Complete Guide to the Solar Plexus Chakra
How much willpower do you have to pursue your goals and make your dreams come true?
Do you consider yourself a strong, confident person who is not afraid to pursue your own destiny?
Before asking myself these important questions, I thought I had a strong and balanced solar plexus chakra. I did a lot of things half-heartedly, and I couldn't pursue my goals with all my strength.
In this article, I will share with you everything I have learned during my personal exploration of a fiery solar plexus chakra.
You will finally discover what really governs all aspects of your personality and your ego. You will also learn how to harness the inner strength of a true warrior and completely transform your life!
Let's go !
Article content
1. What is the solar plexus chakra?
2. Solar Plexus Chakra Location – Where is the Solar Plexus Chakra located?
3. What is the function of the solar plexus chakra?
4. Solar Plexus Chakra Symbol Meaning – What does the Solar Plexus Chakra represent?
5. Solar Plexus Chakra Color Meaning – Why is the Solar Plexus Chakra Yellow?
6. Solar Plexus Chakra Imbalance | What are the main signs of an imbalance in the Solar Plexus Chakra?
7. Overactive Solar Plexus Chakra
8. Underactive Solar Plexus Chakra – Blockage of the Solar Plexus Chakra
9. What causes solar plexus chakra imbalance?
10. Solar Plexus Chakra Healing
11. How can I balance and heal my solar plexus chakra?
- Break inertia
- Yoga poses for the solar plexus chakra
- Open yourself to the energy of the sun
- Set your circadian rhythm
- Solar Plexus Chakra Meditation
- Affirmations from the Solar Plexus Chakra
- Stones and crystals for the solar plexus chakra
- Healing the solar plexus chakra through food
- Heal the Solar Plexus Chakra with Essential Oils
12. Solar Plexus Chakra Opening Symptoms
13. References
What is the solar plexus chakra?
The solar plexus chakra is the third chakra from the bottom, located in the stomach region, a few inches above the navel.
A healthy solar plexus chakra vibrates with the color yellow, with fire as the dominant element. The Sanskrit name for the solar plexus chakra is "Manipura", which translates to "city of shining jewels", where mani means "jewel" and pure "city".
The solar plexus chakra is also called Mani Padma (jeweled lotus) or Nabhi Padma (navel lotus). You can think of your third chakra as a radiant yellow sun, which radiates through the center of your body and governs all aspects of your personal power.
So, what is the relationship between the solar plexus chakra and the other lower chakras?
When you bring matter (root chakra) and movement (sacral chakra) together, you find that they create a third state: energy. With the help of the solar plexus chakra, all your creative dreams contained within your sacral chakra can manifest outwardly.
Want to know the best part?
The solar plexus has the greatest concentration of pranic energy as 72,000 nadis (pranic energy conduits) meet here and radiate from this center. It is the center of your personal identity, governing all aspects of your personality, your self-esteem and your ego.
Solar Plexus Chakra Location
The solar plexus chakra is the third chakra from the bottom, located at the lower back, on the same horizontal plane as your navel.
The center of the solar plexus chakra is located approximately 5 cm above the navel, just below the breastbone. In the body, the solar plexus chakra is associated with the stomach, gallbladder, spleen, liver and pancreas.
The third chakra governs your metabolism, and it is responsible for regulating and distributing metabolic energy throughout the body.
What is the function of the solar plexus chakra?
The primary function and purpose of your solar plexus chakra is transformation. The fire contained in your 3rd chakra has the capacity to transform matter into dynamic energy and power.
Your solar plexus chakra embodies the element of fire and your dynamic, transformative relationship with the outside world, including your relationship with yourself.
Through the process of transformation, your solar plexus chakra provides the body with fuel, energy, and keeps it alive. Fire is the spark of life that ignites the process of transformation.
Solar Plexus Chakra Symbol Meaning
The solar plexus chakra symbol is represented by a yellow lotus with 10 petals and an inverted red triangle of fire (Tejas) in the middle.
The seed mantra at the center of the solar plexus chakra symbol is the sound syllable RAM. The triangle with T-shaped arms on either side represents the Sun, and it is often depicted in Manipura Hindu paintings with the god Vahni, supported by a ram.
