Chakra Series: Heart Chakra

“Let me be still and listen to the truth”
(A Course in Miracles)

In the beginning, according to an old Eastern story, when the earth was first created, the Gods had to decide on a safe place to hide “truth.” One God said “Let’s leave it on the highest mountain.” “Why not place it on the farthest star,” another God suggested. While a different God added, ”We could set it at the bottom of the deepest ocean.” Then finally one wise God whispered “No! We will place it within the heart of each and every human being because that will be the last place they will look!”

These are some of the lies we tell ourselves to hide the truth:

• When someone else loves us we will be able to love ourselves.
• We are not good enough unless someone else tells us we are.
• We need permission to share our gifts with the world.

When we finally discover the truth of who we are this truth will set us free.

Your heart is the not only the center of your chakra system, it is the heart of your universe, the fulcrum for your soul’s expression in this world, the axis mundi of the divine light. Your heart merrily beats twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty weeks a year, until your soul instructs it to let go. Your heart does not ask any favors of you. It plays to your tune. It loves you despite the feelings you have about yourself. Imagine a child receiving the same amount of love and consideration your heart receives. That child would no doubt need therapy because it received so little attention. Yet your heart keeps beating, willing to be of service.

Anahata is not only about love and the way you give and receive love it is also concerned with your will, desire, needs and wants. If you experience pain in this center then look at what you are not getting. It is possible that you are not getting the love you need. Perhaps you are not getting what you want or desire. Or maybe the love you give to others is being rebuffed. This center embraces your ability to give and receive. But it is not just love. It is everything that defines you, everything that defines your truth in this moment. When you discover the truth of who you are, you will be free of all pain.

Try these exercises to open and nurture your heart chakra’s energy:

Luxurious loving: It is such a simple thing and yet we often forget to give to ourselves. Take at least one day a week to pamper yourself. Do something that really makes you feel good, relaxed and maybe a little in love with your life.

Offer forgiveness: Forgive someone you have forgotten to forgive. You can tell this person, write a letter that you either mail or burn, or you can imagine sitting together on a wooden bench surrounded by a bubble of pink light. Talk to each other, have a heart to heart. Allow your grievances and anger to be released into the pink light. Hug each other at the end of your conversation and say thank you to your friend for helping you to open your heart a little more.

Vessels of love: Rub your hands together for a minute then place your hands on your heart. Give love and healing to your heart as you tell it just how much you appreciate the support it has given you during this lifetime.

Environmental healing: Your heart chakra connects you with your soul and nature can help you keep this connection open. Take a walk in nature, but don’t just walk through it. Look around you as you walk in nature, see its majesty. Go hug a tree and sense the strength and wisdom it embraces. Feel the unconditional love that a flower exudes when it opens. Connect with the nature spirits as they play in the clouds, create thunderstorms, and dance in the puddles.

You are love: Try some heart opening yoga exercises and allow your heart space to breath. Breathe deeply and effortlessly into the heart imagining that each breath is opening the heart a little more with light.

Open the heart: Make a list of all the things you like about yourself. Cut each comment out on separate pieces of paper, fold them up and each day randomly pick one. Read it aloud three times and allow your heart to GET the energy.

Understand your feelings: Make a list of all the people you love and have loved. How does it make you feel when you remember each one?

Realizing love: Make an intention to spend at least one day a week telling everyone how wonderful they are and how much you appreciate and love them. Everyone needs a little encouragement now and again. This exercise will create ripples of love and appreciation like a wave moving around an audience.

Share the love: Spend the day smiling at everyone with your heart. When you smile it changes your energy and it will help others to lift their energy too.

Envelope your heart: You can use color to nurture and heal your heart. Try green to bring space into your heart and your life. Use the color pink when you feel vulnerable or when you need to be loved.

Loving-kindness: Give a surprise gift to someone who needs some extra love. This might be someone you know well or maybe a person you have only seen briefly. Don’t be put off if this person finds it hard to accept your love. Just give unconditionally.

Follow your heart: Spend time each day connecting and listening to your heart. Meditate on opening your heart. Imagine there is a person inside your heart. Talk to this person. Ask questions. Find out what your heart wants and how you can heal it.

Now LOVE YOURSELF. Wrap your arms around yourself and give yourself a hug.