Ajna: Balancing & Healing the Third Eye Chakra

Your Third Eye Chakra is your energy center for insight, intuition, mental strength, and intuition. It allows you to trust the path in front of you with clarity and a deep, innate inner wisdom. In this post, I provide you with a complete beginner’s guide to all things Ajna, or the Third Eye Chakra. Discover the signs of an imbalanced Third Eye chakra, and learn methods to balance and heal. Plus, affirmations and journal prompts! (And if you need a refresher on what a chakra is, be sure to check out my overview here.)

Also, be sure to scroll to the bottom of this page for some awesome freebies! You’ll receive 40 free printable affirmations and 30 journal prompts to open and heal the third eye chakra. Don’t miss these powerful healing tools!

Introduction to Ajna: The Third Eye Chakra

Would you describe yourself as intuitive?

For years, I was pretty certain that I had a mediocre intuition. I followed my heart often, but I didn’t view this as intuition. In fact, I’d go so far as to say I even perceived this as a weakness as I allowed myself to believe that logical choices were superior to heart-centered ones.

Truthfully, at this time, I didn’t really have a solid understanding of what intuition even was. In my head, it was akin to some kind of magical power that would lead me to picking winning lottery numbers and knowing which door the grand prize was hiding behind.

But even now, as I’ve learned to listen to and trust my inner knowing, if you asked me to define the word intuition, I’m not sure I could.

It’s not that I don’t know what intuition is; it’s that I believe intuition is deeply personal to each and every one of us.

Maybe intuition is the words you hear in your mind when you close your eyes. Maybe it’s the goosebumps that form on your skin when you think about your dreams. Maybe it’s a clenching or widening of the heart. Maybe it’s a whisper. Maybe it’s a soft warmth spreading throughout your entire body. Maybe it’s something inside that you don’t even know how to describe or define; it just is.

And maybe, at different times, it’s all of this, or something else entirely.

I think the reason people are often so fascinated by the idea of the Third Eye is because it’s so hard to define. You can’t quantify it. You can’t put it in a spreadsheet. You can’t explain it.

But you know it’s there. You feel it. You trust it.

Why Balancing the Third Eye Chakra is Important

When you have big goals, aspirations, and dreams, it’s important that the energy throughout all of your energy centers is balanced and in harmony.

Your Root Chakra creates a solid, steady foundation. Your Sacral Chakra is responsible for your creativity and passion. Your Solar Plexus Chakra gives you confidence. Your Heart Chakra opens your heart to love and peace. And your Throat Chakra allows you to communicate your truth and live a life of authenticity. And your Crown Chakra is your energy center for spirituality and connection to a higher power.

These energy centers provide you with the foundation for living a life of meaning, purpose, and truth. They give you the confidence and passion to shine your light. They help you to lovingly embrace your authentic self.

But without vision, you’d have nowhere to go.

Your Third Eye Chakra gives you the vision and clarity to see your path so you can walk forward in your journey. Maybe you don’t know exactly where it’s leading to, and maybe you can’t see every single step of what’s in front of you, but you trust your inner knowing to guide you in the right direction.

The Third Eye Chakra allows you to surrender and trust.

I spent years trying to control every step of my journey. There were times when I heard my inner knowing speak, but I didn’t listen, either out of fear or because it didn’t make sense.

Letting go and consciously choosing to trust wasn’t easy at first. But I did, and then something kind of amazing happened:

Everything I had ever dreamed of started to align for me.

And through these experiences, I’ve learned this: every time I take a leap and trust my inner knowing, I’m always led to really beautiful, really incredible places.

Third Eye Chakra Attributes

• Sanskrit Name: Ajna (“Beyond wisdom.” Can also be translated as “Perceive” or “Command.”)
• Location: Center of Forehead/Between Eyebrows
• Color: Indigo (Also associated with purple.)
• Body Parts: Brain, Eyes, Nervous System, Forehead
• Symbol: Two-petaled lotus with inverted triangle in the center
• Element: Light
• Mantra: OM or SHAM
• Gemstones: Lapis Lazuli, Opal, Sapphire, Amethyst, Sodalite, Apophyllite, Azurite
• Essential Oils: Frankincense, Basil, Juniper, Rosemary, Lemon, Pine, Cedarwood

Signs of a Balanced Third Eye Chakra

When your Third Eye Chakra is balanced, you feel a deep sense of spiritual alignment. You’re able to surrender control because you feel an unexplainable sense of trust in your path. And you also feel aligned and connected to your inner knowing. For some people, inner knowing is just a gut feeling. For others, they see signs from the Universe guiding them on their journeys.

Intuition is most often associated with the Third Eye Chakra, and while this is definitely an important aspect of this energy center, it’s not the only component. When your Third Eye Chakra is balanced, you also feel imaginative, open-minded, and mentally strong.

