The 5th chakra is the throat chakra located at the lower part of the throat. It opens front and back. It is related to the thyroid, a gland also located in the throat which produces thyroid hormone and which is responsible for growth and maturation.
Color: light blue and blue green
Sensorial function: hearing
Symbol: 16-petaled lotus
Fundamental principle: individual will and expression
Physical organs: neck, jaw, ears, voice, trachea bronchus, esophagus, upper lung, arms
Endocrine gland: thyroid and parathyroid glands which play an important role in physical and mental development and regulate iodine and calcium levels in blood and tissue
Purpose and function: The throat chakras is the energy center of expression and communication. It creates an important bridge between the chakras in the trunk and the chakras in the head, between feeling and thinking. It is the energy center that allows us to vocally express what we live inwardly: our laugh and our tears, our feelings of love and joy, anguish and anger. With the throat chakra we express our intentions and desires, our perceptions, ideas and beliefs.
Harmonious functioning: When the throat chakra is completely open we express our thoughts and feeling clearly and without fear. We are honest with ourselves and are comfortable expressing our failings even in the presence of others. We are able to say “no” when we are convinced “no” is appropriate. We do not let the opinions of others become an undue influence on us and we remain independent and free-thinking.
Disharmonious functioning: A blockage of the fifth chakra prevents harmony between head and body. Consequently, we experience challenges reflecting on our feelings and may express inhibited emotion through thoughtless acts. Our language may be rude or chilling. We may try to attract attention, manipulate others or dominate situations with a flood of words.
Dysfunction: leads to challenges introducing and expressing ourselves. We become shy, quiet and introverted. We feel a lump in the throat when we attempt to express intimate concepts and feelings. We may experience stammering. We can be uncomfortable around others and become afraid of hearing their opinions about us. In order to avoid this discomfort, we readily follow the opinions of others to such an extent that we no longer truly know what we want. We may even lose confidence in our own intuition.
