“A TRIBAL REFLECTION ON CONNECTING TO OUR ROOTS”
by Elizabeth Jackson

Connecting deeper to our roots will enhance meaning and happiness within our lives. Our roots represent where we come from: the earth, the womb, our tribal ancestors, our personal life history, and the modern tribes and surroundings that we live in on a daily basis. The tribal characteristics that develop through studying our roots are a blessing available to us all.

Mother earth is the universal ground for our roots. All that we do rests upon her. Situated at the base of our spine rests the foundation for the entire chakra system, the first of the main 7 chakras in our body. The Sanskrit name for this first chakra is muladhara, meaning “root support.” Our first charka roots us into our body, the physical world, and the earth. To connect with muladhara is to connect with Mother Earth and become grounded in the biological reality of existence.

Human life is dependent upon a supply of energy. Our roots can be seen as the way our system plugs into the larger system of the planet, which is our source, the origin of the liberating current from which all things grow up. The elements needed for physical survival come from the earth in various forms-the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe. Just as a plant grows roots into the earth and absorbs it’s nutrients to then sprouts life above, our connection to our root chakra effects our ability to create strong flowering and fruitful lives. We must have soil firm enough to provide stability, yet yielding enough to be penetrated by roots. Everything that grows above branches out into infinity, growing more rich and complex.

Learning about our roots brings us into a singular simplicity, and anchors us into the commonality of the collective unconscious. To bring muladhara to consciousness is to bring awareness to our roots, to uncover and examine the past in order to become happier and more satisfied in the present. It brings us home to the earth from where our spirit was born and where our body will one day rest in peace and turn to dust.

Our work begins from the ground up, yet it is always changing as a result of what we build above it. Connect to the very ground from which you were born and deepen the meaning and power of the tribe(s) you were born from, as well as, the ones you currently belong to and will continue to develop throughout the remainder of your life. Feed your tribal journey on earth by remaining an open system in constant exploration and contact with your environment.

-“the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are” -Joseph Cambell

The following is a list of self-reflective questions to help increase awareness of your tribal connection with your first chakra:

1) What are the characteristics of your tribal roots?
2) What does a tribal sensation feel like?
3) What are your tribal environments in life?
4) How is your “tribal-being” being enhanced by these environments and groups?
5) What tools do you use to improve upon sharing your tribal connections with your day-in/day-out various communities that you enter upon? This includes Mother Earth.