Chakra Balancing Tarot Spread

BY NICOLE LAU

Introduction: The Energy Body's Architecture

The chakra system—seven primary energy centers aligned along the spine from root to crown—is one of the most comprehensive maps of the subtle body in spiritual practice. Originating in ancient Indian yogic traditions, the chakras represent not just energy vortices but entire domains of human experience: survival, creativity, power, love, expression, intuition, and spiritual connection. When these centers are balanced and flowing, we experience vitality, clarity, and wholeness. When they're blocked or imbalanced, we experience physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual dis-ease.

The chakra balancing tarot spread is designed to assess the state of each of your seven major chakras, identify blockages or imbalances, and receive guidance on how to restore harmonious energy flow. This seven-card layout creates a vertical map of your energy body, revealing where you're open and flowing, where you're blocked or excessive, and what practices will bring you back into alignment.

This spread is particularly powerful for energy healers, Reiki practitioners, yoga teachers, and anyone working consciously with their subtle energy system. It can be used as a regular check-in (monthly or seasonally) or when you're experiencing specific symptoms that suggest chakra imbalance—chronic fatigue, creative blocks, relationship difficulties, communication issues, or spiritual disconnection.

Understanding the Chakra System

Before working with the chakra spread, it's essential to understand each chakra's function, location, and signs of balance versus imbalance.

The Seven Major Chakras

1. Root Chakra (Muladhara)

Location: Base of spine, pelvic floor
Color: Red
Element: Earth
Function: Survival, safety, grounding, physical vitality, connection to body and earth
Balanced: Feeling safe, grounded, stable, physically healthy, financially secure
Blocked: Anxiety, fear, financial insecurity, disconnection from body, chronic fatigue
Excessive: Materialism, greed, resistance to change, rigidity

2. Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)

Location: Lower abdomen, below navel
Color: Orange
Element: Water
Function: Creativity, sexuality, pleasure, emotions, flow, desire
Balanced: Creative, passionate, emotionally fluid, healthy sexuality, able to experience pleasure
Blocked: Creative blocks, sexual dysfunction, emotional numbness, inability to feel pleasure
Excessive: Addiction, emotional volatility, sexual compulsion, boundary issues

3. Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)

Location: Upper abdomen, stomach area
Color: Yellow
Element: Fire
Function: Personal power, will, confidence, self-esteem, transformation
Balanced: Confident, empowered, strong sense of self, healthy boundaries, able to take action
Blocked: Low self-esteem, powerlessness, victim mentality, digestive issues, lack of direction
Excessive: Domineering, controlling, aggressive, perfectionism, workaholism

4. Heart Chakra (Anahata)

Location: Center of chest
Color: Green (or pink)
Element: Air
Function: Love, compassion, connection, forgiveness, emotional balance
Balanced: Loving, compassionate, able to give and receive, emotionally balanced, connected to others
Blocked: Closed-hearted, unable to trust, fear of intimacy, grief, loneliness
Excessive: Codependent, boundary-less, people-pleasing, losing self in relationships

5. Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)

Location: Throat, neck
Color: Blue
Element: Ether/Sound
Function: Communication, self-expression, truth, authenticity, listening
Balanced: Authentic expression, clear communication, good listener, speaks truth with kindness
Blocked: Difficulty expressing yourself, fear of speaking, throat issues, feeling unheard
Excessive: Talking too much, gossiping, interrupting, not listening, verbal aggression

6. Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)

Location: Between eyebrows, forehead
Color: Indigo
Element: Light
Function: Intuition, insight, imagination, wisdom, psychic perception
Balanced: Intuitive, insightful, clear vision, able to see patterns, trusts inner knowing
Blocked: Lack of clarity, confusion, inability to see the big picture, disconnection from intuition
Excessive: Overthinking, delusion, psychic overwhelm, disconnection from physical reality

7. Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

Location: Top of head
Color: Violet (or white)
Element: Consciousness/Thought
Function: Spiritual connection, divine consciousness, enlightenment, unity
Balanced: Spiritually connected, sense of purpose, inner peace, trust in divine guidance
Blocked: Spiritual disconnection, lack of purpose, cynicism, depression
Excessive: Spiritual bypassing, disconnection from physical reality, superiority, addiction to spiritual experiences

The 7-Card Layout: Position Meanings

The cards are laid vertically from bottom to top, mirroring the chakra column from root to crown. Each position corresponds to a specific chakra and reveals its current state.

Position 1 - Root Chakra: Foundation and Safety

The Ground: This card reveals the state of your root chakra—your sense of safety, stability, groundedness, and connection to physical reality.

