Maslow's hierarchy of needs has become a very common model used in social work practice. It's fairly straight forward and simple to understand. Since starting my career, I have learnt how these needs are often at the core of our work. If someone's basic, physical needs are met, we can address safety and security with less complication; if someone is feeling safe, we can do the same with love and belonging; this continues through to self-actualisation. More recently, I have been connecting this model to the seven main chakra, as they are very closely linked.
My previous blog post (here) provided an overview of the chakra, while the image below further connects them to the hierarchy of needs. I will explain these in greater detail, but it is important to highlight that there is a lot of overlap between each domain - in fact, the lower chakra/needs are often grouped together, as are the higher ones.
Root chakra - Physiological/safety needs
The root chakra is the "root" of your being, connecting us to our physical bodies, environment, and the Earth (grounding). It relates to our basic needs being met - for instance, food, water, bodily functions, shelter, and things we need for our basic survival. It is also connected to our overall sense of safety, security and comfort - if someone does not feel safe, their autonomic nervous system can be triggered, which is linked to our fight/flight/freeze response (our trauma response). So, it becomes important to help calm the body in order to continue through Maslow's hierarchy and chakra system.
Sacral chakra - Safety needs
When our physiological needs are met, we can address safety more thoroughly. The sacral chakra is linked to our emotions, sexuality, and creativity, but it also governs our need for personal security and stability. The sacral is closely linked to our relationship with self, which adds another dimension to Maslow's domain of safety. Often, when we have a good relationship with self, we can have deeper, more meaningful relationships with others.
Solar Plexus chakra - Safety/love and belonging needs
The solar plexus is also linked to our safety as it is associated with autonomy and personal power, which can give us a sense of safety. Once our safety needs are met, social needs often come to the fore - our sense of belonging, relationships with others, friendships, and family, which is closely linked to our confidence to establish and maintain social relationships.
Heart chakra - Love and belonging needs
Due to the heart chakra being associated with love, compassion, and empathy, it is often related to connection with others. It is the core of the deep bonds we share with others, our compassion, feelings of self-love, kindness, and respect. Without relationships and human interaction, it can be hard to navigate the difficulties of life.
Throat chakra - Esteem/cognition needs
Often when people are feeling safe, loved, have a sense of self, we see people speaking and communicating their feelings more freely. The throat chakra is about communication and expression, which is tied into our esteem and cognition as it involves expression of one's purpose, curiosity, knowledge, and exploration.
Third Eye chakra - Aesthetic/self-actualisation needs
The aesthetic need that Maslow referred to relates to an ability to see the beauty in the world, both within ourselves and the world around us. The third eye governs our need for insight, intuition, and our ability to see beyond what is right in front of us, which can be related to Maslow's self-actualisation needs.
Crown chakra - Self-actualisation/transcendence needs
The top two chakra often get combined for self-actualisation. The crown chakra goes beyond the ego, to higher levels of consciousness. Self-actualisation is about achieving self-mastery and meeting your full potential as an individual. This chakra is the centre of harmony, sense of oneness and divine love, while transcendence is goes beyond this to the very highest and most inclusive levels of consciousness - the realisation that we are one small part of a greater whole and acting accordingly.
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