This week in our topic of chakras we will be diving into the Solar Plexus Chakra, which is the third of the seven chakras. If you haven’t done so already, take a look at the articles on Root and Sacral Chakras to get a better understanding of these energies and their connection with our nervous system. The three lower chakras compose our basic animal nature.
In Ayurveda, it is believed our bodies are aligned with seven energies that connect to our nervous systems. They connect the mind, body, and consciousness. Each energy, or chakra, houses different experiences and information that is unique to the individual. The seven Chakras consist of: the Root Chakra, Sacral Chakra, Solar Plexus Chakra, Heart Chakra, Throat Chakra, Third Eye Chakra, and the Crown Chakra. Today we will talk about the Solar Plexus chakra, or the self-empowerment chakra.
Where is the Solar Plexus Chakra?
The solar plexus chakra is aligned in the middle of your spine, in the area of your diaphragm. It’s housed in your upper abdomen as well as different organs such as your stomach and small intestine. The energy of the solar plexus is associated with the element of fire, making this area of the body the center for Agni. This chakra is your energy epicenter. It controls your digestive fire and the processing of food, as well as your emotional fire for the development of personal power, confidence, control, and ambition. Having strong agni pushes you forward mentally and physically.
Manomaya: Sheath of Mind
The Kosha, or sheath of energy, connected to the solar plexus is called Manomaya, meaning “made of the mind.” It is one of the several koshas that relates to the mind. It processes thoughts and emotions, allowing for decision-making and control. The electromagnetic field of this energy extends about a foot and a half away from the body and can be felt as the emotional state of a person. In Ayurveda, the root, sacral and solar plexus chakras fabricate the lower three energies into our animal nature. This journey of the mind allows us to work for survival, self-identity, and ambition. In balance, these three channels form a stable and grounded environment for a person’s survival. Out of balance, these channels will make a person insecure, distrusting, over emotional or lack emotion all together, but also feel unsafe in normal circumstances.
Balancing Solar Plexus Energy
If you find yourself having a difficult time making decisions, doubting yourself, or having the inability to do something for fear you are going to fail, you may be experiencing a blockage in your Solar Plexus Chakra. This can also manifest as aggression, being easily frustrated, and having a hard time taking criticism. In order to balance this energy you need to find practices that build confidence, self-worth, and a healthy sense of control. The best way to do this is to set yourself up for success each and every day. How do you set yourself up for success? By making achievable goals each day and the smaller the goal the better. These small successes send signals to your subconscious that you are making achievements, and by making achievements, you develop confidence. Having confidence develops self-worth and self-worth leads to ambition. This is all energy of the solar plexus chakra. Small goals you can set for yourself can be:
- Making your bed each day, it doesn’t matter when, as long as you do it.
- Eat breakfast.
- Meditate for 5 minutes
- Go for a walk
- Journal in the morning or evening
- Read a chapter out of a book
These actions may seem very simple. However, some might find that these things are challenging to follow through with. Setting the intention and following through with it is critical because it sends the signal to your brain that you achieved something. Some other ways you can balance your solar plexus chakra are:
- Focus on belly breathing (this triggers your parasympathetic nervous system sending signals to your brain that you are safe)
- Wearing yellow as this is the color of the Solar Plexus Chakra
- Aromatherapy using lemon or grapefruit
- Practicing yoga, specifically boat pose or warrior pose, these fire up your core
- Exploring any mental blocks that keep you from your own success. This may be beliefs you have about yourself that you learned early in life, but aren’t necessarily true.
As always, meditation allows for space and room to grow, so meditating with the intention of opening your solar plexus energy can help unblock what may be holding you back. The mantra “Ram” meaning “I can” can be powerful in aligning with self-empowerment. Feeling in control of your life creates a healthier boundary with you and others around you. This ushers healthier instincts.
Being in survival mode is important only in some circumstances. Living your life in a heightened state causes extreme dis-ease. Never give up on yourself, even in the most stressful of situations, because as humans we face so much every day of our lives. Our basic animal instincts are high and when emotions are elevated, this can lead us down intense rabbit holes of the mind, especially if we are just sitting at a desk. If you feel that you have an imbalance in your Solar Plexus, always take a moment to drop what you are doing, close your eyes, take a deep breath from your belly, and reset. This is a gentle way of saying “hey, you’re doing great and you are safe.” Find your peace and use it to return to the core of who are you and what makes you, you. What makes you, you, is the reason you are here and that is your personal power.
4.23.2021