The solar plexus chakra is the third chakra located above the sacral chakra and below the heart chakra. It is found below the sternum and above the navel and functions as the energy center for the ego. In this sense, the ego is associated with a positive connotation -- meaning the solar plexus chakra is responsible for our self-worth, belief, and power.
This type of power does not represent an assertion of dominance -- rather a personal power that is activated when we have the courage to do something difficult or that scares us, use our voice in a tough situation, or when we are not being heard by another and when we show self-control in trying times. We feel warmth or a kind of burning sensation when we do something for ourselves that feels right -- this is the activation of your chakra.
The solar plexus chakra is associated with the color yellow, like a ray of light. It empowers us to rise to the occasion and take action. It’s glow emanates from our self-confidence and helps to identify and brighten our personal path. It’s yellow hue is connected to creativity, personality, intellect, and the ego.
Like our other chakras, our solar plexus chakra can become blocked or out of balance. It is important to have balance in all of our chakras for a healthy and happy life. The solar plexus chakra can be somewhat difficult to heal. That is because it can go in two directions -- the first is those who lack confidence and self-esteem, which leads to rarely stepping outside of our comfort zone and letting others overpower you. The second is those who are overconfident and try to control others through asserting dominance.
We will discuss all things solar plexus:
As we have mentioned -- there are two ways our solar plexus chakra can be out of balance. The first is found in those with a blockage of energy flow and the second are those who have too much energy flowing to the chakra region. These may seem like two extremes, but often stem from traumatic life events or a history of physical and emotional disruption. One example of emotional disruption is when someone tells us we aren’t good enough for something -- maybe a career or romantic relationship. This severely impacts our ego and how we view ourselves. The most common signs of an unbalanced solar plexus chakra are:
Beginning with the first type -- an underactive solar plexus chakra -- those lacking in confidence and self-esteem often have a low self-worth and let others dominate them without speaking up when something doesn’t feel right. These people may be very shy and struggle to open up to others. They prefer to stay within their comfort zone and do not like to take risks. They settle for positions they may find unfulfilling and usually do not take on leadership roles. This is what leads to a life that seems meaningless and makes us feel inadequate -- it can be very frustrating and result in a serious depression.
The second type -- overactive solar plexus chakra-- are those who have so much confidence it comes off as arrogance. They tend to dominate and suppress others in order to be in control of every situation. The overabundance of energy can lead to issues with judgement, stubbornness and being overly critical of others. They may be perfectionists who refuse to accept any standard less than perfect -- while this may seem like extreme confidence, it can leave us feeling exhausted with a negative perception from those around us.
In order to heal our solar plexus chakra we have to find the balance between too much energy and not enough. There are a number of ways you can heal this chakra:
New experiences bring excitement and can be very fulfilling when they result in success -- this can be starting a new job, trying a new hobby or taking a trip to a new location. Stepping outside of your comfort zone may seem scary but can be very rewarding because it’s truly the only way to discover what you love.
Finding and doing something that makes you feel good on a consistent basis is a great way to boost confidence. You can start small by changing your routine and introducing new additions -- do something you’ve always wanted to but never had the time or courage to do it!
Meditation is always a great method to bring healing into your life. When you meditate you enter a safe space where you are free to feel and understand your thoughts and emotions.
You can meditate by asking yourself questions about why you may feel a certain way and learn to better understand yourself. The color of the solar plexus chakra is yellow -- so try envisioning a yellow light around your abdomen area for five minutes at a time.
This may be essential for those who are experiencing an underactive solar plexus chakra. If you have been in situations where another person is telling you that you aren’t enough -- it is crucial to leave or talk to the person about how their words are affecting you.
Positive affirmations help reverse and heal the damage of negative comments. You have to love something about yourself! So, start by listing those things and make saying them a part of your daily routine. If there’s something you need to hear -- say those things too and soon enough they will become part of your reality.
Since the solar plexus chakra is associated with yellow, you may need more yellow foods in your diet to boost this chakra. Try eating more bananas, pineapple, corn, lemons and grains to promote healing.
Since the solar plexus chakra is associated with confidence, courage, ego, fulfilment and motivation -- introduce essential oils that help boost these feelings. Use them in an oil diffuser to envelop yourself in an uplifting and encouraging aroma -- or place them directly on the skin diluted with some water in the solar plexus region or the bottom of the feet.
The best essential oils to try are -- chamomile, cypress, geranium, juniper, ginger, lemon, grapefruit, rosemary and black pepper. Lemon is an uplifting oil that can be used for cleansing purposes and help reduce anxiety and depression -- it smells fresh and clean too!
Since the solar plexus is associated with the color yellow, it may come as no surprise that the most influential stones for healing have yellow-brown tones.
Tiger’s Eye is a stone that promotes personal empowerment and clear perception. Use this to bring balance to your life and stay grounded.
Yellow Jasper is thought to be a protective stone that will keep you safe from negativity while harmonizing the energy of the body and spirit.
Citrine is a self-healing stone that has the energy to heal everything around it. It is said to be a stone with happy energy and is very commonly used by those with depression. It also helps with digestive issues.
Specific poses can be used to target and treat the solar plexus chakra. These are poses that strengthen the abdomen and improve flexibility.
Since the solar plexus is connected to the ego and the inner warrior within us -- poses such as warrior I, II and III can all be used to promote strength and self-confidence.
Plank poses strengthen the core and the abdomen. Boat pose also activates the core and makes us feel strong. Bow pose promotes flexibility and strengthens the abdominal area.
When we have mastered and opened the solar plexus chakra we will have control over our thoughts and emotions, be able to take necessary action in certain situations and overcome our individual fears. We will feel driven and determined to accomplish our many goals and have a direction for where we are going in life.
We will also know our self-worth and feel confident in ourselves and our abilities. We will know when to take action and speak up for ourselves. Similarly, our actions and choices will feel right and follow the path we have set out for ourselves.
If you have been struggling internally with feeling confident and knowing your self-worth, use some of these healing techniques to boost your self-esteem and overcome your fears! Stepping outside of your comfort zone can be great, very rewarding and lead to discovering something new that you love! If you think you may be struggling with control issues or perfectionism, also use these tips to bring balance back to your solar plexus and feel like yourself again.
