Crown chakra (Sahasrara): spirit and meaning
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4 min read
In yoga tradition, the body has seven main energy centers, called chakras, that run from the base of the spine to the top of the head. The crown chakra is the seventh and last, at the top of the head. Its Sanskrit name is Sahasrara, usually translated as “thousand-petaled.” Its color is a deep purple.
What it’s about
Chakra teachers link the crown chakra to higher consciousness, the divine, and your highest potential. People describe a balanced crown as feeling focused, creative, trusting, accepting and determined, and connected to their highest self, their purpose and a higher power. Some teachers count lucid dreaming, knowing you’re dreaming while you dream, as one of the signs.
In everyday terms, this is meaning and connection. Whatever you call it (God, spirit, the Universe, or just the sense that your life fits into something larger), this is about whether you feel part of things or cut off from them. It’s also about knowing who you really are.
When it feels out of balance
Chakra teachers link a blocked crown chakra with feeling lonely and disconnected, from yourself and from other people. They also name feeling frustrated with life, scattered or disoriented, without purpose or spiritually empty, being close-minded or lacking faith, struggling to set goals, and not knowing your true self.
That doesn’t mean you’ve neglected yourself. It means some areas need more care. Loneliness and emptiness are real, and they usually ask for something real: people, purpose, time with what you believe. So ask yourself where you’ve been isolating, and what that has been protecting you from. Ask what used to give your life meaning, and whether you’ve drifted from it.
If any of this is heavy or won’t lift, talk to a doctor or therapist. A chakra practice is a support, not a treatment.
Ways to work with it
Working on yourself can feel like a daunting task, so start small. Tweak a daily habit or two, or build a short routine: a yoga session and a few minutes of gratitude journaling. Reach out to one person you’ve lost touch with.
Yoga makes people think of headstands and knees resting on elbows, but there are plenty of poses suitable for beginners, and you can do them almost anywhere. Common crown chakra poses are lotus pose, rabbit pose, corpse pose, tree pose, fish pose, headstand and forearm stand. The tradition says any pose where your head touches or faces the ground suits this chakra. Learn headstand and forearm stand with a teacher, not on your own. Search YouTube for simple crown chakra routines to get started.
For a short practice, sit quietly and bring your attention to the top of your head. Breathe slowly for a few minutes. Then write down a few things you’re grateful for today.
Some people also use the tradition’s extras. Because the crown’s color is deep purple, they eat purple foods like purple potatoes, purple cabbage, eggplant, plums, figs, purple grapes, prunes, elderberries and blueberries, or wear purple. Some rub frankincense, sandalwood, lavender, rose or jasmine oil on their pressure points, diffuse it, or dab it on jewelry or a veil. Some carry crystals, keep them on a work desk or meditate with them: lepidolite, moonstone, sugilite (called the “stone of dreams”) and amethyst.
Affirmations are short statements you repeat to yourself in the present tense. A few for the crown chakra:
- I am.
- I am divinely guided.
- I am mindfully present.
- I am connected.
Healing isn’t always easy, and not every tool will fit you. Keep the ones that do.
A question to sit with
- Where do I feel most connected, and where do I feel cut off?
- What gives my life meaning right now?
- Who do I let see the real me?
The seven chakras