The Solar Plexus Chakra: Power, Purpose, and Inner Fire
The Nitty Gritty
Sanskrit Name: Manipura
Element: Fire
Color: Yellow
Frequency: 126.22 Hz (Solar year resonance)
Herbs & Scents: Lemongrass, ginger, black pepper, bergamot, chamomile
Key Qualities: Confidence, vitality, willpower, self-worth, clarity
Type of Intelligence: Mental and instinctual
Physical Connection: Core, digestive system, liver, pancreas, adrenals, diaphragm
Key Themes: Autonomy, self-trust, purpose, transformation, responsibility
Imbalances: Fatigue, digestive issues, low confidence, control issues, anxiety
Benefits of Balance: Clear direction, strong boundaries, authentic action, vibrant energy
Obstacles: Self-doubt, overthinking, anger, fear of failure
Start Here: Gentle Questions for You
Where in your life do you feel most capable—and where do you still give your power away?
When was the last time you acted on instinct and trusted it completely?
Do you tend to over-control or under-assert yourself when tension arises?
What are you currently transforming—and what fuel do you need to sustain it?
Where are you ready to stop apologizing for your strength?
Exploring the Solar Plexus Chakra
If the Sacral Chakra is water, the Solar Plexus is flame—the spark that turns emotion into motion, desire into direction. It’s the center of willpower and personal authority, the place where “I feel” evolves into “I act.”
This chakra governs our relationship with energy and agency—how we use our inner fire to move through the world. When it’s balanced, we feel a steady sense of momentum and purpose. When it’s weak, we shrink back from challenge. And when it burns too hot, we overexert, driven by perfectionism or control.
The Solar Plexus asks us to find the middle path—to burn cleanly. It’s not about dominance or submission, but alignment: the quiet confidence that comes from knowing who you are and acting from that place without hesitation.
As a hypnotherapist, I see the Solar Plexus as the subconscious seat of permission—the place where we decide, deep below the surface, whether or not we’re allowed to act on our own behalf. I meet countless clients who consciously want change but unconsciously hold themselves back because somewhere in childhood they were told not to trust their will. To heal this chakra is to reestablish that permission—to say to yourself, It’s safe to choose. It’s safe to want.
That lesson wasn’t theoretical for me. I grew up in a conservative Christian household where every decision filtered through one question: What would Jesus do? The answer was almost always to surrender—to defer, to obey, to yield to a higher power. I learned early that personal will was something to suppress, not strengthen. I was taught that power corrupted, that wanting too much was pride, and that control belonged to God alone.
When I left that faith in high school, I lost the scaffolding that had structured my world. For the first time, I was alone in my choices—and I didn’t yet know how to trust them. I swung between hesitation and overcompensation, unsure how to navigate without someone else’s rules.
When I opened my first business in 2008, the pendulum swung hard in the opposite direction. I replaced surrender with sheer force. I learned to assert myself and did so relentlessly. I built, pushed, expanded—proving that willpower could move mountains if applied with enough intensity. And it worked, at least for a while. But the fire that once lit my path began to scorch it. Control became its own kind of bondage.
It’s only in the past decade that I’ve begun to understand what balance feels like. Through hypnosis, meditation, and breathwork, I started to meet the part of me that didn’t need to fight or obey—only to align. I began to realize that true will isn’t about pushing or submitting. It’s about coherence: thought, word, and action moving in the same direction without internal resistance.
That’s the essence of the Solar Plexus. Fire transforms, but transformation doesn’t always mean effort. Sometimes it’s the simple act of saying yes to your own life. When will is clear and aligned, it doesn’t burn—it illuminates.
Keys to the Solar Plexus
The Solar Plexus Chakra is located between the navel and the sternum, radiating energy through the diaphragm and core. Here we digest not only food, but life itself—our experiences, choices, and emotions.
When this center is open, there’s a natural sense of empowerment. You know your values, speak your truth, and act with integrity. When it’s blocked, you might feel indecisive, easily swayed, or unable to follow through on intentions. The body mirrors this: sluggish digestion, shallow breathing, fatigue.
Healing often begins with reclaiming breath and core awareness. Diaphragmatic breathing fans the internal flame, stoking confidence from the inside out. Movement practices that strengthen the abdomen or twist through the torso help release stored tension, reawakening a sense of inner stability.
