The Fifth Chakra - Visshudha

We have now moved up through the chakras concerned with the physical, through the heart chakra that takes the energies from the lower triangle and moves it up to the upper triangle which contain the spiritual chakras. The fifth chakra is the first of those.

Visshudha is the center of communication and its Sanskrit for purification. The release of sound balances and purifies the energy in the body. All living things respond to sound and its potential to harm or heal. There have been many studies on the effects of music and sound on humans, animals and even plants that show the positive and negative effects of sound on psyche, growth, mood, emotion and well-being. Humans have used their voices to communicate, to heal and to hurt since the beginning of our time on earth. Opening and balancing the fifth chakra manifests opening your voice and expressing your creativity and the truth.

The fifth chakra is located at the base of the throat directly below the larynx. The glands, organs and functions governed by Visshudha are the thyroid and parathyroid the functions of communication to include the speaking and hearing the functions of the throat and ears. The neck area is the connection between the mind and the body and if it is injured or out of alignment it can affect the communication between your mind and body.

Visshudha is about communication, both with others and with yourself. To be balanced you have to have a healthy sense of self-worth that is not easily disturbed by what others might say to you. Those with a balanced fifth chakra have a full pleasant voice, are clear communicators, know themselves, are good listeners and are creative. A person with an unbalanced fifth chakra may talk too much or conversely have difficulty putting their thoughts into words. Stuttering, excessive shyness, the tendency towards malicious gossip and tone deafness are all characteristics of unbalanced Visshudha. To have healthy communication abilities you have to believe you have a basic right to speak and be heard similar to you first chakras requirement that you have the right to exist and take up space.

Balancing and healing the fifth chakra can involve sound therapy. Listening to music on high quality speakers, singing or chanting, creating pleasant sounds throughout your home including wind chimes, water fountains. The best way to tune your voice is to make sounds, all types of sounds. Some will make you feel good and others may not so avoid sound that doesn’t resonate with you. There are meridians in your head that are affected by both the sounds you make, and the shape of the sounds made by the points stimulated by your tongue while making them. This is why so many religions use chanting, it stimulates the higher, spiritual centers.

To deepen the connection with your fifth chakra practice speaking only what is true. Think before you speak about how your words will be received. Ensure you don’t stop others from speaking their truths. Always speak from a place of compassion and leave ego and judgement out of your words to others.