Each petal of the lotus corresponds to an aspect of Bradha Rudra, who is the deity of this chakra. Ten black letters (vrittis) on the petals of the manipura symbol can be translated as:
- डं (dda) - Spiritual ignorance.
- ढं (ddha) - Fear
- णं (nna) - Jealousy, envy
- तं (ta) - Treachery, betrayal
- थं (tha) - Shame
- दं (da) - Thirst
- धं (dha) - Disgust, hatred
- नं (na) - The illusion
- पं (pa) - Stupidity
- फ़ं (pha) - Sadness
These are the negative qualities of character that we must overcome to bring this chakra into balance.
Solar Plexus Chakra Color Meanings
The color yellow is associated with the energy of fire, which can break down other elements. Yellow is also the color of the Sun, which is the primary source of heat and energy for our entire solar system.
The solar plexus chakra serves the same function for your body as the Sun does for the Earth - it provides you with energy and fuel for all of your biological processes. Yellow is a color of energy, enlightenment, optimism and increased mental activity. A healthy and balanced solar plexus chakra vibrates with the yellow and gold colors of the sun's rays.
Want to know the best part?
Yellow is used in chromotherapy as a stimulating color for patients suffering from eating disorders and anorexia to activate their metabolism. The solar plexus chakra governs your digestion and metabolism, so if you're having issues with your metabolism, bring more yellow into your life!
Yellow is also the most visible color in the entire spectrum, and it is very often used on all warning signs. Your solar plexus chakra is one of the best indicators of our overall health, and you shouldn't overlook the warning signs coming from this yellow energy center.
Solar Plexus Chakra Imbalance
Some of the main signs of imbalance in your solar plexus chakra are normally expressed in your misuse of personal power.
If you tend to use your personal power to manipulate others or feel a sense of helplessness most of the time, your solar plexus chakra is out of balance.
Take a moment and read the questions below. They will help you determine if your solar plexus chakra is imbalanced:
- Do you feel like you're overanalyzing your life decisions to the point of exhaustion?
- Are you always tired of working long hours?
- Are you overweight and having digestion problems, like heartburn or ulcers?
- Do you feel the need to do everything on your own and don't want to give up your ability to control everything in your reality?
- Do you always have a firm stance, and are you reluctant to listen to the opinions of others?
- Do you consider yourself a very competitive person, even when it comes to acting?
- Do you feel like you're inadequate in social situations due to low self-esteem?
- Do you feel sad, angry and depressed when things are out of your control?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, it may be time to seek to restore balance to your solar plexus center.
Overactive Solar Plexus Chakra
When your solar plexus chakra is overactive, you may feel the need to always seek power and dominance over others, and conflict dominates your life.
This type of third chakra imbalance results in distrust of life, fear of letting go, and excessive competitiveness. Another indicator of solar plexus chakra hyperactivity is finding yourself in situations that warrant the angry response.
It is extremely difficult to break away from this type of behavior, because a person who believes that “they have the right to be angry!” does not have enough awareness to look at the situation objectively.
In summary :
If you suffer from overactive solar plexus chakra, you are most likely experiencing the following symptoms:
- Misuse of power.
- Manipulation and selfishness.
- Feeling of superiority over others.
- Anger, aggression and rage.
- Jealousy and comparison with other people.
- Ruthless ambition.
- Competitive spirit.
- Refusal to take responsibility for one's own actions.
- Indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut and other digestive disorders.
Inactive solar plexus chakra. Solar plexus chakra blockage
When your solar plexus chakra is blocked or underactive, you may feel tired, lethargic, and emotionally withdrawn from life. A closed third chakra will result in a lack of energy, fear of confronting other people, and an aversion to taking risks. Most of these behaviors stem from a lack of self-esteem and low self-confidence.
Feelings of guilt and shame also play an important role in the underexpression of the solar plexus chakra, as they will prevent you from standing up for yourself and having healthy boundaries.
Excess weight can also be a sign of underexpression of the solar plexus chakra, as the body does not metabolize the food you eat into energy.
In summary :
If you suffer from underactivity of the solar plexus chakra, you are most likely experiencing the following symptoms:
- Lack of energy and motivation.
