Third Chakra - The Fulcrum of Personal Power: The Solar Plexus
By Kelly Lydick
Its color is yellow. Its theme is power. This is the third chakra in the auric field, also called the solar plexus. Its balance governs power dynamics within relationships to others. The solar plexus gives structure to individual identity, and covers the most area in the physical body across the abdomen just at the belly button. The ego is intertwined with spirit here: this is where the physical world meets the spiritual world in material form.
When this chakra out of balance, power struggles occur with others, and control issues arise as the underlying cause of these power struggles. Disempowerment can occur within the self when not properly grounded, or when awareness is lacking about the self. Core wounding around self-esteem can manifest as imbalances here. Physical ailments can arise, too, if the solar plexus needs balance.
Donna Eden, author of Energy Medicine/i>, refers to this chakra as “…the reverse of the second chakra. Third chakra energy is logical rather than artistic, sophisticated rather then childlike, doctrinaire rather than organize, cunning rather than innocent, suspicious rather than trusting, and responsibility-bound rather than flowing.” (153) Eden also states that the third chakra is “entwined with your identity, your fears, and the needs of your ego.” (153)
Our personal power also is intimately linked to our connection to our spirituality. Caroline Myss says that “Each time we choose to enhance our internal power, we limit the authority of the physical world over our lives, bodies, health, minds, and spirits. From an energy point of view, every choice that enhances our spirits strengthens our energy field; and the stronger our energy field, the fewer our connections to negative people and experiences.” (173)
It’s imperative, then, to cultivate the relationship between personal power and its connection to spirit. At the same time, discerning between ego and spirit provides the appropriate degree of awareness regarding how to harness and utilize personal power. Further, a strong sense of self, and good self-esteem helps keep this chakra balanced, like weights on either end of a fulcrum.
Tips to Keep the Third Chakra Balanced:
- Do the inner work to heal wounds. Underlying imbalances reveal beneath them old wounds that fester. Work diligently to maintain clarity by healing the wounded parts of yourself. As you grow in awareness and continue a healing path, you will find that this type of work is no longer daunting, but rather exciting—because you can see results in the outer world based on the changes in behavior that result from healing the inner world.
- Practice self-awareness. This is a reciprocal and exponentially compounding practice. The more awareness you have, the more awareness you will have.
- Be assertive. Just like the second chakra, balance in the third chakra depends upon good boundaries. But for the third chakra, this is a more complex dynamic. Boundaries here have to do with the ego, and being assertive can help keep balance. Assertiveness comes in the form of being clear to others about your needs and desires—without being apologetic.
- Get physical exercise. Exercise keeps the physical body strong. As the solar plexus intersects physicality with spirituality (or material and spiritual), keeping the blood flowing can help regular the flow of energy. Low-impact cardio, or swimming are both great methods.
- Meditate. This can mean sitting meditation, Qi Gung, Marital arts, or even painting or playing music. Regularly take part in the activity that creates a meditative state within you—that which cultivates peace and equanimity of heart and mind.
References
Eden, Donna. (1998). Energy Medicine. London, England: Penguin Books, Ltd.
Myss, Caroline. (1996). Anatomy of the Spirit. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press.
About the author:
Kelly Lydick received her M.A. in Writing and Consciousness from the New College of California, San Francisco (now at CIIS). Her writing has appeared in Guernica, Drunken Boat, Switched-on Gutenberg, Mission at Tenth, Thema, Tarpaulin Sky, and True Blue Spirit magazines, as well as on the home page of ElephantJournal.com. Her work has also been featured on NPR’s The Writers’ Block. She is the author of the experimental work, Mastering the Dream.
Kelly holds certifications as a Meditation Facilitator, Reiki Master, Crystal Reiki Master, Past Life Healer, and Gateway Dreaming™ Coach. She teaches writing and metaphysical workshops, and offers private consultations through her company Waking the Dream. In 2016, she was awarded a Juno fellowship from the world-renowned Omega Institute for achievements in healing and women’s leadership. You can learn more about her work at www.kellylydick.com.
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