Chakra 6 of 7 · Ajna
Third eye chakra
Intuition, clarity and that little voice that's usually right.
- Sanskrit
- Ajna
- Where
- Between the eyebrows
- Colour
- Indigo
- Element
- Light (beyond the elements)
- Mantra
- OM
Signs it’s a little off
- ✧ You can't trust your gut at all
- ✧ Your mind feels foggy and scattered
- ✧ You overthink every tiny choice
- ✧ You can't picture what you want
What the third eye chakra is
The third eye chakra is chakra number six, between your eyebrows and slightly up. In Sanskrit it's Ajna, which means "command" or "perception". The traditional lotus has just two petals, and in the modern colour system it's indigo, that deep purple-blue of the sky right after sunset.
It's beyond the five elements, so it's described as light or mind. This is the chakra of intuition, imagination and clarity. It's the one that knows the vibe is off before anyone says a word.
Signs your third eye chakra is blocked
People often describe it like:
- not trusting your gut, ever, about anything
- brain fog, or feeling scattered all day
- overthinking a text for twenty minutes
- struggling to imagine what you actually want from your life
Balanced, it feels clear. You notice things. You have hunches, and you're like, okay, I'll listen to that.
An eyebrow-centre meditation
In kundalini and hatha yoga, softly gazing towards the brow point is a classic way to focus. It should feel easy, never strained.
- Sit tall with your eyes closed.
- Gently turn your attention, and your closed eyes, up towards the point between your eyebrows. Soft, not crossed.
- Breathe slowly through your nose.
- On each exhale, chant OM softly, or just hear it in your head.
- If your eyes start to ache, relax them and just keep your attention there.
Brow point, OM
3 minutes, with a soft chime at the end.
Practice
Three minutes of sitting still
Set a timer for three minutes, close your eyes and just notice your breath. When your mind wanders, which it will, come back. That's the whole practice.
Practice
Five rounds of alternate nostril breathing
Right thumb closes the right nostril, ring finger closes the left. In through the left, out through the right, in through the right, out through the left. That's one round. Five rounds, slow, no holding.
Third eye affirmations
- I trust what I notice.
- I can see the next step clearly.
- My intuition is allowed to have opinions.
Other little ways to open your third eye
- Take ten minutes away from screens before bed.
- Write down one hunch a day, then check back in a week. Your gut is low-key a genius.
- Try alternate nostril breathing to settle a busy mind.
- Look at the night sky. Indigo is the colour, after all 🌙
FAQ
What colour is the third eye chakra?
Indigo, in the modern colour system. Some older texts describe the Ajna lotus as white.
What is the third eye chakra mantra?
OM (also written AUM). It's the sound most associated with the third eye.
Where is the third eye chakra?
Between the eyebrows, slightly above the bridge of the nose.
How do you open your third eye?
The classic practices are meditation with your attention at the brow point, alternate nostril breathing, chanting OM and quiet time away from screens. Check out the full guide on how to open your third eye.