The Chakra Series – Part IV – The Third Chakra

Monday 1 May 2006

I am what I am!

Last week when we looked at the Second Chakra, we considered the energy of how we interact and interrelate with each other – one-on-one. Now we move on to the Third Chakra. It’s still about relationships, but the relationship that we’ll focus on here is the one we have with ourselves. This is the point in our developmental journey when our sense of who we are matures. We cast aside the characteristics, attitudes and beliefs of the tribe and of those around us. In short, the ego emerges.

The Third Chakra, like the first and second, is concerned with a physical type of power. If you recall, we saw that the First Chakra deals with issues of physical safety and security. Similarly, with the Second Chakra we found the element of physical power and control as we began forming our own interpersonal relationships. And now with the Third Chakra this develops into our personal power.

The first two chakras relate exclusively to what’s around us – the outside world. But with the Third Chakra, things become slightly more complicated and the perspective shifts from being completely external to one that is partly internal and partly external. Here it’s no longer solely about us and them. In this centre, it’s about our understanding of ourselves and how we relate that understanding to the outside world.

It is generally believed that the Third Chakra takes its energetic lead in late adolescence or puberty, which isn’t surprising considering the chakra’s role in the process of what Jung termed individuation – the discovery of one’s true, inner self.

On the physical body, the Third Chakra is located in the area generally referred to as the solar plexus – that is, between the navel and the heart. Anatomically speaking, it’s found in the abdomen behind the stomach. It is represented by the colour yellow and corresponds with the adrenal glands, abdomen, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, spleen, large intestines and the middle section of the spine.

The most common physical ailments suggesting a Third Chakra issue include liver problems, hepatitis, diabetes, intestinal issues as well as gastric ulcers. Energetically these dysfunctions can be mapped to issues of trust, fear, intimidation, self-esteem and the ability to make decisions.

Fears of rejection or being taken seriously suggest Third Chakra struggles. This includes all fears related to one’s physical appearance – weight, age, etc. Keeping aspects of yourself secret and worrying that you’ll be found out is also a very common Third Chakra issue.

When we learn the lessons presented to us by the energy of the Third Chakra, we respect ourselves, take our own decisions, evaluate situations, assess risks and can handle crises. Moreover, we develop a sense of a personal code of honour that gives us what we generally term character.

Without realising it, most of us already know quite a bit about the Third Chakra. The clue is in its location – the solar plexus. And if you’re not familiar with that term, it’s also known by its vernacular term as the gut. We’ve all had the experience of just knowing something in our gut. These days people frequently refer to a gut reaction. These are all references to the intuitive voice of the Third Chakra.

I’ve come to the conclusion that our intuition isn’t something we are born with. On the contrary, it’s something that grows and develops inside of us. As we mature and develop so does that little voice inside. And if we nurture it and listen to it, it will form our most trusted source of guidance for the rest of our lives.

For our intuition to flourish, one very important thing is required – self-esteem. We have to like and respect ourselves. We have to be able to stand on our own two feet and take our decisions. We then have to be able to take responsibility for those decisions. Without effective decision-making skills, the voice of one’s intuition is silenced. And control of our lives is abdicated to someone else –someone we think is somehow better or more worthy than us.

Without healthy self-esteem, we go through our daily lives operating on and out of fear. Fear is the most destructive energy to the human spirit. And if the spirit is weak, the physical body will follow suit – it will only be a matter of time.

So for healing to take place it is absolutely essential that we must stand up to our fears and be who and what we are. This is why I call this chakra the “I am what I am” Chakra.

The path of self-awareness and self-acceptance isn’t easy and it isn’t quick. It takes time and lots and lots of courage. But that’s no excuse for not embarking on it. Your body demands it. Your spirit commands it. And even with your first step of holding a mirror up and coming to know and love who you are the seeds of faith and self-esteem are planted.

We’ve now considered the first three chakras but there are four more. And The Chakra Series is still building up steam. We say good-bye to physical power and control. The next chakra is the emotional powerhouse of the heart – love and compassion. Please join me next week when we look at the Fourth Chakra!

Finally, over at PsychicBridges we find answers to our questions using a simple piece of string and a weight attached to it. Does it sound unbelievable? Read my latest Weekly Insights column at PsychicBridges.

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Until next week,

Kindest regards,

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