Each of the seven chakras, or energy centers, plays a unique role in our life experience and well-being. The crown chakra sits at the top of the head and is the seventh chakra in the system and is responsible for our connection to spirit, or that which is greater than us. When it’s blocked you may feel physical symptoms like headaches, neurological issues, or sensitivity to light and sound; and emotional symptoms like lack of purpose, disconnection, and depression. Read on to discover the role the crown chakra plays in our well-being, how to recognize the signs that it’s blocked, and how to unblock it to improve your health and happiness.
Jump to:
- What is the crown chakra?
- Crown chakra location
- Crown chakra color
- Crown chakra symbol
- Blocked crown chakra symptoms
- Physical symptoms of a blocked crown chakra
- Mental/emotional symptoms of a blocked crown chakra
- How to unblock your crown chakra
- Crown chakra opening symptoms
- Physical symptoms of crown chakra opening
- Mental/emotional symptoms of crown chakra opening
- Final thoughts on healing the crown chakra
What is the crown chakra?
The crown chakra is the seventh energy center in the human body, meaning it is the final and most spiritual chakra in the system.
This chakra, also called the Sahasrara chakra, is responsible for our connection to our higher selves, the energy of the universe, and that which is greater than us (also known as God, Spirit, Source, etc.) An open crown chakra allows for unlimited spiritual growth, connection to your higher self, and a sense of purpose and inner peace.
The seven chakras span the length of the human body, starting at the base of the spine with the Root Chakra. Moving upwards, next comes the Sacral Chakra, the Solar Plexus Chakra, the Heart Chakra, the Throat Chakra, the Third Eye Chakra, and finally the Crown chakra at the top of your head.
Crown chakra location
The crown chakra, as its name suggests, sits at the crown of the head – an encapsulates the space an inch or two above your head.
Some descriptions say that it is at the junction between your spine and skull at the back of your neck. However, although that is a spiritually powerful location and there is plenty of agreement that the pituitary gland and pineal glands play a role in our ability to transcend the physical world, this is not the crown chakra.
The location of the crown chakra, being a part of your energy field but not actually inside of your physical body, is a great physical representation of its role – your connection to higher consciousness and the spiritual world.
Crown chakra color
The crown chakra is associated with the color purple (or violet).
Each of the seven chakras is associated with its corresponding color of the rainbow. The root chakra is red, the sacral chakra is orange, the solar plexus chakra is yellow, the heart chakra is green, the throat chakra is blue, the third eye chakra is indigo, and the crown chakra is violet.
The violet color of the crown chakra is significant because it encapsulates the same energetic frequency of the chakra. This means that you may experience visions of the color violet during crown chakra healing and meditations and conversely, you can use crystals, foods, etc of this color to tune into the frequency of your seventh chakra.
Additionally, the crown chakra is connected to the color white.
The seventh chakra is the energy center most closely related to the spiritual world so white, or absence of color, which transcends our physical reality, carries a powerful frequency for this chakra.
Crown chakra symbol
The crown chakra symbol is a many-petaled lotus flower.
Each of the chakras is depicted by a lotus flower with a different number of petals and the Sanskrit word for the crown chakra, Sahasrara, means “thousand petals.” The symbol serves as a reminder that we are connected to abundant spiritual energy.
Blocked crown chakra symptoms
When our crown chakra is blocked, it means that we are not in touch with the greater consciousness which can have negative physical and emotional effects.
As spiritual beings, being disconnected from the whole is deeply uncomfortable to us. Here are some of the most common physical and mental/emotional symptoms of a blocked crown chakra.
Physical symptoms of a blocked crown chakra
In essence, a blocked crown chakra indicates disrupted energy flow in the body. When considered in this way, it’s no surprise that a blocked chakra may result in physical imbalances such as:
Headaches/migraines
Neurological issues (ADD, dyslexia, dementia)
Thyroid issues
Pineal gland issues
Sensitivity to light
Sensitivity to sound
Insomnia
Chronic fatigue
Mental/emotional symptoms of a blocked crown chakra
A blocked crown chakra results in a disconnection from the universal consciousness and spiritual awareness. Because this relationship with that which is greater than us is our natural state of being, when the connection is disrupted, it can be deeply uncomfortable for us mentally and emotionally. Here are some of the ways a blocked or underactive crown chakra can affect your mental/emotional health:
Anxiety
Depression
Dissociation (derealization, depersonalization)
(Related: 5 Symptoms of Panic Attacks No One Talks About)
Lack of purpose
Feeling ungrounded
(Related: What Does It Mean To “Stay Grounded”? (20 Ways To Root Yourself))
Low self-esteem
Lack of focus
How to unblock your crown chakra
If your crown chakra is blocked and you’re experiencing the negative effects of that energy blockage, it may be time to give your chakra system a little TLC. Here are a few of the most powerful ways to open your crown chakra and get back in touch with your spiritual connection:
Meditation
Meditation is arguably the most important element in spiritual practice and has the potential to improve your mental health, physical health, and every other aspect of your life. It is one of the most effective ways to restore the flow of energy to all seven wheels of energy.
