The Ultimate Solar Plexus Chakra Guide – Everything You Need to Know about Your Third Chakra

by | Nov 15, 2022 | Chakra Series, Spirit, Spirituality | 0 comments

The Manipura or solar plexus chakra is your will center. It relates to the Fire element and is the powerhouse of the chakra system. The solar plexus chakra is the seat of choice, action, and vitality. In this chakra, we explore personal power, either to empower oneself and others or to have power over others. The solar plexus chakra is also where you find the human talent of commitment. As the third chakra to develop, it is strongly connected to the personality or ego that emerges during puberty.

Solar Plexus Chakra Title

The main themes of the Manipura are action, choice, power, motivation, achievement, and courage. Just like any other chakra, your solar plexus chakra can become imbalanced or blocked. If you’re experiencing issues with your self-esteem and confidence, your determination, your ability to make decisions or set healthy boundaries, or you’re having digestive issues and feel cold, tired, and withdrawn, chances are that your Manipura is imbalanced.

Continue reading to learn all about the solar plexus chakra, how to determine whether it is imbalanced, and how to support yourself to bring the Manipura back into balance – and make sure it stays that way.

The solar plexus chakra within the chakra system

The chakra system consists of seven chakras ascending along the spine from the coccyx area to the top of the head. There is also an eighth chakra better known as the aura that expands all around your body. A chakra is an energy center that directs life energy for the purpose of physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. The chakras influence the relationship between the conscious and the subconscious in all your behavior and tie together all aspects of being human – physical, mental, and spiritual. The third of these chakras is the solar plexus chakra.

Solar plexus chakra – Balancing power inside and outside yourself

Name: Manipura / Solar Plexus Chakra
Physical location: between navel and base of the sternum
Color: yellow
Element: Fire
Sense: vision
Physiological system: digestive
Organ: liver, gallbladder, digestive tract
Endocrine gland: pancreas, spleen
Nervous plexus: solar plexus
Purpose: transformation
Attribute: radiance
Shadow: low self-esteem / anger
Descriptive verb: I can, I do
Keywords:

willpower, commitment, self-esteem, passion, trust, courage, productivity, power, determination, dedication, choice, action, vitality, enthusiasm, identity, judgment, strength, spontaneity, achievement, inspiration, discipline, self-value, transformation, energy, activity, empowerment, strategy, the right to act, freedom, autonomy, assertiveness, respect, integrity, manifestation, leadership, practicality

 

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The solar plexus is the seat of personal power. But power is not about exerting your will over others; it is about being in complete truth with yourself. – Madisyn Taylor
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The Sanskrit name of the third chakra, Manipura, combines the words mani (=jewel) and pura (=city). The Manipura is the city of jewels, your own personal treasure center of power and wellbeing. It presents itself as a brilliant, lustrous gem with a magnetic effect that attracts prana and radiates from the core of your being.

You can find your third chakra about midway between the navel and the lower end of the sternum. It includes the upper abdomen and diaphragm. Physically it relates to the stomach, liver, spleen, gallbladder, lower back, immune system, and autonomic nervous system. Given its proximity to the solar plexus nervous plexus, it is often referred to as the solar plexus chakra.

The main purpose of the solar plexus chakra is transformation. The organs related to this chakra use digestion to create life force energy that transforms inertia into action so you can manifest your concepts and visualizations into the physical world. However, digestion is not only the ability to digest and assimilate food but also thoughts and emotions. Therefore, the solar plexus chakra determines the health of both your body and mind.

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Learning too soon our limitations, we never learn our powers. – Mignon McLaughlin
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In the spectrum of chakra colors, the solar plexus chakra is represented by the color yellow. This color is symbolic of the sun and the hot burning center of the fire element. The Manipura is like a bright sun in the middle of your body. It’s the motor center that provides you with vital life force energy and perfect health to realize personal intentions and desires. On the other hand, just like fire can be a destructive force, it represents your potential for anger and even rage, which is also part of the solar plexus chakra.

The symbol of the solar plexus chakra is composed of a ten-petaled lotus flower with a downward-pointing triangle and the seed mantra RAM. The mantra connects back to the spirit animal of the third chakra, the ram. The ram is the embodiment of the solar plexus chakra traits of determination, willpower, and stamina. The ten petals of the lotus represent the negative traits of the character that you must overcome to open up the Manipura: spiritual ignorance, fear, envy, treachery, shame, thirst or greed, hatred, delusion, foolishness, and sadness.