- Lack of drive, determination and direction in life.
- Incapacity.
- Low self-esteem and lack of self-confidence.
- You always seek confirmation from others.
- You are always trying to fit in and please others.
- Feeling guilty and ashamed when you say “no” to people.
- Self-sabotage.
- Fatigue and exhaustion.
- Cold in the solar plexus region.
- Slow metabolism, obesity.
What causes solar plexus chakra imbalance?
Trauma and distress experienced in early childhood and adolescence are among the main reasons for solar plexus chakra imbalance.
More importantly, these experiences are an outward manifestation of deep emotional issues, which are trapped in your sacral chakra (second chakra). Keep in mind that the solar plexus chakra and the sacral chakra are both closely related.
What is the main difference here?
The only difference here is that your solar plexus chakra continues to develop as you mature and formulate your sense of individuality. Solar plexus chakra growth peaks between the ages of 14 and 21, when you enter the young adult phase and form your personality.
This is normally the time when you decide what you want to do in life, as you have a much stronger sense of power over your life.
The essential :
As you begin to look for the root of a third chakra imbalance, prepare to dig very deep into memories of early childhood and early adulthood.
You will likely find issues and feelings that have been buried in your subconscious for many years, such as shame, grief, pain, anger, abandonment and fear.
Once you are ready to heal and release some of these negative emotions, which govern your ego, you will access your true power.
Solar Plexus Chakra Healing
Solar plexus chakra healing requires strengthening and establishing a sense of your personal identity and self-worth. Healing the solar plexus chakra also involves completely detaching oneself from the need to be accepted by others and working toward expressing one's true individuality in the world.
This is not an easy process because it requires cultivating deep awareness and looking at oneself from an objective point of view. When your solar plexus chakra is healthy, your ego is both strong and balanced.
An important part of healing our solar plexus chakra is also learning to trust your "instincts", especially if you struggle with self-doubt, indecision and lack of confidence.
How can I balance and heal my solar plexus chakra?
The hardest part about unblocking your solar plexus chakra is getting started.
Fire, which is a primary element of the third chakra, always moves upward, so at first you just need to focus on overcoming your inertia and get to work.
Healing and balancing your solar plexus chakra is a beautiful process, as it will completely transform your character and personality. You will work to improve your self-worth, your self-esteem, your personal power and to balance your ego.
Here are some of the best healing methods I have personally tried when working on restoring balance to my solar plexus chakra:
1. Break inertia
Breaking boring and repetitive patterns in your life is one of the best ways to break out of helplessness. Get out of your comfort zone and try experiencing something new today.
By overcoming difficulties and cultivating your personal power, you will increase your self-confidence.
What are the best ways to get out of stagnation?
If your solar plexus chakra is very inactive, you can start with small, simple challenges, for example:
- Do 5 sit-ups as soon as you get out of bed.
- Do 15 minutes of walking/jogging in the morning.
- Find a new way to drive to work.
- Shop at another mall.
- Try 15 seconds of exposure to cold water at the end of your hot shower.
2. Yoga Poses for the Solar Plexus Chakra
Balancing the solar plexus chakra through yoga exercises involves strengthening and softening your core and all the muscles surrounding your stomach.
Yoga is also a great way to break your inertia, especially if you decide to do a series of different poses each day. Try one of the 30 Day Yoga with Adriene video series on Youtube, she has been releasing them for a few years, at the start of each calendar year.
Here are some of the best poses that I have found beneficial for the solar plexus chakra:
- Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar)
- Plank pose (Kumbhakasana)
- Upward Plank Pose (Purvottanasana)
- Full Boat Pose (Paripurna Navasana)
- Bow Pose (Dhanurasana)
- Firefly Pose (Tittibhasana)
3. Open yourself to the energy of the sun
The sun is the ruling planet and element of your solar plexus chakra, so going outside on a sunny day is a great idea to recharge your yellow chakra. You can start opening yourself to the energy of the sun by taking a 15-minute walk first thing in the morning and enjoying a beautiful sunrise.
