Sexual Abuse and Our Chakras
by Andrea Kehler

As I begin to work with my client, I can feel the power of reiki flowing through my hands. I align myself with love, holding the intention that my client’s body will reveal to us the suppressed memories behind the pain she has been experiencing in life. I gently place my hands over her sacral chakra, the energy centre located just below the belly button. This chakra connects to a woman’s sexuality, her womb, and her reproductive tract. As I listen to the story that is being suppressed there, I immediately recognize that I am working with yet another woman who has endured the toxic effects of sexual abuse. Having survived childhood abuse myself, I can now recognize the same signs in someone else immediately.

It was Reiki that initiated my own healing crisis years ago. Reiki is a hands-on Japanese healing technique used to clear and rebalance our chakras. Chakras are our energy centres associated with our physical, mental, and emotional interactions. They are located in our aura and are invisible to the human eye. Intuitive healers have the ability to read these chakras, as well as sense the emotions, or blockages, suppressed there in order to clear them.

When childhood abuse occurs, it is natural to justify, deny, and suppress our memories as a means of coping, but you can never truly run away from these experiences. Our body never lies. Everything that happened to you is stored in your body’s cellular memory. If you allow yourself to observe and feel these emotions, healing can occur. Pain is the body’s way of letting us know that there is something we need to pay attention to in order to restore balance. If you have been sexually abused, your body may be speaking to you through four chakras: the sacral chakra, the heart chakra, the throat chakra, and the solar plexus chakra. All you need to do is listen, observe, and respect the body memories that arise.

The sacral chakra is the energy centre located just below the belly button and is therefore directly connected to the physical trauma that occurs through sexual abuse. Any suppressed emotions of pain, fear, rage, and shame from the traumatic event will be held there. If you have been sexually abused you may feel your legs tighten as the body memories present themselves to you. If your sacral chakra is blocked, you may experience physical signs such as unexplained fertility, gynecological issues, pain during intercourse, chronic low back pain, crying after orgasm, and chronic urinary tract infections.

The heart chakra holds onto the emotional trauma caused by sexual abuse. According to a 2003 National Institute of Justice report, three out of four adolescents who have been sexually assaulted were victimized by someone they knew well. As a result of prolonged sexual abuse, trust issues begin to develop. The world can look like a scary place, and naturally one begins to close off. The heart chakra begins to close and sub-consciously we begin to push people away if they get too close. This is a natural response, however unfortunately it also blocks us from experiencing love and self-compassion to the maximum potential. Abusers will often cause victims to feel responsible for the assault which can result in self-loathing, depression, and feelings of unworthiness. Loving yourself becomes challenging. Physically, if the heart chakra is blocked, one may experience pain between the shoulder blades, circulation problems, carpal tunnel, and on an extreme level a heart attack.

Victims of sexual abuse are often told not to speak of the event which directly influences the throat chakra. Shame and fear are often the emotions that prevent us from speaking our truth. Shame is the lowest vibrational emotion there is. According to the National Centre for Victims of Crime, statistics show that over 61% of children who were sexually assaulted will commit suicide. This is unacceptable and is exactly why it is important to give sexual assault a voice. It is a silent epidemic that kills many. Speaking your truth will be the hardest thing you will ever have to do, but is key in allowing the healing process to begin. When this chakra is blocked, you may experience physical symptoms such as thyroid issues, chronic tonsillitis, loss of voice, constant clearing of the throat, or an unexplained feeling of something stuck in your throat.

Finally, when one is sexually abused their power is taken away from them which directly influences the solar plexus chakra. This chakra is located above the belly button and directly influences our digestive tract. Subconsciously, you begin to seek out ways to get back your power which may result in perfectionism, or feeling the need to control your environment. This can create extreme anxiety. Speaking your truth will allow you to reclaim your power. By doing so, you are telling the Universe you are no longer willing to carry all of the shame and fear that someone else inflicted on you. When the solar plexus is blocked, you may experience digestive tract issues, heart burn, nausea, or stomach ulcers.

If you or a loved one has suffered the effects of sexual abuse, chances are there are still subconscious effects being stored within your body memory. By listening, observing, and clearing these suppressed emotions, you will begin to heal. Begin to observe your body, what is it telling you? What emotions come up for you during intimacy with a partner? Do you feel shame or cry after orgasm? Is there a certain person who triggers you, or an environment or particular social setting? Where in your body do you feel these emotions? You may already be feeling fear, anxiety, or nausea as you are reading this. Begin to keep a journal, recording all of your responses. In time, you will understand your story. Awareness is the first step to healing.

Andrea Kehler is a Registered Acupuncturist, Reiki Master, and Certified Angel Card Reader. She combines her knowledge of both Eastern and Western Medicine in her practice as well as her gift of intuition. She has years of experience supporting clients through trauma, empowering women to find their voice. Phone (306) 713-1261, www.andreakehler.net.