Third Eye Chakra · Ajna · Reiki · Manifest Differently
The Third Eye Chakra: Meaning, Signs of a Block and How to Heal ItA Reiki Master's guide to the sixth chakra
You already know more than you trust.
What is the third eye chakra?
The third eye chakra, called Ajna in Sanskrit, is the sixth of the seven main chakras. It sits between and just above the eyebrows and is associated with intuition, insight, imagination and the ability to see a situation clearly. The name is often translated as "command" or "perceive."
When it is clear, people describe trusting their inner knowing, seeing patterns, and being able to hold more than one view at once. When it isn't, thinking can loop, doubt can take over, or intuition can feel loud one day and silent the next.
Indigo is the traditional color of the third eye chakra, and it is the color I use here. You will also see it described as purple or violet in some systems, which shifts the shade without changing the meaning.
You will often see the third eye linked to the pineal gland, a small gland in the brain that helps regulate sleep. That link comes from tradition and popular writing, not settled science, so I treat it as a symbol and not a medical claim.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Also called | Sixth chakra, brow chakra, Ajna |
| Location | Between and just above the eyebrows |
| Color | Indigo (some systems use purple or violet) |
| Petals | Two, on the traditional lotus symbol |
| Associated with | Intuition, insight, imagination, clarity, perception |
| Element | Light |
| Seed sound | OM |
| Inanna's gate | Gate VI, Scarcity |
This is one of seven. See all seven chakras for how they fit together.
Signs of a blocked or out-of-balance
third eye chakra
These are some of the ways people describe it. You don't need to see yourself in all of them.
Overthinking and looping
Your mind keeps circling a decision and never lands.
Distrusting your own knowing
You sense the answer, then talk yourself out of it.
Needing proof before you act
Without evidence or someone's approval, you freeze.
Headaches or pressure behind the eyes
Tension gathers around the brow, forehead or temples.
Feeling spiritually stuck
Practices that once felt alive now feel flat or forced.
Overwhelm from too much input
You take in everyone's moods, signs and stories and can't sort them.
Vivid thinking cut off from the body
Ideas are rich, but you don't feel grounded in them.
Chasing signs
You look outside yourself for a sign before you trust what you already feel.
Recognizing yourself here doesn't mean something is wrong with you. These patterns usually began as sensible ways to stay safe. They are descriptions from energy traditions, not medical symptoms.
Blocked, overactive and underactive
Energy traditions often describe a chakra as underactive (shut down), overactive (working too hard) or blocked. For the third eye, underactive tends to look like doubt, rigid thinking, difficulty imagining other options, or disconnection from intuition. Overactive tends to look like overthinking, vivid fantasy, feeling overwhelmed by impressions, or losing touch with everyday life.
Both come from the same place: a body that learned it had to protect itself. For a wider look at signs across all seven centers, see blocked chakras.
Why intuition goes quiet:
a mind on guard
I don't think of a blocked chakra as a clog. I think of it as a nervous system that learned what keeps it safe. When a body stays in alarm, the mind scans for threats and the quiet inner knowing gets drowned out. Intuition tends to be audible when the system feels safe enough to listen.
That is why I'm cautious about anything that promises to "open" the third eye quickly. Slow and grounded works better. My guides on how to open your third eye and third eye meditation go through that gently.
The body side of this is in nervous system regulation. Clear sight starts with a settled body.
The third eye chakra and money
Intuition is also how many people decide: what to charge, who to work with, when to say yes. When the third eye is clouded by scarcity, those decisions get made from fear and not from knowing.
The money chakra page explains how the root, sacral and solar plexus work together around money, and the money wound page goes into where the beliefs begin. The third eye is where clear seeing meets the choice.
The third eye chakra and the sixth gate of Inanna
In my work in the Temple of Mysteries, I teach Inanna's descent through seven gates. At the sixth gate, Scarcity, the lapis measuring rod and line are taken from her hand, the instruments of counting, of never quite enough.
What she gives up is held in the hand, but what shakes is felt in the third eye: the mind that measures, compares and counts what is missing. Clear seeing can't happen while everything is being weighed against "not enough." As we move down the seven gates, we move up the seven chakras, and on the way back the path reverses.
Read more in The Seven Gates of Inanna, or see how I walk it in the Temple of Mysteries.
Reiki and the third eye chakra
Reiki is a gentle practice of energetic support, and many people experience it as deeply restful. I'm not claiming it treats or cures anything. I offer it as a complement, a way to give the body a quiet space to settle.
