How to Open the Crown Chakra

Co-authored by Emily Christensen and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: October 13, 2023 Fact Checked

Are you feeling stuck, worried, or anxious and don’t know why? This could be a sign that your crown chakra, also known as Sahasrara, is blocked. Think of the crown chakra as your spiritual crown. Located at the top of your head, this chakra is the leading energy force of spirituality. An open crown chakra allows you to connect with a greater power and be at peace with where you are right now. Keep reading to learn what you can do to balance your energy and tap into your spirituality.

1

Spend time in nature.

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Your spiritual connection starts with the earth. Since the crown chakra represents your spiritual connection, what better way to open it than by being in nature? Adding daily outdoor walks to your routine or stepping out into the sun when you feel stressed can help balance your crown chakra.^{[1]
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- The weather doesn’t always work in our favor, and that’s okay! Like nature, we have mood swings, and it’s all about feeling them out.
- Dance in the rain, jump through the snow, or skip against the wind. Be mindful of your surroundings and enjoy what this world has to offer.

2

Add moments of silence to your routine.

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The crown chakra comes down to one thing and one thing only: you. Your connection with your mind, body, and spirit is essential to opening this chakra, so sit with yourself and give yourself time to relax.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Emily Christensen
Spiritual Advisor & Founder of Rainbow Raaja

Expert Interview. 11 March 2022.} Turn off all background noises like your TV or music, and find a quiet place to rest. Set aside 10 to 20 minutes each day to be still and do nothing.^{[3]
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- Unlike other chakras, the crown chakra prefers silence. Rather than repeating a mantra to yourself, explore what happens when you are completely and utterly silent.

3

Repeat positive affirmations.

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What you say to yourself has great power. With the crown chakra being the gateway to your spirituality and thoughts in general, the words you think can make a huge impact. Remind yourself that you are powerful, intelligent, and creative with these affirmations:
- “I am at peace.”
- “I trust my intuition.”
- “I know my own voice.”
- “I am connected to the universe.”
- “I am a beautiful creation and create beautiful things.”

4

Surround yourself with the color purple.

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Purple is connected to the crown chakra and can help move energy. The crown chakra’s energy is symbolized by purple. So, put on a purple outfit, slap on some purple-tinted glasses, or watch a video of purple visuals. While this color surrounds you, think about your spirituality.^{[4]
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Research source} Ask yourself questions like:
- What is my purpose?
- How am I working with the universe?
- There’s no right or wrong way to do this—just have fun!

Quiz

wikiHow Quiz: What Chakra Do I Need to Balance?

Your spiritual energies can play a big part in how you feel day after day. Chakras are your body’s energy centers, and these spiritual wheels control your mood, energy level, and even your aches and pains. Balancing your chakras is especially important because a blocked or imbalanced chakra can throw off your whole day. So, how do you know which chakra needs healing? Take our quiz to find out!

1 of 12

What do you struggle with the most?

Feeling insecure and frustrated with life. How do I know if I’m good enough?

Being confident in my opinions. It’s so hard to speak up sometimes!

Believing in others as well as myself. Trust is so difficult!

Being creative. I feel so blocked!

5

Add foods of strength to your diet.

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Mushrooms, garlic, and coconut are some "power" foods you can try. Ginger, onion, and lychee also represent strength. Taking a few bites of these each day may help you open your crown chakra.^{[5]
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- What you put into your body matters as you absorb the energy you eat.
- In spiritual traditions, fasting is used to open the crown chakra. Some say pausing your food intake can help boost your energy and clear your mind. This method isn’t for everyone, so listen to your body and do what’s best for you.^{[6]
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6

Do breathing exercises.

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A focused breath can help energize your crown chakra. Pranayama is the practice of focused breathing in yoga.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM
Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine

Expert Interview. 25 August 2021.} A form of this practice called Nadi Shodhan, or alternate nostril breathing, can help relieve tension and open your crown chakra. All you have to do is close your eyes and follow these steps:^{[8]
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- Place your right thumb on your right nostril.
- Breathe in through your left nostril.
- Hold your breath, and move your thumb away from your nostril.
- Place your right ring finger on your left nostril and breathe out.
- Repeat these steps, alternating which nostril you cover and breathe through, until you feel relaxed.

7

Practice meditating.

