Beginner’s Guide to Chakras: Part 3, Solar Plexus Chakra

What are Chakras?

Before I describe the solar plexus chakra, you might be wondering what are chakras exactly? Have you ever heard someone mention chakras but never really knew exactly what it meant? Well you’re not alone, many people find them esoteric and elusive, and unfortunately miss out on all the benefits of knowing about chakras and how they work. Chakra literally means wheel, and represents energy “wheels”, along the spinal column. Ultimately the 7 chakra system is a philosophy related to human consciousness, behavior, and enlightenment. Each chakra represents a wheelhouse of propelling life energy (also called pranayama), going in and coming out, focused on 7 different domains of human psyche and existence. Chakra philosophy originates back 4,000 years ago in India, and has been incorporated into many traditions and philosophies including yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, and most recently within western psychology. This blog series serves to give you a beginner’s guide to the 7 main chakras most widely acknowledged.

Chakra Three: The Solar Plexus Chakra, Manipura

OVERVIEW

The third chakra is called Manipura, or The Solar Plexus Chakra. This energy force is housed  in our core and consist of the abdomen, digestive system, lower and middle back. Each chakra is represented by a color, and the third chakra’s color is yellow.

WHAT SETS YOU ON FIRE?

This chakra’s symbolic element is fire, symbolizes the combustion of action that occurs when our intended self (who we are meant to be) is combined with our physical self (who we are thus far). This fire metaphor also illustrates our process of finding ourselves and individuality. Fire is a combination of air (represented by the manifesting and etheral chakras above the solar plexus chakra) and charged energy (represented by the kinetic and tangible chakras below the solar plexus chakra). Through this combination of air and energy, a new element of fire is birthed which represents the birth of self.

RIGHT IN THE GUT!

This wheelhouse of energy focuses on our innate duty to find our purpose, and act on it. Hence, things like will-power, confidence, and motivation are all byproducts of having a balanced third chakra. Located right in our gut, this chakra is directly connected to our digestive systems which is a key indicator of overexertion of will power (i.e. ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome). On the other hand anxiety or anger related to under exertion of power and action can also lead to stress on your gut (i.e. diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome) due to fear of not fulfilling your purpose. The gut is also a source of intuition. This is important because it highlights our ability to know ourselves and our truth at a primal level. Again this chakra focuses on the combination of tangible energy and divine intuition to call us to act in ways that serve our true self.

LIVE IN YOUR TRUTH

The Solar Plexus Chakra allows us to examine our relationship to power, strength, drive, and confidence. Balancing this chakra will help you harness your ability to combine your intentions with your management of primal drives (i.e. anger, guilt, or fear) to produce willpower, increased self-esteem, and the beautiful ability to live in your truth no matter what the situation. Elevating ourselves towards positive transformation requires ego strength to be yourself no matter what the circumstance.

Each wheel can either live in balance or imbalance, and this is reflected by our behaviors, thoughts, emotions, and traumas related to each chakra’s wheelhouse. Take a look at how our lives are affected when the Solar Plexus Chakra’s energy is in balance (meaning the energy going into the wheel is balanced by what is coming out) versus when it is imbalanced.

Balancing the Solar Plexus Chakra 

If you find that you identify with some of the qualities of the third chakra when it is imbalanced here are some things you can do to bring balance to this chakra:

Meditation:

• Try guided meditations focused on manifestation and will power.
• Set an intention for your meditation to expand your ability to honor your true self with action.
• Read my Guide to Manifestation here, for tips on aligning your intentions with your destiny.

Yoga Poses:

• Marichi Twist (Learn this Pose here) 
• Revolved Head to Knee Pose (Learn this Pose here) 
• Rotated Separate Leg Forward Bend (Learn this Pose here) 

Psychotherapy:

• Work with your therapist on building healthy ego strength
• Processing trauma to the Solar Plexus chakra such as issues of shame, authoritarian upbringing, or physical abuse that limited your autonomy
• Furthermore working with a therapist on co-dependency issues can help balance this chakra as well

*** I offer an 8 week Mindfulness Based Therapy Program that addresses such issues, click here for more information ***

– Tiffany is a holistic psychotherapist providing counseling in Woodland Hills (West Valley). She specializes in women’s empowerment related to self-esteem, self-confidence, and relationship issues. Her writing, public speaking, and teaching endeavors are dedicated to helping others elevate consciousness and well-being. Find out more about Tiffany by clicking here