Your March Chakrastrology Update

What is Chakrastrology™?

Editor’s Note: Chakrastrology is based on the principle that each of our chakras (energy centers) is ruled by a planet, and that by working with both, we experience greater health and well-being. This wisdom is rooted in ancient texts and brought to life in a modern context. By looking at our chakras in terms of the planets, we get a major advantage in working with them and in seeing what’s influencing them now. For more information on Chakrastrology, scroll to the bottom of this article.

March 2018

The old saying that March “comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb” is true for us in this month’s Chakrastrology forecast! The focus this month is on the solar plexus chakra, which is ruled by Mars. As the god of war, Mars focuses our energy and helps us to strategize our plans, wield critical thinking as a tool and charge forth on a path that is ours alone.

All month long, Mars is in play, lighting up the other main planets that affect our energy centers. Starting with the full moon in Virgo on March 1, Mars challenges us to create a strategy around health, wellness and spirituality.

The beginning of the month is a great time to channel Mars’ active energy into your daily workouts and fitness routines, and into your daily spiritual practice, as well. When we empower ourselves, we directly address the core qualities of the solar plexus chakra. Personal empowerment—in body, mind and spirit—is at the heart of how we fully offer our gifts and talents. When we feel defeated or deflated, it is difficult for us to show up in life in any capacity!

Targeting the health of our body/mind/spirit complex is a foundational start to living life “on purpose.”

As the seat of our individuality, the solar plexus chakra fuels how we present ourselves to the world. We feel most energized and in alignment with our highest nature when we have the confidence to be our true selves in every moment. While all of us encounter personal, political or societal challenges to that truth, our ability to develop the resilience to withstand those challenges starts with cultivating a healthy, balanced solar plexus chakra.

That balance starts with fine-tuning our physical, mental and spiritual health. This focus continues throughout the middle of the month, as we experience a new moon in Pisces on March 17. Pisces’ influence and interest is directly on our spiritual endeavors, and there is deep pressure here to deliver on our spiritual progress. As our central powerhouse, the solar plexus chakra drives us to be true to ourselves, and there is no better way to do that than aligning with spirit. Mars and the solar plexus chakra love action and clarity, and so vigorous, cleansing practices are perfect for ridding your psyche of blocks that prevent you from letting your light shine.

The end of the month requires all the discipline that Mars can muster. On March 23, Mercury is in retrograde (and stays that way until April 15), which jams up communication, technology and travel. Be careful of any desire to lash out with anger or impetuousness, and remain strong in your truth while you focus on communicating compassionately from a place of power.

With this additional challenge, Mars’ strategic planning and focus help us move toward a strong finish in March. Meanwhile, we have a full moon in Libra on March 31. This is what we have been thoughtfully working toward all month long, with our direct attention on developing self-empowerment, greater health and well-being and deeper spiritual connection. A full moon in Libra highlights harmony and balance in all things, including our relationships, work life and within ourselves.

This is a great opportunity to refine the way we present ourselves to others, ensuring it is with the highest integrity, and doing any final, deep shadow work necessary to clear the blocks that prevent us from finding our flow. Relationships with others are a perfect mirror for the development of our own soul. Be mindful of any lingering conflict, challenges or questions of confidence in relationships. If those things are present, take the opportunity to look within, use the spiritual tools cultivated throughout the month and solidify the roots we’ve firmly planted in our own truth and power.

Recommended activities

Practices that energize the core are particularly powerful for the solar plexus chakra. This is a good time to focus on twisting postures in yoga practice, or core work in your fitness routine. Stepping into a POP Pilates class at your local 24 Hour Fitness, or adding additional core strength training to your workouts will help to build muscle, and confidence! Digestion is also located in this area, so take care to eat foods that are nourishing, uplifting and healthy for your body, mind and spirit. That menu differs for all of us, so be mindful to include what most serves you and the needs of your mind/body/spirit complex.

In addition to your diet and fitness regimen, try adding a special yoga cleansing practice, called a kriya, to your morning routine. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Reach arms up overhead, and with a loud, “HA,” bring the hands swiftly into a fist on either side of the waist. Inhale quickly as you reach the arms up, and repeat this exercise in rapid succession 10 to 20 times. This kriya helps to energize the solar plexus chakra, increase confidence and release stuck energy.

March Chakrastrology meditation

In yoga, cleansing practices are called kriyas, and in the meditation below, we’ll utilize a powerful technique that directs energy from the solar plexus into the third eye for greater clarity and connection. Try the following meditation to create more confidence, and utilize Mars’ energy for focus and direction.

• Sit in meditation and light a candle, bringing in the hot energy of Mars and the solar plexus chakra.
• Close your eyes, and bring your hands to your solar plexus.
• Direct your breathing into your upper belly, feeling the inner flame ignite and start to burn away anything that is no longer necessary.
• Rest your hands on your lap, and soften your breathing.
• For kapalabhati, or skull-shining breath**, close your mouth, and forcefully exhale out through the nose (like blowing your nose). Relax, and inhale without effort.
• Repeat, and begin to speed up the forceful exhalation to a manageable pace. Focus only on the exhalation, and direct your attention to the way your breath moves from the solar plexus right to the third eye in this exercise; bringing energy from your inner “flame” to your third eye.
• After you’ve practiced skull-shining breath for a few minutes, relax and keep your eyes closed, and notice the effects of the practice.
• Close your meditation by writing down three ways in which you can transform your challenge into strength, grace and joy!

**If you’re pregnant or have high blood pressure or any other related illnesses, you should skip this cleansing practice, and simply enjoy the meditation.

Mantra of the month: I empower myself and others by living my truth.

Solar Plexus Chakra smoothie recipe: Mango, pineapple, banana and coconut water.

March’s Chakrastrology focus

Solar Plexus Chakra + Mars
Focus: Empowerment
Location: Solar plexus, stomach, middle back, digestive tract
Core mantra: “I am empowered.”
Sanskrit name: Manipura (meaning: “jewel in the city”)

Mars rules the solar plexus and is the drive and passion behind us charging forward in life! Its energy directs us and fires us up for working in the world and shining our light for the benefit of others.

More on Chakrastrology

The ancient wisdom of the chakras reveals that there are “energetic hot spots” within the body where we store our experiences, emotions and beliefs. When we don’t examine these deeper elements of the self, then eventually imbalances in these areas manifest as physical sensations like tension or chronic pain. This is the inherent link between mind and body, and the chakras provide us a road map for unlocking it!

To take this understanding further and to see how our chakras are being influenced by the outside world, we look at their connection to the planets, which are yet another ancient body of wisdom. In alignment with the alchemical idea “As above, so below,” we watch the planets above us for insight into what’s happening within us. For millennia, astrologers have witnessed the influence of the planets on our day-to-day lives.

By recognizing the intrinsic links between the planets and areas of our body (the chakras), we also get invaluable information about how to optimize our health and well-being. This comprehensive system, known as chakrastrology, bridges the gap between outer and inner, and helps us make sense (and greater health).

Photo credit: fbxx, Thinkstock