Healing the Physical BodyELEMENT: Fire (Tejas)
COLOR: Yellow
MANTRA SOUND: RAM
The third chakra is called Manipura, and the translation is “lustrous gem” or “the dwelling place of the self.” The Manipura chakra is strong and important as it represents the emergence of personality into the outer world. It’s the seat of the ego. The element and planet of the third chakra go hand in hand, as the element is fire and the planet is the sun. The physical location of the Manipura chakra is the solar plexus, the area just above the navel. Imagine Manipura as a bright yellow sun shining outward and showing itself to the world. The pancreas, adrenal glands, digestive system, and diaphragm and psoas muscles are all a part of the solar plexus chakra. The sense for Manipura is sight, and the sense organ is the eye.
The third chakra is the last of the chakras of physical matter. The lessons we learn from the first three chakras help us move into higher planes where opportunities for spiritual awakening exist. Many stay stuck in the lessons of the first three chakras, repeating them time and again but not necessarily learning how to reap the benefits of these energies from a higher perspective. Certainly it’s easy to slip up from time to time, but if you learn how to transcend the limitations of the chakras of matter, you will be able to change and evolve so that the next time a problem arises you handle it differently. And that is truly what the third chakra represents — transformation.
Manipura is our center of personal power. When this chakra is properly open and aligned, we feel a sense of power in our actions. We feel we can effectively manifest our needs and desires, and make a difference in our lives. When balanced, Manipura’s power brings about change and forward movement to achieve goals. Imbalanced, it generates self-serving or ineffective actions.
The Ayurvedic dosha for the third chakra is Pitta (fire and water), and the guna is rajas.
The color we attribute to the solar plexus chakra is yellow like the sun. The mantra, or bija (seed) sound, we vocalize for the third chakra is RAM.
Diseases of the third chakra may include diabetes or other diseases of the pancreas, ulcers, hypoglycemia, digestive disturbances such as irritable bowel syndrome, digestive tract dysfunctions, and diseases of the liver and kidneys. Mental ailments include a severe chemical form of depression with suicidal tendencies.
The desires for prominence, importance, and success are all part of third chakra energy. A strong Manipura chakra will have you shine brightly to the world. While the second chakra has yin, or female energy, the third chakra has yang, or masculine energy. Linked to the Ayurvedic mind-body type Pitta, which is composed of fire and water, third chakra energy is about the sun’s heat, brilliance, and vibrancy.
The sun is bright, shiny, beautiful, and warm. It’s also penetrating, constant, and nourishing. The energy of the sun makes people driven, goal oriented, passionate, and brilliant. People embodying the sun’s energy will strive hard and never quit. However, the sun can also be hot, overbearing, too bright, scorching, and unrelenting, and people who are too driven by solar energy can display these qualities. They might be quick to anger, hotheaded, overimposing, or critical.
As with all energies, you can use third chakra energy for positive or negative ends, depending on your perspective. Let’s suppose you must finish a work project. You need Manipura’s inner drive and boundless energy to complete the project. However, if you use it to boss people around, criticize, and point out that your way is better, you may be using it in the negative.
To achieve any task, you need drive, focus, and discipline. Your drive comes from desire and will. Focus allows you to move ahead in your task without distractions. Discipline is the willpower to put together drive and focus to reach your goal.
Personal power reflects healthy development of the third chakra. Take, for example, a child whose sense of self emerges and who begins to express himself as separate from his parents. Loving parents will view his sense of individuality and independence as normal development. They will lovingly guide him while letting him have his own personal preferences and desires, which may or may not match theirs. This child will grow up to have a positive sense of self and will not be afraid to take risks and assert himself. He will be able to effectively stand out from the crowd and trust his own judgment versus blindly following out of fear. On the other hand, parents who aren’t psychologically healthy will look at a child’s sense of independence as a threat and may squelch his need to differentiate himself. These parents will create unhealthy ties through guilt trips, shame, and codependent behaviors. They will refuse to cut the umbilical cord, so to speak. A child who grows up in this kind of environment will have difficulty asserting his will and knowing what he wants to do in life to celebrate his unique talents. He may be afraid to stand out from the crowd. As an adult, this child may feel disempowered or choose friends and lovers who contribute to this sense of disempowerment by dominating over him. In adulthood, he will need to work through those third chakra issues, formed in early childhood, to take ownership of his inner power.
