The Solar Plexus Chakra

Quick Correspondants

Sanskrit Name: Manipura

Meaning: Lustrous Gem

Body Location: Navel to Solar Plexus

Glands: Pancreas, Adrenals

Element: Fire

Function: Will, power, assertion

Seed Sound: Ram

Mantra: I Can

Incense: Dragons blood, Sandalwood

Minerals: Amber, Topaz, Yellow Citrine

Deities: Agni, Ra, Athene, Apollo

Archangel: Michael

Your Solar Center

The Solar Plexus Chakra houses our inner fire. The flame that feeds our power, our will, and our action. It ignites our strength to go forward with purpose. After building our stability through our Roots and experiencing the change and movement in the Sacral we can now embrace difference and choice. By remaining fluid in our Sacral energy we can start to swim in the streams that excite us most. This compels us to take action and exert our will into what we feel passionate about. The earth and water elements are subject to gravity flowing downward, but the fire of our Solar Plexus rises. The hotter our fire burns the higher it will reach bringing its power to our upper chakras. The hardest part of this is the start, for once our fire is formed it burns more easily. To start our fires it is important we find what sparks our energy, meaning what excites us, empowers us, and inspires action.

An important aspect of this chakra is our self-esteem. When we are aware of our worth and power we will feel more confident in our power. Shame kills the reach of ourself-esteem, for if we feel shame it deprives us of fiery energy. We must form a realistic sense of self to be able to feel that we are achieving our vision. By knowing our limits and boundaries we won’t self-sabotage by setting goals that could be too challenging for us to achieve. Of course, the challenge is a good thing, but if we overreach too far it can discourage our energy.

The Lustrous Gem

Sanskrit name of the Solar Plexus Chakra, Manipura, translates to a lustrous gem. This meaning connects to one of the functions of this energy center, the will. By better knowing ourselves and what we will do we can understand where to place our energy and power. In most societies, we write wills when we near the end of our lives as our will of death, but it is important that we also have our will to live. Ask yourself what you see inside yourself as a ‘lustrous gem’. What do you value within yourself so much that it feeds your strength and confidence? If we are not doing that which ignites us we are not in the action of our will to live. A positive exercise for the Solar Plexus Chakra is writing out this will. Include your desires for your life and your energy and really dig into what is in your will. Once you have this clear image/story/vision live every day under its guidelines, and follow that which parallels your goal. Cutaway what leaves you feeling powerless or uninspired.

Power

When we feel butterflies in our stomachs this is our Solar Plexus Chakra communicating with us. This flighty feeling hints at a lacking of confidence, or power. By grounding down into our power we won’t experience this undirected energy. The polarity of this chakra goes from being power- hungry, and controlling to its opposite of fearing power. We must find the perfect middle between the two, having just enough power to make us comfortable and confident. We must feel this power come from within instead of viewing power as something outside of ourselves. An important step in recognizing our power is in our choices, every time we choose something we are exerting power and directing energy. Down to the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the people we speak to, etc. Change your inner dialogue from “I have to do this” to “I choose to do this”. With this, we must also view power as a muscle that needs to be exercised in order to maintain and grow it. Ways to do this include breaking patterns and overcoming a different action you are not used to,  not allowing criticism to lead to invalidation, and breaking attachment from that which does not make us feel powerful.

Solar Plexus Affirmations

• I can
• I can do everything that I desire
• I honor the power within me
• The fire within me burns through fear
• I release self judgment
• My passions shine like the sun
• I act in accordance with my will
• I honor my achievements

Yoga Postures

Bow Pose

Lie on your stomach with your hands to your sides. Bend your knees and reach your hands to your ankles. On an inhale lift your head and chest and press the belly down by pulling on the ankles. Let your arms pull your shoulders back and balance on your belly. 

Belly Push

Sit with both feet out straight in front of you with your palms placed on the ground next to your hips. Push your pelvis upward, especially through the solar plexus, creating a slight arch in your back.

Pike Pose

Resting on your back bring your feet and legs up with your knees as straight as possible. Bring your torso up too, making a v-shape with your body. Hold as long as possible. For an easier variation, you can place your feet against a wall for support. Keep your focus on the abdominal muscles.