How to Balance Your Solar Plexus

The solar plexus chakra, or Manipura, is the third chakra in the auric body, located physically in the abdominal area, just above the navel and ganglia of the solar plexus nerves.

This chakra is associated with self-esteem, confidence, personal power and self-worth.

It is associated with action and the ability to establish thought ideas into a tangible reality - to manifest one's dreams and desires into the material physical world.

The solar plexus influences social skills and self-image. Physically, it is involved with healthy metabolism and efficient digestion.

The chakra colour associated with Manipura is yellow, and the associated element is fire. This chakra's animal is the Ram, which in turn is associated with the zodiac sign Aries.

When in balance, the solar plexus chakra allows you to have strong sense of self including self-esteem, self-confidence, personal power, natural charisma and leadership skills, good social skills and a happy social life, assertiveness and ability to get your dreams to materialize into reality, decisiveness, and ability to face challenges with a positive attitude and learn from them. You will also enjoy control over your thoughts and feelings, trust yourself and feel a strong sense of direction in life.

Physically your digestion is healthy and efficient, your immune system will be strong, and your overall health vibrant and alive.

It is actually incredibly common for people to have blockages in the solar plexus. The solar plexus chakra can be blocked or knocked out of alignment by sudden changes in your life, sudden unexpected challenges or an inability to forgive yourself and/or others and move on from past mistakes.

An underactive solar plexus chakra can show up as insecurity, anxiety, fear, lack of self confidence, inability to handle life´s challenges with ease and grace, poor sense of self or self-image, inability to focus, lack of direction, lack of focus, procrastination, low body weight and struggles with eating, obesity and eating disorders and just a general feeling of helplessness, powerlessness and victimhood. The solar plexus can also be overactive, leading to feelings of over-aggression, an overbearing manner, over competitiveness, controlling or manipulative behavior or even mania.

Physical symptoms caused by a blocked solar plexus chakra can include poor digestion, IBS, constipation, weight struggles, eating disorders, addictions, diabetes, stomach ulcers, reflux issues, hepatitis, gallstones or pancreatis.

By unblocking or balancing the solar plexus chakra, you may clear problems that have been producing lack and limitations in your life. As you improve the energy here, you may also develop a strong powerful sense of self, and improve your ability to manifest your desires. This is the chakra that is responsible for all manifestations!

When you work on creating a more positive self-image, life will mirror back your own increased feelings of worthiness and deservingness by bringing you good experiences that match your loving feelings about yourself.

How To Heal the Solar Plexus Chakra

1) VISUALIZATION

Begin with several rounds of deep breathing and try to hold these deep breaths for four counts each. When you feel relaxed, imagine a bright yellow flower such as a sunflower, or a yellow sphere of light sitting just below your ribcage. Make the image bigger and brighter, and feel the abdominal area becoming warmer and more relaxed. After 5-10 minutes, allow the energy to dissipate through your whole body. Take a few deep breaths and come out of the visualization.

2) CRYSTAL HEALING

Effective crystals for balancing your solar plexus chakra include citrine (also known as the success stone), sunstone, sunstone, yellow calcite, yellow tourmaline, yellow topaz, amber and tiger´s eye.

3) FOODS THAT HEAL THE SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA

Yellow coloured foods such as bananas, yellow peppers, yellow squash, and lemons infuse this chakra with positive yellow energy. Also slow release complex carbohydrates such as organic corn (grown in the sunshine), oats, lentils and sweet potatoes give you the slow release energy fuel to reach your goals. Also eat lots of fibre and drink lots of water to improve the efficiency of your digestion. Lastly, incorporate herbs and spices like cumin, mint, turmeric, dandelion, ginger, sunflower seeds and chamomile into your cooking.

4) ESSENTIAL OILS

Citrusy essential oils like grapefruit, orange, or lemon can uplift and energize you. Other oils for the third chakra are ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, chamomile and peppermint.

5) PHYSICAL MOVEMENT

Physical movement gets your energy unstuck and flowing again. If you like dancing, yoga, running or walking and especially if you can do any of these outside, go outdoors and feel your energy flowing again!

6) SPEND TIME OUTDOORS

The solar plexus is associated with sunlight. Spend as much time as you can outdoors, even if you live in a cold country. If you can meditate, exercise, read, write or do yoga outside, etc. do it outside. The connection with nature will also improve your energy flow.

7) CORE-STRENGTHENING

In addition to yoga poses that target your core, you can also try pilates, strength training at the gym or best of all, martial arts for ultimate self-empowerment! Core-strengthening also strengthens and opens your shoulders and lengthens your spine, lending you to power posture that enhances your self-esteem.

8) GROOMING AND DRESSING YOURSELF WELL

Taking daily showers, styling your hair, cutting your nails, selecting an outfit that makes you feel good, grooming yourself and just taking the time every day to preen yourself boosts your sense of self and makes you feel good.

9) PUSH YOURSELF

When you´re depressed, the last thing you feel like doing is taking any positive action to help yourself. However, with depression, activity is actually essential in improving your mood. Push yourself to exercise, socialize, go outside, set a goal beyond your comfort zone and strive towards it! When you show yourself how powerful you are, moving forward and achieving despite your depression, you strengthen your solar plexus.

10) BE SPONTANEOUS AND TRY SOMETHING NEW

You can start with small things like choosing a new café to take your coffee in, buying clothes from a different shop or in a new style, talking to somebody new, looking somebody you find attractive in the eyes when you didn’t think you had the confidence to, visiting a new town for the day or even travelling further to a new country. New experiences can shake up energy to bring healing to the solar plexus.

11) LAUGH

Remember a funny memory, watch a comedy show, or spend time with people you find funny! Fun makes you feel good, increases your self-esteem and raises your vibration.

12) POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

Positive affirmations for the solar plexus chakra:

'I love and accept myself just as I am, I respect myself, I believe in myself, I am worthy of love, I can accomplish anything I desire, I can solve all problems that come up. I am capable. I am confident. I am assertive.'

• I am the embodiment of inner peace and confidence.

• I give myself the gift of freedom from the past.

• I deserve the best and I only attract the best. Only good things come to me now.

• I am fit, healthy and attractive.

• I approach each day as being special by taking the time to nurture and care for myself, to make the effort to dress and groom myself well to enjoy my body and celebrate it.

• I have complete faith in myself.

• I treat myself with honour and respect.

• I have a strong sense of my purpose in life.

• I choose the best for myself.

• I trust the guidance I get from my inner self.  

  
  

13) LEADERSHIP

Taking a leadership role that allows you to exercise your natural leadership abilities without overbearing or stepping on others will empower you and show you your new capabilities. Some ideas for natural leadership roles include asserting your ideas at work, giving a presentation, starting up a social group or club, teaching a class or starting a business.

14) MAKING DECISIONS

Making decisions that are either based off of your intuition, or simply in line with what would be the most loving and healthy choice for you right now, will strengthen your sense of self-trust and personal power.

15) LISTEN TO YOUR INTUITION

The intuition and gut nudges and feelings sit in the solar plexus so unsurprisingly when there is a blockage here sometimes it´s difficult for you to hear your inner voice. Take some time alone to relax, meditate and hear your inner voice. The more you can hear AND trust yourself enough to act upon your inner voice, the more your solar plexus strengthens. Your inner voice is the most powerful advice you have, it comes from your Higher Self which is connected to the rest of The Universe and is your ultimate guide in life.