Here are some of the signs of a balanced Third Eye Chakra:

• Intuitive
• Imaginative
• Perceptive
• Open-minded
• Insightful
• Sense of clarity
• Mentally strong
• Trusting
• Motivated
• Creative
• Embraces truth
• Embraces change
• Spiritually aligned
• Possesses inner wisdom
• Connected to inner knowing

Signs of an Imbalanced Third Eye Chakra

When any of your energy centers are imbalanced, they may be either underactive or overactive. When your Third Eye Chakra is underactive, you may feel disconnected from your intuition. You might also feel like you’re unable to harness the power of your imagination. Rather than feeling mentally strong, you may feel scattered and unable to concentrate or focus.

When your Third Eye Chakra is overactive, you may experience paranoia, and you might start to believe that every little thing you see is some kind of sign.

Here’s a list of some of the signs and symptoms of an imbalanced Third Eye Chakra:

• Lack of intuition
• Unimaginative
• Fearful
• Confused
• Unable to focus
• Close-minded
• Depressed
• Anxious
• Isolated
• Indecisive
• Scattered
• Difficulty concentrating
• Paranoid
• Unmotivated
• Holding onto limiting beliefs

Physical Signs of an Imbalanced Third Eye Chakra

In addition to the signs I listed above, you may also encounter physical sensations and symptoms when your Third Eye Chakra is imbalanced. For this energy center, the physical symptoms you experience often manifest in your head and mind.

Here are some of the physical signs of an imbalanced Third Eye Chakra:

• Headaches
• Migraines
• Nightmares
• Sinus Issues
• Eyesight Problems
• Hallucinations

Third Eye Chakra Affirmations

When using affirmations to activate, heal, and balance the Third Eye Chakra, allow yourself to look within and really focus on your inner world. I sometimes like to inhale deeply and then exhale with a sigh, allowing myself to release control and surrender fully in that moment.

Don’t try to force clarity, trust, and intuition into your experience. Rather, open yourself up and let them come to you. Accept. Allow. Receive.

Here’s a list of affirmations for healing and activating the Third Eye Chakra:

• I listen to my inner knowing in the face of uncertainty.
• I see and think clearly. 
• My mind is strong, open, and clear. 
• I trust my intuition to guide me to making good decisions.
• My mind is free of resistance and open to all possibilities.
• All that I seek I can find within me.
• I am insightful, intuitive, and imaginative.
• I release doubt and welcome faith.
• I am aligned with my highest and most authentic self.
• I am in alignment with my purpose.
• I trust the signs and synchronicities that show up in my daily life.
• I honor my inner knowing and trust my path.
• I surrender to the highest good for all.
• I surrender control and allow the Universe’s loving presence to guide me.

For more powerful third eye chakra affirmations, be sure to check out my post, 40 Third Eye Chakra Affirmations for Wisdom, Clarity, and Insight. And be sure to scroll to the bottom of this page to get your free printable affirmations and journal prompts!

Third Eye Chakra Journal Prompts

Journaling is one of the most powerful ways to truly get in touch with your inner guide as well as to gain clarity, connect to your truth, and even utilize your imagination. When I sit down to journal, I often have no idea where my thoughts will lead me. I simply allow myself to follow the path that appears in front of me and let it lead me wherever it may go.

Some of the questions below ask tough questions about topics like closed-mindedness and surrender. As you answer these questions, I encourage you to be open and honest with yourself. And whatever your answers are, don’t judge yourself. None of us are perfect. We all have flaws, imperfections, and shadows inside of us, but the clearest path to the light isn’t by suppressing these truths; it’s by seeking to understand.

• Reflect on the word imagination. Ask yourself these questions: Was imagination encouraged or discouraged growing up? Do I use my imagination less or more than I did when I was a child? Do I still use my imagination in my daily life? In what ways? How can I embrace using my imagination more?

• What are some past experiences in which following my intuition led me to making the right choice? Have I ever not followed my intuition and wished that I had? What can I learn from these experiences?

• Are there any areas of life in which I can be close-minded? What led me to have a closed mind regarding these people, beliefs, ideas, etc.? Would there be any benefit to allowing my mind to be more open regarding these things? Conversely, in what areas of life am I very open-minded, and what led me to having an open mind regarding these people, beliefs, ideas, etc.?

• What does it mean to me to surrender? Am I able to surrender and trust my path, or do I feel the need to control certain areas of my life? How can I practice surrendering more? Do I feel safe in surrendering? (Remember, don’t judge yourself as you answer these questions. Simply allow yourself to be honest and truthful.)

For more powerful third eye chakra journal prompts, check out my post, 30 Journal Prompts to Open and Heal the Third Eye Chakra. And be sure to scroll to the bottom of this page to get your free printable affirmations and journal prompts!

Activating and Healing the Third Eye Chakra

Color Therapy

Immerse yourself in the color indigo (and/or purple). Eat purple foods such as grapes, raisins, prunes, purple potatoes, and purple carrots. Wear indigo/purple clothing. Surround yourself with indigo/purple objects. Write empowering affirmations on purple post-its and stick them up around you. Light a purple candle. You could even embrace your inner creative and paint with only these colors.