How to recognize an imbalanced solar plexus chakra

When the third chakra is balanced you have a strong will, are motivated and determined, and have the ability to make and follow through on decisions. You confidently pursue your goals and have the stamina to keep going even when up against diversity. Your grit, resilience, and courage inspire others.

You are also able to realize your personal power. As the boundary point between inner and outer power, this energy can be both constructive and destructive. Personal power can either be used to empower yourself and others to create and accomplish or misused to have power over others. Ultimately, this comes down to deciding whether you’re going to pursue your dharma, your higher purpose, or simply live out your karma, your past experiences.

Exerting power over others and being stuck in your karma are just two symptoms of an imbalanced solar plexus chakra. You may also lack initiative and ambition and have difficulty following through with things and finishing what you started. You lack confidence, experience negative impulses, and find it hard to stand up for yourself. It is also common to feel powerless and like a mere victim of life’s circumstances.

Other characteristics of an imbalanced solar plexus chakra may be:

anger, greed, shame, despair, rage, experiencing obstacles everywhere, manipulative behavior, egoism, need for external validation, overambitious/taking on too much, helplessness, irresponsibility, lack of direction, purpose and/or ambition, people-pleasing, exploitation, controlling, indifference, indiscipline, lack of assertiveness and authority, insecurity, ruthlessness, power-hungry, tantrums, low self-esteem, lack of drive and enthusiasm, digestive problems, ulcers, diabetes, obesity, eating disorders, lack of memory, sugar addiction, anxiety, insomnia, food allergies, poor metabolism, eczema, acne, and other skin-related conditions, reflux, hepatitis, indigestion, other illnesses of the stomach, liver, intestines, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas

If you recognize any of those characteristics in yourself and are unsure whether your solar plexus chakra is imbalanced, try asking yourself the following questions:

      • Do you have willpower?

      • Are you able to set goals and achieve them?

      • Do you know how to maintain personal energy levels?

      • Do you feel self-confident?

      • Are you able to set and enforce healthy boundaries?

      • Do you inspire others to see their personal best and potential?
      Solar Plexus Chakra Location

      Fortunately, an imbalance of the Manipura doesn’t need to be permanent. There are many ways in which you can support your chakra to come back into balance. However, for sustainable change to occur, you also have to look at and process the emotions at the root of your imbalance. By learning about the chakras and how to bring them back into alignment, you can heal physical ailments, dissolve negative emotions and live a more fulfilling life.

      Bringing the solar plexus chakra back into balance

      There are many ways to balance your solar plexus chakra. The key is to push yourself outside your comfort zone. Take inspired action in the moment and overcome fear by doing small things that scare you. Below you can find different ideas that can help restore balance in your second chakra. Incorporate as many of them as you like into your daily routines and see your life change.

      Solar Plexus Chakra Balance

      Balancing foods:

      complex carbohydrates and whole grains, natural sweeteners, water-soluble dietary fiber, legumes, warming spices, yellow foods, chamomile and herbal teas

      Balancing activities:

      sunbathing, setting healthy boundaries, long deep belly breathing, lighting a fire or a candle

      Balancing yoga postures:

      stretch pose, Sat Kriya, bow pose, fish pose, diaphragm lock, Breath of Fire, all exercises strengthening the abdominal muscles

      Balancing oils:

      yellowhead, fennel, hemp nettle, lavender, chamomile, clary sage, pine, lemon

      Balancing stones:

      amber, citrine, golden quartz, tiger’s eye, yellow tourmaline

      Balancing affirmations:

      I honor the power within me.

      I accomplish tasks easily and effortlessly.

      The fire within me burns through all blocks and fears.

      I am enough and what I do is enough.

      I love myself. I value myself. I trust myself.

      I am a powerful, radiant, magnificent being of light.

      I harness the power of the spiritual warrior.

      Balancing mantra:

      RAM

      Balancing frequency:

      528 Hz

      Or you can join me for a beautiful all-levels-welcome solar plexus chakra healing yoga class this Saturday, November 19th at 9:30 AM CET. This is part of my limited 8-week online series “A Journey through the Chakras with Kundalini Yoga“. So if you’re feeling called to bring more ease and balance into your life by aligning body, mind, and spirit through the chakras, sign up here for the individual classes or bundle up and save 💸💸💸.

      See you on the inside!

      Written by Julia

      Julia is a Kundalini Yoga Teacher and Holistic Self-Discovery Coach with a passion for spirituality, self-development, and life-long learning. With her years of knowledge as well as life and industry experience, Julia loves empowering others to create a life that not only looks good on the outside but feels amazingly fulfilling on the inside, too, through inspirational and practical content.

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