Sunbathing will not only energize your body, but also increase your vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is one of the main vitamins responsible for the proper use of calcium in your body, and it can significantly reduce the risk many diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
If you live in a country with high UV radiation, try to get out in the sun early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Want to know the best part?
The chemical structure of hemoglobin (one of the essential proteins in red blood cells that carries oxygen to your cells) in the human body is almost identical to that of chlorophyll!
The only difference is that hemoglobin is built around an element of iron, and chlorophyll is built around an element of magnesium. Chlorophyll is a photosynthetic molecule found in plants, which is responsible for absorbing energy from light.
4. Regulate your circadian rhythm
The function of the solar plexus chakra is directly linked to a large number of cycles in your body. Evolution has installed in us a powerful internal clock. Before the invention of the electric light bulb (patented in 1879 by Edison), we only had sunlight.
Artificial light, such as fluorescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, or cool white LEDs, destroys your natural circadian rhythm, which is based on the sun's cycle.
When the Sun is high in the sky in the middle of the day, it is blue-shifted (more than 5000 K), and as the day passes, it becomes more red-shifted (less than 3000 K) .
Understanding this cycle will help you properly regulate your production of melatonin (a hormone produced by your pineal gland) - you will be more alert during the day and sleep better at night.
So, how can you regulate your circadian rhythm?
Most problems related to your solar plexus chakra, such as obesity, low energy levels, feeling tired all the time, and getting angry easily, can be eliminated by implementing some of these strategies and simple tools in your daily life:
- Get outside for at least 15 to 20 minutes every morning.
- Avoid wearing glasses, contact lenses and sunglasses when possible.
- Do not block your windows during the day with blinds or curtains.
- Use blue light blocking glasses after sunset.
- Download and install the "f.lux" application on your computer (it's free).
- Remove all cool white LEDs and use orange and red bulbs in the evening.
- Use candlelight or firelight in the evening.
What is the main thing?
The idea here is to get as much natural light as possible (especially during the first part of the day) to set your body clock and to reduce all artificial light sources (especially blue light) when nighttime arrives.
5. Solar Plexus Chakra Meditation
One of my favorite solar plexus chakra meditation techniques is fire meditation.
This meditation is very similar to any other traditional meditation practice. The only difference is that you will be sitting in front of the candle during your practice.
Here's how to practice fire meditation on the solar plexus chakra:
- Before beginning this fire meditation, light your favorite candle.
- Sit in the lotus position with your spine straight, relax your body and take a few deep breaths.
- Look at the candle and imagine that the wick is your physical body, and the flame is the energy of your body, radiating out into the Universe.
- Spend a few minutes breathing deeply and looking at the image of the golden flame.
- Imagine merging with the flame and seeing yourself as pure, universal light and energy.
- As you sink into this meditation, gently move your attention to your solar plexus chakra and imagine a ball of yellow flame in this area.
- Visualize it warming up, expanding and burning away all obstacles.
- Feel the power of fire inside your body and visualize how it transforms your life and gives you infinite energy and strength.
- Stay in this powerful state for a few minutes to integrate this transformative energy.
- End this meditation with words of gratitude and allow this light to shine before you, giving you the power to change your life.
6. Solar Plexus Chakra Affirmations
Here are some of the most powerful solar plexus chakra affirmations that you can use during your meditation to strengthen this energy center:
- I am worthy because I exist.
- I am strong and powerful in a loving way.
- I defend myself.
- I am able to set boundaries and stand firm when necessary.
- I love myself and accept myself.
- I choose what is best for me.
- I feel my own power and I choose the power of life.
- I express myself in a powerful way.
- I use my drive and passion to improve my life as well as the lives of others.
- I am worthy of love, kindness and respect, regardless of what I have done.
- My entire body is filled with vibrant energy and divine light.
- I have the ability to be confident and in control of my life.
7. Stones and crystals for the solar plexus chakra
Like all other chakras, Manipura can be balanced with specific stones and crystals. Gemstones that are gold or yellow vibrate at the right frequency to activate your solar plexus chakra.
What crystals and stones are good for the solar plexus chakra?
Some of the best gemstones that will help you heal the solar plexus chakra include amber, citrine, tiger's eye, and topaz.
