Manipura 3: Solar Plexus Chakra

COLOR: ELEMENT: Fire POSITION: On the Navel OBJECTIVE: Relationship with Yourself, Personal Power, Freedom from , Self-worth, Personal Thoughts and Image of Yourself. SEAT OF: The Mind Consciousness COMPLEMENTARY CHAKRA:

The Voice of the Personal Power Chakra: "I can…ACCOMPLISH both easy and difficult tasks with equal grace and ease!"

Manipura Chakra is the third chakra located at the navel. It is symbolized by a yellow lotus of ten petals. Its element is fire that radiates and transforms matter into energy, giving light and warmth. This chakra represents our "get up and go" attitude, our action, our willpower, our vitality, and our sense of personal power. Its name, 'Manipura', means 'lustrous gem'. We can think of it as a glowing yellow Sun, radiating through the center of our body. On the physical plane, the third chakra rules , the process where by we turn food (matter) into energy and action. Examining your relationship to the properties of fire can give further clues to the nature of your third chakra. Are you frequently cold, physically or emotionally? Do you get overheated, hot-tempered? Is your style quick and energetic, or slow and lethargic?

When the third chakra is closed, one may feel tired, afraid, shaky, quiet, or withdrawn. There is a fear of taking risks, confronting people or issues, taking charge, and with all this, a lack of energy. There may be too much seriousness and not enough laughter, ease, or fun, all of which help the third chakra to open and relax. Pleasure, from the below, keep the fire warm and easy, and in absence of warmth from below Chakras, our fire is cold and hard.

An appropriate concept for a healthy balance in this chakra is the archetype of a peaceful warrior-standing strong, staying in touch with feelings, confronting only when appropriate and quietly maintaining a sense of power. A healthy third chakra can take on a task and complete it; take on a risk and not be bound by perfectionism; or act in the role of leadership without domination or self-aggrandizement.

Manipura Chakra In A Nutshell

LOCATION IN BODY CENTRE OF FOREHEAD

You feel like a victim in the world and often feel powerless in relation to When your Manipura Chakra other people and circumstances. You will be overly concerned with what is closed people think about you. You suffer from low self-confidence and self- respect. You give your power away to others as you feel this is necessary to keep peace in relationships. If this chakra is overactive you will tend to be aggressive and the need to be in control always.

You have a strong sense of your own power and how to use it in healthy ways. You admire others with power and influence and choose to When your Manipura Chakra emulate people who are using their personal power to make a difference is opened in the world. You want to use your power and influence for good in the world.

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Having suppressed anger/grudges or painful memories of past which you Blocked by refuse to let go of. Constantly worrying about the future and feeling powerless.

Loss of self-esteem, anger arising from sense of victimization. Affects Symptoms of blockage and adrenals. Problems with liver, digestive tract, gall bladder. (You may exhibit one or more of these ) Person suffers from constipation, acidity, hyper tension, chronic fatigue and gut ailments like indigestion and ulcers.

Associations Wealth, Power and status.

You let go of past and live moment by moment.You are not intimidated by power over you.You can carry power of command.Ability to have self- Unblocked by discipline and self-respect.Ability to honour the opinions of others and opinions of self.

Imbalanced Manipura Chakra When the Manipura Chakra is imbalanced it manifests either as anger and aggression, or else a sense of being a victim. This makes you either a argumentative rebel or a meek follower. You feel others have control over your destiny and that you are always taken for granted. You do not act upon opportunities because of fears of failure. You fear taking risks and are unable to follow a disciplined life because of lack of will power.

Balanced Manipura Chakra When your Manipura Chakra is balanced you are full of energy, effectiveness, spontaneity and masterly power of a true leader. You will take on a task and complete it and not be bound by perfectionism. You will radiate warmth and love to all and have confidence, self-respect and self-power.

Overactive Manipura Chakra When your Manipura Chakra is overactive, you are judgmental or critical and will always find fault in others. You seek to dominate and are very authoritative. You strive for power, prestige and ambition. There is an insatiable desire to be in control of all situations all the time leading to sour relationships and personal frustrations.

Underactive Manipura Chakra When the Manipura Chakra is underactive you start feeling isolated and closed to new ideas. You fear rejection from people and become overly conscious about their opinion of you. You constantly seek approval of others and become dependent on them physically, emotionally, mentally or socially. You hide all your feelings and opinions and become a closed person. This makes you serious and you have no laughter or joy in anything that you do.

HOW TO BALANCE YOUR MANIPURA CHAKRA

1) Respect your Opinion Know that your opinions matter. Your opinion is as important as those of others. So, respect your opinion.

2) Earn Self-Respect By following a disciplined life with your own set of cherished values, integrity and commitment, you will earn self-respect in your own eyes.

