Sacral Chakra Archetypes
The Functional and Dysfunctional Associations of the Second Chakra
The archetypes associated with the sacral chakra are the positive Empress/Emporer and the negative Martyr and are explored in Ambika Wauters' Chakras and Their Archetypes
Associated with each of your seven main chakras is a positive and negative archetype. By identifying and understanding these archetypes, you have the chance to reverse the effects of negative energy that may be causing your spiritual growth to be hindered.
Ambika Wauters’ book, Chakras and Their Archetypes walks you through the process of addressing and working through the negative archetypes with explanations, meditations and affirmations.
The sacral chakra is located in the abdominal area, about two inches below your navel and influences our physical and spiritual sense of well-being. It is the center of our pleasure and sexuality and according to Wauters’ “has been highly exploited in our society, and no one in our Western culture has perfect function in this chakra.”
These two archetypes form the “polarity of suffering and sacrifice on the one hand, and pleasure, happiness and contentment on the other.” Recognizing the Martyr and working to strengthen the Empress/Emperor is key to physical, mental and spiritual wellness.
It can be more difficult to treat a Martyr in a therapeutic situation than it is to transform a Victim because our culture validates sacrifice for the sake of others, Wauters admits. Nothing, however, will “disempower a person quicker than feeling they must give up their dreams for someone else’s happiness,” Wauters states.
The Martyr creates co-dependent relationships and is able to manipulate others into feeling as unworthy of love as it does. The pattern of resentment, blame, guilt is carried out in a detrimental cycle.
Wauters defines the negative sacral chakra characteristics as follows:
The Martyr:
- Takes greater responsibility than the Victim, but not enough to be empowered
- Sacrifices and suffers for the sake of others
- Thinks sacrifice is good for the self
- Often experiences anger, resentment and guilt
- Feels it deserves its self-imposed suffering
- Unable to shift negative attitudes and change life patterns
- Gives up claim to happiness to maintain peace, stability and balance for others
In order to move through the Martyr archetype, you must make the choice to be happy. By examining the emotional issues which block our happiness, and deciding to accept pleasure in our lives, we can let go of our pain and suffering.
As the Martyr is released, you can begin to develop the functional archetype of Empress/Emperor. This archetype, although deeply rooted in the physical world, exhibits pride in its achievements. It is capable, creative, resourceful, friendly, humorous and sociable.
Because the level of awareness of the Empress/Emperor is rooted in the material world, there is more to personal development than pleasure and an easy life, Wauters states. Once this archetype delves more into its spiritual world and emotional experiences, it will reach a much higher level of personal growth.
