Your Third Eye Chakra | A Complete Guide To Ajna

“Through systematic meditation one can awaken the third eye and touch the cosmic awareness. Sushumna nadi is the subtle pathway in the spinal cord which passes through the main psychic centers. The awakening of these centers means a gradual expansion of awareness, until it reaches the cosmic awareness. Each center has its own beauty and gracefulness. Through generations of ignorance and unconsciousness, this channel of awareness becomes obscured and hidden. Meditation is to become aware about this internal life energy. Meditation is the procedure to rearrange, harmonize, activate, and integrate the individual life energy with the cosmic life energy.”
Amit Ray¹

Mystical, magical, brilliant and bright… A spinning disk of indigo light… Vision, intuition and self-knowing are key attributes of the sixth energy center – Ajna Chakra.

a woman smiling with her eyes closed with the third eye chakra symbol on her forehead

A Simple Chakra History

“The Seven Gods have seven spears and seven lights. They hold seven glories.”
– Rig Veda 8.28.5 – Translated by David Frawley²

Described in the Vedas, a large body of religious texts from ancient India which are thought to have been compiled between 1500 and 500 BC, and derived from the Sanskrit root cakra – chakra means “wheel” or “disk”.

Chakras are concentrated energy centers of the body, often visualized and depicted as spinning wheels of light.

Rooted in the ancient philosophies of Hinduism and Buddhism, chakras hold a prominent place in the science of yoga.

The chakra system says that the human body consists not only of bones, tissues and organs, but also of energy fields layered around the physical being. These layers form the subtle body, or the energy body.

Energy Channels Flow Through The Chakras

According to Eastern medicine, we have over 72,000 invisible channels called nadis circulating through our bodies.

They carry life force energy, referred to as Prana in Indian systems and Chi in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Prana is omnipresent and omnipotent, and continuously flows through three major nadis – which connect with the thousands of minor nadis to distribute prana throughout the whole body and beyond – along the spinal column.

The three main channels start at the base of the spine and ascend through the head.

Sushumna Nadi – The central energy channel runs from the base of the spine to crown of the head.
Ida Nadi – The lunar energy channel represents Yin, which is symbolic of the moon, the left side of body, the feminine.
Pingala Nadi – The solar energy channel delineates Yang, noted as the sun, the right side, the masculine qualities.

Ida and Pingala Nadis crisscross each other as they spiral upwards and connect to opposite nostrils. Where Ida and Pingala intersect with each other and Sushumna, are the seven main chakras.

What Are The Chakras?

The chakras define cross sections of the physical human body, in the form of nerve plexuses, which house organ systems.

And understanding where the gross anatomy fits into this seemingly esoteric chaos tends to open third eyes to the perfect organization, deeper magic and higher connections available when we unite with these inner sources that correspond to the elements out in the Universe.

Chakras are responsible for lovingly taking in, incorporating and emanating energy to keep us functioning at optimal levels. When a major or minor chakra in our energetic body is blocked or not functioning properly, illness is more prone to occur – physically, psychologically and spiritually.

Wellbeing on all levels can affect and is affected by the chakras.

Not taking in enough energy, through proper nourishment of the mind, body and soul, may lead to or be caused by depression. By bypassing feelings such as anger, or not speaking our truth, we may be unconsciously impeding healthy energy flow.

Physically, each chakra governs specific organs of the body which come along with hormones and emotions…

When chakras are constricted, blocked or too open, organs don’t operate effectively which contributes to disease, fluctuating energy levels, emotional imbalances, negative thought patterns and general lack of wellbeing.

Working with the chakra system is tapping into external and internal forces so that we may feel and function our best, in harmony with the world around and within us. The ancient yogis understood that to change our life, we have to effect change from within. One way to alter our inner reality is working with the chakras.

A silhouette of woman with chakras on her.

The Seven Chakras: In Order

Root Chakra (Muladhara)
Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)
Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
Heart Chakra (Anahata)
Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)
Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

What is the Third Eye Chakra?

Ajna – the Sanskrit name for the Third Eye Chakra – translates to:
“Command” or “Perception” or “Beyond wisdom” or “The higher understanding that guides our actions”.

The Third Eye Chakra is most often associated with the color indigo, or violet, and the Light element.

Located in the middle of your skull, between your eyebrows, Ajna is the control center, the seat of the mind, and the connection between mind and physical body. Sharing space with the pineal and pituitary glands, the Third Eye Chakra allows us to see and understand the inner and outer worlds and their union.

Interestingly, the pineal gland is the only gland that is receptive to light.

The sixth Chakra is your point of intuition, your access to clear thoughts, self-reflection, inner vision and guidance. Of great spiritual significance, the Third Eye is said to unite the two major pranic forces in the body to open up the mind to inner stillness, divine sight and intuition.

