Aaah!  Welcome to your third chakra – Solar Plexus.   This is the chakra affiliated with your drive for power and your intellectual abilities.  This chakra, according to Anodea Judith’s chakra development system encourages self-esteem by supporting autonomy and celebrating independence.  It is developing between the ages of 18 months to 3 years, or, according to the twelve chakra system, at between two and a  half and four and a half years of age.   The most familiar Sanskrit name for the third chakra can be broken down into two parts.  Mani means “jewel” or gem, pura means “dwelling place”.  Thus, it can be translated as “city of gems”.  An additional name is “nabhi”, which means “navel”.  This chakra is found in the solar or gastric plexus, in the part of the vertebral column behind our stomach area.  Its effect radiates seven centimeters above and below the navel.  If we are feeling stressed, we may be able to feel this nerve plexus as a tight knot just below the sternum.

Manipura is often referred to as the solar plexus or navel chakra and is the center of personal power, mental activity, self-esteem, and willpower. The colour of the third chakra is “yellow”, which represents wisdom and intellect.  The gland that relates to Manipura is the pancreas. The third chakra manages the digestive system and organs, skin, breath, upper abdomen, diaphragm, middle spine, small intestines, and parts of the kidneys and adrenals, particularly the adrenal cortex. Therefore, some of the physical imbalances that relate to the third chakra are as follows:

Indigestion, Hypoglycemia, Diabetes, Disorders of the liver, pancreas, stomach, and gall bladder, and chronic fatigue.

Some of the excessive characteristics of the third chakra include; domination, controlling, arrogance, stubborn, attraction to sedatives. Some of the deficient characteristics include; lack of energy, poor digestion, tendency to be cold, blaming, low self- esteem, lack of confidence and poor self-discipline. Some of the characteristics indicating balance of the third chakra include:

Resonant, full voice, good communication with self, good listener, lives life creatively and to the fullest.

 Shame is the Demon of the third chakra.  Shame is an ego state, meaning that it is usually focused on how you think you are “doing”.  It doesn’t focus on how you really are doing overall. Some physical exercises that can help to strengthen the third chakra are as follows:  stomach crunches, plank pose, and belly rolls, to name a few. Finally, some of the questions one can ask oneself that relate to the third chakra are:

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Do I have a positive regard for myself?

Can I stand my ground even when challenged?

Am I true to my own individuality?

Do I constantly seek approval and/or attention from others?

 If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, take a good, honest look at the third chakra.

Until next time, remember, you are loved and you are a special being.

Namaste’