Opening the Third Eye Chakra For Clarity and Purpose

Your third eye might not help you obtain true psychic abilities, but opening it can lead to greater intuition and clarity. This second-highest chakra is all about wisdom, perception, intuition, and self-awareness. 

Bring this chakra into balance with specific yoga poses, affirmations, and meditations. You can also use essential oils to open up your third eye. 

What Are Chakras?

Chakras are spinning wheels of energy located at specific points in the body. Chakra is wheel in Sanskrit, and the practice of identifying and balancing them comes from ancient Hindu texts. They are used in some yoga and meditation practices and in Ayurvedic medicine. 

According to most sources, the body contains seven chakras, which when in balance, allow prana, or energy to flow through the body. This flow of energy contributes to all aspects of wellness: physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. 

• First chakra: root chakra (Muladhara) – bottom of the spine

• Second chakra: sacral chakra (Svadhisthana) – near the pelvis, below the navel

• Third chakra: solar plexus chakra (Manipura) – above the navel

• Fourth chakra: heart chakra (Anahata) – the chest area

• Fifth chakra: throat chakra (Vishuddha) – near the neck 

• Sixth chakra: third eye chakra (Ajna) – between the eyebrows

• Seventh chakra: crown chakra (Sahasrara) – top of the head

If a chakra is blocked, it can cause issues, from physical illness to spiritual crisis and destructive behaviors. Chakras can also be overactive and problematic. Yoga, meditation, and other practices help open blocked chakras and bring them into balance to manage specific issues and for overall wellness. 

What Is the Third Eye Chakra? (Ajna Chakra)

The chakras are located vertically in the body, one above the other, aligned with the spine. The third eye chakra is the sixth out of seven chakras. It is also known as ajna, which means to command or perceive. 

The third eye is one of the three highest chakras, which are associated with spirituality more so than the material world. Above the third eye is the crown chakra and below it is the throat chakra. Your third eye chakra helps you be perceptive and intuitive. 

When in balance and open, the third eye contributes to a sense of purpose, strong self-awareness, optimism, and spirituality. It helps you feel confident about your decisions and your purpose in life. 

Where Is the Third Eye Chakra? 

As its name suggests, this chakra is located in the middle of the forehead. It is associated with the pineal gland, which releases the hormones responsible for sleep and circadian rhythms. The pineal gland is situated in the brain behind the forehead. 

The pineal gland also secretes a hormone called DMT, which has been called the spirit molecule. It seems to be associated with consciousness. 

What Is the Third Eye Chakra Associated With? 

In addition to its location in the body and the connection to the pineal gland, the third eye chakra corresponds to certain colors, minerals, moods, feelings, and abilities: 

• Intuition

• Clairvoyance and psychic abilities

• Perception

• Clarity

• Visualization

• Concentration

• Spiritual communication

• Self-reflection and self-awareness

• Wisdom

• Decision making

• Imagination

• Femininity 

• Indigo

• Light

• Amethyst

• Obsidian 

• Labradorite

• Fluorite

When the third eye chakra is open and balanced, you should be perceptive and optimistic. It helps you think clearly and be self-aware. With a clear ajna chakra, you should have a good memory and be able to rely on your intuition. Opening the third eye prepares you to access the crown chakra, the highest chakra associated with spirituality and connection to the universe. 

Signs of a Blocked Third Eye Chakra

The third eye chakra affects many aspects of wellness when blocked or under active. These are some signs your third eye could benefit from more energy flow: 

• Headaches and migraines

• Vision or eye problems

• Brain disorders

• Insomnia

• Hormonal imbalances

• Confusion and uncertainty

• Cynicism and pessimism

• Lack of purpose

• Poor self-esteem

• Depression or anxiety

• Close-mindedness

Signs of an Overactive Third Eye Chakra

Excessive activity in the third eye is much less common than a blocked chakra. This is because most people rely strongly on the material, physical world and the third eye is all about perception and intuition. When it does happen, an overactive third eye chakra can cause: 

• Paranoia

• Hallucinations

• Difficulty concentrating

• Nightmares

• Obsession with psychic abilities or visions

How to Use Yoga to Unblock the Third Eye

Blockage in the third eye chakra is common. It takes a lot of effort to open up and connect with the highest chakras in the body. This is especially true in the modern world that puts so much focus and priority on material things. 

It’s worth connecting to your third eye to boost your spiritual wellness, self-awareness, intuition, and creative thinking. A more open third eye helps brings mental clarity, good concentration, self-expression, and a positive happy mood. 

Connecting with your third eye requires turning inward and focusing more on the spiritual than the material. This can be difficult to do for many people. A good place to start that is a little easier is yoga. Try these poses to open up your third eye: 

• Child’s pose. This is an easy yoga pose anyone can try. Kneeling on a mat, let your toes touch but keep your knees about shoulder-width apart. Exhale and lower your chest toward the floor in between your legs. Let your arms stretch out in front of you with palms down. Relax into this calming pose.

• Plow pose. To do the plow pose, lie on your back and bring the knees to the chest. Straighten your legs toward the ceiling and parallel to the floor. Press your hands into your lower back as you roll onto your upper back and shoulders. Let your legs keep moving backward until your toes rest on the floor behind your head. The legs should remain straight in this pose. If you can, release your hands and let your arms lie straight along the floor under your back.  

• Downward dog. This yoga pose is also great for third eye opening but is a little more challenging and requires some strength. Start on your hands and knees, press your hands into the mat as you straighten your arms. Tuck your toes under your feet and lift your hips up toward the ceiling. Hold the pose with arms and legs straight, head and neck relaxed. 

Need more? Check out these yoga poses to help with grounding and mental health.

Other Ways to Open the Third Eye

Asanas are great for all chakras, but the third eye has a greater spiritual connection than most. You’ll need to move from the physical to the spiritual to open it more fully. Try meditating on themes of connection, self-awareness, and intuition. 

Use affirmations, like ‘I trust my intuition,’ ‘I am open to the truths of the universe,’ and ‘I see my purpose with clarity,’ to promote energy flow through the chakra. 

The third eye chakra responds to certain aromas, so if you have access to essential oils, make use of them during affirmations, meditations, and yoga practice:

• Lemon

• Lemongrass

• Sandalwood

• Jasmine

• Patchouli

• Rosemary

Advance Your Yoga Education with Yoga Teacher Training

Working on your third eye chakra is a noble effort, but it requires patience and a lot of inaction. This can be tough for someone who likes to be active. The benefits can be well worth sitting in the moment and being still. 

The ISSA Yoga & Wellness Academy’s Yoga 200 Certification course is all you need to get started as a yoga instructor. Yoga Alliance-approved, this online certification gives you all the building blocks needed to begin a yoga career. 

References

Gheban, B. A., Rosca, I. A., & Crisan, M. (2019). The Morphological and Functional Characteristics of the Pineal Gland. Medicine and Pharmacy Reports, 92(3), 226–234. https://doi.org/10.15386/mpr-1235