Stomach Pain and the Chakras

Stomach pain and discomfort are two of the most common ailments of daily life. Many of us walk around with belly pain all day and don’t think twice about it. For some of us, it can be debilitating, especially with conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and other gastrointestinal disorders. Many of these are chronic—we are functional enough, but struggle to feel good in our day-to-day lives.

[Read: "Got Gut Problems?"]

If you experience a lot of stomach pain, visit your doctor to get more information and rule out any serious conditions. A naturopath may also be helpful as some chronic health conditions are better served with a more holistic approach in addition to the advice of a medical professional.

Solar Plexus Chakra and Ego

The chakra system theorizes that there are energy centers located in specific places in the body. The solar plexus chakra, or manipura, is located right next to the stomach above the belly button. This is also the location of the kidneys and adrenal glands, which have a special connection to how we process stress.

Manipura is the location of the ego, our sense of who we are in the world, and our relationship to power. When this chakra is balanced, we are strong and can speak up for ourselves, but we don’t speak over other people or try to grasp for power. When this chakra is unbalanced, we can feel unsure of ourselves and who we are. Anxiety and insecurity are common when this chakra is out of alignment.

It’s common to get the sense from many spiritual traditions that having an ego at all is a bad thing. The goal is often focused on connecting with the universal divine and leaving the small self behind. It depends of course on who you ask, but generally the chakra system is about finding balance in all things in life. Connection to spirituality is important, of course, but so is survival and safety, and it can be argued that you can’t have one without the other.

[Read: “7 Affirmations to Balance Your Chakras.”]

The solar plexus chakra is the third of seven. It is understood as one of the “lower” chakras, which are more related to earthly needs and having a body, while the “higher” chakras move closer to enlightenment and spirituality. Manipura lights up after the physical needs of the body are met and a sense of one’s self begins to blossom.

Reflection on Stomach Pain & the Third Chakra

Here are some questions you could ask yourself in reflecting on your relationship with the solar plexus chakra:

• What are my values?
• Who am I? What is important to me about my identity?
• Can I stand up for myself?
• Do I feel powerful and in control?
• What is my relationship to anxiety?
• Do I feel safe and secure in my life?
• Do I feel supported by others?
• Do I know who I am regardless of what other people think?

Solar Plexus Chakra Meditation

One of the best ways to bring the chakras back into balance is to pay attention to them. The solar plexus chakra’s color is yellow and its element is fire. Think of it like the spark that rises to heat the whole body. The stomach needs heat, or digestive fire, to process food as well as emotions.

Sit or lie down with your hands over your stomach. Imagine a flame there, and watch it with your mind’s eye. Breathe into this part of your body. Without judgment, simply notice what you feel here. Especially if this area feels cold or numb, imagine breathing gentle heat into this part of your body. If it feels hot, intense, and overactive, imagine gently cooling this area, slowing it down, perhaps offering it a cool breeze with your mind’s eye.

Notice what comes up as you meditate with this part of your body. You may notice that your stomach needs something in particular—a certain food, cool water, a break from eating. Perhaps you discover that there’s something you need to say or do to stand up for yourself. If you like, write down these insights when your meditation is complete.

Read more: “The Spiritual Meaning of Stomach Pain.”