The Svadhisthana Chakra

The second chakra is called Svadhisthana. Sva means "that which is its self; which belongs to itself" and Dhisthana means "its actual place." The importance of this definition for our work is the recognition that it is primarily through the second chakra that a person experiences the deep feelings associated with their physical manifestation. The chakra is situated just above the genitals. It regulates sexual energy, which is far more than mere physical sexuality or eroticism. It is the seat of creativity through which a person experiences the childlike wonder and excitement of the manifest universe. It is from the second chakra that a person experiences the world as a magical place. It is also where a man experiences his intrinsic masculinity and a woman her intrinsic femininity.

According to yogic texts, the Svadhisthana chakra is located just above and in front of the first chakra, the Muladhara. It controls many of the pelvic organs including the urinary tract and sexual organs. It also influences the other organs of digestion and excretion.

In the Svadhisthana meditation, try to get in touch with that center of consciousness which embodies your magical, sensual nature, that nature which is full of wonder and excitement, which sees life in everything else and participates in the ongoing ecstasy of creation. Become conscious of that part of your nature to the exclusion of everything else.

Svadhisthana Meditation

To begin the Svadhisthana meditation, find a comfortable position with your back straight. Close your eyes and begin breathing deeply through your nose without separation between inhalation and exhalation and feel yourself relaxing. Take your time and become conscious of your body by following your breath for about five minutes. After about five minutes, bring your attention to your second chakra, right above your sexual organs. Then bring your breath to your second chakra. On each inhalation, feel the energy centered in your sexual organs increasing. You will feel it as a heat and intensity which will grow stronger on each inhalation. As it grows stronger, visualize the energy there as a ball of orange energy. Experience and visualize it growing stronger and brighter for about two or three minutes.

Next, feel your consciousness move downward until it reaches a point just above your sexual organs and feel your consciousness centered in that ball of energy. Become the ball of energy and feel yourself begin to radiate outward from that center through your body and then into the outer environment. Feel the magic and the sense of wonder which is a manifestation of the energy which radiates from the second chakra. Pay attention to how you feel physically, emotionally and mentally. Some of you may feel spontaneous bursts of energy running up and down your spine or through your body. These are called Kriyasin Sanskrit. They are normal; enjoy them. You might feel them as a warm current of energy, or vibrations flowing through your body. These sensations are associated with an increased energy flow. Pay attention to the changes you experience, but don't try to influence them. After a short time you will begin to experience imagery associated with the second chakra. Some of it might be sexual at first but if you don't identify with it or get attached to it, the sexual imagery will pass and it will be replaced with pictures associated with the creative process.

Take at least 10 minutes for this part of the meditation. After about 10 minutes or when you are satisfied, take a deep breath through your nose and as you exhale mentally repeat, "Every time I come to this level of consciousness I learn to use more of my mind in more creative ways." Then let your breathing return to normal, release the ball of energy by your second chakra and the imagery associated with it and mentally return to the room and relax. After a few moments, begin to count mentally from one to five and when you reach the number five, open your eyes. You will feel wide awake, perfectly relaxed and better than you did before.