For me, and many of my teachers and students, concentrating upon the Third Eye is a powerful practice. Not only is Ajna and all it represents a beautiful subject to offer the subjective mind, but sending our awareness here can initiate our inner vision – perhaps leading us to the realization that our inner and outer worlds are one and the same.

Third Eye Chakra Symbol

Each chakra symbol has a color associated with it, and other geometric elements inside and outside of the sacred circle. In some artwork, the Sanskrit bija mantra of the chakra is depicted in the center. A unique number of lotus flower petals always encases the entire symbol.

Associated with the element of Light, the energy center in the middle of the skull fuels our ability to see clearly – inside and out. At the essence of this chakra is potent energy with the power to illuminate our internal and external vision. And the beautiful symbol encompasses this.

This triangle stands for the knowledge and lessons of the lower six chakras being gathered and expanded into your divine consciousness.
The circle symbolizes the continuity of light and knowledge.
The two petals symbolize the duality between the Self and God.
The Third Eye Chakra symbol is illustrated in the color indigo.

Is Your Third Eye Chakra Balanced or Blocked?

A Balanced Third Eye Chakra:

When the Third Eye Chakra is open we see reality and our true Self clearly, we’re able to self-reflect, see the world and understand it. Alignment within Ajna elevates our clarity, with others and ourselves, and allows us to access:

Logic and creativity — Here lies the ability to integrate logical thinking and creativity.
Wisdom — The Third Eye is the center of inner wisdom and knowledge which allows us to open our minds to deeper, more evolved understandings and have greater levels of self-awareness.
Vision — Ajna is the link between mind and the physical world. It enables us to internalize the outer world.
Intuition — This Chakra enables us to access our inner perception, intuitive senses, clairvoyance & psychic abilities. Ajna is crucial to clearly perceiving the subtle qualities of reality.
Self-Reflection — This energy center is responsible for our ability to self-examine.

Someone with a balanced Ajna Chakra feels clear, creative, and confident in their intuition. They are secure in themselves and the world. They’re likely calm and wise, and are willing to share their wisdom when prompted.

A Blocked Third Eye Chakra:

Key responsibilities of the Third Eye Chakra are vision and the ability to recognize and trust our intuition. The capacity to clearly see reality, decipher the codes within it and reflect upon our visions are empowered or prevented here.

Interestingly, many people who are relatively balanced in the higher chakras are off-kilter in the lower ones. This can stem from beliefs deeply engrained during upbringing through an array of potential first chakra quakes throughout childhood and into adulthood.

The Chakras spin and attract energy that is on the same frequency, and in turn sends it back out – like attracts like.

The more positive energy a chakra consumes, the more positive energy it releases and the more positivity it magnetizes back. However, the same goes for negativity.

Presence and awareness are crucial when it comes to unblocking, attracting and manifesting.

Symptoms of Third Eye Chakra blockage can include:

Lack of intuition
Eye strain
Hearing impairment
Headaches, including migraines
Brain fog, dizziness
Clogged sinuses
Problems with memory
Anxiety

a woman holding her head as the world spins around her

As with the other energy centers, the two main reasons your Throat Chakra may not function properly are due to an overactive or underactive flow of energy (prana). When Ajna is out of balance, we may struggle to see what’s real and true, ignore our intuition, feel disconnected from ourselves, or experience other destructive emotions such as:

Mental – lack of concentration, inability to see past illusions and self-reflect, poor memory, experiencing nightmares
Emotional – fear of the unknown, fixation on seemingly random things, lack of intuition, disconnection from the Universe
Physical – headaches, eye issues, impaired vision, exhaustion, difficulty sleeping

Third Eye Chakra Healing Stones

Everything in the universe has a vibrational frequency, including crystals and gemstones.

Crystals carry healing properties that connect to each chakra – and the elements within that resonate with that outside of us – uniquely. Stones hold vibrational energy that resonate with our energy centers to heal the body, mind, and soul.

Gemstones are believed to have a host of physical health benefits, such as reducing anxiety, blood pressure, chronic pain, and a lowering chances of disease. Emotional trauma, negative thoughts and energies are also thought to be released by working with stones.

So, let’s figure out which stone to use and how to use it!

Third Eye Chakra Crystals:

Tanzanite, Lapis Lazuli, Azurite, Amethyst, Blue Apatite.

Some believe that your stone will speak to you – notice if you feel a different vibration when holding a specific stone in your hand or near your Chakra. Or choose one from this list that you find beautiful!

How to use healing stones for the Sixth Chakra:

Meditate: Hold the stone in your hand, or place it on or near the body part associated with this Chakra. Repeat a mantra or the seed sound (see below) to amplify balancing energies.
Decorate: Place the stones around your home to fill your personal space with balancing energy.
Wear: Keep stones in your pocket or bag, or wrap a stone in wire or string to wear as a necklace, bracelet, ring or earrings.