Interpretive Focus: The Four of Pentacles might show blocked root chakra through fear-based holding or scarcity; the Ten of Pentacles indicates balanced root chakra with security and stability; the Five of Pentacles suggests root chakra depletion through financial insecurity or feeling unsupported.

Physical Correlations: Root chakra imbalances often manifest as lower back pain, leg issues, immune system problems, or adrenal fatigue.

Balancing Practices: Grounding exercises, walking barefoot on earth, root vegetables, red foods, physical exercise, financial planning, creating safety and routine.

Position 2 - Sacral Chakra: Creativity and Flow

The Flow: This card reveals the state of your sacral chakra—your creative energy, emotional fluidity, sexuality, and capacity for pleasure.

Interpretive Focus: The Ace of Cups shows balanced sacral chakra with creative and emotional flow; the Four of Cups indicates blocked sacral chakra through emotional numbness or creative stagnation; The Devil might suggest excessive sacral chakra through addiction or compulsive sexuality.

Physical Correlations: Sacral chakra imbalances manifest as reproductive issues, lower back pain, urinary problems, or creative blocks.

Balancing Practices: Creative expression, dance, water activities, hip-opening yoga, pleasure practices, emotional release work, orange foods, carnelian crystal.

Position 3 - Solar Plexus Chakra: Power and Will

The Fire: This card reveals the state of your solar plexus chakra—your personal power, confidence, will, and sense of self.

Interpretive Focus: The Emperor shows balanced solar plexus with healthy authority and structure; the Eight of Swords indicates blocked solar plexus through powerlessness or victim mentality; the Seven of Wands might suggest excessive solar plexus through constant defensiveness or aggression.

Physical Correlations: Solar plexus imbalances manifest as digestive issues, stomach problems, eating disorders, or chronic fatigue.

Balancing Practices: Core-strengthening exercises, breathwork, setting boundaries, affirmations of personal power, yellow foods, citrine crystal, fire gazing.

Position 4 - Heart Chakra: Love and Connection

The Bridge: This card reveals the state of your heart chakra—your capacity for love, compassion, connection, and emotional balance. The heart chakra bridges the lower three (physical) and upper three (spiritual) chakras.

Interpretive Focus: The Two of Cups shows balanced heart chakra with healthy giving and receiving; the Three of Swords indicates blocked heart chakra through heartbreak or grief; the Six of Pentacles might suggest balanced heart chakra through generosity and reciprocity.

Physical Correlations: Heart chakra imbalances manifest as heart problems, lung issues, circulation problems, or immune system weakness.

Balancing Practices: Heart-opening yoga, forgiveness work, compassion meditation, spending time in nature, green foods, rose quartz crystal, loving-kindness practice.

Position 5 - Throat Chakra: Expression and Truth

The Voice: This card reveals the state of your throat chakra—your ability to express yourself authentically, communicate clearly, and speak your truth.

Interpretive Focus: The Ace of Swords shows balanced throat chakra with clear, truthful communication; the Two of Swords indicates blocked throat chakra through inability to speak or express; the Five of Swords might suggest excessive throat chakra through harsh or aggressive communication.

Physical Correlations: Throat chakra imbalances manifest as throat problems, thyroid issues, neck pain, or jaw tension.

Balancing Practices: Singing, chanting, journaling, authentic conversation, throat chakra toning, blue foods, aquamarine crystal, speaking your truth.

Position 6 - Third Eye Chakra: Intuition and Insight

The Vision: This card reveals the state of your third eye chakra—your intuition, insight, imagination, and ability to see beyond the physical.

Interpretive Focus: The High Priestess shows balanced third eye with strong intuition and inner knowing; the Moon might indicate blocked third eye through illusion or confusion; the Seven of Cups could suggest excessive third eye through fantasy or disconnection from reality.

Physical Correlations: Third eye imbalances manifest as headaches, vision problems, sinus issues, or sleep disturbances.

Balancing Practices: Meditation, visualization, dream work, intuitive development, limiting screen time, indigo foods, amethyst crystal, third eye activation exercises.

Position 7 - Crown Chakra: Spiritual Connection

The Gateway: This card reveals the state of your crown chakra—your spiritual connection, sense of purpose, and relationship with the divine.

Interpretive Focus: The Star shows balanced crown chakra with spiritual connection and trust; The Hermit indicates healthy crown chakra through spiritual seeking and inner wisdom; the Tower might suggest crown chakra activation through spiritual awakening or ego death.

Physical Correlations: Crown chakra imbalances manifest as depression, confusion, lack of purpose, or neurological issues.

Balancing Practices: Meditation, prayer, spiritual study, silence, fasting, violet foods, clear quartz crystal, connection to something greater than self.

How to Perform the Chakra Balancing Reading

Preparation: Aligning Your Energy

Physical Preparation: Sit in a comfortable, upright position with your spine straight, allowing energy to flow freely through your chakra column.

