Short answer: the stones most often chosen for the solar plexus chakra are yellow and gold: citrine, tiger's eye and pyrite, with honey and yellow calcite close behind. In tradition, the solar plexus chakra, Manipura in Sanskrit, is the third of the seven main chakras, placed above the navel and associated with fire and transformation. Its name means "city of jewels". Chakras and the stones paired with them belong to spiritual traditions; there is no scientific evidence that chakras exist.
What is the solar plexus chakra?
In Hindu Tantra and yoga, chakras ("wheels" in Sanskrit) are centers in the subtle body, a spiritual rather than physical anatomy. The solar plexus chakra is the third of the seven in the best-known system. Its Sanskrit name, Manipura, translates as "city of jewels", or alternatively "lustrous gem". It is placed above the navel.
In traditional images, Manipura is a downward-pointing red triangle, the symbol of fire, inside a bright yellow circle, surrounded by ten dark blue or black petals likened to heavy rain clouds. Its seed syllable is ram. It is associated with fire and the power of transformation.
What color is the solar plexus chakra?
In the modern Western chakra system, the solar plexus chakra is yellow. Older traditions disagree: Manipura is associated with blue in classical Tantra and with red in the Nath tradition. The rainbow scheme, red at the root through violet at the crown, was attached to the chakras in the modern West; according to one historian, the colors and the lists of qualities first appeared together in 1977. The idea of seven chakras reached the West in the 1880s through the Theosophists and was shaped by Sir John Woodroffe's 1919 book The Serpent Power.
Crystal pairings follow the modern scheme, so solar plexus stones are mostly yellow and gold.
Which stones are used for the solar plexus chakra?
Citrine
Citrine is yellow to orange quartz, and the stone most often named for the solar plexus chakra. Natural citrine is rare and pale; most citrine sold is heated amethyst. Long called the "merchant's stone", in crystal traditions it is associated with warmth, optimism and abundance.
Tiger's eye
Tiger's eye is golden brown quartz with a moving band of light called chatoyancy. In crystal traditions it is associated with courage, confidence and protection, and it is commonly linked with the solar plexus chakra. Roman soldiers wore it in battle for protection.
Pyrite
Pyrite, "fool's gold", is a brassy iron sulfide that often grows in natural cubes. Its gold color makes it a solar plexus favorite, and in crystal traditions it is associated with abundance, confidence and willpower.
Yellow and honey calcite
Honey and yellow calcite are soft, glowing stones that are affordable in large polished pieces. In crystal traditions they are associated with warmth and gentle energy.
Other yellow stones
People also choose golden rutilated quartz, yellow jasper and amber-toned stones. The pattern is the same: color first.
How do people use stones for the solar plexus chakra?
These are traditional practices, not treatments:
- Placing a stone just above the navel while lying down and resting or meditating.
- Holding a stone as a focus object during meditation, as described in the meditation guide.
- Carrying a stone in a pocket, or wearing it, as a reminder of a goal or intention.
- Keeping a stone on a desk, a common place for citrine and pyrite.
Many people value the ritual and the focus these practices bring. That is a personal experience rather than a measurable effect of the stone.
What does science say?
There is no scientific evidence that chakras exist, and no meaningful way to measure them. The same is true of claims that stones act on chakras. Where crystal use has been tested, people reported similar sensations with real crystals and with identical fakes, which suggests the experience comes from expectation and attention. The stones themselves are real minerals with real, measurable properties, which their own guides describe.
How do you choose a solar plexus chakra stone?
- Choose by color and feel. Most people start with citrine or tiger's eye.
- Think about how you will use it. Tiger's eye and citrine tumbles are good for holding; pyrite clusters and cubes suit a shelf.
- Check durability. Citrine and tiger's eye are about 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale and good for carrying. Pyrite is hard but brittle, and calcite, at 3, scratches easily.
How do you care for solar plexus chakra stones?
- Citrine and tiger's eye: wash with warm water and mild soap. Keep natural citrine out of strong sunlight for long periods.
- Pyrite: keep it dry, since moisture can make it decay and tarnish, and store it away from humidity.
- Calcite: keep away from acids such as vinegar and lemon juice, and avoid soaking.
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Stones often chosen for the solar plexus chakra, in stock
Frequently asked questions
What is the best stone for the solar plexus chakra?
Citrine is the stone most often named, with tiger's eye and pyrite close behind. These pairings come from crystal traditions, which match stones to chakras mainly by color.
What color is the solar plexus chakra?
Yellow, in the modern chakra color system. Older traditions differ: classical Tantra associates Manipura with blue, and the Nath tradition with red.
Where is the solar plexus chakra?
In tradition, above the navel, in the upper abdomen.
What does Manipura mean?
Manipura is Sanskrit for "city of jewels", also translated as "lustrous gem". Its element is fire.
Do solar plexus chakra stones really work?
There is no scientific evidence that chakras exist or that stones affect them. People value these stones for their meaning, beauty and the focus they bring to personal practice.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Manipura: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipura
- Wikipedia, Chakra: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakra
- Wikipedia, Crystal healing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_healing