Rooted here in place and time
Snake and aurochs intertwine.
By shaping flesh, by flexing spine,
Embracing life I will survive.

~

Being rooted in nature and in the body. The entanglement of flesh and nervous system with the rest of the living world. Balancing growth and limitation. As I have meditated and journeyed with this chakra and researched and learnt the musculoskeletal system from both theoretical and experiential perspectives these are the main attributes that have come to me.

As an autistic person I’ve faced a lot of struggles with disassociation from my body due to differences in neurological wiring causing sensory sensitivities. My attempts to block overload out has resulted in having a poor relationship with sensory feedback from the entirety of my system. 

I used to dislike my body because it was fat and clumsy. I cut it, starved it, over-exercised it, tried to force it into a shape that fit with my ideals. Only over the past few years with the help of my personal trainer have I arrived at a strength training and yoga routine and nutritional plan that is healthy. 

Ignoring signals from my body has had its cost in physical ailments. Running for years without strengthening exercises led to runner’s knee and deep gluteal syndrome. Working outdoors in very hot and cold weather in spite of discomfort resulted in me developing rosacea and Reynaud’s. Up until this day I’ve been struggling with tendonitis in various forms as a result of repetitive activities – too much road running, walking too much on concrete in worn boots, using heavy loppers overhead – which have forced me to swap running for mixed cardio indoors, a walk for a swim, and to face the fact that I might not be able to tackle all gardening tasks without help.

Frequently getting myofascial knots has made me aware of my fascia and the importance of hyaluronic acid – the goo that keeps it supple – as a component of the extracellular matrix that exists throughout the body as a lubricant essential in synovial fluid, the skin and the eyes. I have started eating more green veg and oily fish and drinking more water to nourish it.

Working with the chakras can help us spot patterns in the systems they relate to. I noticed nearly all my physical ailments are inflammatory and relate to having an over-reactive stress response rooted in sensory sensitivities.

This has led me to beginning to develop a more mindful relationship with my body. To realising it has developed its symptoms to help me to survive. To listening to senses I shut out, opening and building new neural pathways, so I can respond to sensory signals before they develop into physical ailments. To recognising the difference between stretching and straining, increasing strength and flexibility within awareness of my current limits.

Snake and aurochs appeared as animals associated with this chakra evoking for me the strength of the musculoskeletal system and flexibility of the spine. The snake wrapping the aurochs is a symbol both of limitation and of nurture rooting down into the earth nourishing our nature connection.

~

Chakra: Root / Location: Base / Colour: Red / System: Musculoskeletal / Nerve Plexus: Coccygeal / Endocrine Gland: N/A / Sense: Touch / State: Physical / Element: Earth / Qualities: Survival and instinct / Animals: Aurochs and snake