From inner power arises willpower. Carnal and material desires, formulated in the second chakra, are held in check by the third. Willpower says, “I will not have that second piece of cake” or “I need to stay faithful to my spouse despite the fact that this attractive person is coming on to me.” Willpower helps create the focus needed to manifest desires with one-pointed attention. For me it says, “I will spend two hours daily writing this book regardless of all the distractions in my life.” Your inner fire comes forth to forge the pathway toward your destiny. Strong willpower helps you delay gratification. This shows a personal evolution from second chakra energy and its tendency toward impulsiveness and immediate gratification. People who harness the willpower energy of the third chakra can accomplish great things personally and to help others. Inner power and willpower combined give us our sense of positive self-worth. They tell us what we want and how to get it.
You can use third chakra energy to stand out from the crowd like a beacon. When you’re using it in the positive, you rise above as a shining example for your friends, family, and peers. Often through achievements in school, work, or athletic competition, those working the positive Manipura energy will be inspirations for those looking to attain the same goals. However, if your drive is to seek approval for the sake of being put up on a pedestal, you will constantly fall short and seek more until you fall completely, often from a state of exhaustion. Even in great accomplishments there must be a higher purpose to balance out the temporary high of rising to the top.
We have all heard stories of film or sports celebrities who rise to the top and have everything, only to fall from grace, lose all their money, or become entrapped in the clutches of addiction. This also happens in everyday life to ordinary people who succeed in getting the top salary, opulent house, luxury car, or ideal family, only to realize that they’re fundamentally unhappy. Without a higher sense of purpose, we all see our bright lights go out. At this point, the link to the higher chakras becomes indispensable.
Our Societal Relationship with the Third Chakra
If we were to place the United States, as a country, into a chakra energy, the third one would be it. We are a country of overachievers, constantly on the go. We demand that stores be open 24/7, and we want everything bigger, better, faster, and stronger. We also tend to be a society of individuals climbing some invisible ladder. Sometimes, particularly in corporate America, we strive to outshine one another and even “scorch” the competition. As you look at the history of the United States, it makes sense that we embody third chakra energy. We were a fiery people who stood up against the status quo. Our ancestors rebelled against oppressive governments and monarchies and religious persecution. Many immigrants today were strong enough to escape the strongholds of political corruption or chaos and sought freedom in a better land. As a society, we are driven.
The United States was built on the gifts, talents, and inner drive of all who came here to create a better life. Yet this burning desire didn’t come without cost. The decimation of the American Indian population, their culture, and their land has created a karmic debt that needs to be repaid. If you look today at the greed that is driving the depletion of the earth’s natural resources, and the rewards given for more competition and accumulation of material items, you can see how the fire element’s transformative effects can consume us.
This drive has taken its toll. American people are among the sickest and most addicted in the world. Unless we rebalance the scales, the United States cannot move forward with positive power to make the world a better place.
Other modern societies are certainly suffering similar consequences of inner fire power gone wild. They too will need to face the fact that shifting toward more balance is the only way to survive.
Mother Nature gave men natural yang and third chakra energy. Traditionally throughout time, men were hunters, gatherers, protectors of family, warriors, and leaders. Women, with natural yin energy, were nurturers, caretakers, homemakers, healers, and creators. Men were admired in tribes and ancient societies as protectors and heroes. This gave their egos the much-needed boost to continue the job of going out into the wilderness, putting their lives in danger, and fighting to protect what was theirs.
Modern society, for the most part, has taken away this role, leaving men lost and confused. I’ve talked to many young men and even older men who say they can’t figure out their role in family life and in romantic partnership. Their inner drive says to be the head of the house, the breadwinner, the protector, and the chivalrous knight. But the women in their lives seem to be domineering, headstrong, and inconsistent in articulating their desires. With two-income households, the gift men traditionally provided through monetary contribution is no longer seen as special. As women become physically stronger through kickboxing, weight training, or other intense workouts, men have lost their role as protector. Artificial insemination has even made men insignificant in parenthood. Indeterminate guidelines have diminished men’s roles in society. Like women who have moved into a more masculine role, men have to figure out how to honor their true nature while keeping in mind the expectations of modern life.
