Chakras & Symbolism: Red Root

It will come as no surprise to you that every person has their own idea of what chakras look like, both inside themselves, and in others. And, for all we know, each one of us might be right, or, maybe better said, each one of us is right for ourselves.

That’s how it goes when dealing with things that are invisible to the five external senses, and that’s why I only take students who understand that my goal is not for them to adopt my system, but to learn mine so as to be able to develop their own.

What that usually means is that we instinctually look for symbols to represent whatever it is that’s invisible.

Take medicine by way of example. We have the caduceus to represent all that medical personnel and treatment encompass.

The same is true of the chakras.

For the next few days, we’re going to touch on symbols for the chakras that have been used in the past.

A quick reminder the First Red Root Chakra lays the foundation for our entire life experience. It’s about survival.

The colors associated with it are, of course, red — the beginning of the rainbow spectrum, but also black and white. The first chakra likes things to be black and white, this or that, clear. It hasn’t much space for the grey zones in life.

Generally, all cultural death and life symbolism applies to the Red Root as well as a scythe, blood, an ankh, a cross, some fertility sigils, natural products like corn and grain, redwood trees.

When you’re working on First Red Root Chakra issues, make sure you either wear or can see red wherever you spend most of your time. This covers sight.

Indigenous music and drumming with a tribal basis covers hearing.

Spicy foods, red peppers, apples, pomegranate or cranberry juice covers taste.

Find a red fidget, or put a red apple on your desk or get a small square of red fabric and tuck it into your clothing somewhere to cover touch.

As for scent, the most primal of our senses, what smells like red to you? Fall leaves, red apples (again), burning fire. Imagine it, and there’s coverage for smell.

Soak up these symbolic red reminders to fill up your first chakra.

A reminder: here is where chakras come from: When a being incarnates, there is a burst of brilliant light. I’d call that The Divine Spark. It animates all your systems. If you’ll view that burst of light, that Divine Spark, through a prism, you will see the eight major chakras.