1.  Technically called the Celiac Plexus, it is an area in the abdomen that has a large collection of nervous tissue second only to that of the brain. In some spiritual traditions it is referred to as the “second” brain. In the Tantric, Hindu, and Buddhist traditions it is associated with the third major chakra, known as the Navel Chakra or Solar Plexus Chakra.

If struck suddenly and with power, it can result in a spasm of the large muscle of the diaphragm. This can cause difficulty in breathing and is commonly called “having the wind knocked out of you.” Spiritually, it is also the source of personal energy (“having a fire in the belly”) and a sense of knowing without having specific knowledge about something (“I have a gut feeling about it”).

2.  A large plexus of sympathetic nerves located behind the abdomen. Associated with the third chakra, manipura.