Balanced third chakra energy is about honoring who you truly are. Men, as well as women, can’t be afraid to express who they are inside. Denial is dangerous. As a forty-six-year-old woman who has raised two boys while living married, unmarried, and dating, I want to encourage my male readers: be proud of your masculinity and what that means to you. People will respect you more when you stand in your personal power. If you want to pay for dates, open doors, and carry groceries, do it. If you want to stay at home with the kids while your spouse goes to work, own it. And if you’re happy being the breadwinner and protector, find a partner who honors that. In other words, don’t change who you are because society has changed. We need more men who are willing to stand in their truth and be the men they want to be.
Living Life in the Manipura Chakra
People who are stuck in the third chakra may be accused of being ego-centered. A child who passes through this stage is absorbed with “me” and “mine.” If you try to take her toy, she will grab it back and say, “Mine!” The child is trying to define herself as separate from her parents and caretakers. Adults with this mind-set believe they’re the center of the universe. They’re the sun and everyone else revolves around them. For better and for worse, they take everything personally. They shine brightly because they attempt to impress others. However, if you get on their bad side, they will burn you, like the heat of the sun. They begin and end their conversations with the word I, as they like to talk about themselves.
Another subgroup that naturally seems to embody third chakra energy is adolescents. They’re absorbed with fashion and physical appearance and fascinated with pop icons and TV celebrities. They become self-conscious if they don’t have the right clothes, and they can feel judged by peers for not fitting in.
Those who live from this state of consciousness base their happiness on others’ reactions and their own popularity. They crave approval from others and go to great lengths to get it. However, if you don’t approve of them or give them accolades, they will either fall into depression or become critical of you for not seeing them as great.
Third chakra people may be labeled as workaholics or type A personalities because they always seem to be chasing an unattainable goal. The goal may be status, money, recognition, or fame. Yet when they attain it, dissatisfaction arises because they always seem to want more to quench the thirst for approval and acknowledgment.
Recognizing Third Chakra Imbalances
The ego is a part of us. It represents our sense of self in this world. In many Eastern philosophies and even in Western psychology, the ego is seen as something bad. Ayurveda, however, sees the ego as an integral part of who we are. I subscribe to the Ayurvedic theory, and it’s something I’ve taught in my meditation courses for many years.
Yoga philosophy teaches that we have layers to our existence. We have three macro layers: the physical body, the subtle body, and the causal body. Each of these macro layers is made up of micro layers. The physical body is composed of the environment, the body, and the energy body, which includes the chakras. The subtle body is composed of the mind, the intellect, and the ego. The causal body includes the individual soul, the collective soul, and the universal soul. All these layers are absolutely necessary to make up who we are as people. No one layer is more important than another.
If these somewhat esoteric layers are difficult for you to grasp, think of your life and the roles you play. As a woman, you might play the roles of daughter, sister, mother, or wife. You might play the role of someone who works, goes shopping, gives advice to a friend, and has hobbies. As a man, you might be a son, father, brother, or husband. You might be someone who programs computers, plays sports, volunteers for a charity, or plays video games. All these roles are integral parts of who you are as a person. While one role might take precedence over another at any given moment in your life, no single role can eclipse all the others.
Many people come to a spiritual practice, such as yoga, with the mind-set of “I must get rid of the ego and be a totally spiritual person.” This mind-set tends to create imbalances and must be approached with caution.
The ego is your personality in society. It represents your sense of individuality and uniqueness. Self-esteem and self-worth emanate from your ego. Your sense of personal power and accomplishment come from ego consciousness. If you play any role in relationships with others and in society, you must embrace your ego as your friend. For example, in searching for a job you need to point out why you’re a better candidate than others. You need to have the self-awareness and self-confidence to point out your strengths, talents, and experience. When you’re dating with the goal of finding a life partner, you need your ego not only to attract a potential mate but also to win him or her over. Do you see how it’s nearly impossible to go through life denying your ego?
However, your ego can be problematic when it takes over and you operate only from ego consciousness. Sometimes we can get into the mode of only looking out for our own needs, wants, and desires and forgetting that everyone around us is trying to do the same. You can recognize this limitation and try to move beyond it by bringing awareness to your ego. Notice when you are being self-centered or selfish. Become a detective and find out why. If you naturally tend to think of yourself first, override that by finding out what the other person wants first or making the decision to take turns. Or perhaps you’re acting out of ego consciousness because you used to deny your needs and desires and now you’re fed up. Whatever the reason, honor your ego’s messages and take action to bring balance to the situation.
