Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Chakra Centers, Part Three: Healing the Identity


3rd Chakra:  Solar Plexus Chakra
Center of Power

The Solar Plexus Chakra, located below the ribcage, is the seat of identity, personal power and will.  In this power center is where your primary power animal resides.  Blocks and disruptions to this chakra often lead to your power animal being forced out of its ‘home’ in your energy field, and its medicine becoming inaccessible until the damage is repaired on a spiritual level. 

From a shamanic perspective, each of us has the ability to connect with 9 primary totems, while also learning the medicine of other totems throughout life’s journey.  But, the 9 primaries surround us and protect us in all directions (north, east, south, west, right, left, above, below, and within).  At different initiations in our lives, our primary power animal may change…but no matter the direction they represent, the power animal resides in the solar plexus and connects us with our personal power through its specific medicine.

When the solar plexus is open and balanced, you have found and accepted your unique gift…the work that gives you pleasure and makes you feel fulfilled.  One way to find your gift is to consider what you most enjoyed doing when you were a child, this will give you clues about your natural inclinations.

This is the center of Chi (life force energy).  It has to do with personal identity, ego, power, will, self-discipline, self-esteem, self-acceptance, self-understanding, and self-respect.  It is here where you accept or reject who your truly are.  This is the area where you give or restrict your own personal freedom, form personal boundaries, give away personal power or exert your will.  Desires that are formed in the Sacral Chakra are then manifested by the will power of the Solar Plexus into physical reality.

When two people are in a heated argument, the light from the solar plexus turns from bright yellow to dark.  The way the lights from the two chakras mix is characterized by negativity.  The darker the light is, the more hate is there between the two.  When it turns dark enough, it becomes black and a blockage may arise in the solar plexus center in one or both of them.  A block in this chakra forces the power animal out, creating illness that is often difficult to heal without outside help…as this chakra, when clear, has much to do with self-sufficiency and reflects the opposite when blocked or damaged.

To balance this chakra, rub your belly.  Visualize sunshine radiating out from your solar plexus.  Breathe deeply, using your diaphragm.  When you breathe in this way…it is much like a hot air balloon.  Breathing in, your belly and chest expand.  Breathing out, your belly and chest deflate.  It’s much different than the kind of ‘sucking in the gut’ inhale…as using your diaphragm allows for full expansion of the lungs.  Focusing on the color yellow will help you to connect with your ‘gut’ intellect and uplift your connection to your own power.  Also, connecting with your power animal, either physically or through visualization, can strengthen this center.  This chakra is linked to the sense of sight (just as the root is linked to smell and the sacral chakra is linked to taste)…so visualizations of what speaks to your own sense of power are very beneficial for healing this chakra.  Belly dancing is great for this chakra.  Yoga poses such as the cat, the bow, the twist, and the coil are very helpful as well.  Something you can do daily is to hug yourself while twisting from side to side with your chest out.  Sunlight and yellow flowers are some natural things that can help out too.  In the information below, you can find crystals and other visualization techniques to aid solar plexus healing.

Balanced solar plexus energy:

Outgoing, cheerful, self-respect, respect others, strong sense of personal power, skillful, intelligent, relaxed, spontaneous, expressive, takes on new challenges, enjoys physical activities and good food.

Excessive solar plexus energy:

Judgmental, critical, demanding, workaholic, perfectionist, bullying, stubborn, arrogant, boastful, impulsive, , spiteful, cruel, violent, war-like, aggressive, overly competitive, argumentative, egotistical, sense of entitlement, conceited, over-confident, overly intellectual, refusal to admit when wrong, may need drugs to relax, sexually inhibited, can't show emotional warmth.

Deficient solar plexus energy:

Depressed, lack of confidence, overly sensitive to critisism, need for other’s approval, worries about what others think, self-doubt, confused, aloof, pessimistic, lazy, stagnant, feels unworthy, low/no self-esteem, power issues, lack of self-assertion, needs constant confirmation of self-worth, inability to manifest, low/no ambition, fear of taking action, fear of moving forward, physically weak, poor digestion, afraid of being alone, sexual energy is insecure, needs constant reassurance, jealous, distrustful.

Illnesses associated with the solar plexus chakra:

Digestive difficulties, weight issues, eating disorders, hypoglycemia, hypochondria, ulcers, gas, food allergies, liver problems, diabetes, over-sexed, gall stones, fevers, acne, muscle cramps, spasm, depression, difficulty breathing.


Glands/organs/body parts associated with the solar plexus chakra:

The diaphragm, the breath, adrenals, skin, digestive organs, stomach, duodenum, pancreas, gall bladder, liver.

Stones/crystals/minerals to aid solar plexus chakra healing:

Citrine, gold topaz, amber, tiger’s eye, golden beryl, yellow tourmaline, gold calcite, sandstone, pyrite and gold.

Visualizations to aid in solar plexus chakra healing:

In the morning when you wake up (if you do wake up in the morning), go outside and face the rising sun with bare feet planted on the ground (or from an eastern window inside if the weather isn’t ideal).  Visualize the golden light of the sun shining into your power center…connecting with and cleansing your own light.  Greet the sun with gratitude for its healing.

The following links are some videos you can use to meditate on your power center.  The main thing is to focus on yellow or golden fiery images as you connect with your sense of Self. 




Additionally, the best ways to find your power animal are through shamanic journeying or guided meditation.  You can also find them through dreams, memories of childhood experiences or animal connections, or intuitive connections made between you and an animal when encountering, watching, or visualizing that animal.  The following link is a guided meditation you could use to find your power animal, I highly recommend it if you aren’t already sure.  Whichever animal/insect/mythical beast/etc. sticks with you in your ordinary conscious awareness (as well as your dreams) afterwards…this is the totem that is stepping forth as your primary power animal whose medicine will keep your solar plexus chakra balanced.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the links! These are awesome!