The 3rd chakra – Solar Plexus – Manipura
The 3rd chakra is the solar plexus or manipura, which translates to “lustrous gem.” This chakra is where your self-confidence, identity and personal power are born.
Have you ever been in a situation that you could feel wasn’t right for you?
Or a situation that you just knew was going to work out? Where did you feel these cues in your body?
Most people say they feel those cues in their gut.
In reality, this is the seat of your personal power, your solar plexus, and you can physically feel that confidence and wisdom in its location.
The solar plexus chakra is the center of personal identity. It is the seat of the ego, and develops in our teens and is anchored by our early twenties.
The solar plexus chakra rules all aspects of our personality and ego, especially our sense of self-worth, self-esteem, and personal identity.
This energy center also influences self-confidence and degrees of personal power, as well as freedom of choice. Ultimately it helps us make decisions for our highest good.
Qualities and Attributes
Self-worth is the primary quality of the solar plexus chakra. Our personal identity, formed in family life, expands in young adulthood so that we can honor ourselves as we interact and negotiate with the world.
The solar plexus chakra regulates an inner knowing and gut instincts about things and people. It develops in relationships, work, finances, and areas of self management and responsibility. As our sense of self grows, a strong and resilient inner core develops.
Our true self is that part of us that is always whole and intact. It is where truth, beauty, and freedom abide. It is not affected by pain, loss, or trauma. Though life appears difficult at times we are made whole when we connect to the self. It is an awareness of invaluable worth, esteem, and true power.
Personal power resides in the solar plexus chakra. It forms from developing an abiding sense of who we are. This power can express itself in any situation and guides us through the maze of resistance and opposition placed in our path to help us grow and mature. It thrives in the realm of resistance to form a strong Warrior archetype, an empowered person with a definitive sense of selfhood.
Location: The solar plexus starts in the center of the belly button and extends up to the breastbone or where your two sets of ribs connect in the center of your chest.
Age of resonance: 14-21
Shape: Globe
Color: Yellow
Musical note: E
Type of music: Marches
Element: Fire
Aspect of intelligence: Instinctual knowing
Sensory experience: Vision
Essential oils: Lemon, grapefruit, juniper
Astrological associations: Aries, Leo
Metals: Iron, gold
Earthly location: United States of America
Mythological animal: Lion
Plant: Carnation
Qualities: Self-worth, self-esteem, confidence, personal power, freedom of choice
Life issues: To develop a strong and resilient ego; to know you are worthy simply because you exist
Physical activities: Sports, competitive programs, qi gong, hiking, cycling
Spiritual activities: Leadership programs, psychotherapy, amateur dramatics, appreciating solitude
Positive archetype: Warrior
Negative archetype: Servant
As the center for personal empowerment, the solar plexus chakra can be mastered only when we know our worth and connect to the world through an abiding sense of self.
When the ego has a healthy link to the self it negotiates with the world in a balanced and considerate way. It is neither inflated – with an overdeveloped sense of its importance – nor manipulative or exploitative.
When our personal identity is intact we know who we are. We know we are worthy of love, kindness, and respect, and that the world mirrors this sense of worth back to us in relationships, jobs, and what we do in our daily lives.
When we know our worth we also know our boundaries. We know we will not tolerate abuse, harm, or destruction. We avoid negativity and stay on a positive, uplifting track to the best of our ability. If fear does surface in our lives, we honor who we are and respect our limits.
We look for what is wholesome, good, and healing in life and we appreciate a sense of oneness with all of life.
Meditation for the Solar Plexus Chakra
Practicing this meditation will give you protection, grounding, and a sense of yourself.
Affirmations Meditation for the Solar Plexus Chakra
Repeat these affirmations once every morning and once every evening to strengthen your solar plexus chakra.
Solar Plexus Journal Prompts
When was the last time you had a gut feeling about something? Did you listen to it or ignore it? Either way, what happened as a result?
You can also explore the last time you had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right for you but did it anyway (haven’t we all been there?), and what happened.
And, the last time you had a gut feeling that something was right for you, and you didn’t do it. What happened?