Clearning energy between the sacral and solar plexus chakras.

Before power can be cultivated in a sustainable way in the solar plexus area (or third chakra), it has to be present and healthy in the sacral area (or second chakra) first. When we want to motivate, achieve, or make something happen, sometimes we over-rely on fiery aspects of the third chakra — will power, discipline, and discernment. Used unchecked, or for the wrong reasons, these fiery aspects can go to the dark side far to easily and turn into force, compulsion, control, judgement, blame, shame, and guilt. Also, when trying to push ourselves (or others) without a deeper sense of alignment, we wonder why we aren’t effective. Perhaps we disconnect, loose interest, get frustrated or burn out. By going deeper into the sacral chakra — the body’s center of water — we may find keys to this deeper sense of alignment that will help us cultivate our personal power in a healthy, sustainable, balanced and honorable way.

Just as the solar plexus is the center for honing personal power through will, discipline and discernment — the sacral chakra is where the seed of our personal power is planted to begin with. This is where our emotional life and sense of self begins to take root. From here, we begin to notice what excites, delights and attracts us. Our e-motions quite literally put our energy into motion. It inspires the primordial urge to ‘be somebody,’ to create, relate with others and become a valuable part of the bigger picture somehow.

The sacral chakra “yes-ands” the basic survival and security energy that is purpose of the root chakra. (The root chakra is the first chakra - one level below the sacral chakra). The sacral chakra takes this root energy and then adds the needed ingredients allowing us to experience ourselves as individuals. We become self-aware/self-conscious and notice what adds to our feelings of self-worth and pleasure — and what takes those feelings away. Also, we become conscious of how we are seen and valued by others.

When our inner sense of self-worth aligns with messages and affirmations we receive from the outside, our sense of personal power and worth can more easily grow and expand. Often though, there is a mismatch between how we see ourselves on the inside, and how we are viewed (or how we are expected to be) on the outside. This dissonance can result in a fundamental loss of power or sense of self as we try to make accommodations, or find substitutes, to restore the power loss. Often these accommodations or substitutes might seem to be externally effective in the short term. They may appease others or meet certain immediate needs or expectations. But done over the long term, they can cause damage and further erode one’s sense of power and sense of self.

The health of the energetic flow of the sacral chakra affects issues around emotions, self-esteem, creativity, money, sex, and relationships. Mentioned earlier, this is the chakra that governs our sense of pleasure, but it’s also where we hold on to feelings of shame, guilt and issues of power or control. As the sacral chakra sits in the area of our pelvis, physically it affects structures of this area: the reproductive organs, kidneys, bladder, lower back, hips and SI joint.

Exploring the creative potential of our individuality and the power dynamics of energy being given and received is what the sacral chakra is all about. When the energy flow is imbalanced, things can either seem dry, parched and lifeless if there isn’t enough of the right energy flowing in to nourish our proverbial landscape. Or, things can feel stagnant, stuck, toxic and even putrid if there isn’t enough of the right energy flowing out to connect us to our experience in a way that feels valid to the core of who we are. When the energetic flow is balanced, life and energy seems abundant and self-sustaining. There is an awareness and respect for one’s own natural cycles, ebbs and flows.

Once a person has respect for one’s own natural rhythms, and has a healthy balanced awareness of their individuality in relationship to the greater whole, they can use the energy of the solar plexus chakra to cultivate, shape and grow their power and potential.