The Sun is the ruling planet of the Solar Plexus (Manipura) Chakra. Since ancient times the Sun was a symbol of heroism, disappearing each night to battle with the forces of nature and then returning valiant each dawn again. Through cultures since ancient times the Sun has been associated with life, vitality and will, our goals in life and our inner force to fulfill them. Our purpose, intent, direction in life. In the same way that the Sun keeps and holds the whole solar system together, the planet has an integrating role in the birth chart, like the leader of an orchestra. This closely relates with the Manipura chakra which is at the center of all our body nadis and energies, and thus it regulates our energy system.
Located at such central position, the Sun is the source of all life energy on Earth and similarly it contributes greatly to the general will and vitality of the person; same as the notion of a Divine spark. Its strength in the birth chart indicates
the basic urge towards life and towards being. Those with a ‘sunny’ disposition are people who can enjoy life and radiate their presence; their vitality is strong. And, depending in how balanced and the degree of activation of the Solar Plexus chakra one can imagine that for some people the Sun radiates like a 150-watt light bulb when they walk in a room, whereas others gets by on 40 watts. People usually feel at their most alive when carrying out the message of their natal Sun.
Manipura chakra and the Sun are naturally related because both are the energetic hubs of living systems which at the same time are invigorating energies we need to make use of in order to achieve our goals and objectives in life. Without this elemental vitality we cannot tap into our inner potential to fulfill our aspirations and dharma. Indeed, the Sun will contribute much to the most important events and decisions in life. Essentially, it is concerned with our life purpose and hence our nuclear aims at our very core and where our inner spirit takes us. Basically,
it has much to say with our quest. Obviously, the whole chart speaks of our life’s purpose, mission and quest but the Sun seems to play a central role here by driving and illuminating with direction the rest of the chart.
Coming from a solar perspective, one might say “I want” whereas the Moon is more “I need”, thus with the Sun we affirm “This is my purpose, my intention, my direction”, or “here I want to be myself”, or “here I want to be special”, or “here I want to be unique and an individual in my own right”. The Sun symbolizes that part of the self that centres on itself. Aspects to the Sun describe the ease or difficulty an individual may have in both accepting themselves and in being self-centred, therefore the position of the Sun in the natal chart has a considerable impact on a person’s self-confidence and self-esteem, attributes that are of course no stationary but confidence can both grow and wane over time. Manipura chakra level of balanced functioning is essential for establishing these traits.
The solar principle is concerned with the future, it describes the direction one is heading towards, as opposed to the Moon, whose concern is the past and where we are coming from. Likewise, the solar principle relates with those areas of our lives we consider to be essential for us, those areas and qualities to which we attach importance while at the same sourcing our best efforts in these from our Solar Plexus chakra. This energy center is our motor able to drive ahead our life.
When the Sun is not favorable placed in the natal chart, it is an indication of an imbalance at Manipura chakra. It can point out an underactive Solar Plexus chakra where we lack adequate will and drive to perform our duties, or by contrary,
an overactive Solar Plexus chakra where we tend to feel an uncontrollable need to be in control of ourselves, others and situations around us. An imbalance in Manipura is always reflected by an afflicted Sun at birth and vice versa, bringing us the opportunity to work with our innermost energies, our inner child.