The Chakra Series – Anahata/ Heart Chakra

Today, I introduced sweet potato and honey to my diet. I ate more intently, focusing on my root, sacral and solar plexus chakra harmonizing through the chosen ingredients. Are you incorporating these suggestions in your daily life?

In this post today, we will talk about one of the most common and frequently spoken of chakra centers – The Heart Chakra. Located near your heart at the center of your chest, the Heart chakra performs many important functions in different aspects of our life. To our inner self, it speaks of the quality of unconditional love, to our physical self, it assists in blood circulation, to our mental self, it awakens passion, and to our spiritual self, it brings forth devotion.

Do you love yourself? I struggle to do so on most days. Yet, the one big secret to helping your Heart chakra is to find love within. To live life. To love life. This chakra also governs your ability to love, your romantic relationships, and how you relate to the world outside. It is impacted by our emotional quotient and how we handle our feelings.

So what happens when your heart center is not functioning at its best? 

This may seem obvious but the heart chakra renders our ability to deal with our emotional baggage and our ability to give and receive love. Being a giver is not always a nice thing because a) It could sometimes be done to seek recognition and acceptance from others, and b) There could be a defense mechanism present within the person. Such individuals may fear getting hurt and hence become too over-protective of their feelings. They will happily give but find it hard to accept.

Some of the common symptoms of an imbalanced heart chakra also include unresolved grief, depression, feeling disconnected from others and self, lack of forgiveness, fear of intimacy due to the fear of being hurt, growing or being too sensitive, becoming anti-social, selfishness, and allowing yourself to be emotionally controlled by others. Feelings of shyness and loneliness may also emerge.

On a physical level, it can manifest as heart-related issues such as heart attack, high or low blood pressure, heart palpitations, and poor circulation to name a few. Respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, lung infection, Asthma, and difficulty in breathing could be an issue for some.

In relationships, co-dependency, jealousy, insecurity, dishonesty, lack of emotional bonding can all be symptoms of a blocked heart chakra. It also determines our ability to open up and communicate in our personal relationships. It can make us cling to our past and hard to cope with our emotional scars.

How can we tend to our Heart center? 

One of the important things to do is to express yourself fully and allow yourself to be loved. Also, make time to spend with your loved ones and nurture the close bonds in your life. Choose the right environment for yourself that promotes positive thinking and supports your well-being.

Practice meditation and breathing exercises. Take care of your lungs and heart health. Engage more in cardio. Watch your cholesterol level and manage your blood pressure.

Do something for others through charitable acts and donations, without expecting anything in return. Help humanity. Help the animal and plant world. Play with your pet. Compassion and unconditional love are a beautiful quality of the Heart center.

Do not be afraid to experience intimacy.

Nature can help, too! Absorbing the energy of green spaces such as forests, a clearing, a garden or a park, and watching the pink sky when the Sun is about to set can brighten our heart center. It revitalizes our energy and passes it all across our body through the Heart chakra. Both the colors green and pink are assigned to the heart chakra. While green helps us feel refreshed, opens us up to compassion and receptive for reconciliation, Pink brings a child-like quality to us by lightening our hearts and awakening us to passion again.

The crystals that can support us on our heart chakra healing journey are Rose quartz, Peridot, Emerald, and Jade to name a few.

In aromatherapy, Rose, ylang–ylang, Lavender and Bergamot help.

In Astrology, Venus rules the Heart center. For eons, Venus has been associated with love, beauty, luxury, and wealth. All the things that can bring comfort to our hearts and provide us with a sense of joy. Earthy Taurus and airy Libra are the zodiac signs associated with the Heart center.

Even devotion is a form of Heart chakra energy and connecting with your favorite deity, spiritually elevating yourself in your personal prayer and spiritual practices can promote the well-being of your heart center.

Lastly, food. Green vegetables and fruits such as Spinach, Beans, Avocado, Cucumber, Green Apples and Lime. Food that supports our circulatory systems such as ginger, garlic, cayenne pepper, lentils, and beetroots. Anything made with love can also do wonders. Cook with Love, eat with Love.

In our next post, we will discuss the Vishuddhi or the Throat chakra. Until then, be safe and share this post if you found it to be informative.

Sonniyaa Singh