Although the chakras are not physical structures, they can still be wounded and dysfunctional. When a chakra is “wounded,” it simply means the energy of that chakra is discordant or chaotic. Sometimes this results from a negative or traumatic event during the developmental phase of life associated with that particular chakra. Other times, the wounding results from a prolonged imbalance (excess or deficiency) in the energy related to that particular chakra. Regardless of the source, wounding in the chakras inevitably affects our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual experiences. We’ve already covered the shadow of the root chakra and sacral chakra, and today we’re discussing the wounds of the solar plexus and how to move through them to unlock the chakra’s unique gifts. The more the world around us validates this identity, the more we are driven by perfectionism, self-judgment, and criticism. Every time we want to pursue something that makes us feel insecure, our critical mind raises its voice and keeps us small. Shame keeps us small. It’s a protective mechanism, and it served us well earlier in life, but it comes with huge limitations. Shame keeps us incomplete yet tells us we are not enough. Shame drives our pursuit of perfection yet says we are not worthy. Shame tells us the things we really want in life are not possible (and they aren’t, when we are driven by the voice of shame because we are not whole). And the only way to expand what is possible for yourself is to expand yourself in pursuit of wholeness (aka healing). This requires you to welcome all the parts of yourself in hiding back so you can integrate them into your psyche. The more you accept yourself, the more worthy you become. You cannot create anything in your life that you do not believe you are worthy of, so this path is essential to growth. To receive love, you must be worthy of love. To create financial wealth or professional success, you must be worthy of it. To have a loving partnership, you must be worthy of it. So if you are trying to create something in your life and your momentum has plateaued, it may be time to heal your solar plexus chakra. Here are three exercises to help you get started: Eastern philosophy threads through all of Matluck’s work. Combining over a decade of experience working in conventional and alternative medicine, she brings a truly holistic lens to medicine, addressing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual obstacles to health. Prior to opening a private practice in New York City, Matluck spent eight years at One Medical Group and has delivered onsite wellness workshops at countless prominent companies. She is also the founder of Seven Senses, where she leads transformational wellness experiences throughout the world.