Verbal Reiki
I use my voice alongside the Reiki, guiding you through imagery and somatic awareness while the Reiki is held, so the mind can quiet without being forced.
More than one center
Nearly every activation I record works through the chakras, and I guide the energy to more than one. The third eye is often part of it, especially around trust, clarity and decisions.
New to Reiki? What Is Reiki? explains it plainly, and Reiki chakra balancing covers what a session is like. If you would rather have this one on one, see my Reiki sessions.
A free activation for trusting your inner knowing
Blue Moon in Sagittarius Reiki | Trust Your Inner Knowing is a Reiki activation I recorded for intuition and inner trust. It is free on my YouTube channel. Find a quiet spot, and let your forehead soften as you listen.
Blue Moon in Sagittarius Reiki · Trust Your Inner Knowing
You can listen any time, and if you drift off along the way, let yourself. For a guided practice across all seven centers, see chakra meditation.
More for the third eye
Three more that meet this center from different angles.
The Scarcity Body
A Reiki activation for the part of you that still counts what is missing.
Listen on YouTube
Reiki for Wealth Frequency
A 5D abundance activation for seeing, and choosing, from enough.
Listen on YouTubeA simple third eye chakra practice
Offered as reflection and not as a prescription. Go slowly and stop any time.
- Sit or lie down comfortably, and keep your eyes closed or softly lowered.
- Place your feet on the floor or rest your hands on your belly, and take a few slow breaths to feel your body first.
- Rest a fingertip lightly between your eyebrows, then lower your hand, and let your attention rest there without trying to see anything.
- Ask a simple question, What do I already know?, and let the answer be a word, a feeling or nothing at all.
- Finish by grounding: press your feet into the floor, name three things you can see in the room, and take three slow breaths.
If this brings up something heavy, stop and ground in whatever way helps. A licensed trauma-informed therapist can offer support that goes beyond what a Reiki practice can.
Third eye chakra affirmations
Short enough to believe. Say them slowly, or keep the one that settles you.
I trust what I already know
My intuition speaks in quiet ways
I can see clearly and stay grounded
I do not need proof to listen to myself
Enough is already here
My inner sight is steady
More in chakra affirmations for all seven centers. Sound, mantra and bowls are in chakra frequencies and sound healing.
Keep exploring
Where to go next from the third eye.
Frequently asked questions
What is the third eye chakra?
The third eye chakra, called Ajna in Sanskrit, is the sixth of the seven main chakras in yogic and energy traditions. It is located between and just above the eyebrows and is associated with intuition, insight and perception. Its traditional color is indigo, though some systems describe it as purple or violet.
Where is the third eye located?
Between and just above the eyebrows, in the center of the forehead. It is an idea from energy traditions and not a physical organ. If you have persistent headaches, vision changes or other symptoms, please see a doctor.
What are the signs of a blocked third eye chakra?
People commonly describe overthinking, doubting their own knowing, needing proof before acting, tension around the brow, or feeling flat in their spiritual practice. These are descriptions from energy traditions, not medical symptoms.
What is the third eye's connection to the pineal gland?
Many traditions and popular writers link the third eye to the pineal gland, a small gland in the brain involved in sleep regulation. That connection is symbolic and traditional, not established science. I treat it as a metaphor and not a medical claim.
How do you open the third eye safely?
Slowly, and from the body first. Many people find that grounding, regular sleep, quiet time, journaling and gentle meditation help, and that forcing it or chasing experiences tends to backfire. If it feels overwhelming, a trauma-informed therapist can help. See how to open your third eye for a step-by-step approach.
Is it safe to open the third eye, and can it cause anxiety?
Some people feel dizzy, restless or anxious when they push intensive practices. That doesn't mean something is wrong, and it doesn't mean you should push through. Go slowly, ground in your body, and stop if it feels like too much. My page on nervous system regulation is a good place to begin.
Can Reiki balance the third eye chakra?
Many people experience Reiki as quieting for the mind and forehead. I can't promise a specific result, and Reiki is a complement to medical and mental health care, never a replacement. The page on Reiki chakra balancing explains what a session is like.
What is the third eye mantra and frequency?
In the yogic tradition the seed sound (bija mantra) of the third eye chakra is OM. You will also see frequencies such as 852 Hz attached to it in modern sound healing. These come from tradition and practice, not from settled science, so treat them as something to try if they feel good. See chakra frequencies and sound healing for more.
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.