Welcome to this meditation.
Today we will explore the Manipura Chakra,
Your center of personal power,
Inner fire,
And the you that longs to be seen,
Witnessed,
And heard.
Before we begin our meditation,
Let's understand why the ancient practice of navel gazing is so transformational.
The Manipura Chakra is located at your solar plexus.
It's often called the City of Jewels.
This energy center is a treasure house of personal strength,
Confidence,
Authentic self-expression.
When we direct our attention here through navel gazing meditation,
We're connecting with one of humanity's oldest contemplative practices.
In our modern world,
We often feel scattered,
Pulled in many directions by external demands and expectations.
We may feel struggle with self-doubt,
Difficulty making decisions,
Or feeling powerless in our circumstances.
The Manipura Chakra governs exactly these areas of our lives,
Our sense of personal will,
Our ability to take purposeful action,
And our capacity to maintain healthy boundaries.
This chakra is associated with the element of fire,
Agni,
And like any fire,
It requires tending.
Ancient yogis discovered by focusing awareness on the navel region,
We can literally kindle this inner flame.
It isn't a mere visualization.
It's an embodied practice that affects your nervous system and your sense of self and your ability to navigate life with greater ease and authenticity.
Through today's navel gazing meditation,
You'll connect directly with this source of inner power.
You'll also learn to recognize the feeling,
The embodiment of your authentic strength and how to access it whenever you feel the need for courage,
Clarity,
Or confidence.
This practice is both deeply traditional and remarkably relevant for our times.
It offers a pathway back to your own center of power and a world that often leaves us feeling disconnected from our true strength.
Let's begin by finding a comfortable seat,
Sitting upon your sits bones,
Either in a chair or on a cushion or on the floor.
Toggle side to side and front and back,
Realizing that space,
That place that is your center and landing there.
Your spine is naturally upright,
Has a sense of presence,
Yet is not rigid.
If you're in a chair,
Please have your feet flat on the floor.
If you're on a cushion or the floor,
Your legs folded underneath you.
We will gently close our eyes as if you're closing the curtains to create a sacred inner space.
Take three slow intentional breaths with me by breathing in through the nose and letting it go through the mouth.
Again,
We'll breathe in deeply and we release the breath through our mouth.
Maybe the shoulders drop a little,
The jaw gets soft.
And one more time,
Breath in and breath out.
Take another moment here to allow your body to settle.
Feel the weight of you supported by what you're sitting upon.
Your shoulders relax just a little bit more away from the ears.
Your jaw,
Your face,
Your eyes,
Even your belly releases.
I invite you to bring your attention to your solar plexus area,
That space slightly above your navel,
Below your rib cage,
Between your belly button and your spine.
This is your Manipura chakra.
If it would feel supportive,
Bring one or two hands to this area to recognize the body.
This is the center of your personal power,
Your inner fire.
We will go into this space and discover the treasures that live within you.
Now I would love for you to begin to breathe naturally into this area as if your breath could flow directly into your solar plexus.
There's no force.
Simply imagine,
Pretend and see your breath finding its way.
With each inhale and each exhale,
You find yourself a little deeper into this awareness.
As you continue to breathe,
Begin to visualize a warm golden yellow light.
You may see a small sun,
A golden ember,
Or a flame flickering and ready to come alive.
If the visualization doesn't come easily,
What if it did?
What if you could see this flame within you?
With each inhale,
Imagine the oxygen fanning this inner flame.
It grows a little brighter,
A little stronger.
This is the inner fire of you,
Your personal power.
The light that breathes courage and clarity and the ability to transform everything you experience into wisdom.
Allow this golden fire to expand slowly,
Radiating warmth throughout your torso.
Feel it spreading into your chest,
Warming your heart.
Feel it flowing down into your belly,
Warming your digestion.
This fire supports your physical digestion and your ability to digest all of life's experiences.
Notice how this warm light feels in your body.
Perhaps it feels like sunshine or a crackling campfire.
There is no right or wrong.
There is simply your experience with your inner fire.
As this fire burns,
Imagine it beginning to burn away anything that you are finished with,
That no longer serves you,
That has expired its usefulness.
This may include self-doubt that's been hanging around,
Indecision,
Feelings of power,
Powerlessness,
Or confusion.
Let the fire burn that up.
It is not a violent burn.
It is a loving and beautiful representation of your purity,
A gentle,
Steady power of your authentic self.
With each breath,
You are stoking the fire of your inner nature,
Your truest you,
Remembering who you've always been,
Beneath any layers of conditioning or doubt.
We rest our inner awareness at the solar plexus,
Gazing inward at your navel region with the eyes of consciousness,
Looking inward with loving attention.
If your mind wanders,
Simply gently and kindly guide it back to your Manipura chakra,
That yellow golden flame that is you.
It's your connection to a pure and vibrant personal well.
Every time you practice returning here and embodying this flame,
You are building a self-awareness muscle of inner stability and connection to source.
Breathe into this space with conscious intention.
With each inhale,
You're nourishing your inner fire.
With each exhale,
You're releasing all that dims your natural radiance.
Feel the strength that lives here.
The strength is not from pushing or forcing,
But is the quiet,
Steady strength of knowing your worth.
This is the strength of someone who can make decisions from their center with ease,
Releasing the expectations of others and trusting in yourself.
Continue to breathe into this space.
Knowing that you are reconnecting with a very essential and beautiful part of yourself.
Take a moment to appreciate this warm,
Powerful energy at your core,
The fire that has always been here,
Basking in the intention and the attention you are giving it today.
This fire has been with you through every challenge,
Through every moment of courage,
And for every time you've stood up for what matters.
What matters to you?
As we prepare to complete this practice,
Imagine this golden fire settling into a steady,
Sustainable glow,
Burning with consistency of a flame that will be here whenever you need it.
Knowing that you can return to the center anytime to remember your strength and to connect with your authentic power.
Let's take three deep breaths together.
Breathing in,
Feeling your connection to your inner fire.
Breathing out,
Knowing you carry the strength within you.
Breathing in your personal power and breathing out with gratitude.
And one more time,
Breathing in your golden light and releasing,
Sealing your practice into your being.
When you feel ready,
Gently begin to wiggle your fingers and toes,
Feeling your body in this space and time,
Slowly opening your eyes,
Knowing that you are carrying this sense of inner fire with you into your sleep or into your day.
Your inner fire is real,
It's yours,
And it is always available to you.
Namaste.
