In chakra healing, there are seven main chakras, or energy centers, in the human body. Each chakra is associated with a specific color. The red chakra, also known as the root chakra or Muladhara, is located at the base of the spine. When healthy, the root chakra is associated with the color red. However, when there is an imbalance in this chakra, the color often shifts to a darker, murkier red.
The Root Chakra
The root chakra is all about our foundations – it governs our sense of safety, security, and survival. When the root chakra is balanced, we feel grounded and stable. We have a strong sense of our own existence and feel connected to our physical bodies. The color red represents this grounding energy. It is the color of fire and blood – primal, powerful forces that reflect our drive to survive.
The root chakra is associated with the adrenal glands, spine, legs, feet, and the colon. When it’s overactive, we may experience anxiety about physical safety, clinginess in relationships, or an excessive focus on the material world. When underactive, we may feel spaced out, disassociated, fearful, or lack a sense of belonging.
What Does a Dark Red Root Chakra Indicate?
When the root chakra shifts to a darker, murkier red color, this indicates that the chakra is imbalanced or blocked in some way. Some key things a dark red root chakra can reflect include:
- Feeling disconnected from your body
- Lacking energy or vitality
- Feeling unstable or fearful
- Having difficulty feeling grounded
- Feeling threatened or unsafe
- Experiencing anxiety or panic attacks
- Having low self-esteem
- Feeling depressed or apathetic
- Experiencing digestive issues like constipation
- Having a negative outlook on life
Essentially, the darkening of the red color reflects a depletion of energy in the root chakra and a disconnect from our core vitality. There is an imbalance that is preventing the full, healthy expression of this chakra.
Causes of a Dark Red Root Chakra
There are many potential causes for why the root chakra may become imbalanced and darken in color:
- Chronic stress
- Trauma or PTSD
- Inconsistent upbringing
- Poor diet and lack of exercise
- Physical injury or illness
- Emotional neglect or abuse
- Feeling disconnected from family or community
- Deep-seated insecurity
- Living in an unsafe environment
- Financial insecurity
Often, there are both physical and emotional components at play. For example, stressful life circumstances like an unsafe living situation or trauma can manifest physically by depleting the adrenal glands. Or poor lifestyle habits like lack of exercise and unhealthy foods can affect our emotional well-being and cause us to feel depressed or anxious.
Healing a Dark Red Root Chakra
When you notice your root chakra darkening in color, it’s time to bring some healing attention and energy to this part of your being. Here are some suggested ways to bring your root chakra back into balance:
- Spend time in nature and connect with the earth energy
- Eat grounding, nourishing foods like root vegetables, nuts, and proteins
- Establish a regular exercise routine, especially things like yoga, dancing, or walking barefoot
- Meditate using red colored visualization and repeat root chakra affirmations
- Explore psychotherapy to address emotional wounds and traumas
- Get bodywork like massage, acupuncture, or Reiki
- Take up rhythmic practices like drumming or singing
- Surround yourself with people and experiences that make you feel safe and secure
- Make positive changes in your living space and finances
- Wear red colored clothing or jewelry
It’s also helpful to minimize anything that seems to aggravate your root chakra imbalance, like high-stress jobs or relationships. Be patient with yourself, as healing and coming back into balance takes time. Consistency with your spiritual practices and self-care routine is key.
As you bring more grounding and nourishing energy to your root chakra, you should notice the dark red color start to lighten and return to a healthy, vibrant red. Pay attention to the physical areas like your spine, legs, feet, and colon as they will also start to feel more enlivened. When your root chakra is strong and balanced, you will feel stable, safe, and connected to your body and surroundings.
The Root Chakra and the Pelvis, Perineum, and Coccyx
Since the root chakra is located at the base of the spine, the areas of the pelvis, perineum, and coccyx are especially important when it comes to balancing this chakra. Let’s explore the connection between these areas and the root chakra:
Pelvis
The pelvis forms the foundation that supports our spine, legs, and core body. It provides stability for the entire body. When the root chakra is balanced, we feel grounded through our connection to the earth through our pelvis and legs. If the pelvic area feels stiff, tight, or misaligned, it can create blockages in the root chakra energy.