3)Be Self-Aware Self-awareness is the key to analyzing the full potential of your life. If you live with a closed mind, you become a prisoner of your own thoughts and thus have a very limited vision. When you purify your Manipura Chakra, you become self-aware and with this you enhance your vision and your mind opens to new possibilities.

4)Know your Real Worth Your worth does not diminish because some people rejected you. After all it takes an intelligent 'Zohri' (jeweler) to know and appreciate the value of a diamond.

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TIPS TO BOOST YOUR MANIPURA CHAKRA POWER

? Taking classes, reading informative books, doing mind puzzles. ? Developing one's photographic memory. ? Sunshine. Detoxification programs. ? Eat yellow foods and consume yellow beverages. ? Use aromatherapy oils such as Rosemary, Lemon, Grapefruit and Bergamot. ? Music that is mentally stimulating such as chimes. Reed and Horn Instruments. ? Wear 12-Mukhi Rudraksha or Yellow stones like Citrine, Amber and Topaz. ? Bathe in the yellow color in your clothing, decor, art etc.

LESSONS OF MANIPURA CHAKRA

1) Avoid Relationships of Co-dependency Treat all relationships like partnerships. There is really no dependency you have on anybody, be it physical, emotional or mental. You should realize that you are independent and have release dependency on others.

2) Releasing Fear of Being Different You don't want to appear being different out fear of being alienated, ridiculed, compared or opposed. Know that only those who succeed in achieving their goals can stand apart from the crowd.

3) Learning to take Responsibility You may not take responsibility out of fear of failure or fear of being incompetent. You must release these fears and know that to be successful, one needs to take up responsibility and honor it.

4) Knowledge is Power Remember that knowledge is power. It makes one a leader and gives him the power to act. It also wins you followers.

5) Negative Notions about Power When you have negative notions about power, you can't be powerful. These include 'power corrupts', that 'cheating is necessary for success', and that 'all powerful people are bad'.

6) Discipline is Important Discipline is not just important to achieve success, but it adds strength to your personality and defines your moral character.

7) Earn your Self-Respect You can't respect yourself without a reason. It has to be earned by thought, integrity, commitment and consistent action.

8) Learning to say 'NO' It is natural for others to have opinions about you and plans for you. But you need to have defined your vision and then stick to it. Hence, it is important to say 'No' to the things that do not align with you in life.

9) Developing Leadership Skill Only those who have the necessary knowledge, the ability to face challenges calmly, the conviction in their vision, and the character to lead from the front become leaders.

MEDITATION TO HEAL THE CHAKRA

? Clasp your hands in a Namaste position at the Navel. Let the fingers join at the top, all pointing away from you. Cross the thumbs. It is important to straighten the fingers. ? Concentrate on the Navel and chant the RAM. ? Do for 10 minutes and feel the sensation of the awakening of the Manipura Chakra.

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RELEASE LIMITING BELIEFS THAT BLOCK MANIPURA CHAKRA

? I release the belief that I lack power ? I release the belief that I lack physical energy ? I release the belief that external world has power over me ? I release all the past grief, resentments and stored pain from every cell of my body ? I release physical, emotional, mental and social dependency on the world ? I forgive myself for anything and everything I did out of ignorance ? I forgive all those people in the past who have hurt me due to ignorance or weakness ? I release the fear that I am unable to move forward ? I release the fear that I lack courage to take risk ? I release the inability to honor myself ? I release the fear that I am dependent ? I release the fear that I can't take care of myself ? I release the fear of others' opinions about me ? I release the fear of being rejected ? I release the pattern of always putting myself down ? I release fear that others will put me down ? I release the need to be noticed ? I release the feeling of discouragement from every cell of my body ? I release the pattern of self-sabotage ? I release the pattern of self-destructive behaviors ? I release the patterns of fighting myself

NOW DO AFFIRMATIONS BELOW

Thank You, God I am powerful/I am using my power wisely/I am deserving/I have high self-respect/I deserve joy and happiness/I am creating my thoughts about myself and my life/I am light hearted/I can take in the sweetness of life

Thank You, God I am moving forward with my life/I deserve to be all that I can be/I am worthy of all good things in life/I have value/I am fulfilled/I am myself in the present moment/My needs are as important as others/I give myself permission to use my power.

Thank You, God I am creating a satisfying life/I am having one success after another success/I am healing/I am vibrant/I am experiencing/Others are interested in what I have to say/I am confident and secure/I give myself permission to be happy/All is well.

Thank You, God, I deserve inner peace/Loving others is easy when I love and accept myself/I love who I am and I assert my power wisely/I get things done/I am relaxed/I get it done now/I am creating completion in perfect timing/I am attracting the help I need/I am love/I am positive/I am open to new ways of doing things/I am happiness/I am forgiving of myself and others/I am what I think I am.

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