Manipura, the Lustrous Gem

I've been tending to the fire of my third chakra lately; because its spring and because I need to. Tending this fire means building core strength to support my physical self and more importantly to support my emotional and mental health. The Manipura chakra, meaning lustrous gem, located at the very center of our being, the solar plexus, right at the base of where our ribs come together in the front body. The purpose of the third chakra, is transformation of energy into action and the power of will. Instinctual energy rising from below (lower chakras) meets the descending energy (consciousness) from above and thus transforming impulse into willed activity. This is where we find our will power by exercising our right to choose. We have the choice to continue to feed instinctual desires that temporarily satisfy the senses or the choice to meet challenges and move forward and deepen our understanding of our True Self. The choices we make shape who we are, and create our individual self. As Anodea Judith explains in Eastern Body, Western Mind, the ego is the one making all the executive decisions, becoming the operating system of our Self.

In the spiritual community, the word "ego" can sometimes sound like a bad word. As spiritual aspirants or yogis we are so hard on ourselves because we have not transcended the egoic self; as if we need to satisfy some spiritual expection based on tradition or a certain belief system. Unless we choose renunciation, the ego is necessary. It is like consciousness within consciousness. Goals, intentions, living affirmations would be meaningless without the help of our ego. When in balance, the ego helps us to transmit our interior Self with the outer world.

How does this relate with my personal practice as I tend to that fire? Discipline, discipline, discipline. Instead of collapsing (physically and energetically) I might say to myself, "I CAN do it". This is will power. This is transformation.

I am no where near the point of letting go of ego. I am actually nurturing my ego so that it can become stronger, more clear, ...however, being careful to inflate only enough to build confidence but not so much that it is overbearing.

Poses that help to build confidence: warrior one and two, most all arm balances including handstand, bakasana, vasithasana,