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Open the gateway to your spirituality by silencing the mind. The hustle and bustle of today’s culture can easily get in the way of our spiritual journey. Meditation is a great tool you can use to reconnect with your mind, body, and spirit, all in the comfort of your own home.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Emily Christensen
Spiritual Advisor & Founder of Rainbow Raaja

Expert Interview. 11 March 2022.}^{[10]
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Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM
Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine

Expert Interview. 25 August 2021.} Follow this meditation guide to open your crown chakra:^{[11]
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- Find a quiet spot and sit in a comfortable position.
- Close your eyes and focus on your inhales and exhales.
- When you feel your breaths get deeper, focus your attention on the top of your head.
- Imagine a purple ray of light entering your body through your head.
- With each inhale, the purple light grows and radiates through your body. With each exhale, the light leaves your body.
- Repeat this until you feel at peace.

8

Activate your energy with yoga poses.

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Yoga is a great way to balance and channel the crown chakra’s energy. The crown chakra, being on the top of your head, can be opened with inversion and balancing poses.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM
Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine

Expert Interview. 25 August 2021.} Inversions help energy flow to the top of your head right to your crown chakra, and balancing poses help focus your mind inward. Here are some poses you can try:^{[13]
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- Modified downward dog
- Lotus
- Tree
- Eagle
- Rabbit
- Headstand

9

Try centering mudras.

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These small hand movements can help energize and open your chakras. To do the crown chakra’s mudra, hold your hands out in front of your stomach. Interlace your fingers and point your pinkies up. Hold this pose for at least 2 minutes, keeping your breathes steady and full. You can do this mudra when you feel anxious to help reconnect with yourself and the universe.^{[14]
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10

Diffuse essential oils.

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Scents can be a great way to reconnect with your spirit. Put an equal amount of these oils in a diffuser and keep it close to you while working, meditating, or even sleeping. The calming and earthy smells can help open your spiritual mind.^{[15]
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11

Cleanse your energy with crystals.

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^{[16]
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Expert Source

Emily Christensen
Spiritual Advisor & Founder of Rainbow Raaja

Expert Interview. 11 March 2022.} Crystals store and release energy, making them great tools to use when it comes to opening your chakras. Simply lay down and place these crystal on the top of your forehead, or hold it in your hands while meditating. You can do this when you’re feeling stressed, or start a weekly ritual to keep your crown chakra open.^{[17]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

What are the energy centers in the body?

Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM
Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine
Dr. Karina Menali is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, Faculty Member at Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Owner of Kai Wellness. She specializes in holistic health, Chinese herbal medicine, and functional medicine. Dr. Menali also helps patients through emotional and spiritual trauma. She holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology from The University of Massachusetts, Boston, a Master's from Emperor's College in Santa Monica, CA, and a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.

Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM

Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine

Expert Answer

The energy centers in the body are known as chakras. They are associated with the glandular system of the human body.

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Question

How can you activate the chakras?

Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM
Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine
Dr. Karina Menali is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, Faculty Member at Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Owner of Kai Wellness. She specializes in holistic health, Chinese herbal medicine, and functional medicine. Dr. Menali also helps patients through emotional and spiritual trauma. She holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology from The University of Massachusetts, Boston, a Master's from Emperor's College in Santa Monica, CA, and a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.

Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM

Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine

Expert Answer

You can activate the chakras by doing specialized breathing exercises, chanting mantras, meditating, doing yoga, and using ayurvedic herbs.

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Question

Is it good to open the crown chakra?

Emily Christensen
Spiritual Advisor & Founder of Rainbow Raaja
Emily Christensen is a Shamanic Spiritual Advisor, Reiki Master, and the Founder of Rainbow Raaja based in Southern California and now King County, Washington. Emily has over six years of experience as a Massage Therapist and in using tarot cards, crystal therapy, light work (reiki, light codes, energy therapy), and shamanic healing. She received Reiki Master training from the Hands on Healing Institute. Emily is also a certified Bodywork Therapist by the California Massage Therapy Council and an Ordained Shamanic Minister with the Universal Life Church.

Emily Christensen

Spiritual Advisor & Founder of Rainbow Raaja

Expert Answer

Sure, but it's important to work through the chakras, from the Root Chakra (the base one) all the way to the Crown Chakra, because if you only do the Crown Chakra, you can overly stimulate it and end up getting a lot of misinformation.

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