It is the seat of our mystical intuition and insight, the third eye chakra. It’s the sixth chakra and it sits right between your eyebrows in the middle of your head.
The third eye, or Ajna as it is more commonly known in Sanskrit, is the seat of intuition, enlightenment, creativity, and fantasy. Because of the power of this chakra, we can see and comprehend both the internal and external worlds. The third eye chakra, when activated, strengthens our ties to the here and now, opens us to higher spiritual realms, and bestows us with the gifts of wisdom and insight.
Important Aspects of the Third Eye Chakra
To “perceive,” “command,” or “beyond wisdom” in Sanskrit is to give the name Ajna.
The third eye is a physical orb situated between the brows in the exact centre of the head. The pineal gland, a tiny organ located deep within the brain, is linked to this phenomenon because it secretes melatonin, a hormone that controls the body’s internal clock and, by extension, its circadian rhythms and reproductive hormones.
Psyche The sixth chakra is linked to psychic abilities such as remote viewing, clairvoyance, observing other people’s chakras and auras, precognition, and out-of-body travel. It’s where we learn to see things as they truly are and let go of our attachment to false realities, both external and internal. Here, we can go beyond our rational minds and our fears to connect with our innermost selves.
The third eye is a receptacle for the energy of the mind, which contains a complex mixture of knowledge, dread, experience, and recollection. When in harmony, the two sides of the brain help us see beyond binaries.
When I focus my attention on my third eye, I am able to see clearly what I need to thrive in the world of my choosing. I accept and celebrate who I am. I’m able to take things as they are and enjoy the world around me.
In terms of quality, the third eye chakra corresponds to the sun.
Shade: indigo
Amethyst and purple sapphire are two examples of violet crystals that can help restore harmony to the sacral chakra.
Indicators of imbalance
Stress on any level of the body (physical, mental, emotional, or energetic) can cause you to become stuck, slow down, or go into overdrive, as we have seen in previous chakra articles (see below).
Inability to examine oneself and face one’s fears is a symptom of an unbalanced ajna chakra. Fear of the truth, which can cloud our reasoning, fear of criticism and the opinions of others, fear of our own shadow and the unknown are all possible sources of fear.
Depression, a lack of focus or purpose, and other mental health issues have been linked to an underactive ajna. Hallucinations and a loss of connection to reality are symptoms of an overactive ajna.
The Third Eye Chakra Questions
- Do you know what the truth is for you?
- Is your vision good (both literally and metaphorically)?
- How strong is your link to the etheric plane and your intuitive abilities? Can you detect auras?
- Could you take a stand for your ideals and make them a reality?
- Know why you’re here?
Methods for achieving a healthy third-eye chakra
When we open our third eye, we become more sensitive to spiritual movement and change, and we recognise that there is a time for both endings and new beginnings. The ability to let go of preconceived notions and open oneself up to new ideas. It’s overcoming aversion to uncertainty. Finding equilibrium can be accomplished in a number of ways, both on and off the mat.
Positions of Yoga for the Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)
Asana practise that focuses on the brow area is a lovely way to make room for the third eye to open. Any constriction or stagnation in the body will rise to the surface as we work on it. By cultivating the forbearance and insight to observe whatever arises, without attaching any meaning to it, we can learn from it and ultimately let it go for good. These specific yoga postures will help you find the balance between your two main energy centres:
- Downward Dog
- Plough Pose
- Legs up the wall,
- Lotus, and
- Child’s Pose
Vibrations of the chanting of mantras
The bija mantra of Kundalini is the sound of Om. The vibrational frequency of the third eye chakra is affected by repeated chanting of OM (pronounced AUM). Take advantage of the breath: as you exhale, let the sound of OM resonate through your body. This mantra represents the very nature of reality itself, and as such, it carries great significance.
Gyan Mudra is the mudra for the sixth chakra (Wisdom Mudra)
Relax and straighten your back in a chair. The third eye chakra is activated and brought into harmony through the practise of the “mudra of wisdom and knowledge,” which also promotes a heightened state of mental clarity. Putting thumb and first finger together like this is a common mudra.
Practices to stimulate the Ajna chakra
Third eye chakra energy is luminous. Learn to tap into your inner infinity and recognise that it merges with the universe at large. As you close your eyes or sit in meditation, picture a bright sphere somewhere on your forehead or between your brows. Close your eyes and picture the brightness. Allow it to grow and shrink as it pleases. Just fire it off toward the horizon you’re visualising. Put it front and centre in your mind. Allow the light to flood your mind, your body, and the room.
Trataka, also known as candle gazing, is another practise for increasing one’s inner radiance.
Imagine your meditation space filled with indigo light. Repeat the OM mantra. Focus your attention inward, imagining the cool indigo orb of light that represents your breath illuminating your vision from within and without as you meditate on the area between your eyes.
