"Nobody Can Do It For You" ~Ralph Cordine
The third chakra is located about midway between the navel and the sternum. Also called the solar plexus chakra. it is the force that maintains individual identity. Called the “power” chakra, it is the seat of your personal ego, of who you are. The color of this chakra is bright yellow and its element is fire. We look at our goals and consider where we are going with our lives, realizing that we need both will and energy to get from here to there.
Our metabolic processes change our food and water into energy and heat. The principle purpose of this chakra is transformation. In order to succeed here, the first requirement is to overcome inertia. This chakra governs these organs: liver, gall bladder, spleen, stomach, pancreas, diaphragm and kidneys. Each of the organs has it’s own rhythm and plays a part in helping create your individuality.
WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE THIRD CHAKRA IS DISTORTED
• Problems with the pancreas (including diabetes and hypoglycemia)
• Digestive problems, including ulcers
• Liver problems, including cirrhosis, hepatitis and liver cancer
• Hiatal hernia
• Gallstones
• Hemorrhoids
• Varicose veins
• Problems with the spleen
• Digestive problems, including ulcers
• Liver problems, including cirrhosis, hepatitis and liver cancer
• Hiatal hernia
• Gallstones
• Hemorrhoids
• Varicose veins
• Problems with the spleen
TO EVALUATE THE HEALTH OF YOUR THIRD CHAKRA ASK YOURSELF
• Do I have a lot of unexpressed anger? Anger is often the result of another emotion that has been repressed, e.g., fear, grief, etc.
• Do I feel a lot of resentment?
• Am I inclined to blame others for my problems?
• Is jealously a big issue for me?
• Can I be a team player or do I always have to go solo?
• Do I always feel like there isn’t enough time?
• Do I try to “push” time, as if I could create more of it?
• Am I a control freak?
• When I’m with others, do I worry a lot that they will overpower me?
• Am I consumed with winning?
• Do I require outside approval to feel good about myself?
• How often do I catch myself standing with my arms folded in front of my chest?
• Do I feel a lot of resentment?
• Am I inclined to blame others for my problems?
• Is jealously a big issue for me?
• Can I be a team player or do I always have to go solo?
• Do I always feel like there isn’t enough time?
• Do I try to “push” time, as if I could create more of it?
• Am I a control freak?
• When I’m with others, do I worry a lot that they will overpower me?
• Am I consumed with winning?
• Do I require outside approval to feel good about myself?
• How often do I catch myself standing with my arms folded in front of my chest?
• If you’re deficient in this area, warm food and environment can be helpful. If you’re excessive, avoid warm food, temperatures and lean toward cooling activities, like sailing and swimming.
• One of the best things is to get outside for a little every day, especially in the early morning and late afternoon sunshine. If you’re inclined to be hot or angry, be sure to stay in the shade.
• Doing something physical outside is key, from a little stretching, to basketball, tennis, gardening or swimming. Just connecting to the earth and the sun is very healing for the third chakra. Being playful, rather than competitive is the goal.
• Also very healing to this chakra is walking by bodies of water – rivers and lakes and the ocean, especially by moonlight.
• Laughter is very healing to this chakra.
• One of the best things is to get outside for a little every day, especially in the early morning and late afternoon sunshine. If you’re inclined to be hot or angry, be sure to stay in the shade.
• Doing something physical outside is key, from a little stretching, to basketball, tennis, gardening or swimming. Just connecting to the earth and the sun is very healing for the third chakra. Being playful, rather than competitive is the goal.
• Also very healing to this chakra is walking by bodies of water – rivers and lakes and the ocean, especially by moonlight.
• Laughter is very healing to this chakra.
Real third chakra power is ultimately connected to will. You get your will from your consciousness, which is coming down from higher chakras, while the energy you need to carry out your will is coming from the metabolic actions of the organs in the 3rd chakra area.
A balanced third chakra shows itself as one who is responsible, with good self‐discipline; someone who is confident and energetic, has some playful moments, and is able to take risks. Take a moment at the end of every day and note whether or not you meditated, journaled, exercised or had other personal care; by taking the time to reflect, you are building your will power. Remember, don’t criticize yourself if you missed an item – simply resolve again to make time the next day. This is the best way to build an effective will.
JOURNAL EXERCISES
Spend some time answering the following questions in your journal.
1. How do you define “personal power?”
2. How can you tell when you have it?
3. What are the signs when you don’t?
4. What makes you feel most powerful?
5. What makes you feel least powerful?
6. Who do you know (now or in the past) who seemed powerful to you in a good way?
7. Who do you know (now or in the past) who seemed powerful in a way that was bad, and why?
8. Did either (or both) of your parents overcontrol you, and, if so, how has it affected you?
9. Do you over or under control yourself?
10. Do you think your energy is usually deficient or excessive or does it seem to alternate between the two?
Spend some time answering the following questions in your journal.
1. How do you define “personal power?”
2. How can you tell when you have it?
3. What are the signs when you don’t?
4. What makes you feel most powerful?
5. What makes you feel least powerful?
6. Who do you know (now or in the past) who seemed powerful to you in a good way?
7. Who do you know (now or in the past) who seemed powerful in a way that was bad, and why?
8. Did either (or both) of your parents overcontrol you, and, if so, how has it affected you?
9. Do you over or under control yourself?
10. Do you think your energy is usually deficient or excessive or does it seem to alternate between the two?