Chakra Anatomy Series - Solar Plexus

3rd Chakra - Solar Plexus

Western Anatomy:

By definition, the solar plexus is: a complex of ganglia and radiating nerves of the sympathetic system at the pit of the stomach. It is located in the abdomen, where the celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and renal arteries branch from the abdominal aorta. It is in back of the stomach and in front of the diaphragm, level with the first lumbar vertebra, L1.

One might go through life without paying any notice to their solar plexus, that is until receiving an unexpected blow to the stomach. This is the sensation commonly known as "getting the wind knocked out of you." In most cases, it isn't the solar plexus itself that is impacted, but the effects on the surrounding area which causes this to happen.

Medically speaking, a hard blow to the stomach area causes the diaphragm to spasm, which makes it difficult to breathe and results in the "wind knocked out of you" sensation. With that said, an accurate and powerful blow to this area could also affect the solar plexus directly, disrupting the function of the viscera and causing debilitating pain.

Eastern Energetics:

This Chakra is situated just below the sternum where your ribs attach in front. It is associated with the digestive and metabolic processes of the human body and corresponds with the feelings of fear, anxiety, introversion, personal power, opinion formation, and spiritual growth. In martial arts, this is known as the Dantain, the "sea of qi", "elixir field" or "energy point".

The Solar Plexus represents the core of our personality, the perception of who we are (the "ego") and the center of willpower. The gift of this chakra is sensing your personal power, being confident, responsible and reliable. The third chakra is the center of your self-esteem, self-discipline and the ability to transform inertia into action and movement. It allows you to meet challenges and move forward in your life. The main challenge for the third chakra is to use your personal power in a healthy and balanced way. 

East meets West: 

It's fascinating that "having the wind knocked out of you" is as debilitating energetically as it is emotionally, a lot like the idiom "having the wind knocked out of my sails". The reference to the word "wind" is not isolated to the breath alone, but also to Prana or Qi, which are ancient understandings of Life Force. To deflate someone energetically, to tear down their confidence and self-esteem, is to defeat them physically.

Chakra Anatomy Series - Sacral

2nd Chakra - Sacral

Western Anatomy:

Essentially, this chakra is located on the spinal cord of the vertebral column just above the pubic bone and below the navel and encompasses the genital region and hypogastric plexus.

The sacrum is a large wedge shaped vertebra at the base of the spine, just above the coccyx. It forms the solid base of the spinal column where it intersects with the hip bones to form the pelvis. The sacrum is a very strong bone that supports the weight of the upper body. Developmentally, the sacrum forms from five individual vertebrae that start to join during late adolescence and early adulthood to form a single bone by around the age of thirty.

At birth, the coccyx begins as a mass of cartilage attached to the end of the sacrum. Slowly, over time, this cartilage ossifies as individual bones. Each bone ossifies in order from superior to inferior until all are ossified by the end of puberty. The individual bones also fuse together to form a single coccyx throughout adulthood. In addition to its role in muscle attachment, the coccyx also plays an important role in support of the spinal cord, support of the body (especially while sitting), and in childbirth.

The male perineum includes the penis, scrotum, and the perineal muscles in the urogenital triangle, along with the anal triangle, which together form a diamond shape when the legs are abducted. The female perineum includes the external genitalia, orifices of the urethra and vagina, and the perineal muscles, which also makes a diamond shape.

Eastern Energetics:

Because this chakra is connected with the sense of taste and reproduction it is known as the chakra of creativity. When balanced, this chakra leads to feelings of wellness, abundance, pleasure and joy. When out of balance, one may experience emotional instability, fear of change, sexual dysfunction, depression or addictions.

East meets West:

The sacrum bone translates from the original Latin as "sacred bone" and from the old English "holy bone". What makes this bone sacred? This is where Kundalini sleeps. This is where the powers of procreation are contained. This is where babies crown, where creation happens. This is the seat for physical reproduction, and it's metaphysical counterpart, spiritual reproduction.

Chakra Anatomy Series - Root

1st Chakra - Root

Western Anatomy:

This chakra is loacted at the base of the spine, consisting mainly of the pelvic floor but extends as far up as the first three vertebrae. It includes the perineum, and extends down to the legs and feet. It's meaning can be translated as "Root-Support". The root chakra corresponds to our sense of smell. Smells, entering the nostrils, are directed to the olfactory bulb, the region of the brain that both analyzes smell AND handles memory and emotion. There is even a connection between the olfactory nerves and the amygdala, the "ancient" part of the brain that encases our most primal instincts of fear, survival and security.

Eastern Energetics:

This chakra governs our rootedness to mother Earth energetically holding us to the ground. This chakra encases our most primal instincts of fear, survival, security and belonging and develops in infancy and childhood. How safe you felt as a child directly impacts the functioning of this chakra. Our ability to accept abundance is directly affected by clearing the blockages within this chakra. "I have the right to exist simply because I was born."

East meets West:

The connection of smell to the root chakra brings everything into one flowing system: the root chakra--> smell--> memory/emotion--> primal instincts. The perineum physiologically houses the rectum and urethra, the orifices of elimination. Energetically, the root chakra serves the same function, allowing for the shedding of toxic energies.