliefs during bereavement.

There is no sense corresponding to this chakra as is it beyond the senses.

Take a watch to find out how grief and loss affects this chakra.