You can use any of these powerful stones and crystals for the solar plexus chakra by holding them, wearing them as jewelry, or simply having them around your home.
Amber – it is an organic stone, which was created from dried tree resin millions of years ago. Amber has a strong connection to the sun and earth and often carries ancient organisms and plant matter within it. Amber will strengthen your motivation and drive in a balanced way and boost your confidence, optimism and well-being. Amber is a health stone and a powerful natural purifier, which can help you heal all body ailments associated with the solar plexus chakra.
Citrine – this lovely gemstone is believed to bring more confidence, clarity and meaning to your life. It will help you become more positive, optimistic, and navigate some of life's biggest challenges with ease. Physically, citrine is one of the best stones for your digestive organs because it supports your metabolism.
Golden Topaz – this is a traditional stone of courage and healing, and can bring healing to your solar plexus chakra by boosting your self-confidence. It will allow you to manage your fear, anxiety and anger. On a physical level, it is supposed to improve your digestion and metabolism.
Golden Tiger's Eye - Tiger's Eye is a great gemstone for increasing your personal power, strength, and vitality. This beautiful gemstone holds the warm, optimistic energy of the sun, and it can help you be more positive. Physically, it can help slow down your metabolism and improve your digestion.
8. Heal the solar plexus chakra through food
Introducing healthy meals into your diet is a great way to start balancing your solar plexus chakra because food represents energy, which gives us power.
Your solar plexus chakra is the center of food digestion, absorption, and it transforms the energy from the food you eat into energy you can use in life.
Before we get into the details of what foods are good for your third chakra, let's talk about physical hunger.
The feeling of hunger comes directly from your gut area, and it is a signal from your solar plexus chakra to replenish you.
Your body is telling you to pay attention, so try to only eat when you hear this signal – both overeating and undereating are detrimental to the health of your solar plexus chakra.
Important tip:
You will feel your best if you eat until you are 80% full. If you eat too much, you will lose your sense of power, overload your digestive system and feel tired.
What foods are good for the solar plexus chakra?
A healthy solar plexus chakra vibrates at a frequency similar to the color yellow, so eat yellow colored foods like bananas, pineapples, pears, grapefruit, mangoes, ginger, yellow beans, yellow split peas , lentils and quinoa will help restore balance to your third chakra.
Your solar plexus chakra's favorite food group is good quality carbohydrates.
The root chakra builds your body's foundation with protein, the sacral chakra favors fats, and the solar plexus seeks energy from simple (e.g. banana) and complex (brown rice, sweet potatoes) carbohydrates.
That's not all when it comes to healing your yellow chakra with foods:
The balance between the cooked and raw foods you eat is an important factor when it comes to diet and your solar plexus chakra.
When your solar plexus chakra is overactive, it may be beneficial to add more raw foods to your diet because they have a "cooling effect."
On the other hand, cooked foods can be beneficial for someone with an underactive solar plexus chakra because they have a "warming effect." Every person is different, so just try experimenting with this and seeing what types of foods work best for your solar plexus chakra and give you the most energy.
9. Solar Plexus Chakra Healing with Essential Oils
Aromatherapy and essential oils with an earthy aroma can be a great way to restore balance to the blocked solar plexus chakra, as they can either stimulate you (underactive 3rd chakra) or soothe you (3rd chakra hyperactive).
Some of the best essential oils for healing the solar plexus chakra include grapefruit, ginger root, lemon, mint, cypress, cedarwood, and black pepper.
What is the best way to use essential oils for blocked chakra?
One of the best ways to get the most out of your essential oil is to use an aroma diffuser or humidifier, which will also create a soothing scent in your room and help with any dry skin issues.
Another way to use solar plexus chakra essential oils is to apply them directly to your skin or give yourself a relaxing foot massage.
Solar Plexus Chakra Opening Symptoms
Your solar plexus chakra will open as you begin to understand your place in the world and move toward a healthy, confident self-image.
This process requires developing self-awareness, self-love, and total acceptance of who you are in the present moment.
When your solar plexus chakra opens, you will finally understand how to use your personal power to bring your greatest gifts to this world.
At that time, you will stop living in a competitive mindset and understand the true meaning of collaboration and abundance.
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