What is the soul star chakra?
The soul star chakra is said to sit above your head, roughly six to twelve inches over the crown. It is associated with the soul, purpose, a sense of being guided and the feeling of belonging to something larger than yourself. You'll also see it called the 8th chakra.
It's one of the chakras beyond the seven main ones. In the Usui Reiki training I received, it was handed down along with the figure of seven major and twenty-one minor chakras, and taught as something to meditate on, feel for in your own self Reiki, and test when working with someone, and not as established fact. That is how I share it here. For the bigger picture, see the minor chakras.
At a glance
| Also called | 8th chakra, causal chakra (in some systems) |
|---|---|
| Location | Above the crown, often described as six to twelve inches over the head |
| Color | White, silver or gold (systems differ). I use luminous white-gold. |
| Associated with | The soul, purpose, guidance and connection to something larger |
| Connected to | The crown chakra, and the earth star below the feet |
| Part of | The chakras beyond the seven in my Usui training |
Soul star, 8th chakra,
causal chakra
Teachers use these names in overlapping ways, which is why it can be confusing. Here is how they most often show up.
| Name | How it's usually used |
|---|---|
| Soul star | Usually described as the first center above the crown, often six to twelve inches over the head. Some teachers place it higher. |
| 8th chakra | The same center in many systems that number the chakras past seven. Others use the number for a different point. |
| Causal chakra | A name some systems use for a center above the crown, sometimes the same as the soul star and sometimes not. |
| Stellar gateway | In some modern systems, a further center above the soul star. Not every teacher includes it. |
None of these is the final word. If a teacher uses the words differently, that's fine. Trust what you can feel.
The crown and
the soul star
The crown chakra sits at the top of the head and is about connection, stillness and the sense of being part of something larger. The soul star sits above it and is associated with the soul and its purpose. I think of the crown as the doorway and the soul star as what lies beyond it.
In my activations, I call in the Oversoul of Aureya, and you can read more about that current in my work with the Oversoul of Aureya. For the center below, see the crown chakra.
What people report
People describe these. You may notice one, several or none.
A sense of purpose
A quiet feeling that your life is part of something larger, even if you can't put it into words.
Feeling guided
Ideas, people or timing seem to arrive when you need them.
Synchronicities
Repeating numbers, well-timed meetings and meaningful coincidences stand out.
Awe and expansion
Moments of stillness, wonder or feeling bigger than your daily concerns.
Feeling cut off
You feel disconnected from meaning or direction, as if you've lost the thread.
Floating or spacey
If you spend a lot of time in subtle practices without grounding, you may feel unmoored.
These are descriptions from energy traditions, not medical symptoms. If anything worries you, talk with a doctor.
Feel for it:
a gentle practice
Five to ten minutes. Read it through once, then try it with your eyes closed.
- Ground first. Feel your feet or your weight on the surface beneath you, and take a few slow breaths. If you like, start with the earth star practice below the feet.
- Bring attention to the top of your head, the crown, and let it soften.
- Imagine a soft white-gold light about an arm's length above your head. It might be a star, a glow or just a sense of space. Let it be whatever it is.
- Don't pull it down or push yourself up toward it. Simply rest your attention there and breathe.
- Ask a quiet question, such as What is mine to do? or What wants to come through?, and let the answer arrive as a word, a feeling, an image or nothing at all.
- Let a thin thread of light run from the star through your crown and your heart and into the earth beneath you. Rest for a few breaths, then ground fully before opening your eyes.
Nothing needs to happen for this to be worthwhile. For more, see chakra meditation.
Staying steady
Practices above the body work best with grounding. Tap a card to open it.
SteadyAfter the practiceGround before you move on
Press your feet into the floor, wiggle your toes and take three slow breaths. If you feel floaty, drink some water, eat something small or touch something solid. See the earth star chakra for more.
SteadyKeep a journalWrite what comes
If an image, word or feeling came, jot it down right away, without interpreting it. Look back in a week and see what repeated. Your own notes are the most trustworthy teacher here.
SteadyTake one small stepMake it practical
If you sensed a direction, choose one small, real thing you can do this week. A big sense of purpose lands best when it has somewhere ordinary to go.
SteadyRestLet it settle
Subtle practices work in the background. Sleep, water, time outdoors and easy days give the body room to catch up with what you noticed.
How Reiki can support
this
In my activations, I call in the Oversoul of Aureya, and the Reiki moves through the chakras as it is needed. Many people find that a settled body makes it easier to sense something larger, and so I always begin with grounding.
I can't promise a specific result, and Reiki is a complement to medical and mental health care, never a replacement. See my Reiki sessions for how to book.
A free activation
to call your power back
Divine Feminine Rising | Call Your Power Back from All Timelines is a Reiki activation I recorded. It is free on my YouTube channel. Find a quiet spot, and let yourself feel held as you listen.
Divine Feminine Rising · Call Your Power Back from All Timelines
You can listen any time, and if you drift off along the way, let yourself.
More to listen to
Three more to settle into.
Golden Intersection of Timelines
A 32-minute Reiki activation for harmonic coherence.
Listen on YouTube
Barbault Basket Is Here
A Reiki activation for the new era and a rare planetary alignment.
Listen on YouTube
Mary Magdalene & Christ Consciousness
A resurrection healing transmission for the spring season of return.
Listen on YouTubeKeep exploring
Where to go next from here.
Frequently asked questions
What is the soul star chakra?
The soul star chakra is a center said to sit above the head, outside the physical body. It is associated with the soul, purpose, connection to something larger and the sense of being guided. It is one of the chakras beyond the seven main ones, and different teachers describe it differently.
Where is the soul star chakra located?
Above the crown of your head, usually described as about six to twelve inches up, though some teachers place it higher. Because it is an idea from energy traditions, its exact position varies.
What is the difference between the crown chakra and the soul star?
The crown chakra sits at the top of the head and is about connection, stillness and the sense of being part of something larger. The soul star sits above it and is associated with the soul and purpose. I think of the crown as the doorway and the soul star as what lies beyond it. See the crown chakra.
Is the soul star the 8th chakra, or the causal chakra?
In many systems, yes, but not in all. Teachers use the words soul star, 8th chakra and causal chakra in overlapping ways, and some separate them. The table on this page shows the most common uses.
What color is the soul star chakra?
Systems differ. White and silver are common, and some use gold, magenta or a clear violet. I use luminous white-gold on this page. These are traditions and not rules, so go with what resonates.
What are the signs of an active soul star chakra?
People describe a sense of purpose, feeling guided, noticing synchronicities and moments of awe. These are descriptions from energy traditions, not medical symptoms, and they don't mean something is wrong if you don't notice them.
How do you open or activate the soul star chakra?
Most people don't need to open anything. A gentle practice, resting attention above the head, asking a quiet question and grounding afterward, is a safe way to feel for it. Always ground first and last. The practice on this page walks you through it.
Why is grounding important with the soul star chakra?
Practices that focus above the body can leave some people feeling floaty or spacey. Grounding, through the feet, the earth star and ordinary things like water and food, keeps the practice steady. See the earth star chakra.
Guided by Carissa Andrews, Reiki Master and lineage holder.
Reiki is a complementary practice and not a substitute for medical or mental health care. No specific outcomes are promised or guaranteed. This page is educational and is not therapy or clinical advice.