Manipura - The Solar Plexus Chakra
- leilak73
- Feb 24, 2015
- 5 min read
Yellow is the colour most commonly associated with this chakra. It contains the energies that maintain one's individual identity, the personal ego, as well as transformative energy. Vital life energy radiates through the body from this chakra. It is where our gut feelings originate from. The wisdom of the solar plexus involves your sense of personal power and knowing, your personality and sense of belonging.
The third chakra relates to metabolism, digestion, energy, will, power and fire. Its purpose is to transform.
Fire is both heat and light, however, heat is the dominant of the two. Fire is purifying, but can be destructive when out of control. Manipura relates to the spark that ignites the power and will within us all. It governs more organs than any other chakra: the liver and gall bladder; the spleen; kidneys; stomach; pancreas; diaphragm and the adrenals. It is located between the navel and the solar plexus.
Someone that has a healthy solar plexus chakra usually has a clear sense of who they are and where they are going in life. They tend to have a clear sense of self-worth and self-trust. Thus, they are decisive and effective at getting what they want and reaching their goals. They have a healthy relationship to power – neither dominating others nor letting themselves be dominated. They also usually have sound digestive, immune and muscular systems. They tend to be free of major allergies, hypertension, diabetes or adrenal gland disorders.
Self-esteem is also connected to the solar plexus. When one has high self-esteem, one is confident, pro-active and disciplined. However, when one has low self-esteem, they can be filled with doubt and self-recrimination, thus creating inertia. The lower the self-esteem and the greater the inertia, the more one remains stuck in this chakra and feels “caught-in-the-middle”. Other signs of the navel chakra being out of balance include fear of rejection, sensitivity to criticism, a distorted self-image, fear of your “secrets being found out”, diseases of the associated organs, indigestion, constipation, addictions, aggression and greed.
According to Anodea Judith, overcoming inertia is the initial task of this chakra. Once inertia has been overcome to the point where energy is easily produced, this chakra kicks in and begins to produce power with less effort or will. Doing something with ease and grace is the mark of true power. It is through our will that we take actions that are difficult or challenging, moving us towards something new.
A healthy spirited third chakra helps to overcome inertia and jumpstarts a “get-up-and-go” attitude, making it easier to take risks, assert one's will and assume responsibility for one's life.
Everything around us is created by our will: the clothes we wear; the friends we surround ourselves with; the vehicles we drive; our homes. Failure to recognise will and to connect with the unconscious use of that will creates feelings of powerlessness. A subtle change in attitude can help to befriend and realign one with the will.
True will requires that we trust ourselves and the choices we make. It requires that we communicate deeply with ourselves, to be willing to take risks and accept responsibility for those risks. It can be seen as an individual expression of a higher, divine will. It extends beyond the ego and embraces a higher purpose.
In order to reach and access true will, one needs to be in touch with the first two chakras. Discipline is important. One may not feel like doing certain things, but that becomes irrelevant when one's will is fixed to a larger purpose.
However, overuse of the will can keep us trapped in this chakra. When one has reached true will within themselves, there is no need to dominate others. The dominant world view in today's life is one that emphasises separateness and differences - different races, genders, countries, jobs, medicines and religions, to name a few. People are constantly being intimidated and forced into submission all over the world. Focusing on the differences between one another serves only to separate. Focusing on unity serves to strengthen us. Power is directed energy. Thus, power comes from combining and integrating, unity and wholeness - connecting us to the forces of life.
Once one is able to find the power within, they tend to be enthusiastic, have the will and confidence to move forward. With willpower, one can consciously control change. We are required to give up the view that we are the victim. When one takes responsibility, changes happen because of one's will to do so. When our will is effective, our self-esteem is enhanced. We can then better direct our lives toward that which we love, which challenges us and renews us.
Shame is manipura's demon. Energy turns against the self, instead of flowing outwards. Self-esteem comes from gaining a realistic view of what we can do as we takes risks and learn from trial and error. Through self-discipline, we are able to hone our abilities and skills. If the lower three chakras are adequately functioning, then there is no need for one's partner (or anyone else), to make one feel secure or to bolster the ego. Other feelings that dwell in this chakra include spiritual ignorance (avidya), excessive thirst or hunger, jealousy, treachery, fear, disgust, delusion, foolishness and sadness.
The mantra for Manipura is “RAM”. Sitting in a meditative position, focusing on the physical location on manipura and chanting this mantra helps to balance this chakra. We can also ask ourselves during meditation: What is the purpose as to why we are doing something. Who are we trying to please? Are we scared of the consequences? Are we out of touch with ourselves? By being honest with ourselves, we can begin to understand our actions better, and make a conscious decision to change things that we feel need attention.
Stephanie Snyder's set for the naval chakra includes heating the body with various asanas (poses), a form of pranayama (breath control) called kaphalbati (breath of fire), chanting the mantra Ram and setting intentions. You can check it out HERE
You can also work on balancing manipura by loving and nurturing yourself. Do things that you are good at and that is rewarding to you. Eat yellow and green vegetables and exercise daily. Practise acts of personal courage. Do what makes you happy - not what makes everyone else happy. It is impossible to please everyone and when we inevitably fail to do so, we waste too much personal energy blaming others for not being able to do what we would rather be doing. Stand up for yourself, but allow others their personal space as well. Spend some time in sunshine and wear a shade of yellow that makes you feel great. Set an intention – it can make the world of difference!
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