Name in Sanskrit: Manipura
Meaning: “Jewel city”
Location: Solar plexus
Number of Petals: 10
Color: Yellow
The third chakra is also known as the Solar Plexus Chakra. Its color is bright opaque yellow and its symbol, in most representations, is a 10-petaled lotus. In Sanskrit the solar plexus chakra is called Manipura, meaning “jewel city.”
The solar plexus chakra meaning might make it seem like this chakra has to with jewels and money but the truth is, this chakra isn’t about survival or material riches. Sure, a general solar plexus chakra definition can include financial aspects, but this chakra is more about doing what you love, finding your passion in life, rather than making ends meet. Vitality and passion come first; money is secondary.
A healthy solar plexus chakra is developed in childhood, between the ages of four and eight (unless the person had to grow up too fast and take responsibilities that were beyond his or her age and capacity). A healthy childhood in this period teaches us that we are a separate individual with particular likes and dislikes, and that our tastes and limits should be respected by those around us.
Dominant parents who have little or no respect for their child’s individuality, who force their child to be someone she is not, do things she doesn’t like or shatter her dreams cause damage to the third chakra. With these types of parents, we learn to doubt ourselves and our dreams. We don’t pursue our likes and we might not be very good at saying no. We might take on jobs that aren’t right for us and do things we don’t necessarily enjoy. We seek approval; not joy.
Sitting between the second chakra (sexual connections) and the heart chakra (the capacity to offer unconditional love), the third chakra acts as a gateway between sex and love. If you have difficulty finding good sex and deep love in the same relationship, it’s almost certain that you have your solar plexus chakra blocked.
This chakra helps us set boundaries and limits both in our sex life and love life, and thanks to healthy boundaries, it helps us combine these different life areas in one meaningful relationship. When we have a healthy third chakra, we neither sleep around mindlessly nor do we fall in love with every person we meet. A strong third chakra supports the heart’s ability to love and doesn’t allow us to be emotionally or energetically used, abused or invaded.
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When the solar plexus chakra is imbalanced
A disfigured, undercharged, overcharged, or torn solar plexus chakra affects our ability to own our own life story and write our future ourselves. Deep down we become disgusted with the way things are – we have this underlying belief that life is to be endured and not lived with joy. We fail to realize that this is just a personal projection, and not the truth of the universe.
If you were raised in an invasive or strict environment where there was little or no respect for your unique individuality, preferences, likes, and dislikes, you might have solar plexus chakra pain or solar plexus chakra blockage. Later in life, such blockages can become diseases or ailments such as poor digestion, stomach issues, or internal organ issues. Work on your third chakra if you suffer from any of these.
Solar plexus chakra healing
A super simple solar plexus chakra healing technique is to sit down in a meditative position, in a quiet room, legs crossed and back straight, making sure you won’t be disturbed for at least twenty minutes. Close your eyes and place your hands on your stomach. Let go of any thoughts or fears you may have and visualize this area filling up and illuminating with a bright yellow glow.
Solar plexus chakra activation symptoms include feeling warmth in your upper belly and all your body. The element of this chakra is fire – and you should have neither too little nor too much.
The above technique is great for those with an undercharged, closed, or disfigured solar plexus chakra. But some of us have excessive energy in our solar plexus chakra. Those of us who have a tendency to bully others to do what we want, who use words like weapons, who would much rather die than be wrong might have just too much fire in our third chakras.
To release the accumulated excess energy in your solar plexus chakra, work with a therapist or counselor to explore how your childhood or your recent/current environment has affected your soul. You’ll need to learn to cease control and learn that life and people can’t be controlled. Nor do they have to do what you want. You need to understand that you might not always know what’s best for others. It’s okay to surrender to the mystery of life and let each individual flower the way they were meant to.
In yoga, solar plexus chakra poses include any pose where you work on your abs. Most backbends will help open this chakra, while forward bends are good for people with excess third chakra energy.
Solar plexus chakra mantra is “Ram” – a simple sound you can repeat in meditation or just sing out loud. It’s good for both undercharged and overcharged third chakras. Solar plexus chakra reiki also has some good techniques if you prefer working with a reiki master.
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Solar plexus chakra affirmations
“I have the right to have boundaries.”
“I am a unique individual with my own likes and dislikes.”
“I direct my own life.”
“Limits can be healthy.”
“I am free to do what I want to do.”
“Sex and love can come together for me.”
“The universe is a good place. I can let go.”
Fun everyday practices
To heal the solar plexus chakra, you can wear a bright yellow or yellow shirt, pants or a scarf, get yellow pillows or throws for the living room and add a new pop of color to your life that way. Given the location of this chakra, wearing yellow tops is extra effective. You can also paint a water bottle bright yellow, and drink water from this bottle for a few weeks. You can paint your nails yellow, or paint a canvas in shades of yellow.
If you’d like to wear solar plexus chakra stones or have them around your house, obtain citrine, tiger’s eye, pyrite, and orange calcite. You can wear them as jewelry or put them in different rooms in your house. Make sure to regularly wash your crystals with mild soap and water, and give them some time in the sun – this will charge them and keep their energy properties intact.
Talking about the sun, sunbathing is an excellent practice for those with an undercharged third chakra. Take breaks at work and go outside. Or go to the beach if you live nearby. (Use sunscreen and limit the time you spend under the sun to avoid getting burns). If you are a yoga practitioner, get a bright yellow yoga matt and practice outdoors to soak the sun in.
Find out more about the other six chakras:
Sacral Chakra
Solar Plexus Chakra
Heart Chakra
Throat Chakra
Third Eye Chakra
Crown Chakr
