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solar plexus chakra poems

Four Self-Confident Poems for the Solar Plexus Chakra

People often call the solar plexus chakra the “power chakra.” With this in mind, its location at the diaphragm makes perfect sense: This chakra literally invites us to speak up and assert ourselves, overseeing everything from our belief systems, to our independence and sense of identity. An open solar plexus chakra brings us self-love, while blockage in this area can result in helplessness and lack of purpose. This chakra represents our sense of control, meaning that unforeseen events can easily trigger its imbalance—hello, sudden job loss, breakups, and even troubling current events. With so much chaos in our world to make us feel powerless, it becomes even more crucial to foster a sense of acceptance and conviction within ourselves. These four poems speak out and lead the way.

 

“The Yellow Violet” by William Cullen Bryant

Radiant yellow serves as the solar plexus chakra’s associated color. In this poem, Bryant describes a golden flower that persists in all types of weather, exuding a quiet confidence that calms and encourages him. This acts as a strong metaphor for the solar plexus chakra: While we can’t control the world that surrounds us, our own inner-strength can buoy us and keep us blooming.

 

“And I have seen thee blossoming / Beside the snowbank’s edges cold,” writes Bryant. Later, he depicts what a comfort this has been: “And when again the genial hour / Awakes the painted tribes of light, / I’ll not o’erlook the modest flower / That made the woods of April bright.”

 

“Detail of the Woods” by Richard Siken

From his book War of the Foxes, which considers how to find a personal sense of purpose, Siken’s poem reflects on the end of a relationship, embracing nature and a sense of solitude.

 

He insists on the importance of carving out space for personal identity and expression: “Everyone needs a place,” Siken writes. “It shouldn’t be inside of someone else.”

 

“A Woman Speaks” by Audre Lorde

Lorde, who describes herself as “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,” fully embodies the solar plexus chakra. Throughout her life, she’s used her captivating essays and poems to fight against marginalization and prejudice. According to Lorde, all of her work hoped to spark revolution.

 

In “A Woman Speaks,” Lorde claims her identities proudly, refusing the societal script of shame. “Moon marked and touched by sun / my magic is unwritten,” Lorde proclaims. “But when the sea turns back / it will leave my shape behind.”

 

 “The Dancer” by David Tucker

As an act completely devoid of self-consciousness, dancing activates the solar plexus chakra. It assures us of our own grace, balance, and strength. In “The Dancer,” Tucker pays homage to how these qualities can both steady and uplift us.

 

“Her eyes are focused / on the balancing point / no one else sees / as she spins in this quiet / made of mirrors and light — / a blue rose on a nail — / then stops and lifts / her arms in an oval pause / and leans out / a little more, a little more / there, in slow motion / upon the air.”

Wanting to tend to your solar plexus chakra? Try this yoga video, followed by Read Poetry’s self-love poetry prompts. To learn more about the other chakras, check out our root chakra blog and future articles.