FIVE CRYSTALS FOR THE ROOT CHAKRA

The root chakra is arguably your most important one; being the first, if it isn't functioning properly, this immediate disturbance in energy flow will throw off your entire chakra system. Located at the base of the spine, the root chakra spins in a beautiful bright red color when healthy. It deals with all things in the physical domain - your ability to provide for yourself, meet your needs, and function in the everyday world. The root chakra also governs your attitude toward your body, physical strength, energy level, capability, masculine sexuality, courage, and grounding. So, what are some ways you might know that this chakra is a little out of balance?

Well, SEVERE indications of a root chakra imbalance can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food - eating disorders, including obesity, self - harm, homelessness, depression, a complete lack of energy, and addiction (often, people who pick up smoking or other bad habits do so in a desperate attempt to ground.) People in these situations have pretty deep - rooted chakra imbalances that obviously need some attention OUTSIDE of the realm of crystal healing  - but certainly, crystals can still be a supportive element in these cases as well. However, a lot of people have minor root chakra imbalances that are a little more common and easily fixable. An unhealthy relationship with money is strongly indicative of a root chakra problem - an obsession with obtaining it, a constant fear of losing it, or an inability to maintain it. If you are having a hard time meeting your needs and struggle with finances, this can also usually be traced to the root chakra. Extremely spaced - out, ungrounded people who have a hard time paying attention and getting things done also usually have something going on in their first chakra that needs addressing. You may also have really low energy levels and feel tired most of the time, lack self - confidence and self - assurance, feel scared, anxious, or threatened easily, and have a hard time making decisions, constantly seeking the approval of others.

There are a lot of ways to correct a chakra imbalance - diet (red meat, protein, root vegetables, and red foods are beneficial to the root chakra), yoga, meditation and visualization are just a few simple and effective ways to go about it. However, a really fun and common way to address a chakra imbalance is by working with crystals. So, here's a few of my favorites for the root chakra.

1.) RUBY: Uncut ruby is readily available and is the single most powerful emitter of the red ray, rivaled by no crystal. This makes it WONDERFUL for the root chakra! My favorite thing about ruby is that it brings COURAGE and LEADERSHIP, helping you speak out and stand up, making you an all - around stronger person. This is a great stone for removing FEAR and ANXIETY, and makes a great little companion to accompany you when facing your fear, whether it's public speaking or skydiving (if it's the former, pair with a throat chakra crystal, like blue apatite, for an additional boost.)  Ruby is grounding and helps with spaciness, eases fear of mortality, and encourages zest for life, confidence, passion, and enthusiasm. This is a strongly stabilizing stone to have during a confrontation. Ruby replenishes energy levels and heals lethargy or fatigue, and imbues the body with vitality. Physically, ruby cultivates a healthy and loving connection to the body, helping with those dealing with addiction or self - harm. It heals sexual dysfunctions and stimulates circulation. Interestingly, ruby is a great stone for calming hyperactivity in addition to being an energy amplifier. It is important to note that, because ruby is such a strong emitter of the red ray, it can be a little bit TOO intense for people who are really sensitive to crystal energy. It is also not recommended for people who are irritable and therefore, probably already have an over - abundance of red - energy. Such people may wish to consider working instead with...

2.) GARNET: This is the SECOND most powerful red - ray stone of the mineral kingdom, rivaled only by ruby, and is ideal for those who find ruby's energy a bit too intense. There are MANY types of garnet - in fact, garnets are practically a mineral group in and of themselves, and not all of them are keyed to the root chakra. PYROPE GARNET helps with courage, vitality, and stimulating the will to live (so is beneficial in the more extreme situations I mentioned above.) Physically, Pyrope garnet supports the digestive system and stimulates circulation, both issues of the root chakra. However, Pyrope Garnet can sometimes be hard to acquire. ALMANDINE GARNET, however, is the VERY BEST GARNET for root chakra health (and one of the best root chakra stones EVER) and is a little more common. It helps with strength, security, stamina, grounding, vitality, and endurance. It is a stone for DREAMERS to help actualize their goals, and is also powerfully protective -  by cultivating a close connection to one's body, it makes it difficult for negative energies or entities to attach, putting you more in control of the vibes you let in. Almandine Garnet cultivates a healthy relationship with money, removing fear and anxiety centered around finances. This stone also stimulates passion in your life anywhere this is most needed - relationships, jobs, etc.

3.) CUPRITE emits pure first chakra energy. You may have never heard of this crystal beauty, but it's actually relatively common, ranging from a dull brownish/red to pure crimson. A copper oxide, cuprite often forms in association with other copper derivatives like malachite, azurite, and chryosocolla. But anyway, I'm getting off track. A must - have for crystal healers, this is your stone for healing anything root - chakra - but its especially effective in working through anxiety, and fears regarding mortality. Carrying one of these little beauties around with you throughout the day is a great way to speed up a sluggish root chakra. A stone of feminine power, meditating with Cuprite helps one to connect with Earth Goddess energy. While fertility and creativity are typically matters attributed to the second chakra, the initial stirrings of creative energy actually begin within the first chakra - if there is a blockage here, creative energy will not flow properly. Cuprite is a wonderful stone for boosting creativity and fertility, and should be left in the bedroom for help with CONCEPTION. This stone also helps one to "birth" their projects and dreams, acting as a little magician to help manifest your goals here in the physical realm. Physically, Cuprite is used to treat problems of the sexual organs, prostate and lower - bowels, and stimulates circulation.

4.) FIRE AGATE is my personal favorite root chakra stone, and its usually available at most crystal shops. It has a base hue of brownish red, but is multi - colored from layers of limonite and iron, and goethite inclusions. They're GORGEOUS, especially when polished. Often times, people are drawn to spiritualty and metaphysics because a part of them wants to detach from the physical world, which is- let's face it - not always a pretty place to be. Sometimes, this immersion into the spiritual realm combined with an unhealthy detachment from the physical realm creates a person who is spiritually aware, but suffers from low energy levels, and is too spaced out to actually get practical things done in the everyday world. For this syndrome, fire agate is your stone! It boosts vitality, stamina, energy, and brings a zest for life, and, like Cuprite, removes creative blocks of all kinds, making it a must - have for artists. Grounding fire agate removes fear, and brings a feeling of safety and security to those who suffer from anxiety. This is a great root chakra crystal for alleviating destructive desires, making it ideal for those overcoming addictions or trying to quit smoking (for the latter, combine in a mojo bag with Bostwana Agate.) Physically, Fire Agate energizes lethargy and fatigue, stimulates circulation, is used to treat depression, sexual imbalances, and frigidity, bringing in sexual energy.

5.) BLOOD AGATE, also known as Pigeon's blood, is simply the red variety of agate. Agate is already very grounding, stabilizing, and centering, so the red variety does all this AND helps to restore the will to live, and passion for life. Its a wonderful stone for those who have given up on life and on themselves, turning to destructive and self - harming behaviors (again, additional help is obviously required for such severe conditions.)

So, these are my top five. But, there are MANY other crystals that are beneficial to the root chakra. A good rule of thumb is that RED CRYSTALS are typically going to be keyed to the base - red beryl (bixbite), red jasper, and red calcite are a few that immediately come to mind. Also, black and grey crystals are very grounding and beneficial to the root as well (black tourmaline, hematite, smoky quartz, etc.) But, I would still say the above five are pretty much the best. So enjoy, play around with 'em, and see which ones work best for you. Good luck! :)