Ajna or Third Eye Chakra
The Third Eye Chakra, or Ajna in Sanskrit, is the 6th chakra, and is located in the forehead, between the eyebrows. It is our center of intuition, self realization, inspiration, and spiritual connection.
The Sanskrit word Ajna translates to command or perceive, and is thought to be where we transcend duality - the “I” that exists beyond the rest of the world. It is how we can think beyond ourselves, and have those bigger ideas about the meaning of life, those lightbulb moments! Which is interesting because the element that governs the Third Eye Chakra is the LIGHT element!
The Effects of the Third Eye Chakra
The Third Eye Chakra is also associated with the pineal gland, which is the gland that controls our circadian rhythms. It also helps us to see beyond ourselves, to the deeper meanings of the life, to reflect on the meaning of life and other deep ideas. It is the seat of our conscience; it sees and perceives the meaning of what is seen in the light of the soul. It helps guide us on our true path, and helps us receive revelations and insight; the inner guru who gives us our intuition.
When the Third Eye Chakra is Out of Balance
If the Third Eye Chakra is out of balance we can be overly fearful of looking within ourselves, to see who we really are, to acknowledge the shadow side of our being. We are afraid of being judged by others and be unable to accept criticism. Sometimes it can manifest as someone with ridged thinking or belief systems, overly analytical thinking, or ridged. Oftentimes someone with an imbalance in the Third Eye Chakra will either be so consumed by negativity to cause them to feel depressed, or so lost in fantasy they have their head in the clouds.
How to Bring Balance back to the Third Eye Chakra
You can bring your Third Eye Chakra back to balance:
Off the Mat
Getting outside and sitting in the sunshine will help bring balance to this chakra that is governed by the light element.
Enjoy some purple foods, such as eggplant, purple grapes, raisins and plums. And don’t forget to add foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, like fish and nuts, and foods high in antioxidants, like blueberries. Making sure your foods are natural helps to balance the body both that nutritiously and energetically.
On the Mat
Meditating on light, such as candle gazing, is a good way to help bring balance back to this chakra. You can also visualize a glowing purple orb radiating out filling the body during a meditation. The seed sound of the Third Eye Chakra is OM, so chanting OM is another good way to help balance this chakra. If you have mala beads you can chant OM and use the beads to help you maintain focus during the meditation.
Here is a short yoga sequence that you can also practice to help you balance this chakra:
Prep Poses
Easy Pose
Cow Face Pose
Wide Leg Forward Fold
Asana Poses
Pyramid Pose
Dolphin Pose
Elbow Plank
Warrior III
Wide Leg Fold with a Twist
Camel Pose
Wheel Pose
Cool Down Pose
Child’s Pose
Prone Corpse Pose
Yoga Nidra