Perineum
The perineum is the area between the anus and genitals. Energetically, it is a gateway between the root chakra and the earth. When engaging in root chakra meditations and visualizations, we often focus energy on the perineum as a way to enhance the connection. Tension or trauma in this area can affect root chakra health.
Coccyx
The coccyx, or tailbone, forms the very bottom of the spinal column. It aligns directly with the root chakra. Sitting for long periods can irritate the coccyx which then blocks energy flow up through the spine. Keeping the coccyx area flexible through stretches and massage is helpful for root chakra activation.
Together, these three areas make up our physical foundation, our connection to the earth. When they are balanced and healthy, we experience security and stability. We feel the primal power to stand strong, supporting the entire structure of our being. Through embodied practices, we can energize these areas, bringing vibrancy back to a darkened root chakra.
Dark Red Root Chakra – Case Studies
To further understand how a dark red root chakra may show up, let’s look at two case studies:
Laura’s Story
Laura was 32 years old and had recently become wheelchair bound after being in a severe car accident. As she went through physical rehab, she noticed her normally vibrant spirit and outlook on life seemed darkened. She felt hollow, apathetic, and disconnected from her body which now felt foreign to her.
In working with a healer, Laura realized that the trauma of the accident had caused her root chakra to become blocked. The healer visualized it as a dark, murky red color instead of its usual bright cherry tone. Together they worked on bringing more grounding energy into Laura’s root chakra through hip opening yoga poses, perineum meditation, spending time barefoot on the grass, and repeating affirmative mantras for safety and strength.
Over time, as Laura’s physical body started to heal and regain function, so did her root chakra. She could physically feel energy and circulation returning to her legs, spine, and feet. Her outlook brightened, her old sense of humor returning. The dark red color gave way to the vibrant red of an active, balanced root chakra.
James’ Story
James was a 45-year old accountant who lived a stressful life always traveling for work. He started experiencing lingering digestive issues and fatigue no matter how much rest he got. Instead of feeling excited about his projects, he felt melancholic and anxious for no reason.
In a chakra evaluation, it was revealed his root chakra was darkened and depleted. Through questioning, James realized he had no consistent home base and was constantly uprooting his life to travel. He also had little routine in terms of eating, exercise or spiritual practice which left him feeling ungrounded.
To brings his root chakra back into balance, James committed to renting an apartment to use as a home base between travel. He began cooking nourishing foods in his own kitchen and developed a daily yoga practice. He also found an acupuncturist who specialized in root chakra healing. Over time, James began to feel more energetic, stable and happy. His chronic digestive issues improved and the dark red cast over his root chakra cleared.
Signs of a Healing Root Chakra
When you’ve been working on bringing your root chakra back into balance, how can you tell it’s starting to heal? Here are some positive signs to look for:
- Feeling more confident and self-assured
- Having a strong sense of your own identity and purpose
- Feeling grounded and stable, less anxious or fearful
- Experiencing a sense of belonging and community
- Having energy and enthusiasm for life
- Digestive issues or constipation clearing up
- Back pain or stiffness in the hips and pelvis decreasing
- Mental outlook becoming more positive and optimistic
- Feeling empowered and in control of your life
- Noticing more fluidity and flexibility in the areas of pelvis, lower spine, legs and feet
Of course, the most obvious confirmation is when you are able to visualize the color of your root chakra and notice it looking healthier and brighter. As energy and flow are restored to this foundational chakra, you will feel more vibrant, safe, and alive.
Conclusion
In summary, a dark red, murky looking root chakra reflects an imbalance in the energies at your core. This important energy center may have become blocked due to stress, trauma, injury, emotional factors, or other causes. Bringing healing through grounding lifestyle choices, spiritual practices, psychotherapy, and focused energy work can help clear the dark red color and restore the root chakra to balance.
Be patient and trust the process as you work to strengthen your foundations. A healthy root chakra allows you to feel confident, grounded, and fully connected to your body and life purpose. Keep the pelvis, perineum, and coccyx area flexible and free of tension. Visualize the vibrant cherry red color returning. Your entire being will feel uplifted and energized as your root chakra regains its vitality.