What is the Third Eye Chakra?

The Third Eye is the sixth chakra connected to the human body, and second from the top. It’s situated between, and slightly above the eyebrows.

In Sanskrit, it’s referred to as the Ajna Chakra, and in the west is also sometimes called the brow chakra.

This powerful upper energy center responsible for perception, intuition, imagination, and free thought. Tapping into the third eye is believed, in yogic tradition, to offer a gateway to spiritual growth and higher consciousness.

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Third Eye CHAKRA QUICK REFERENCE:

Third Eye Chakra Meaning

This chakra is responsible for intuition, foresight, imagination, and spirituality.

Third Eye Chakra Position

This chakra is the sixth in the system. It’s located on the forehead between the eyebrows.

Third Eye Chakra Name

The Sanskrit name for this chakra is Ajna, and it’s also known as the guru chakra.

Third Eye Chakra Colour

This chakra is indigo in color.

Third Eye Chakra Symbol

The symbol is an Om symbol over an inverted triangle. This is inside a circle that has a lotus petal on either side.

What is a Chakra?

A chakra is a spinning disk or wheel of energy. In the human body, there are 7 main chakras that run along the spine, each of which holds and carries a specific energy. Yet there are also as many as 114 minor chakras spread over the rest of the body.

They are believed to relate to different glands within the physical body, as well as to energetic impulses, strengths, and weaknesses.

Mention of Chakras can be found in the ancient Vedic Texts, dating from 1500 BC. Yet more recently, the concept of chakras has entered the mainstream spiritual lexicon in the West too.

The seven main chakras are listed below in descending order. It’s important to understand that they’re all equally important. Where a chakra is located on the body has nothing to do with its value.

• Crown Chakra
• Third Eye Chakra
• Throat Chakra
• Heart Chakra
• Solar Plexus Chakra
• Sacral Chakra
• Root Chakra

What’s the Difference Between a Healthy Chakra and an Imbalanced Chakra?

When a chakra is open and operating optimally, it’s spinning with ease. This allows it to receive information from outside, AND transmit information from within, through the physical, emotional and mental bodies, and beyond into a person’s auric field.

Quite simply, this feels good! When our chakras are balanced, we’re functioning healthily.

Yet, it’s not uncommon for chakras to be out of balance (over, or underactive), or worse still, blocked. When this occurs, an individual will experience negativity – in the form of fearful or destructive thoughts, difficulty learning of holding focus, depression or anxiety, or any host of other emotional and physical disorders. Long term chakra imbalances can also result in chronic physical illness.

Symptoms of an imbalanced or blocked Third Eye Chakra

PinConnected to the pituitary gland, problems with this chakra can ultimately manifest in issues tied to perception –  both literal and spiritual. (Often you’ll read that the third eye is connected to the pineal gland. This is also true – there’s some interchangeability).

If you think that your sixth chakra may be out of balance, here are the signs of the lookout for:

Signs of an Overactive Third Eye Chakra

• Daydreaming or getting lost in thought
• Ungroundedness
• Delusional
• Lacking in focus
• Suffer from vision problems and light sensitivity
• Frequent nightmares
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Over-emotional or over-reactive
• Obsessed with psychic abilities

Signs of an Underactive Third Eye Chakra

• Feeling uninspired
• Lack of creativity
• Closed mind
• Stubborn
• Closed off to people and experiences
• Lack of intuitive connection
• Can’t easily tap into intuition or feelings
• Prone to addiction or obsessions

5 Chakra Healing and Balancing Exercises for the Ajna

1. Self-reflect

Because this energy center is all about perception, a great place to start if you feel your third eye is unbalanced or blocked, is to start with perception of self.

• What do you believe?
• What are your values?
• What is important to you?
• … And how many of the things you come up with are really true and resonant for you, and not simply beliefs or values that you’ve picked up from others?

Flexing your inner eye isn’t all about intuition (though that’s a big part of it). Start with conscious awareness, and this means not believing everything you think!

2. Open Your Mind!

Moving neatly on from number 1, can you consciously open up your mind?

Read books, watch videos and listen to podcasts about subjects that are new to you, or better still, from a perspective that’s different to yours. These are all great ways to expand your mind, as is starting a conversation with someone new.

Expect to think differently – expect your eyes to be opened and your mind to be changed, and your third eye will follow.

Also, be prepared for new information to come to you from unexpected sources. Although the third eye is situated on the forehead, not all awareness is mental. Think body awareness, and the perception of more subtle energies.

3. Work with your Dreams

Dreamwork offers a powerful window into the subconscious and spiritual worlds.

Dreaming with intention, and then recording your nighttime visions is a great way to counteract a third eye chakra imbalance because is strengthens this inner seat of power.

When analyzing your dreams, realize that they speak to us through imagery, metaphor, poetry, and myth and non-ordinary reality. So “figuring it out” with your left brain won’t offer you true insight. Instead, sense into meaning – this is what your Anja chakra can help you with.

RELATED READING: Discover Why These Mystical Dream-Working Tips Will Kickstart Your Magickal Journey!

4. Use Crystals

Dark blue and purple crystals are great for balancing and healing the third eye. Place them around your home, and beside your bed when sleeping. You can also try meditating with them. Here are some ideal crystals to work with:

• Amethyst
• Lapis Lazuli
• Purple Flourite
• Black Obsidian

RELATED POST: 5 MUST-HAVE CRYSTALS TO ADD TO YOUR SPIRITUAL TOOLKIT

5. Get Outside

Natural light is especially good for opening the sixth chakra.

Try sungazing first thing in the morning (do your research and don’t gaze for too long). Or try Moongazing, or stargazing at night – all of these light sources have different qualities, all are powerful activators for the third eye.

But even just getting out of doors and baring a little skin will bring you huge benefits. If you live in a colder climate, this is especially true – we tend not to get enough exposure to natural light in the winter months.

Bare your wrists (where the skin is thin) or simply look up, eyes closed, and allow the light to touch your face.

Extra Resources

For more on the third eye chakra, or ways to expand your intuitive side, follow the links below:

• 5 WAYS TO ACTIVATE THE THIRD EYE
• 7 POWERFUL CRYSTALS THAT WILL ACTIVATE YOUR CHAKRAS
• 7 POWERFUL WAYS TO ACTIVATE YOUR INTUITION TODAY
• A GUIDE TO PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT: 10 WAYS TO HONE YOUR INNER SIGHT

Do YOU have any tips for third eye chakra healing? Or any experiences to share with our community? Drop a comment below!