Anahata - Heart Chakra

Anahata a.k.a Heart Chakra is the 4th of the seven major chakras and is one of the most profound. It is located at the same height as the physical heart, but instead of off centre to the left, it is located on the spinal column between the breasts. In Sanskrit the word Anahata mean "unstuck", "undamaged" or "unhurt", which is a beautiful clue as to what a balanced heart chakra can be amidst pain, heartbreak or loss. Even in times that hurt, with a balance, open heart chakra we are able to offer love, compassion, forgiveness and empathy without expectations and accept it willingly in return.

Element - Air (wind) and the sense of touch

Colour association - Green (represents healing)

Essential Oils - Jasmine, lavender, rose, cedarwood, sandalwood, neroli

Corresponding Mantra - YAM

Animal - Gazelle (grace and beauty)

The heart chakra is the human fountain where love and compassion freely flow. It is associated with our relationships, our collective/group consciousness, oneness and "all that is". Our heart chakra is the emergence point where our three lower chakras of matter connect with our upper three chakra's of spirit. Our heart acts as a bridge between our body, mind, emotions and spirit.

When our heart chakra is in balance we feel unconditional love, forgiveness, connectedness in our relationships, altruism, compassion, joy and empathy. We accept ourselves for who we are, physically, mentally and emotionally. Our immune systems are healthy and we have a complete sense of wholeness.

When our hearts are healthy, we feel it in our entirety, but when our hearts are unhealthy, healing, wounded or hurting, we feel it too. Healing our hearts is another step closer to full alignment and allows us to connect our physical realities with our spiritual selves. Our hearts are the gateway to our enlightenment. 

Knowing what to look for when it comes to blockages or imbalances can allow you to feel into what needs to be worked on. 

Remember, unbalanced can refer to either direction on the spectrum, feeling a lack of something or feeling an excess of something. A broken heart causes imbalances in this that can be the result of rejection, constant criticism, abandonment, loss of a loved one (family, friends, pet, job, home etc), unacknowledged grief (your grief or others grief) divorce, emotionally cold environments, sexual or physical abuse and betrayal. The result of these trauma's can show up in our heart chakra through emotions, behaviours and physical ailments (heart issues, impacts on the circulatory system, diaphragm, ribs, breasts, lungs, shoulders, arms, hands, esophagus).

When our hearts are wounded the heart chakra is lacking life force energy. We tend to withdraw and we can become quite distant from any relationships that have meaning or a potential for intimacy. We do this as a way of protecting ourselves from being wounded further. We may find it difficult to move forward and forgive, so we tend to live in the past. During times of wounding it is especially hard for us to find empathy for ourselves and for others; we tend to be judgemental, cynical and critical as a means to push others away, creating distance, so we do not feel.

  • cold
  • critical/judgemental
  • intolerant of self and others
  • lonely, isolated, depressed
  • fear of intimacy
  • lack of empathy
  • narcissism
  • shy, antisocial
  • difficulty forgiving

On the flip side, our experiences can wound our hearts causing us to go in the other direction, excessively exuding energy from this chakra. Being overly possessive of others causing jealousy and an overbearing need for connection, for the fear of loss/abandonment, can contribute to excessively codependent relationships. Seeking love, acceptance and validation outside of ourselves. We feel we need to be "chosen" or earn love based on our "ability" to over give and over extend ourselves. Some more examples of an over active heart chakra may display the following emotions/behaviours;

  • Codependency 
  • Demanding
  • Clingy/possessive
  • Jealous
  • overly sacraficing , overly giving or care-taking
  • lust/yearning

Imbalances (under active or over-active) in this chakra can hinder the rise of life force energy from our lower chakra's and hinder intuitive energy from the three upper chakra's to connect with our lower creative chakra's. Heartbreak can literally cause our other chakra's to collapse if we neglect our heart chakra health.

Learning how to let go of hurt is our healing. Instead of covering up an open wound and allowing it to turn our entire systems septic, it is up to us to allow time, intent and love to turn our wounds into scars, ones we can move forward with as reminders and a knowingness that LOVE will heal all. 

Our chakra's respond to intent and will, so by surrounding yourself with as many associations to this chakra as possible you'll reap your greatest benefits. This means including scents, colours, visual imagery, and sounds in your surroundings that represent the specific chakra you wish to work on. 

Some examples of things that will help create harmony in the heart chakra;

  • Forgive yourself and others. Our time here is too short to hold grudges.
  • Use positive affirmations daily in the mirror
  • SMILE! Even if you don't feel like. Smiling is contagious, and smiling always feels good.
  • Hug someone you love. Let the unhealthy ego sit on the sidelines, drop your guard and feel the warmth of another body close to yours. 
  • Kiss someone you love.
  • Random acts of kindness. Love is a currency. What you give you get :)
  • Practice gratitude daily. Journal a minimum of three things you are thankful for every morning before starting your day. Some days when we are struggling it can be as simple as, "I am thankful for the air I get to breathe". 
  • Yoga poses to encourage the heart to open; camel pose, cobra pose, bow pose, cow pose
  • Have crystals associated with the heart - Rose quartz, emerald, jade, malachite.

Give yourself grace in your healing process. Our journey is not instantaneous. Be gentle with yourself and your healing. What we do with our time is the most important.

Sending you all so much love, and in case no body has told you today,

You Are Worthy.

 We have a beautiful meditation available for balancing the heart, lead by Alaynne West-Tweten, see Link below;

 

LINKS:


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