But empowerment isn’t all fire. It also requires softness—the humility to listen, the wisdom to rest, the discipline to direct energy without aggression. A balanced Manipura shines bright without burning out.
Science & Anatomy Perspective: The Body of Power
Anatomically, the Solar Plexus corresponds with the celiac plexus, a dense network of nerves located behind the stomach and below the diaphragm. Sometimes called the “abdominal brain,” this region controls digestion, metabolism, and the fight-or-flight response.
The diaphragm plays a key role here: it’s both a respiratory and emotional muscle. Shallow breathing signals danger, while deep, rhythmic breath activates the parasympathetic nervous system, calming the body and rebalancing the solar center.
This chakra’s connection to the adrenal glands and pancreas explains its link to energy regulation. The adrenals release adrenaline and cortisol in response to stress; chronic activation leads to burnout. The pancreas governs blood sugar, influencing motivation and focus. Together, they determine how we use and sustain energy.
In somatic therapy, the solar plexus is often where people clench or armor themselves unconsciously. It’s a natural reaction to protect the vulnerable heart above and the vital organs beneath. Over time, this bracing dulls sensitivity and weakens vitality. Gentle core engagement, breathwork, and mindful twisting can release that armor safely, restoring strength through awareness rather than force.
From a biological standpoint, this chakra represents the body’s ability to transform input into output—food into energy, challenge into growth, vision into action.
Healing the Chakra
To heal the Solar Plexus is to reconnect with your own agency—to remember that your energy belongs to you. Begin by tending the fire rather than trying to control it.
Physically, cultivate core strength through gentle strengthening, twists, or pranayama practices like Kapalabhati (Skull Shining Breath) or Bhastrika (Bellows Breath). These techniques clear stagnation and awaken vitality.
Emotionally, start practicing boundaries that honor your energy. Notice where you say yes when you mean no. Self-respect is the fuel for empowerment.
You can also use sound to tune the Solar Plexus. Tones around 126 Hz or the mantra RAM resonate here, harmonizing the body’s inner rhythm with the breath.
The deeper medicine of Manipura is action. Choose one task that scares you slightly and complete it—call the person, send the email, start the project. Confidence is built through movement, not thought.
Everyday Rituals for Balancing the Chakra
Morning Sunlight: Step outside and absorb early sunlight for a few minutes to awaken the body’s natural rhythm and energy.
Power Poses: Stand tall, feet grounded, hands on hips. Inhale deeply into the belly. Feel yourself occupy space without apology.
Digestive Awareness: Eat slowly, noticing the warmth of digestion. Avoid multitasking during meals; treat nourishment as sacred fuel.
Mantra Practice: Repeat “I act with clarity and courage” or chant the syllable RAM during meditation.
Breathwork: Practice deep belly breathing for 3–5 minutes daily to calm the nervous system and steady energy.
Visualization: Imagine a golden sun glowing at your solar plexus, radiating warmth through your body.
Purpose Journaling: Each evening, write one small act of integrity you practiced that day—something that aligned with your truth.
Final Thoughts
The Solar Plexus Chakra reminds us that empowerment doesn’t mean constant effort. It means remembering that your energy is sacred, and learning how to use it wisely.
When balanced, this fire center transforms insecurity into initiative and resistance into resilience. You no longer chase validation; you become your own source of light.
Confidence, in the truest sense, is not loud or forceful. It’s steady. It’s the quiet warmth of knowing you can meet life as it comes, breath by breath, action by action, flame by flame.
Works Cited
Anodea Judith. Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the Self. Celestial Arts, 1996.
Bessel van der Kolk. The Body Keeps the Score. Viking, 2014.
Candace B. Pert. Molecules of Emotion. Scribner, 1997.
Porges, Stephen W. The Polyvagal Theory. Norton, 2011.
Scharf, Michael. “The Celiac Plexus and Emotional Regulation: A Neurobiological Perspective.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2020.
Judith, Anodea. Wheels of Life. Llewellyn Publications, 1987.
“What is the Solar Plexus (Navel) Chakra?”, Health.com, published December 2023. Health
“Solar Plexus Chakra: Meaning, Symbolism & How to Heal It”, Mindvalley Blog, published May 2025. Mindvalley Pulse
“Solar Plexus Chakra: What Science Says About Yoga’s Energy Centers”, Yoga U Online, published August 2024. YogaUOnline