Become a shining example of who you are. While you can use your third chakra gifts to move yourself ahead in life, you can also use them to help make others’ lives better. You can use your inner drive to create a movement or to protest injustice, to contribute to a charity or cause, or to start your own business. Inner power is a gift. Your inner power will allow you to stand up for your beliefs, defend those who need it, and rise up against those who might harm you.
Gifts of the Manipura chakra will allow you to set boundaries and be assertive. These are all positive aspects that delineate you from me and that will, in the long run, create more positive and fulfilling relationships in every aspect of your life.
I stand firm in my personal power as a shining example for others.
I am certain of my wants, needs, and desires.
During our time in our mother’s womb, we were nourished through the umbilical cord. We received all our sustenance through this cord. This constant nourishment left us lacking for nothing, and when it got cut, our journey to separateness in our physical existence began. The symbolic moment of the cord cutting is intimately linked to third chakra development. In the course of those nine months, we were given everything we needed to survive and thrive on this journey of life on earth. Assuming we have developed normally both physically and mentally, we have a body and mind that work. In our separateness, we can then figure out our mission for the next hundred years or so.
The trust built in the first chakra and the desires of the second chakra lead us to the drive and power of the third. These three forces come together to propel us to work, create the life we desire, and begin to fulfill our life purpose.
Interestingly, we continue to receive nourishment from the same area of the body as before the umbilical cord was cut. The third chakra is the seat of digestion. Ayurveda describes agni, or the digestive force, as the ultimate way to determine a person’s health. Agni means “fire,” and healthy agni allows us to assimilate the nutrients we consume into vital energy to move through life. Healthy agni also helps us digest emotions and experiences. The health of your digestive fire will determine how you go through each day. In the physical body, you strengthen your solar plexus chakra through proper nutrition and exercises to enhance your inner fire.
PROPER DIGESTION AND ASSIMILATION OF NUTRIENTS
Ayurveda teaches much about creating healthy agni. When your agni is strong, you create healing chemicals called ojas. Weak agni produces toxins called ama. Eating clean and whole foods helps you create a healthy digestive system. Refrain from eating processed, artificial, and chemically produced food. As much as you’re able, eat organic food. Balance your diet by eating fruits and vegetables that have naturally vibrant colors, such as the deep red and purple pigments of eggplant, red onions, and tomatoes; the dark greens of kale, collard greens, and spinach; or the deep orange hues of pumpkin, butternut squash, oranges, and carrots.
For proper digestion, minimize raw foods, and lightly cook or sauté vegetables. During meals avoid drinking beverages other than room-temperature water, and make sure you’re eating in a calm environment. Ayurveda also suggests eating freshly cooked food at every meal versus eating leftovers and reheated food.
YOGA ASANAS AND PRANAYAMA EXERCISES TO HEAL THE THIRD CHAKRA
It’s relatively easy to balance the third chakra through movement and breathing. You can enhance your digestion and bring health to the Manipura chakra simply by walking for ten minutes after each meal.
To view a video demo of these exercises, go to
www.youtube.com/c/MichelleFondinAuthor.
Click on the Playlists tab, and select
Chakra Healing Asanas & Pranayamas.
Scroll down the list until you find the one you’re looking for.
Bellows Breath — Bhastrika: Translated as “bellows breath,” bhastrika is a way to create heat in the body. You can also use this breathing technique if you’re trying to lose weight. To practice bhastrika, sit on the floor cross-legged or in a chair with your feet flat on the floor, spine tall, and shoulders relaxed. You will be breathing through your nose with your lips closed. Place your awareness on the area around your belly button and diaphragm. To begin, inhale passively through your nose, and exhale forcefully while contracting your belly in toward your spine. Then inhale forcefully as you puff out your belly. Continue to forcefully exhale and inhale in one-second increments. You can even say quietly to yourself one-two-one-two-one-two. After about ten seconds, take a break and take in a deep inhalation and exhalation. Then begin a second set of bhastrika. Practice bhastrika for one to two minutes. When you’re finished, it may feel as if you have done many sets of abdominal exercises.
