Chakra of the Week: Manipura

 

DISCLAIMER:

I am by no means an expert on each chakra, and I don't know everything. I have read extensively and taken an online course through a Jain instructor. This is just a general outline with a couple tips I've learned from experience. Please do your own research on top of this, because our practices are all different. 

Okay, I know these posts are a little repetitive, but it's important to have a basic understanding to give you a jumping off point.

What is the Manipura Chakra?

As before: A chakra is a sphere of energy in our astral body that is connected to a place in our physical body.

The Manipura Chakra is located about four fingers above the belly button. It is close to the soft place under the sternum. It's called the solar plexus chakra, in common terms, because of it's location.

The symbol is a 10 petaled lotus flower surrounding a downward pointing triangle. Sometimes the petals are depicted in dark blue or black to represent rain
clouds.

 

Element

The Element surrounding the Manipura Chakra is fire. Fire burns, consumes, and breaks down. It is also light and bright. It is powerful.

When I visualize this chakra, I try to focus on the fire or warmth. Sometimes I imagine a candle flame to see if it's flickering or burning too strong. Sometimes I see it as the sun on my face. Is it a warming sun? Is it burning me? Ideally the flame I envision is small, but burning steadily.

Color

The color associated with the Manipura is yellow. Chakras themselves do not have colors, they only reflect the colors surrounding them. Flames are often yellow, though there are other colors throughout. Because fire is typically yellow, this is the color reflected.

Diet

Foods that have a lot of fiber to slow down digestion are great for this chakra. Fire burns and consumes, so if your Manipura is overactive, you want something the fire has to break down. I like whole grain breads, starchy vegetables, and beans.

 

Signs of imbalance

The Manipura chakra is connected to power dynamics among other things. If you feel like people you care about don't see you for who you are, so you become demanding of their attention, it's probably overactive. You might be easily irritated by every little thing.

A balanced chakra

A balanced Muladhara chakra results in confidence and a strong sense of purpose. You know who you are and what you want, without relying on anyone else for confirmation

To balance the chakra, meditate chanting the seed sound: Ram (pronounced rangm). Since fire is a part of this chakra, getting out in the sun is important, especially if the chakra is underactive. If it's overactive, help burn the fire down by exercising regularly. Find an affirmation that makes sense to you. I like: I am not attached to other people's opinions. Lastly, yoga poses that stretch the solar plexus area are helpful, like forward or back bends.