Breathwork: Practice 5-10 minutes of deep breathing, visualizing breath moving up and down your spine, activating each chakra.

Body Scan: Before pulling cards, scan your body from root to crown. Notice where you feel open, where you feel blocked, where there's pain or tension.

Set Intention: "I am ready to see the state of my energy body clearly. I welcome guidance on how to restore balance and flow to my chakra system."

The Reading Sequence

Step 1 - Ground First: Place your hands on the earth or floor. Feel your connection to the ground. Activate your root chakra before beginning.

Step 2 - Shuffle with Awareness: As you shuffle, visualize each chakra lighting up from root to crown. Feel the energy moving through your body.

Step 3 - Lay the Column: Place cards vertically from bottom to top, creating a visual representation of your chakra column.

Step 4 - Root Assessment: Position 1 shows your foundation. Do you feel safe and grounded? What does this card reveal about your root chakra?

Step 5 - Sacral Assessment: Position 2 shows your creative and emotional flow. Are you creatively expressed and emotionally fluid?

Step 6 - Solar Plexus Assessment: Position 3 shows your personal power. Do you feel confident and empowered?

Step 7 - Heart Assessment: Position 4 shows your capacity for love. Can you give and receive love freely?

Step 8 - Throat Assessment: Position 5 shows your expression. Can you speak your truth authentically?

Step 9 - Third Eye Assessment: Position 6 shows your intuition. Do you trust your inner knowing?

Step 10 - Crown Assessment: Position 7 shows your spiritual connection. Do you feel connected to something greater?

Step 11 - Pattern Recognition: Look at all seven cards together. Which chakras are balanced? Which are blocked? Is there a pattern (all lower chakras blocked, all upper chakras excessive)?

Post-Reading Energy Work

Chakra Meditation: Meditate on each chakra, visualizing its color and breathing into any blocked areas revealed by the cards.

Targeted Healing: Focus your energy work on the chakras that showed imbalance. Use the balancing practices listed for each chakra.

Crystal Healing: Place appropriate crystals on the chakras that need balancing during meditation or sleep.

Sound Healing: Use chakra-specific frequencies, singing bowls, or toning to balance blocked chakras.

Reiki or Energy Healing: If you're a Reiki practitioner, give yourself a treatment focusing on the imbalanced chakras. If not, seek a session with an energy healer.

Sample Reading: Full Chakra Assessment

Context: Someone feeling disconnected, anxious, and creatively blocked.

Position 1 (Root): Five of Pentacles - Root chakra is blocked. Feeling unsafe, financially insecure, or unsupported. Anxiety and fear are present. Need grounding and safety-building practices.

Position 2 (Sacral): Four of Cups - Sacral chakra is blocked. Creative energy is stagnant, emotional numbness, difficulty experiencing pleasure. Need creative expression and emotional release work.

Position 3 (Solar Plexus): Eight of Swords - Solar plexus is blocked. Feeling powerless, trapped, victim mentality. Low self-esteem and lack of confidence. Need empowerment practices and boundary work.

Position 4 (Heart): Two of Cups - Heart chakra is balanced! Capacity for love and connection is healthy. This is the strength to build from.

Position 5 (Throat): Page of Swords - Throat chakra is opening. Beginning to find voice and express truth, but still tentative. Need encouragement to speak more boldly.

Position 6 (Third Eye): The High Priestess - Third eye is balanced and strong. Intuition is active and trustworthy. This is another strength.

Position 7 (Crown): The Hermit - Crown chakra is balanced through spiritual seeking and inner wisdom. Connection to higher guidance is present.

Synthesis: The lower three chakras (root, sacral, solar plexus) are all blocked, creating a foundation of fear, creative stagnation, and powerlessness. However, the heart chakra is balanced, and the upper three chakras (throat opening, third eye and crown balanced) are functioning well. This pattern suggests someone who is spiritually connected and intuitive but struggling with physical reality, safety, and empowerment. The healing path is to ground the spiritual energy into the physical body—bring the crown chakra wisdom down into the root chakra reality. Focus on safety-building, creative expression, and reclaiming personal power while maintaining the beautiful heart-centered and spiritually connected energy already present.

Common Chakra Imbalance Patterns

Lower Chakras Blocked, Upper Chakras Open

Pattern: Spiritually connected but struggling with physical reality, money, relationships, or embodiment.
Healing: Ground spiritual energy into physical form. Focus on root, sacral, and solar plexus work. Embody your spirituality.

Upper Chakras Blocked, Lower Chakras Open

Pattern: Grounded and functional but spiritually disconnected, lacking purpose or intuition.
Healing: Develop spiritual practice, meditation, intuition. Connect to something greater than material reality.

