Fire in the Belly: Manipura Chakra, Turning Power Into Peace

Christina Sarich, Contributing Writer
Waking Times

The Famous psychologist, Carl Jung, once said that Manipura chakra is where we burn through our passions and desires in order to become a completely realized individual. This chakra is the third in the system of seven conceptualized by Ayurvedic and yogic doctrines, and is also associated to Tiferet in the kabbalistic understanding of the Tree of Life. In the systems of marital arts, including Qigong, the solar plexus chakra, is also called the personal power chakra. It is no mistake that the expression, ‘fire in the belly’ relates to the physical location of this energy center since it is like a little sun that radiates pranic energy to the rest of the physical body. Due to the energy of Manipura chakra, the internal organs can function properly, but even more important, perhaps, is the regulation of pranic energy for the development of the psychological and emotional self on the way to realizing one’s full potential.

This midpoint of the psyche is imperative for developing will, and a dynamic approach to achieving the ‘desires’ of this lifetime. One acquires a spiritual perspective through the awakening of this chakra, and with the balancing of the energy of Manipura, we also learn to bypass old karmas (having dealt with them in the first two chakras). Our consciousness can finally move from resolving old issues, to achieving our heart’s desires, and the glorious possibilities of becoming fully human – that is a spiritual being temporarily residing in a case of flesh. Fascinatingly, Manipura or Tiferet is also considered the position of the Kingdom of Heaven. Many people start to develop the psyche to an extent that they become psychic, unlocking siddhis (special powers) associated with the full blossoming of this energy center. While becoming attached to an advanced level of intuitive powers is a blessing of an awakened Manipura chakra, it can also lead to a stagnation of developing one’s powers, since money, sex, and power start to come easily to a person with a developed ‘fire in their belly’.

The power center is an important blueprint for the creation of peace, generosity and balance instead of the way many people understand power – as a means to develop purely self-gratifying skills or things like sex, money, social popularity via fame, etc.

If you feel like you can’t express yourself completely, or do what you truly want to do in life, then this is a sign that your Manipura chakra is weak or blocked. If you feel others have control over your destiny, or are lethargic and depressed, this is another sign that Manipura chakra could use some attention. The subtle energies coursing through our bodies are what really create physical existence. They basically write the script of your life. If you want to be more of Caesar than a Fool, then you need to awaken your solar plexus energy. It is then up to you to use this power for realized actions instead of selfish ones.

As you work through the desires of the central energy point, you encourage energy to rise even further up into Anahata or the heart center, and eventually through to Sahasrara, which is actually not really a chakra at all, but the power with which all other chakras are switched on. All our full potential lies in the opening of Sahasrara, or the crown chakra. Until we have burned through our personal desires, however, and learned to use our power for good, we cannot progress to the next level of spiritual awakening.

You can open Manipura chakra by:

• Wearing the colors of fire, like red, yellow, orange and citrine.
• Listening to frequencies that awaken the Manipura chakra, such as 320 Hz and 528 Hz, which are some of the frequencies, which will help to awaken and balance this energy center.
• Bathing in the sun for fifteen minutes and absorbing the warmth, concentrating the energy visually in your mind’s eye to the central chakra.
• Affirm the energies of the Manipura chakra by placing your hands on your own belly and repeating words such as, “I am a powerful creator of peace and balance in the world.” Or “I express my power with peacefulness.”
• You can dance, concentrating on movements that ‘churn’ the belly. Bend, twist, backbend, etc.
• Practice yoga asana such as the warrior poses (claim your power!) and
• Repeat the Ha Kriya from kundalini yoga. This is a series of forceful exhales using the fists to claim power from a seated (lotus) position.  Start with the spine erect and the fists at hip-level. Take a deep, yogic inhale, filling up the belly, diaphragm and lungs completely. As you exhale forcefully, say “Ha!” taking your fists up and out at a 45 degree angle to the sky. You can also do this standing, in Tadasana (Mountain Pose). Repeat this several times to awaken the power of your solar plexus.

About the Author

Christina Sarich is a musician, yogi, humanitarian and freelance writer who channels many hours of studying Lao Tzu, Paramahansa Yogananda, Rob Brezny,  Miles Davis, and Tom Robbins into interesting tidbits to help you Wake up Your Sleepy Little Head, and See the Big Picture. Her blog is Yoga for the New World.

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