Nature

The Third Eye Chakra’s element is light, so embrace opportunities to sit or walk in the sunshine. If you have a sun room or any open rooms with big windows in your home, take advantage of this space by sitting in silence, reading, or doing some crossword puzzles/logic games. You might also try sitting or meditating under the moonlight if it’s especially bright out.

Daydream

I’ll be honest: this one’s my favorite. I was an avid daydreamer as a child, then lost it at some point after I graduated high school. And now, over these past couple years, I’ve truly embraced the return of my inner daydreamer. We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with “real world” information all of the time. We’re often told to prioritize reality and get our head out of the clouds. Well, I’m here to tell you, it’s okay to stick your head back up in the clouds from time to time. And if you find that you have a hard time doing this, see if some of your favorite childhood movies might inspire you.

Logic Puzzles/Games

It might seem a little weird that I’m recommending you use your imagination and do logic puzzles, but it’s important to keep an active and healthy mind in all capacities. I will recommend that you don’t play these games on your phone, though. If possible, work on a crossword puzzle or play a logic game somewhere you can get natural light.

Journaling

Use the journal prompts above or write down some empowering Third Eye Chakra affirmations. I also love to do simple stream-of-consciousness journaling. This means I sit down without any prompts and surrender control to whatever words want to emerge through me. See if you can simply write whatever flows from your fingers. Follow your inner knowing. And remember, don’t judge yourself. There is no right or wrong, no good or bad. Everything you write is exactly as it’s supposed to be.

Yoga

Yoga is a wonderful healing and restorative practice to balance the energy within your chakras. For healing the Third Eye Chakra, focus on poses where your head is on or directed toward the ground.

Here are some of the poses you might use for healing your Ajna:

• Downward Facing Dog
• Child’s Pose
• Extended Puppy Pose
• Seated Forward Bend
• Head to Knee Pose
• Pyramid Pose

And here’s a great yoga flow video from Allie the Journey Junkie on cleansing the Third Eye Chakra.

Meditation

Clear your mind. (You might imagine a gentle wave washing over your mind, leaving it calm, peaceful, and empty.) Envision a bright, indigo-colored light at the center of your forehead, between your eyebrows. Inhale slowly. As you inhale, that light grows brighter. Exhale slowly. As you exhale, the light grows bigger. Repeat this for several minutes.

I’m a big fan of guided meditations and have found them to be super helpful when it comes to balancing the chakras. Here are a few powerful free guided meditations for healing the Third Eye Chakra on the free Insight Timer app:

• Third Eye Chakra – Heal, Open & Align by Naomi Goodlet
• Third Eye Chakra Healing Meditation by Nicole.For.Real
• Third Eye Visualization by Jenna Pfingston

Ajna Affirmations

I love to use affirmations throughout my day as part of my total self-care routine. For healing, balancing, and activating the Third Eye Chakra, you can use affirmations during meditation, through journaling, or as you’re doing daily activities such as taking a shower or commuting to work. You can also write affirmations on post-it notes and stick them up around your house or workspace, and you can even enable phone notifications to pop up during your day with some empowering affirmations on them.

To learn more about using affirmations, check out my post, How to Use Affirmations (So They Actually Work).

Ajna Gemstones

Meditate with crystals. Wear beautiful gemstones as jewelry. Keep a healing crystal in your pocket throughout your day. Place gemstones in your workspace or somewhere they’ll be close to you throughout the day. Incorporate crystals into your sacred space.

There are so many easy yet powerful ways you can use crystals in your daily life. Here are some of the crystals associated with the Third Eye Chakra:

• Lapis Lazuli
• Opal
• Sapphire
• Amethyst
• Sodalite
• Apophyllite
• Azurite

If you want to learn how to cleanse and program your crystals, check out these blog posts, where I discuss cleansing, programming, and using crystals (and more!):

• 9 Best Crystals and Stones for Anxiety
• 11 Powerful Crystals for Manifestation

Ajna Essential Oils

Place a few drops of essential oils into your diffuser and allow the soothing aroma to calm your spirit and heal your energy. I love to use essential oils in combination with other practices on this list. For instance, you could use essential oils while journaling, and you could even incorporate crystals and color therapy at the same time.

Here are some of the essential oils associated with the Third Eye Chakra:

• Frankincense
• Basil
• Juniper
• Rosemary
• Lemon
• Pine
• Cedarwood

Also, if you have a favorite essential oil brand/supplier, be sure to check out their full line as some offer blends specifically for the chakras.

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Have you ever had any experiences where trusting your intuition led you on the right path (even if it didn’t make sense to others)? What practices do you do to keep your energy balanced in this energy center? Share your experiences in the comments below!

For more more chakra resources, plus uplifting affirmations and self-love encouragement, be sure to follow me on Pinterest and Instagram!

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