illustration from C. W. Leadbeater, The Chakras, Quest Books, Theosophical Publishing House

According to C. W. Leadbeater

"The fifth centre, the laryngeal (see above illustration), at the throat, has sixteen spokes, and therefore sixteen apparent divisions. There is a good deal of blue in it, but its general effect is silvery and gleaming, with a kind of suggestion as of moonlight upon rippling water. Blue and green predominate alternately in its sections."

The Throat chakra would seem to rule the faculty of speech, being midway between the heart and the tongue.  It is also associated with clairaudience (hearing spiritual voices), and with hearing sounds, words, and music, and with taste, smell.  Another function associated with this chakra is taking in and assimilating of physical and emotional nourishment.  On the gross level this manifests as sensuous desire and enjoyment for food.  This chakra could be associated with the astrological sign of Taurus, which in current astrology is said to ruled by the planet Venus.

In Tibetan Buddhism, this chakra is associated with the dream state of consciousness.  Both Tibetans and Taoists use this chakra to access the dream state and develop the faculty of lucid dreaming.

In the Heschyastic system though, the buccolaryngeal centre: "the commonest thought, that of the intelligence, expressed in conversation, correspondence, and the first stages of prayer." [Eliade, Yoga, Immortality, and Freedom, p.410]

When this chakra is open and functioning well, with a strong flow of Chi, one finds it easy to express oneself, and one's speech is clear and smooth.  When it is blocked, not only does one find speaking or getting the right words out difficult, but one also feels an unwillingness to change.

When there is an insufficent flow of love or emotional nourishment to the Heart-chakra, the person may try to compensate by desire for physical nourishment through the Throat Chakra.  Problems with gluttony or compulsive eating would then result.  When there is also a negative functioning in the base-of-the-neck chakra (negative self-image) the result could be bullimia and anorexia.

Correspondences:

Spokes/Petals: Leadbeater - 16

Colours: Leadbeater - Blue, Silvery, gleaming; Hills - Blue.

Associated Psychological states:

Overactive: You are always trying to take control of things, and especially of other people's lives [Paulson, p.73].

Weak or Blocked: You have an inability to accept things, and an inability to work with situations. You may have execessive egotism and prejudices [Paulson, p.73]. You tend to see the world as a hostile place, and expect hostility, violence, and humiliation rather than love and nourishment [Brennan, p.77].

Chakra balancing

major and minor Chakras | Notes on Psychological terms

rear chakras ascending		front chakras descending
Crown
Back of Head		upper forehead
		forehead
Mouth of God		Talu/Lalana
Back of Neck		Throat
Base of Neck		Base of Throat
		Thymic
Shoulder Blades		Heart
Diaphragmatic		Solar Plexus
Door of Life		Navel / Sea of Ch'i
Sacral		Pubic
Coccygeal
Perineum