Boat Pose — Navasana: Sit tall with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. If you’re working on a hard surface, sit on a folded blanket. Find a focal point ahead, and fix your gaze at about eye level. With your arms beside you, hold on to the backs of your thighs. When you feel centered, lift your feet off the ground. Straighten your legs as much as you’re able — it’s okay to keep your knees slightly bent if necessary. When you feel ready, let go of your thighs and extend your arms in front of you. Your torso and legs will be in a V shape. Even though you will be leaning backward, lengthen through your back. Hold the pose as long as you can. To release from navasana, hold on to your legs once again and lower your feet toward the floor.
Plank Pose: Begin on all fours with your hands right below your shoulders and your knees about hip-width apart. Extend your right leg straight back, and place the ball of your foot down. Then extend your left leg and place that foot down so that both legs are straight. Keep your hips level to the floor; try not to overcompensate by raising your hips too high or sinking your hips too low. When you’re doing plank properly, you will feel the intense fire in your belly. Breathe deeply. If you can only hold it for a second or two in the beginning, lower one knee to the floor at a time. Then repeat the exercise three to four times.
Sun Salutations — Surya Namaskar: As the name suggests, Sun Salutations give a salute to the sun. This classical series of twelve yoga poses lengthens and strengthens every major muscle group in the body. This flow is done repetitively to enhance flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular health. You can find many variations of the Sun Salutations, and there is no one correct way of doing them.
Healing the Emotional and Energetic Body
Standing in personal power is more difficult for some than for others. Difficulties may stem from upbringing or personality. For example, growing up with abusive, dysfunctional, or overly authoritarian parents may have given you fears about standing in your personal power. Or maybe you never learned to stand up for yourself and your beliefs. Or maybe you’re a naturally shy person and you’ve never been good at asserting yourself. But no matter the cause, you can get better at claiming your personal power.
Boundary setting is an important part of manifesting your third chakra energy. When you set respectful boundaries, you are saying to others, “I know who I am, and I am proud. I feel confident, and I can respectfully say no when it’s appropriate.” People with poor boundaries or no boundaries may come off as aggressive, angry, and critical because they aren’t able to effectively draw the line between what’s theirs and what’s not. As a result, they tend to take on other people’s problems, issues, and responsibilities, and then they blow up when they’ve had enough.
Poor boundaries come from low self-esteem. Those who don’t effectively set boundaries are afraid of not being liked. Many of their actions don’t come from a place of power but from a place of feeling powerless.
People pleasing is one manifestation of weak boundaries. It involves hiding your true wants, needs, and desires or suppressing them so that others can get what they want and/or so that they like you. While it may seem kindhearted, people pleasing is dishonest and even manipulative. If you’re a people pleaser, you might wonder why people don’t respect you. It’s because everyone has needs, and others intuitively know this. People who buy into your people pleasing are generally operating from their egos. They will get what they want from you when they want it, and they know it. But those people need boundaries too. Boundaries show that you have enough respect for yourself not to be a doormat.
Second, people pleasing and poor boundary setting will never give you your personal power. Giving in for the sake of being nice can leave you with frustration and resentment. You can learn to set boundaries by being assertive in response to others’ requests rather than responding with negativity. For example, if a good friend has asked you, yet again, to borrow money to pay for dinner and has never paid you back, you could set a boundary by saying, “I will do it this time. But I want to let you know that this is the last time I lend you money.” In this case, although it would be easy for you to get angry at your friend or criticize her, by stating what you are willing to do or not willing to do and sticking to it, you will feel empowered without causing negative feelings.
Growing up with a domineering mother, I wasn’t always assertive. My great moments of embarrassment as a child came when she frequently returned items at stores when she had overspent. She would literally badger the salesperson with every story in the book and even resort to tears to get her way. When I would ask her why she behaved that way, because it was so embarrassing to me, she responded that she was simply being assertive. I thought, If that’s assertive, I will never be assertive in my life. After growing up and eventually realizing that what she did wasn’t assertiveness but manipulation, I slowly learned how to not be a doormat.
To develop and heal your sense of personal power, you can learn how to be assertive without being manipulative. One simple way to practice assertiveness is by saying no. If someone asks you to do something that you don’t want to do, you can respond by saying no. You don’t even have to qualify that no. Those of us who have poor boundaries have a tough time saying the word no as a complete sentence and without explanation. People who are strong in their personal power have no issues with saying no. Other variations of no might include “I’m sorry, I can’t,” “I’m busy that day,” or “Not right now.”