To use meditation to unblock your crown chakra, you may consider focusing on a violet light emanating from the top of your head. This is a great way to align with the energetic frequency of the 7th chakra. If you can gently rest your attention on the space just above the crown of your head glowing with violet light for a few minutes at a time, once or twice per day, that may be enough to clear the energy blockage and restore your connection with divine consciousness.
Read More: Meditation 101 For Beginners (+3 Easy Techniques To Try!)
Yoga Asanas
Yoga is a traditional method of aligning the seven chakras and connecting with your higher self. Three yoga poses that can be considered “crown chakra yoga poses” for their ability to tap into the Sahasrara, are the supported headstand, plough pose, and lotus pose.
Headstand
Plough Pose
Lotus Pose
Crown chakra affirmations
Crown chakra affirmations are positive affirmations that speak directly to the energy associated with this chakra. Affirmations can be a powerful tool to use throughout your days to continually reconnect with this spiritual, universal energy. A few crown chakra affirmations you may consider using in journaling, meditation, or throughout your day to unblock your seventh chakra are:
Greater consciousness and the energy of the universe are always available to me.
I am deeply connected with a higher power that loves and supports me.
I have a unique purpose in this life which the universe energetically supports me in discovering and achieving.
My inner wisdom is connected to the universal consciousness and I will trust my intuition.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are an excellent tool to help soothe your nervous system and relax your mind and body. When your mind and body are relaxed, it is much easier to tap into your natural energetic field and make shifts where they’re necessary. Plus, each essential oil carries its own unique properties that can encourage your body to align with the natural energy of any given chakra, in this case, the crown chakra.
Crown chakra essential oils include:
Frankincense
Frankincense can help focus the mind to deepen your meditation and increase your connection to Spirit – helping to open the crown chakra.
Vetiver
Vetiver helps promote serenity and improve the connection between mind, body, and spirit.
Basil
Basil essential oil can help encourage spiritual connection by clearing the mind and uplifting your mood.
Fast or Eat Purple Foods
Since the crown chakra is the “purple chakra,” the energy of this chakra resonates with the energy of purple and violet foods. However, being the energy center most closely connected with spirituality, this energy center also resonates with the color white and can benefit from a fast or detox that allows your mind to transcend the physical world.
Crown chakra crystals
Crystals, being forged by the elements and the earth, carry immense amounts of unique energy inside of them and can be a powerful tool in aligning your energy and balancing your chakras. Some of the gemstones that may be most helpful in opening the crown chakra include amethyst, clear quartz, and moonstone.
You can wear these stones, place them in your house, lay them on or near your body during meditation, etc.
Amethyst
Amethyst is widely considered a spiritual stone and being a beautiful deep purple color, it can help heal both a blocked crown chakra and a blocked third eye chakra. In this way, amethyst can help deepen your meditation practices, develop a deeper connection with the universe, and hear your intuition more clearly.
Clear Quartz
Clear quartz is a powerful healing stone for all of the chakras and with its beautiful clear radiance, it invites light into your life through the crown chakra. This crystal can help you gain clarity and insight and reconnect with your life’s purpose.
Moonstone
With its milky white glow of feminine energy, the moonstone gently encourages spiritual growth. The moonstone can help open the crown chakra by reminding of the abundant energy in the universe and inviting patience, softness, and acceptance.
Crown chakra opening symptoms
When your crown chakra opens, you may experience both physical and emotional effects. Some symptoms may happen spontaneously at the moment the chakra opens and other you may notice over the following days and weeks.
Physical symptoms of crown chakra opening
A tingling feeling in your head
Fewer headaches or migraines
A vision of violet light
A vision of white light
Improved sleep
Mental/emotional symptoms of crown chakra opening
Spiritual awakening
Sense of purpose
Improved intuition
Improved psychic abilities
Noticing beauty in things
Improved mental health
More present moment awareness
Final thoughts on healing the crown chakra
Opening the crown chakra, being the seventh and final chakra in the system, may turn out to be a huge catalyst in your spiritual journey and may even be the key to spiritual enlightenment. As you work to heal and align your Sahasrara chakra, remember to be patient. If you’re finding it nearly impossible, consider focusing on the lower chakras first and working your way up your energy points – opening each one by one. Spiritual wellness is an ongoing journey. I hope this guide to the seventh chakra helps you find inner peace and a deeper connection to your higher power.
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Mary Christina
Hey, I'm Mary! My background is in Psychology and I'm a certified Health Coach and Meditation Teacher. I'm also a mental health advocate and believer in personal development as medicine. I write because I'm hopeful that my experiences and learnings as a human are helpful to you--wherever you are.