Yoga psychology and the chakras explain why we ALL love treats with our tricks on Halloween!
Did you ever stop to wonder why Halloween revolves around the odd combination of terror and terrific amounts of sugary treats? Chakra theory and yoga psychology have an answer!
From the yogic perspective, the two lowest human chakras, mooladhara and swadhisthana, are often described as “twins.” This is because they are so close to each other in the body and also because they have some similar functions. For example, both are associated with the reproductive organs: mooladhara is the biological clock and survival-based need to have offspring, while swadhisthana relates to the pleasure associated with sexual pursuit and release. It is said that working with one of these chakras can have an immediate, direct effect on the other.
Simply put, mooladhara imbalances lead to fear-based behavior, while swadhisthana imbalances lead to self-gratification and hedonism. Since they trigger each other, it makes sense that if one is experiencing horror, insecurity, or other anxiety-based emotions, one can find balance on a very deep level by indulging in something highly enjoyable, like chocolate and candy. The accompanying physiological rush of that indulgence helps us feel stronger and more ready to deal with anything that comes our way.
From a yoga therapy standpoint, we can also look at this connection in reverse. If someone is experiencing a constant craving for tasty, indulgent food (like ice cream), they may be able to address the root of this issue by realizing and resolving highly stressful life situations. Modern medical research backs up this assertion; the overactivation of the body’s “flight, fight or freeze” response (sympathetic nervous system) and its accompanying chemical byproducts (adrenaline/epinephrine) can contribute to the development of Type 2 diabetes(1).
Add to these ideas the facts that many yoga traditions describe mooladhara as blood-red in color and swadhisthana as orange, and you can see another reason why they would be associated with Halloween.
So enjoy the thrills, chills and goodies of Halloween, and consider adding a short yoga practice (a Yoga Nidra would be perfect) when you get back to the safety of your own home!
(1.) Relevance of Sympathetic Nervous System Activation in Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jdr/2015/341583/