Successful boundary setters also stick to their decisions and refrain from flip-flopping. If you say no but then allow the person in front of you to persuade you to change your mind, you’re not sticking to your boundaries.
Another frequent problem with lack of assertiveness is denying your needs. Have you ever had a friend ask you where you want to go eat or what movie you want to see and you respond, “Whatever you want; it doesn’t matter to me”? There may indeed be times when you truly mean it. However, if you find yourself always saying this, chances are you’re denying your own needs, at least some of the time, to keep the peace. Practice assertiveness by having an opinion and sticking to your decisions.
All of us have a story about how we got to where we are today. If we feel, in any way, that we’re victims of our story and not owners of it, we will stay powerless. Personal victories and triumphs through adversity are usually a source of inspiration for others. People who aren’t living in their personal power will use their stories as ways to get others to feel sorry for them or pity them for their circumstances. I once heard someone put it this way: “Your story did not happen to you; your story happened for you.” When you are able to shift to this perspective, the world will open up to you. Your sense of empowerment will heal many aspects of your life.
At twenty-eight years old, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I didn’t let this news or experience define who I was or darken my view of life. I used it to create my new life and open myself to the possibility of helping others who are sick and suffering. While I struggled for a long time through my experience with cancer, I’m grateful for it because it made me the person I am today.
One of my favorite teachers, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, used to say that life gives us lessons, and we can either get the lesson the first time, or we can repeat it. Owning our story but not living by it helps us get through to the lesson, learn from it, and move on.
I’ve also heard this lesson taught through the metaphor of a diamond. Diamonds are formed in the Earth’s upper mantle, about one hundred miles below the surface. Intense pressure and high temperatures form diamonds over time. They rise to the earth’s surface by an intense explosive volcanic eruption that thrusts the diamonds upward at anywhere between twenty and thirty miles per hour. Diamonds that remain below the surface can’t be appreciated or adored. A diamond’s journey isn’t easy, yet it’s one of the most beautiful and rare gems on the planet. So it is for you. You won’t shine as your most brilliant self without some pressure and heat. Every obstacle you encounter — every bit of criticism, letdown, or pushback — is designed to help you develop your sense of personal power.
Healing your emotional self in the third chakra is about appreciating all your life’s circumstances not as forces against you but as forces for you, to propel you toward your highest self.
Although the third chakra rests in the physical plane, there is something innately spiritual about its energy. In the second chakra we harness the power of creation, the creative force of the universe. To mold something new out of nothing is an incredible and miraculous power to behold. Yet creation for its own sake isn’t all that fulfilling until it’s presented to the world. When we shift from the second to the third chakra, we reveal our creation. Our creativity manifests in physical form, and we bring it to light. For example, the conception and nine-month growth of a baby isn’t fulfilling to the parents in itself; only when the baby breaks out of the womb that has kept him protected and emerges into the world is he a complete joy for his creators.
WRITING DOWN YOUR INTENTIONS AND DESIRES
Your will and desires cannot manifest until you get clear on what you want out of life. You may meet people who are constant seekers, turning this way and that but lacking true direction. Solar energy is heating, penetrating, bright, and intense. If you’re able to use this energy to create extreme focus, you can accomplish anything.
Have you ever walked into a dark room with a flashlight? If you shine the flashlight outward into the room, the light dissipates and covers a greater area. While it will give light, it’s difficult to make out objects clearly. But if you focus the light on a specific object closer to you, you can examine the object in detail. Light is powerful. Focused and concentrated light, such as a laser, can cut through human flesh or even steel.
Setting your intentions and naming your desires is a way of focusing your energy and attention on a few things you would like to see manifested in your life. The act of focusing is half the work, as summed up in the expression “Where attention goes, energy flows.”
