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Meaning and Symbolism
Swadhisthana means "place of one's own abode". This alludes to this chakra being the storehouse of our unconscious impressions, archetypal memories, also called karmas or samskaras. Its yantra includes a 6 petalled vermilion lotus containing the deep ocean, the night sky and a crescent moon, all indicating the unconscious nature of the water tattwa, or apas. Location
Swadhisthana Chakra is located at the tip of the coccyx, the last bony part of the spinal column, just above the anus. The frontal trigger point is the pubic bone. Bodily Systems
Swadhisthana governs the urinary system (kidneys, bladder, urethra); the reproductive system (eggs, ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina and clitoris in women, and sperm, testes, vas deferens, prostate gland and penis in men); the sacral nerve plexus; the sense of taste and the function of the tongue. Self Expression
The attributes of energy and consciousness as represented by Swadhisthana are connected primarily with the search for pleasure and rejection of discomfort in life. This may manifest through any kind of activity but is most frequently expressed through material well being, sleep, sex, food, entertainment, and recreational drugs.
Swadhisthana was the area in which Freud became so specialised. He postulated that everything in a person's psychology was related to their unconscious and subconscious |
motivations,usually driven by latent sexual forces as expressed in dreams and real life. And in this he was largely right since for most people our unconscious desires are the dominant motivating force. But that is only part of the story, since yoga maintains that it need not remain this way. Through self reflection and practise, any person can awaken their unconsciousness and go beyond such lower aspects of the mind.
Due to their close proximity, many of the functions of Swadhisthana and Mooladhara are closely related. The drive to procreate (Mooladhara) is biologically very strong in most people, and coupled with the pleasure instinct (Swadhisthana), these chakras obviously have a predominant place in present society. The combination of sense of taste (Swadhisthana) and smell (Mooladhara) also tends to drive much of the obsession with food we see today, which offers a quick route to satisfying unconscious needs and dissatisfied feelings.
Abilities such as a good sense of taste; a healthy (balanced) sex drive; the ability to self analyse; fearlessness of water; high fertility; detachment from dreams; acceptance of the birth canal opening as required during childbirth; are attributes associated with a well functioning Swadhisthana. Conditions indicative of an afflicted Swadhisthana include aversion to pain and dependence on analgesics; genital inhibitions; revulsion, obsession or addiction to sex; blockages of orgasm; fear of deep water; fear of sleep; fear of the dark; frequently disturbing dreams; inability to examine one's own deeper motives; urinary disorders (including bed wetting); fertility disorders; poor genital health; poor sense of taste.
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