The sacred truth of this Chakra is to honour oneself by forming a ‘self’ separate from our inherited identity, helping us mature and improve our self-understanding.
Located in the space between our navel to the solar plexus (core) its element is fire and its function is willpower, action and where the ‘flight or fight’ instinct resides. The body parts it correlates with are the pancreas, small intestines, digestive system, liver, gall bladder, stomach spleen and metabolism.
The symbol of Manipura, the solar plexus.The Solar Plexus represent our internal sun produced by the oxidation or burning of food that takes place in this region of the body as well as transforming the qualities of the first two Chakras into action, energy and power. Its chief operating force is combustion, releasing energy and manifesting our dreams and desires into the world, bringing a sense of logic, planning and gratification to our needs and urges. Our mind meets the emotions emerging from the passivity of the lower two Chakras to take conscious, deliberate action.
When properly regulated, the fire of this Chakra allows us to be healthy, digest our food properly and regulate our adrenal glands, which can act as an instant surge of power when we become frightened or angry. When we have nowhere to channel this force it can become static, useless or even dangerous. When used positively the fire flows upward illuminating the higher Chakras. If we are not grounded and in touch with our bodies, our passions and pleasures we have no fuel for this fire. If we are unloving towards ourselves, not giving ourselves room to breathe, explore, make mistakes, then we have no air to help the fire burn.
Just like the heat and power from the Sun that radiates energy to the planets, the Manipura radiates and distributes pranic energy, regulating and energizing the organs, systems and activities of the body.
As Caroline Myss writes in her book ‘Anatomy of the Spirit’ the fear arising from this Chakra are of rejection, criticism and looking foolish as well as insecurities about our physical appearance. But the strengths include self-esteem, self-respect, self-discipline, good ethical behavior and the ability to take ‘action’ and the courage to take necessary risks.
She further notes that this self-understanding and self-respect is a bond we form with ourselves. It is here that we make choices that enhance our spirit, versus those that drain your power. These positive choices strengthen our energy field and rely on our intuition by following our ‘hunch’. This guidance requires action but does not always guarantee safety. Any new cycles of learning can be uncomfortable but it is the only way for the universe to measure our success and how much we have learned throughout our lifetime. Through challenge comes change.
As we move beyond these first three Chakras and transcend them, we are able to visualize the infinite state of consciousness endlessly stretching out before us, full of beauty, truth and love.
Poses:
Standing Squat
Triangle
Warrior
Bow
Plank