The Essential Guide to Your Solar Plexus Chakra

While all chakras are purposeful and need to be maintained to achieve balance, the effects of a misaligned Solar Plexus chakra can be devastating.

The Solar Plexus chakra is the third chakra, located between the Sacral and Heart chakras. This chakra is also known as Manipura, which means “shining gem” in Sanskrit. When this chakra is out of balance, it is as if the shining gem within our spirit has gone dull and heavy.

Learning more about this chakra and how to balance it will help you gain more confidence and internal strength than you may have realized you had.

What is the Solar Plexus Chakra?

To begin, let us explore some of the basic aspects of the Solar Plexus, such as location, color, and element.

• Location: Between the navel and the sternum of the body
• Color: Yellow
• Element: Fire

This chakra is associated with personal power — the internal strength within us that allows us to face challenges, struggle, and criticism. The balanced Solar Plexus is a beacon of self-confidence, urging you to believe in yourself and carry on, no matter what trials you might be facing.

When this chakra is properly aligned, you feel empowered. It represents self-confidence, belief in the self, self-worth, and self-love. The Solar Plexus also represents self-power — not to be confused with power over others. While this chakra does embolden you with faith in your abilities, it does not encourage power over others. When the Solar Plexus is in harmony with the other chakras, it helps you realize that trying to gain control over anyone else is not necessary to achieve your goals or feel capable and strong.

This chakra is associated with fire, the element of passion and energy. A well-balanced Solar Plexus chakra can help you harness this energy for the good, recharging your passion and zest for life. When this chakra is aligned, you feel more willing to stand up for yourself and assert your personal power in a respectful way. You may also feel more inspired to take on activities that may have previously scared you, as this chakra encourages you to step outside of your comfort zone.

The golden-yellow light of this chakra represents the warm energy it radiates throughout your body, the illumination of self-confidence and personal power that allows you to follow your dreams without questions.

Read this next: The Essential Guide to Your Sacral Chakra

Is My Solar Plexus Chakra Blocked?

A blocked Solar Plexus is easy to spot — feelings of victimization, insecurity, the idea that the world isn’t fair, and nothing will ever work out. Those with a blocked Solar Plexus tend to have a negative attitude towards life and seem unable to stand up for or express themselves. However, this lack of confidence can also translate into a compensatory display of what seems like arrogance. Sometimes, when people are feeling low about themselves, they put on an extravagant mask to hide the pain.

If you have been feeling like your self-confidence is shot or that you don’t possess the courage to try new, challenging things, there is a good chance that your Solar Plexus needs to be aligned. If you’re having trouble speaking up for yourself, trying new things, or if you often feel like your stomach is in knots, it might be time to try balancing your chakras.

It is important to note that you should not take on further feelings of inadequacy in learning that your Solar Plexus may be blocked, as this chakra is easily obstructed — especially through criticism. This chakra tends to suffer most from external criticism or rejection. Being gentle on yourself is the first step toward regaining balance within this chakra.

How to Balance the Solar Plexus Chakra:

Fortunately, there are many ways to regain the balance needed for this chakra to function properly. Because it is associated with the color yellow, one of the easiest ways to begin aligning this chakra is to surround yourself with the warm glow of this color.

• Try to incorporate yellow into your wardrobe
• Filling your house with yellow or golden flowers, like sunflowers
• Eat yellow foods like bananas, lemons, and pineapples.
• Carry yellow or gold crystals with you or place them around your home.
• Meditate while visualizing the color yellow, imagining yourself being surrounded by its vibrancy and warmth.

To reignite the fires of this chakra, try stepping out of your comfort zone and participating in new and exciting experiences. You might take an interview for a job that you thought you couldn’t get or join a band because you’ve always wanted to sing. Try hiking up a trail that previously made you nervous or dancing in your living room. Your body will naturally react to the liberating feelings associated with pushing yourself to be brave.

There are also many physical practices that work to align your chakras, such as yoga, meditation, and all forms of exercise. Engaging your body is one of the easiest ways to relieve tension and stress while allowing the chakras to breathe in harmony.

Positive affirmations are also a wonderful way to begin strengthening your confidence. Try writing positive, self-affirming mantras on sticky-notes and placing them around your home to remind yourself that you are talented and worthy of love.

While it may take time and effort to rejuvenate the Solar Plexus, your body and mind will thank you. Even one step toward balancing this chakra can fill you with a surge of confidence and self-love that you deserve.

Related Article: The Essential Guide to Your Root Chakra