Chakra Symbols and Their Meanings

Root Chakra Symbol Meaning

The Root Chakra is symbolized by a lotus flower with four petals. These petals represent the mind, the consciousness, the ego, and the intellect. Within the petals is a square, which represents stability and rigidity. The chakra is based on foundational energy, which the square provides.

Inside the square is an upside down triangle, and this is the symbol for earth in alchemy, again focusing upon grounding and foundational strength. This Chakra is the basis for all the others and for you as a person.

Sacral Chakra Symbol Meaning

Your Sacral Chakra is represented by a lotus with six petals. These six petals represent the negative aspects of humanity that must be overcome. These are desire, anger, jealousy, pride, cruelty, and hatred. Once these have been conquered, a person will be purified.

The circles within the lotus are depictions of the circles of rebirth and death, and in the center, there is a crescent moon. This Chakra is closely associated with the moon and with fluidity and movement. It is also associated with water and constant, ceaseless change, as well as creativity.

Solar Plexus Symbol Meaning

With ten petals, the Solar Plexus Chakra is the third of the chakra symbols. The ten petals are representative of humanity’s ten pranas – five upa pranas and five pranas.

Within these petals is an inverted triangle, which symbolizes the two chakras already discussed and how they can be concentrated into the chakras above this one, the higher chakras. This Solar Plexus Chakra, sometimes referred to as the Manipura, is one of the simpler ones in terms of its shapes.

Heart Chakra Symbol Meaning

Represented by a lotus with twelve petals, the Heart Chakra is a point of connection between the first three chakras and the last three. Within its petals, you will see a six-point star, and this represents the combination of male and female energies mingling together.

Combined with the twelve petals, this six-point star represents the 72,000 energy channels of people (twelve multiplied by 6,000 is 72,000).

The twelve petals themselves are symbols of humanity’s best qualities, which include unity, kindness, love, peace, understanding, harmony, bliss, empathy, clarity, purity, forgiveness, and compassion. These are thought to be our divine qualities that come from our hearts.

Throat Chakra Symbol Meaning

A sixteen petal lotus, the Throat Chakra is connected with Sanskrit’s sixteen vowels. The petals are supposed to represent the gentle airiness with which these vowels are pronounced, and celebrate the importance of communication.

The inverted triangle in the center symbolizes the move toward enlightenment with growing knowledge. Within the triangle, the circle represents a purified mind and the full moon.

Third Eye Chakra Symbol Meaning

With less lotus petals, the Third Eye Chakra’s meaning is intuition. The petals are representations of the self and of God, and the duality inherent in both.

Within the centre of the lotus is another star, and again, the meaning here is of knowledge, and of the lower chakras combining into something greater. It is also thought that this star represents a connection with enlightenment and divinity.

Crown Chakra Symbol Meaning

The final chakra, the Crown Chakra, is known as the thousand petal lotus. Its focus is upon a person’s connection to the divine, and the whole symbol represents this. The lotus flower is a connection with the Hindu god of creation, Brahma, and therefore its symbol is simply that – a lotus flower.

There are many meanings associated with the Crown Chakra symbol. These include eternity, consciousness, prosperity, connectivity, infinity, and creation. The Crown Chakra is the last of the chakras, and is considered by many to be the most important.