The first chakra or root chakra is located at the coccyx associated with the earth element. It is where we ground our energy and discover our sense of self. The root is where we come from, deep in the darkness of the earth, it is our foundation and the place from which we decide who we want to become. The willow tree sends its roots into the earth, into riverbanks and holds steady through the seasons. Willows can bend over completely during floods and rise again when the waters recede. They offer us the wisdom of surviving in place, resilience in change and teach us how forgive.