Part VI: Ājñā: The Third Eye Chakra

Part VI

Posted in yoga philosophy |
Part VI: Ājñā: The Third Eye Chakra

 

This is the sixth stop in our seven-part chakra series. Ājñā, the third eye chakra, is the seat of intuition and inner vision, where wisdom guides perception.

Located between the eyebrows, Ājñā is the center of intuition, higher consciousness, and spiritual insight.

Meaning & Symbolism

Ājñā translates as “command” or “perception,” indicating its role in guiding our thoughts, visions, and deeper knowing. This is also where the lunar (ida) and solar (piṅgalā) channels merge into sushumṇā, the central channel through which kundalini energy ascends.

Element & Physical Connection

Ājñā is linked not with a classical element but with light and awareness. Physically, it corresponds to the brain, pituitary gland, and nervous system.

Signs of Balance

  • Clarity of vision and intuition
  • Presence
  • Ability to perceive beyond the physical senses

Signs of Imbalance

  • Overactivity may result in overthinking, attachment to fantasy, or overwhelm
  • Underactivity may manifest as confusion, lack of direction or self-trust, or disconnection from intuition

Practices to Balance the Third Eye Chakra

  • Engage in meditation and visualization practices
  • Journal dreams and intuitive insights
  • Explore asanas that support grounding and spinal alignment, like Siddhasana (Accomplished Pose) or Ardha Matsyendrāsana (Half Lord of the Fishes Pose)
  • Practice prāṇāyāma such as Nāḍī Śodhana to balance the hemispheres of the brain
  • Chant the mantra “Aum”

Breathwork Meditation

Closing Reflection

Cultivating Ājñā sharpens intuition, encouraging us to trust the wisdom that arises when we look inward.

 

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Contributor Spotlight:

Harpinder Kaur Mann, RYT-500 (she/her), is a trauma-informed yoga teacher, mindfulness educator, and author of Liberating Yoga: From Appropriation to Healing. Rooted in her Sikh lineage from Punjab, India, and based in Los Angeles, she has over a decade of experience teaching yoga as a practice of healing, liberation, and connection. Harpinder is the co-founder of the Womxn of Color Summit and a leading advocate for decolonizing yoga, fostering accessibility, and honoring yoga’s origins. Learn more at www.harpindermann.com.


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