Power, Ego & The Solar Plexus Chakra

Do you find yourself struggling to display confidence in certain situations? Do you question if you’re good enough at work, or even in your personal life?

If you answered yes, it may mean that your solar plexus chakra is blocked. Located in your solar plexus, the manipura chakra generates feelings of power, self-will, control, and purpose. In this article, we’ll take you through what the solar plexus chakra is, its physical and mental characteristics, and how you can activate or unblock it to feel more confident and have a renewed sense of purpose.

What Are Chakras?

Often times, Chakras are recognized as a new age concept, however, the concept originated in India as far back as 500 BC. The term is a Sanskrit word that means “wheel.” The first known evidence of the chakra system was found in the Vedas, a body of religious and sacred texts from ancient India. The “wheel” or “chakra” refers to the spinning wheels of energy that are believed to be located in our spines.

The Hindus believe that each chakra activates and balances a different aspect of life and health. There are 7 different chakras, namely: the root chakra, the sacral chakra, the solar plexus chakra, the heart chakra, the throat chakra, the third eye chakra, and the crown chakra.

These major chakras are different energy (or prana) centers in your body that are prone to becoming blocked due to stress and ill health. Each chakra works in tandem with one’s physical body, specifically the endocrine system and other organs of the body. If you’re experiencing mental or physical discomfort, you may consider using this guide to understand why you might be experiencing pain in different parts of your body along with various methods designed to unblock and re-energize your chakras in order to give some relief to the issue.

What Is the Solar Plexus Chakra?

You can find the solar plexus chakra by putting four fingers above your navel. It is the third chakra in the body that elongates from the breastbone to the space above your belly button. It is also referred to as the manipura chakra, which roughly translates to “lustrous gem.”

The solar plexus affects matters of power, self-esteem, and a sense of direction or purpose.

When this chakra is well activated and unblocked, we likely have feelings of motivation and confidence, which helps our assertiveness and take charge attitude. On the other hand, if there are blockages in the solar plexus chakra, one can suffer from low self-esteem and low self-image issues, negative thought patterns, and aggression.

Characteristics of the Solar Plexus Chakra

Element of Fire

Each chakra on the body is represented by a natural element. The Manipura chakra is the fire element. It signifies the light energy within which ignites motivation, drive, and a sense of purpose.

Fire also represents the sun, which is synonymous with vibrancy and warmth. An excess of this element, however, can also cause burnout.

Yellow

Each chakra in the body is also represented by a color. The solar plexus chakra is yellow. Denoting light, energy, and the sun, this color represents the cycles of life, birth and rebirth, as well as new opportunities.

Physical Manifestation

Each chakra in the body corresponds to a specific organ or physical part of the body. It is important to understand the intersection between the physical manifestations and emotional outcomes of each chakra. The solar plexus chakra is responsible for promoting good digestion and the efficient absorption of nutrients. It also governs the lungs and adrenal glands which are responsible for regulating anxiety.

Now that we have some basic knowledge about this chakra, here are 6 things you can do to activate and unblock your solar plexus.

Exercise

Practicing yoga and mindfulness techniques that specifically cater to opening up the solar plexus chakra will help you reach equilibrium in this aspect of life. The warrior pose, the snake pose, and the forward bending pose all help in promoting blood circulation. These powerful poses also aid in better digestion.

The bow pose and half-spinal twist pose are also instrumental in ensuring that the digestive system is stimulated and there is effective drainage of toxins.

Using breathing techniques and practicing abdominal breathing also stimulates the solar plexus chakra. Place your hand over your belly and take a slow, deep breath in, hold it for 5 seconds, and exhale slowly. This style of breathing lowers your heart rate and helps with reducing cortisol levels in the body.

Sunlight

Yes, that’s right. Something as simple as going out for a walk under the sun and breathing in fresh air can activate the solar plexus. Remember, the element of fire governs this chakra, and spending time outside is truly like charging the battery in this chakra. A lack of vitamin D can also cause feelings of depression and anxiety so get out there and get some sun!

Diet Practices 

Eating the right type of food at the right time is very important for your solar plexus chakra to remain unblocked. It’s also recognized that eating smaller meals more frequently improves digestion and frees your organs from heaviness and strain. The activation of the solar plexus and good digestion thus go hand in hand.

Aromatherapy 

Using essential oils is another way to promote relief, healing, and calmness. In order to use them for the activation of the solar plexus, go for oils like ginger, sandalwood, and cinnamon which complement the fiery element of the chakra. Musk, orange, and lemon are also scents that foster vitality, vibrance, and freshness.

Understanding Past Pain

In order to move forward, it helps to identify patterns from our past that may be holding us back. This can be a messy process because you have to look inward and face events that have troubled you in the past.

The journey of unlearning behaviors that don’t serve you anymore is difficult but with the right amount of support and love, you can heal from past traumas.

When we can understand our pain from the past, we become better equipped to deal with whatever the future brings. This helps unblock the solar plexus chakra by creating a sense of control over your behaviors and thoughts.

Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations can bring about a big change in how you talk to yourself. Listen to your internal self-talk. When you catch yourself in the middle of a negative thought, stop and modify that statement to a more neutral or positive one.

Instead of thinking, “I can’t do it” or “What difference does this make?” substitute the thought with, “I am powerful. I can do this.”

Using words of gratitude can also help create a sense of self-love. Be kind to yourself, forgive yourself. When you experience a past regret, it is ok to acknowledge that regret, thank it for serving its purpose then let it go.

Journalling

You can process your thoughts by maintaining a personal journal. Use free writing to give your stream of consciousness free rein and to achieve catharsis. Once you have it all on paper, you can look back at what you’ve written and analyze thought patterns that might be holding you back. The simple act of writing your streaming consciousness down is very cathartic allowing the release of stress and is helpful in unwinding thought patterns that no longer serve your highest good.

Before You Go: Importance of Understanding the Solar Plexus Chakra

A basic understanding of the solar plexus chakra gives us the tools to understand ourselves better and allows us to feel more confident. If you frequently feel afraid, uncertain, or have poor digestion, you may have a blocked or unactivated solar plexus chakra. The techniques recommended in this article can help you address these issues.

We hope this also motivates you to find out more about the other chakras in our body — what they do, how they work, and how to maintain balance.

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