The third eye chakra is the sixth of the seven main chakras – meaning it’s associated with dark blue-purple, the second-to-last color in the rainbow, and that it’s one of our most important sources of spirituality. The third eye chakra connects the self and the world, allowing us to transcend duality.

It is located between the eyebrows, just above the bridge of the nose (not in the center of the forehead, which is a common misconception). The third eye chakra is also called the Ajna chakra, which translates to “command” or “perceiving,” hinting at this chakra’s role in how we perceive the world. While it is predominantly about spirituality, the third eye chakra is also associated with the eyes, ears, pituitary gland, pineal gland, and nervous system.

With its location between the eyes, the third eye chakra relates to vision, but it goes much deeper than literal eyesight. This chakra governs our perception, intuition, and insight, and helps us perceive both the physical and the subtle. It’s our source of wisdom and inner guidance, allowing us to differentiate between dreams and reality and to make decisions neutrally and objectively. When the third eye chakra is open, we see things as they are and correctly intuit the things we cannot see.

But when this chakra is blocked or unbalanced, we tend to overindulge in fantasies, ignore our intuition, and fail to see the bigger picture. We lack clarity, focus, and faith in our purpose. If the third eye becomes blocked, you might also find yourself getting more attached to outcomes and being either overly logical or overly emotional. People with a blockage in the third eye chakra also frequently experience depression, anxiety, paranoia, and even hallucinations. Physically, it can lead to headaches, vision problems, sinus trouble, and high blood pressure.

Third Eye chakra: Awareness
Organ:       Pineal gland
Color:        Violet
Element:     Light
Tone:         E
Affirm:       I see