The Fifth Energy Center: Visuddha

“Speech has power. Words do not fade. 

What starts out as a sound, ends in a deed.”

-Abraham Heschel

The Basics

The chakra of communication, the fifth energy center is located at the larynx, in the throat, whose Sanskrit name, Visuddha, means “purification”. 

Developed between the ages of 7 and 12 years, its primary goals are creative expression, healthy communication, and symbolic thinking. It is associated with the element sound and forms our creative identity through self-expression.

Its color is bright blue and its lotus has sixteen petals which represent all the vowels of the Sanskrit language. It is important to note that in Sanskrit, vowels are thought to represent spirit, while consonants represent the harder stuff of matter. 

As we climb through the chakra levels, we are moving from individual identities (centers 1-3) to universal likeness and oneness, eventually reaching the seventh center, the crown chakra, where we transcend individuality as it is absorbed by the light of the divine.

The fifth center is the first center where our attention moves from the physical plane into the aura, or etheric field.  It is the internal connection between mind and body. It is the “gateway” between our inner and outer worlds. 

“Communication is a way of extending ourselves beyond

our ordinary limitations. It shapes our reality and creates the future.”

-Anodea Judith

Too Much or Too Little?

By listening closely to someone’s speech; the speed, the volume and the quality, you can quickly identify excess or deficiency in this center. As this center is a gateway, it opens and closes very quickly. It responds strongly to the current situation. It is not unusual to have a combination of excess and deficiency in this center allowing us to communicate well in some instances and not so well in others.

When someone’s fifth center is balanced, they are able to communicate clearly through self-expression and effective listening. They live creatively, and have a good sense of timing and rhythm.

Excess

When someone’s fifth chakra is in excess, the individual may talk as a way to maintain control of the conversation and keep themselves as the center of attention. However, speaking a lot can also be a way of getting rid of energy and releasing tension for some. Folks with an excessive fifth chakra are engaging, entertaining and charismatic. They are strong in arguments but can be prone to exaggeration. And with an excess in the fifth energy center it’s demon, lies, can lead someone to be deceitful or secretive. 

Deficiency

When someone’s fifth chakra is deficient, the individual may exhibit extreme self-consciousness and shyness. The closer the conversation is to matters of the heart, the more difficult it is for someone with throat chakra deficiency to communicate. This is how we formulate its openness by how well we can speak about things that are closest to the heart. 

Blockage or Malfunction

When someone’s fifth chakra is experiencing a blockage, so is the upward movement of energy which cannot move into the conscious mind. This can manifest in the body as sore throat, stiff neck, colds, thyroid problems, toxicity, or hearing problems. 

“Visuddha is the lunar region and at the same time the

 “gateway of the great liberation” through which man leaves

the world of error and the pairs of opposites”

-C. G. Jung

Yoga Chikitsa 

So how do we begin to nurture and nourish an overworked or underutilized fifth chakra? According to Anodea Judith, in her book “Eastern Body, Western Mind”, she states that “healing the fifth chakra involves a variety of levels simultaneously, ranging from physical to mental.”

She suggests eliminating sound pollution, giving attention to our bodies, opening the voice through toning, chanting or singing, learning clear communication skills and down-regulation practices where we can learn to listen to the subtler vibrations from within. Writing and listening to music that brings you joy or a sense of calm are also suggested. 

Among the yoga asanas that will begin to restore balance to this center are neck rolls, shoulder stand, plough and fish pose. For someone with a fifth chakra imbalance, considering a restorative variation of any of these shapes using equipment to fully support yourself so you can begin to down-regulate is recommended. 

The Hindu Goddess "Saraswati"

If possible, you will want to include toning, chanting or singing to encourage purification of thoughts, speech, and heart. The seed sound of this center, “Ham”, can be repeated or perhaps a mantra dedicated to Saraswati, one of the Hindu deities associated with the fifth chakra. 

Saraswati, Saraswati, Saraswati Namaha  

Another option for bringing mantra to the practice that may feel more relatable to some is offering a resolve or intention such as, “I have the right to speak and hear the truth” or “I have the right to give and receive information more clearly”. 

Conclusion

Life is rhythmic. We are vibrations that resonate together into a single system. We each have a responsibility to nurture and nourish our throat chakra so our inner voice, our truth, can be shared and heard by the world through healthy communication and creative expression. So the heart can connect, our power can be utilized for our highest benefit, our emotions can be acknowledged then released and the cells within our bodies can be healed. 

Keep inquiring. Keep searching. Keep trusting. You are exactly where you need to be at exactly the time you need to be there. I welcome any questions via email, text or call, so please reach out! I am here to support you. Take care of yourself and each other.

In Service,

Madi

Sources: 

“Eastern Body, Western Mind” by Anodea Judith

“Wheels of Life” by Anodea Judith

“The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga” by C.G. Jung

“Serpent Rising: The Kundalini Compendium” by Neven Paar