The Third Chakra
Manipura (mahn-ee-PUUR-ah), meaning "city of jewels” or “lustrous gem,” is located at the level of the solar plexus — and is sometimes referred to as the “navel” or “belly” chakra. Its element is fire, its color is yellow-gold, its primary themes are power, will, purpose, energy, identity, self-esteem, and strength, and its shadow side is shame. It governs the digestive system and metabolism, its associated gland is the pancreas, and its developmental stage is 18 months to 3.5 years.
With an open and balanced third chakra, we’re deliberate, courageous, assertive, disciplined, confident, purposeful, and warm, with good digestion. An over-active third might lead to arrogance, anger, domination, manipulation, over-activity, running hot, heartburn, or ulcers, and an under-active to passivity, low energy, aimlessness, blaming, weak will, or feeling chilled.
Practices to open and balance the third chakra might include resting when you feel tired, deep belly breathing, and bringing mindfulness to your work life. Manipura’s Bija mantra is “Ram.”
The first three chakras comprise essentially a base triangle that work in consort on the physical plane: with our root, we assemble a physical vehicle, with chakra number two, we get it moving, and with number three, we steer in the direction that we choose.
May we feel confident, vital, powerful, centered, motivated, active, and aligned with our path.
Manipura (mahn-ee-PUUR-ah), meaning "city of jewels” or “lustrous gem,” is located at the level of the solar plexus — and is sometimes referred to as the “navel” or “belly” chakra. Its element is fire, its color is yellow-gold, its primary themes are power, will, purpose, energy, identity, self-esteem, and strength, and its shadow side is shame. It governs the digestive system and metabolism, its associated gland is the pancreas, and its developmental stage is 18 months to 3.5 years.
With an open and balanced third chakra, we’re deliberate, courageous, assertive, disciplined, confident, purposeful, and warm, with good digestion. An over-active third might lead to arrogance, anger, domination, manipulation, over-activity, running hot, heartburn, or ulcers, and an under-active to passivity, low energy, aimlessness, blaming, weak will, or feeling chilled.
Practices to open and balance the third chakra might include resting when you feel tired, deep belly breathing, and bringing mindfulness to your work life. Manipura’s Bija mantra is “Ram.”
The first three chakras comprise essentially a base triangle that work in consort on the physical plane: with our root, we assemble a physical vehicle, with chakra number two, we get it moving, and with number three, we steer in the direction that we choose.
May we feel confident, vital, powerful, centered, motivated, active, and aligned with our path.