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The third eye chakra also known as Ajna in Sanskrit, is the sixth of the 7 chakras. It’s believed to be located in the middle of the forehead, between your eyebrows and controls aspects that are related to how you see things, your instincts, your imagination and your knowledge. It’s associated with a bright blue color and its element is Ether.

The Third Eye Chakra Symbol and Mantra

The symbol of this chakra is a lotus with 2 petals with a downward triangle inside it. This symbol represents the growth of perception and intuition through both internal and external sight. 

“Om” is the beej mantra of this chakra and is a universal mantra. This mantra includes all sounds and vibrations of life. Chanting this mantra can help in finding balance and peace. It affects every part of the body including the third eye chakra.

What are the Functions of the Ajna Chakra

The Ajna chakra is responsible for perception and understanding and it controls many different functions. Some of the functions are:

Inner Knowing and Intuition

• Sixth sense: This sense goes beyond the 5 senses and gives rise to intuition and inner knowing.
• Judgement: Having the ability to see through lies and get to the bottom of things.
• Intuition: Trusting your gut feeling and inner knowledge to make wise decisions.

Imagination and creativity

• Visualization: Bringing your goals and dreams to life with the help of imagination.
• Inspiration: Getting in touch with your creative side and expressing creatively.
• Innovation: Coming up with fresh and new ideas.

Spiritual connection

• Spiritual awareness: Expanding your consciousness and getting in touch with a higher power spiritually.
• Universal understanding: Understanding that all things are connected and valuing the point of view of others.
• Mystical experience: Diving deep into your spiritual roots and experiencing divine things of a mystical realm.

Self-Reflection

• Understanding yourself: Self-analyzing your own feelings, thoughts and actions. Understanding your fears and weaknesses and working towards them.
• Personal growth: Trying to be more self-aware, developing emotional intelligence and evolving yourself as a person.

Physical signs

• Eyesight: Supporting the health of eyes and vision.
• Pineal gland: Activation of the pineal gland, changing the way you sleep and the production of melatonin.

Signs of a Blocked Third Eye Chakra

A blocked third eye chakra can make it difficult to trust your intuition. This can make you feel lost and disconnected from your inner wisdom. Keep an eye out for these important signs:

Mental and emotional signs

• Difficulty in making decisions: Unable to make decisions without outside intervention. Inability to trust your gut.
• Closed-minded: Non-flexible thinking, being against new ideas and inability to understand the point of view of others.
• Feeling lost: Having trouble in finding a purpose and goal. Feeling lost in life.
• Overthinking: Having constant mental thoughts and trouble blocking them.
• Creative block: Unable to think creatively and lacking imagination.
• Skepticism: Unable to believe in spiritual things or things that are outside the physical realm.
• Fear of the unknown: Fear of implementing new ideas or trying new things and sticking to familiar ideas and a limited point of view.

Physical signs

• Headaches and eye strain: Frequent pain in the eyes and forehead. Also, some pressure in the brow area.
• Insomnia: Having trouble falling asleep and having frequent nightmares.
• Sensitivity to light and sound: Feeling overwhelmed by sound and bright light and feeling comfortable in darkness and silence.
• Stiff muscles: Usual tense muscles around the neck and shoulders. 

Energetic signs

• Disconnected from intuition: Feeling cut off from the sense of intuition and gut feeling. Possibility of losing connection with inner wisdom and making decisions.
• Difficulty in seeing the bigger picture: Inability to understand the meaning of situations and focusing on only the surface level of a situation.
• Lack of spiritual connection: Losing sight of purpose and connection in a spiritual sense.

How to Balance the Third Eye Chakra

Balancing the third eye chakra can show its brilliance and illuminate life’s path. Here are some of the practices you can help activate and balance this chakra: 

Meditation and Visualization

• Yoga: Yoga offers various poses that focuses on the Ajna chakra and helps balance it. Some of the main poses are child’s pose (Balasana), downward-facing dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), seated spinal twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana), half lord of fishes Pose (Ardha Matsyendrasana Variation), eagle pose (Garudasana), tree pose (Vrksasana), dolphin pose (Ardha Pincha Mayurasana) and shoulder stand (Sarvangasana).
• Visualization: Close your eyes and imagine the lotus flower with 2 petals blooming between your eyebrows improving your inner wisdom, clarity and insight.
• Candle watching: Focus at the flame of a burning candle or its blue light to quite your mind.

Creative Expression 

• Journaling: Write down what you think like your intuitions, dreams and ideas. This can help in removing any creative blocks you may experience when the chakra is blocked.
• Arts and crafts: Try activities like painting, drawing or sculpting that allow you to express your imagination.
• Nature Connection 
• Spend time in nature: Try to spend a few hours every day in nature. You could go to a park or take a walk.
• Grounding exercises: Connect with the earth by walking barefoot in the grass.

Practices and Mantras 

• Chanting: Chant mantras like “Om” or “Aham Brahmasmi” to activate the third eye chakra and get mental clarity.
• Crystal healing: Wear or meditate with blue crystals like Lapis Lazuli, Amethyst or blue Fluorite to balance the chakra.
• Sound healing: Listen to music or beats that restores the chakra and reawakens the power of intuition.
• Self-Reflection and Growth 
• Identify and release restricting beliefs: Try and let go of negative thoughts that limit your judgement capabilities.
• Embrace open-mindedness: Be open towards discovering new ideas and views and increase your knowledge about the world and yourself.
• Shadow work: Identify and work on your fears and vulnerabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the power of the third eye?

The third eye chakra is responsible for perception and understanding and it controls many different functions. Some of the functions are:

• Inner Knowing and Intuition
• Imagination and creativity
• Spiritual connection
• Self-Reflection
• Physical signs

Q2: How do I activate my third eye chakra?

Here are some of the practices you can help activate and balance this chakra: 

• Yoga: Yoga offers various poses that focuses on the Ajna chakra and helps balance it. Some of the main poses are child’s pose (Balasana), downward-facing dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), seated spinal twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana), half lord of fishes Pose (Ardha Matsyendrasana Variation), eagle pose (Garudasana), tree pose (Vrksasana), dolphin pose (Ardha Pincha Mayurasana) and shoulder stand (Sarvangasana).
• Arts and crafts: Try activities like painting, drawing or sculpting that allow you to express your imagination.
• Spend time in nature: Try to spend a few hours every day in nature. You could go to a park or take a walk.
• Crystal healing: Wear or meditate with blue crystals like Lapis Lazuli, Amethyst or blue Fluorite to balance the chakra.
• Sound healing: Listen to music or beats that restores the chakra and reawakens the power of intuition.

Q3: What happens when your third eye opens?

An open third eye chakra promotes:

• Judgement: Having the ability to see through lies and get to the bottom of things.
• Intuition: Trusting your gut feeling and inner knowledge to make wise decisions.
• Inspiration: Getting in touch with your creative side and expressing creatively.
• Innovation: Coming up with fresh and new ideas.
• Spiritual awareness: Expanding your consciousness and getting in touch with a higher power spiritually.
• Universal understanding: Understanding that all things are connected and valuing the point of view of others.
• Eyesight: Supporting the health of eyes and vision.
• Pineal gland: Activation of the pineal gland, changing the way you sleep and the production of melatonin.