Writing down your intentions and desires is a simple yet powerful process. There is no wrong way to do this. Get out a pen and paper or your favorite electronic device, and write down everything that comes to mind. Whatever you do, just get it out there. If it remains in your head, it’s just an idea. Bring it out into the physical world. Don’t worry about whether your desires are “realistic.” The universe will handle those details. Intentions and desires that vibrate at a lower frequency won’t manifest anyway. For example, if you write, “I’d like my mother-in-law to die,” even if you’re joking, that is a lower frequency desire, and it won’t manifest. That being said, it might be worth exploring why you have those negative feelings toward her in the first place. But if you write down, “I’d like an Audi convertible,” that may or may not be a higher desire depending on its meaning in the overall trajectory of your life. In other words, try not to hold yourself back when writing this initial list of intentions and desires. See what comes up.
When you’re discovering who you are on the inside and who you wish to be on the outside, honesty is important. Many of us spend our entire lives trying to be what we think someone else wants us to be. We carefully select our words, behavior, and actions based on what others might think of us. It’s impossible to harness your personal power if you succumb to masking your true self. Your job is to be the most authentic “you” you can be. Otherwise you will do a pretty awful job of being someone else — that isn’t who you were designed to be. If you’re someone who likes living with luxurious objects, don’t pretend to be a monk. Or if you want to be single, don’t get married simply to appease your family.
The third chakra is a good place to begin getting honest with yourself. Your intentions and desires list will give you the opportunity to see exactly where you are in your journey. For example, if you see a lot of material objects on your list, it could mean you’re in a place where you don’t feel that your financial or material needs are well met or you place great importance on status and position in the outer world. It might also indicate a lack of spirituality in your current life.
Honesty in this exercise isn’t about judging yourself. It’s about understanding where you are. And where you are is exactly where you’re supposed to be. How can you change direction if you have no idea where you are?
When you get honest about who you are, you can break out of the mold. Let’s go back to the analogy of the baby coming out of his mother’s womb. Until he exits the womb and enters this world, and the cord is cut, he is completely and utterly dependent on his mother for everything. He cannot survive without her. Even after birth, for the first couple of years he must look to her for basic survival and nurturance. Then, as he grows, he begins to assert his independence and says, “Hey, world, this is who I am!” This assertiveness of will doesn’t often come smoothly or easily. You may be all too familiar with the toddler’s outbursts of willfulness: “I want to do this my way” or “I do it myself!” Such statements are examples of the child differentiating himself from his parents and caretakers and becoming an individual with wants, needs, and desires.
Sit or lie down comfortably with your spine elongated, and close your eyes. Breathe in deeply, allowing your lower belly to expand, and then exhale completely. Repeat twice. As you relax into your body, place your awareness on your solar plexus. Imagine a big circle surrounding your belly button like a bright shining sun. Then imagine a rotating disk moving through you, from your navel to your back on the other side. This spinning wheel is rotating and vibrating quickly as it generates open energy. Visualize the color yellow, vibrant like sunlight. Imagine the rays of this sun moving outward from your navel in all directions. This is your sense of personal power. This bright light is meant for you to shine outward into the world. It’s the expression of your contribution to others through your gifts and talents. Fill yourself with the inner knowing that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. You are powerful. You are strong. You have enormous passion and energy to achieve your goals.
As you bask in the glow of your personal power, bring to mind your intentions and desires. Like the sun that allows the planted seeds to fulfill their destiny, you know that your glowing solar energy gives life to your intentions and brings your desires toward their fulfillment. Your inner power breathes life into your intentions with each inhalation and exhalation. With time and patience you will bring the manifestation of your intentions to light. You know this to be true, and you have absolute confidence in yourself and your ability to manifest.
Feeling your third chakra energy, you know who you are. You have a strong sense of self. You are proud to show who you are to the world. You feel confident in your gifts, your talents, and what you have to offer. You can enhance the vibrations by chanting the mantra sound RAM three times.
ENERGY-BODY HEALING WITH GEMS AND COLORS
Immersing yourself in solar energy, notably the sun, is the best way to heal through the color of the third chakra. If it’s not sunny outside or it’s a season when you don’t see the sun much, spend time in the light of a full-spectrum sun therapy lamp.
Gemstones for the third chakra include amber, citrine, yellow tourmaline, and tiger’s eye.
Third Chakra Mindfulness Ideas to Ponder
1. I can assert my will in a positive manner. I stand true to my beliefs and am entitled to my own opinion.
2. I am confident in who I am, and I own my story.
3. Honesty with myself and others is the only way to authenticity.
4. I am strong in my personal power, and I will take steps today to enhance my inner fire.