Heart Chakra Blocked, Others Balanced

Pattern: Functional in life but emotionally closed, difficulty with intimacy or connection.
Healing: Heart-opening work, forgiveness, grief release, compassion practice. The heart is the bridge—healing it allows energy to flow between lower and upper chakras.

All Chakras Blocked

Pattern: Severe depletion, trauma, or crisis. Energy is not flowing.
Healing: Seek professional support (therapist, energy healer). Start with root chakra—establish safety first. Work slowly and gently up the chakra column.

All Chakras Excessive

Pattern: Overwhelm, burnout, inability to contain or ground energy.
Healing: Grounding practices, rest, boundaries, saying no. Focus on root chakra to anchor excess energy.

Chakra Balancing and Tarot Suits

The tarot suits correspond to chakra elements and can provide additional insight:

Pentacles (Earth): Root chakra energy—grounding, stability, physical reality
Cups (Water): Sacral and heart chakra energy—emotions, creativity, love
Wands (Fire): Solar plexus chakra energy—power, will, transformation
Swords (Air): Throat and third eye chakra energy—communication, thought, clarity
Major Arcana: Crown chakra energy—spiritual lessons, soul evolution

Multiple cards from the same suit in your spread indicate emphasis on that element and its corresponding chakras.

Integrating Chakra Work with Other Practices

Yoga and Chakra Balancing

Each yoga pose affects specific chakras:

Root: Standing poses, warrior poses, mountain pose
Sacral: Hip openers, goddess pose, pigeon pose
Solar Plexus: Core work, boat pose, plank
Heart: Backbends, camel pose, cobra
Throat: Shoulder stand, fish pose, plow
Third Eye: Child's pose, forward folds, meditation
Crown: Headstand, savasana, meditation

Nutrition and Chakra Healing

Foods corresponding to each chakra's color support its healing:

Root: Red foods (beets, strawberries, red peppers), protein, root vegetables
Sacral: Orange foods (oranges, carrots, sweet potato), healthy fats, water
Solar Plexus: Yellow foods (bananas, corn, yellow peppers), whole grains
Heart: Green foods (leafy greens, broccoli, green tea), heart-healthy fats
Throat: Blue foods (blueberries), herbal teas, water
Third Eye: Purple foods (eggplant, purple grapes), omega-3s
Crown: Fasting, light foods, pure water

Affirmations for Each Chakra

Based on your reading, use affirmations for blocked chakras:

Root: "I am safe. I am grounded. I am supported."
Sacral: "I am creative. I flow with life. I deserve pleasure."
Solar Plexus: "I am powerful. I am confident. I honor my boundaries."
Heart: "I am love. I give and receive freely. I forgive."
Throat: "I speak my truth. I express myself authentically. I am heard."
Third Eye: "I trust my intuition. I see clearly. I am wise."
Crown: "I am connected. I am divine. I trust the universe."

When to Repeat This Spread

Monthly Check-In: Do this spread at the new or full moon to assess your energy body's state.

Seasonal Shifts: Perform at equinoxes and solstices as energy shifts with seasons.

After Major Life Events: Trauma, loss, or significant change affects chakra balance. Check in after major transitions.

When Symptoms Arise: Physical, emotional, or spiritual symptoms often indicate chakra imbalance. Use this spread for diagnosis.

Before Energy Work: If you're an energy healer, use this spread before sessions to assess your own energy body and ensure you're balanced before working with others.

Conclusion: The Rainbow Bridge Within

The chakra balancing tarot spread offers a sacred map of your inner landscape, revealing where energy flows freely and where it's blocked, where you're open and where you're closed, where you're grounded and where you're floating. This practice honors the ancient wisdom that we are not just physical bodies but multidimensional beings with subtle energy systems that profoundly affect our health, emotions, thoughts, and spiritual connection.

As you work with this spread, remember that perfect chakra balance is not a static state but a dynamic flow. Your chakras will shift based on life circumstances, emotional states, and spiritual development. The goal isn't to achieve permanent balance but to develop awareness of your energy body and the tools to restore harmony when imbalance occurs.

Each chakra is a gateway to a different dimension of human experience—from the primal safety of the root to the transcendent consciousness of the crown. When all seven are balanced and flowing, you experience the full spectrum of what it means to be human: grounded yet spiritual, creative yet powerful, loving yet boundaried, expressive yet intuitive.

May this spread help you see your energy body clearly, identify where healing is needed, and restore the rainbow bridge of light that connects earth to heaven within your own being. May your chakras spin freely, your energy flow abundantly, and your entire system radiate with vitality and wholeness. You are a being of light, and this practice helps you remember and embody that truth.