ELEMENT: WATER

The sacral center is at the level of the sacrum on the spine. At this level we have the experience of fluidity in ourselves. This is called the element of water. The idea of energy experienced as the principle of fluidity may seem a little mystifying at first sight to the student. We have to adjust to the idea of energy in ourselves at these different levels being experienced as different kinds of consciousness or elements.

For some, the idea of ripeness or smoothness may be a more understandable way of defining the watery quality of this chakra. For example, a fruit's ripeness will require the watery element to be strongly present in it. The same thing applies to people. For man and woman to be ripe from the sexual point of view, the fluid element must be strongly present in their systems. The sacral center is thus connected with the fluid functions of the system such as the urine and the semen.

An insufficiency of the fluid element will lead naturally to aridity. This can cause hardening or drying out diseases such as arthritis. In the latter case the cartilaginous tissue which acts as a natural lubricant between the bones at the joints dries up and painful friction takes place. Ripeness and smoothness give the experience of flow, which is the fluidity of the watery tattwa.