I recently wrote about how, if you take into account the ideas that come from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s theories on achieving flow along with Candace Pert’s findings about how human emotions originate in the exact locations of the seven main chakras and that “our bodies are our subconscious minds,” you can utilize the chakras to banish writer’s block, achieve flow, and tell your untold stories.
This is achieved through the Writing Through the Body™ method, which uses the chakra system as a practical tool for uncovering a character’s desires, wounds, and motivations. By exploring these psychological foundations, writers are able to portray their characters’ behaviors, reactions, and responses on the page with greater depth and emotional truth.
For example, the Root (first) Chakra rules Tribal Power and Tribal Consciousness, which is about identity in relationship to Tribe, or family of origin. Deep down, the Root Chakra relates to how an individual (character) sees themself and the degree of their feelings of security in the world. The Root Chakra says I AM.
In your writing, by considering characters’ places within their families of origin—even if the family members are not part of the present story—you can begin to uncover important information about your characters’ current behaviors and motivations, which will inform the story you tell about them.
Below is a brief explanation of the Root Chakra, its traits and characteristics, and some ways you might integrate its attributes into your character development.
First Chakra – Root Chakra
Location
Deep in the pelvis, just in front of the tip of the tailbone
This does not directly apply to your character but is used for visualization purposes when doing certain exercises within the Writing Through the Body™ method, offered here as an FYI.
Primary strengths
Tribal/family identity, bonding, support, and loyalty that create a feeling of security and connection to the world
This is about who your character is connected to or disconnected from, and how this impacts their sense of identity and security in the world.
Primary fears
Physical survival, abandonment, loss of order
Does your character have any of these fears to any degree in relation to anyone or anything—or in general?
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Writing exercise
Take some time to sit quietly, and think about the aspects of the Root Chakra as they relate to all your characters.
Write a sketch of a character that may not be materializing as fully as you would like, and answer the questions below as fully and exhaustively as possible.
Tip: Every time you arrive at a new place of understanding, ask “why?” Continuing to ask “why?” is how we get to the deep psychology of our characters.
Example: You discover that your character had a falling out with her favorite aunt years ago and they have never resolved the conflict. Why?
Questions to begin your exercise:
• Who are they most bonded to in their family of origin and why?
• Is there any estrangement in their family of origin? If so, how has that impacted them?
• What is their relationship to money and their general ability to survive in the world?
Let me know what you discover in the comments.
As always… Sending you mad writing mojo…
Happy writing!
Johnnie
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