Throat Chakra: Empower Your Voice with Confidence

The throat chakra also known as Visuddha in Sanskrit, connects our soul with the physical world. It is believed to be located at the base of the neck, around the voice box. This chakra is associated with the element ether and color blue.

A balanced throat chakra promotes effective communication, creative expression and confidence. Its energy controls our ability to express ourselves and is responsible for the following things:

Communication: Speaking the truth, expressing our feelings and thoughts clearly and being able to easily share our thoughts correctly.
Creativity: Any kind of art that lets us connect with our inner voice like singing, writing, dancing, painting, drawing, etc.
Intuition: Listening to our gut feeling, trusting our inner knowledge and expressing it through our words and actions.
Self-expression: Being your true self, accepting your uniqueness and sharing your thoughts with the world.

The Throat Chakra Symbol and Mantra

The symbol of Visuddha is a lotus with 16 petals with an inverted triangle that has a circle inside it. Its beej (seed) mantra is Ham. The sound of ‘ham’ resonates with this chakra’s vibration. Chanting the mantra can help in removing any blockage and activating the throat chakra.

Functions of the Visuddha Chakra

This chakra controls various activities like verbal and non-verbal communication, creativity and inner knowing. Here’s a list of some of the most important functions of Visuddha:

Communication

Speaking your truth: Being clear and sure about what you think, feel and believe.
Active listening: Talking to others openly and in a more thoughtful manner. Hearing and properly understanding what they’re saying.
Firmness: Being clear about what you need while respecting the limits of others.
Non-verbal communication: Expressing ourselves through body language, gestures and facial expressions.

Creativity

Artistic expression: Sharing our ideas through singing, writing, dancing, music or any other form of art.
Imagination: Expressing ideas and creativity effectively.
Innovation: Coming up with new ideas, solving problems and something of value in your are of expertise.

Higher Self and Intuition

Inner voice: Trusting your intuition, gut feeling and inner knowledge.
Higher knowledge: Understanding the deeper meaning of things and experiencing things that are beyond the physical world.
Spiritual connection: Expressing our spiritual self through praying and meditating.
Authenticity: Matching spoken words and ideas with your inner truth and living life honestly.

Signs of a blocked Throat Chakra

A blocked throat chakra can stop the body’s natural flow of speech and expression. This can lead to problems with the body, emotions and creativity. Here are some of the symptoms to look for:

Physical signs

Throat problems such as cracked voice, sore throat, neck pain and trouble speaking.
Frequent pain in the ear, sensitivity to loud noises and trouble hearing properly.
Stiff muscles around the neck and shoulders that cause pain.
Unusual change in weight, tiredness, mood swings and sensitivity to cold things.

Emotional signs

Fear of speaking in public, being too shy or not speaking ideas out loud.
Communication problems that can lead to misunderstandings, fights as a result of not being able to say what you think clearly.
Feeling that your point is not being heard or taken seriously.
Having trouble expressing yourself, not getting new ideas and feeling stuck creatively.
Fear of being judged, feeling insecure and low self-confidence.

Energy signs

Feeling of being lonely and not able to connect with other people.
Having trouble finding your voice and sharing your thoughts with people.
Having trouble with change, unable to adjust to new situations or sharing your views.
Judging yourself too harshly and having negative thoughts about yourself.

How to Balance the Throat Chakra

Practice being vocal

Chanting mantra: Chanting the beej (seed) mantra “Ham” can help clear the mind and boost the voice.
Speak your truth: Try being honest with the people you care about and share your thoughts without fear.
Express creativity: Express yourself through arts like singing, dancing, writing, painting, etc.

Listen with an open mind

Active listening: Listen carefully to what people are saying without any judgement.
Practice empathy: Try to understand how other people feel and talk to them with kindness.
Pay attention to your instincts: Focus on what your gut feeling is and practice trusting your instincts.

Physical practices

Yoga: Yoga poses or asanas like cat-pose (Bidalasana), fish (Matsyasana) and shoulder rolls can help you relax and feel more energized.
Throat exercise: Gently rub and stretch your neck and throat area to release any kind of tightness and promote vocal ease.
Spend time in nature: Connect with nature by taking walks in the park, trekking and hiking. Try breathing in the fresh air.

Self-care

Gargle with salt water: This simple but effective habit can help soothe your throat and get rid of any mucus.
Stay hydrated: Drink a lot of water. Apart from keeping the body hydrated, it can keep the energy level up and vocal cords in a good condition.
Positive affirmation: Repeat positive statements like “my voice is clear and strong” and “I speak with love and confidence”.

Some additional practices

Crystal healing: Blue crystals like lapis lazuli, turquoise and aquamarine help with communication and self-expression. They are related to the throat chakra’s blue color and can be worn as jewellery around the neck or held during meditation.
Sound healing: Focus on sounds that are connected to the chakra such as bells, chants or running water while meditating.
Ujjayi breath: This is a deep and rhythmic breathing method also known as “fire breath”. It is believed to open up the throat chakra ensuring energy flows better and boosts confidence and strength.
Reiki healing: A Reiki practitioner can send healing energy to your throat chakra that can clear any blockage and bring balance.

With all that said, it’s important to keep in mind that balancing chakras is a process and it’s important to be patient.

Learn more about balancing chakras

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What does the throat chakra do?

The functions of the throat chakra include: Communication, creativity, intuition and self-expression.

Q2: What happens if your throat chakra is blocked?

A blocked throat chakra can result in problems in the natural flow of energy and cause issues such as throat problems, frequent pain in the ear and sensitivity to loud noises, stiff muscles around the neck and shoulders, tiredness, mood swings, sensitivity to cold things, etc.

Q3: What happens when Vishuddhi chakra is activated?

A balanced visuddha chakra promotes effective communication, creative expression and confidence. Its energy controls our ability to express ourselves and is responsible for the following things:

Communication: Speaking the truth, expressing our feelings and thoughts clearly and being able to easily share our thoughts correctly.
Creativity: Any kind of art that lets us connect with our inner voice like singing, writing, dancing, painting, drawing, etc.
Intuition: Listening to our gut feeling, trusting our inner knowledge and expressing it through our words and actions.
Self-expression: Being your true self, accepting your uniqueness and sharing your thoughts with the world.

Q4: What damages the throat chakra?

A number of things can damage the flow of energy in the throat chakra. This can lead to its unbalance and blockage. Some of the things that can cause damage to it are fear of expression, lack of confidence, not expressing emotions, self-doubt or judging, stress, etc.