Essential Oils

It is said that essential oils can restore balance to the Chakras – oils too have a vibration and hold frequency. Apply them to pulse points, anoint the Chakra location, put a few drops in the bath or a diffuser. Here are some to consider.

Lemon: Uplifting and can bathe the pineal gland in light which helps awaken the gifts of the Third Eye.
Sandalwood: Helps break down illusions, brings wisdom, inner awareness, ease when engaging with higher consciousness, enhanced healing, meditation and spiritual practice.

Third Eye Chakra Mantra

Each energy center has a one-syllable Bija, or seed, mantra that activates its vitality and power. Chanting the mantra can alter, purify and harmonize the flow of energy.

Focus your awareness on the physical location of the Chakra as you chant its bija mantra to feel connected, joyful and radiant.

Third Eye Chakra bija mantra: Aum – “I see”

Yoga Poses (Asana) For The Third Eye Chakra

Child’s Pose (Balasana)
Crocodile Pose (Makarasana)
Dolphin Pose (Ardha Pincha Mayurasana)
Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Shvanasana)

annotated image of a woman doing child's pose

Affirmations for the Third Eye Chakra

Affirmations are positive statements that can help you challenge and overcome negative thoughts, encourage yourself, boost self-esteem, relieve anxiety, increase self-love, and expand upon the tangible as well as the mystical properties of the chakras.

There are affirmations to help access and elevate willpower, endurance, your sense of security, connection with nature and stability with wellness including physical, mental and emotional health, spiritual connection… Even finances!

How to choose an affirmation

Simply choose an existing affirmation that resonates with you in the moment – reading it feels like a cuddle or elicits an emotional response or inspiration. Or create one for yourself – this may come to you intuitively, or you might be inspired by ours.

The affirmations here are only suggestions. Please feel free to add affirmations that feel empowering, leave behind those that do not, or come up with your own!

Third Eye Chakra Affirmations

Third Eye Chakra affirmations can help heal and activate the energy center that powers your self-knowledge and amplifies your capacity to see. By powering your intentions through affirmations, this Chakra can be balanced and allow more alignment in life – internal and external.

Practice these Third Eye Chakra affirmations to elevate your awareness, see clearly, and open your mind to inner stillness, divine sight and intuition. Commitment to yourself and in relationship with others and the world can be positively, profoundly affected by working with Third Eye Chakra affirmations.

Basic Third Eye Chakra Affirmations:

I feel, I act, I sense, I see.
I visualize myself achieving my goals and I effortlessly embody my visualizations.
I possess wisdom I need to see all that is, all that was, and all that will be.
I re-discover my spiritual awareness every day.
I trust my intuition to reveal the path I’m meant to walk.
I see beyond what is apparent to what is really there.
I embrace wisdom as a bridge to my higher self.
The source of my truth is universal, un-limited, unconditional love.
I align my inner guidance of what is right and what is true with my actions.
I embrace the subconscious truth that my dreams reveal.

How to practice Third Eye Chakra affirmations

Everyone’s style varies – according to body type, time available, emotional and energetic needs, state of mind – and it’s likely that your choices will evolve through the short and long seasons of life pending how you’re feeling and what you’re seeking.

Here are some loose guidelines and tips to get started. Feel free to experiment and cuddle accordingly to suit your needs!

To practice Third Eye Chakra meditation, find a sweet spot – many prefer a quiet place.
Get comfortable, like you would for meditation – seated or lying down, with the spine as straight as possible.
Focus on the space in the center of the neck – the location of the Third Eye Chakra. You might turn your head right to left a few times to help hone in on Ajna. See if you can sense buoyancy, spaciousness or light.
Breathe. Consider trying sama vritti – often called equal or coherent breathing – where the length of the exhalation matches the length of the inhalation. No prescribed count, your own pace, rolling circularly from inhale to exhale and back again.
Read your chosen affirmation over and over, committing it to memory if possible. Perhaps eventually softening your gaze or closing your physical eyes, if that feels safe, as you continue to say it aloud or silently.
As you repeat the affirmation, visualize the translucent violet color of the Third Eye Chakra and imagine it flowing into your energy center. This may appear as an expansion of the color from the center through your body into the space around you, or an increase in vibrancy or saturation, with your inhalation, followed by the color shrinking back to a small point or soft glow with the contraction of your exhalation.
Truly, deeply engage – immerse in the sensation of the feeling of the words of the Third Eye Chakra affirmation.

Final Thoughts

When your sixth center is aligned, you’ll be able to access Light energy, and tap into your inner vision. You will access your higher self and improve your actual vision, intuition and self-knowing. The ability to see, accept what truly is and be excited about life can be positively, profoundly affected by working with Third Eye Chakra!

Here’s another brilliant article to illuminate your Ajna: What is the Third Eye? + 6 Simple Practices to Awaken Your Third Eye Chakra!