The heart chakra is the fourth chakra and serves as the energetic bridge that connects our lower/physical chakras (root, sacral, solar) to our upper chakras (throat, third eye, and crown) also known as our spiritual chakras. Acceptance, compassion, forgiveness, empathy, and love reside in this energy center. This chakra is the source of unconditional love. Love for ourselves, others, and our environment. It gives us the capacity to feel and connect to the ever-present flow of love that’s all around us. When we’re connected to this chakra, we can be moved by (the beauty of) the world. To breathe it in, hold it in our hearts, and send it back out the world.
The love that lives in our hearts is boundless and limitless. It transcends ego and is powered by divine love. An open heart allows us to give love, unconditionally, with no strings attached, because this is the way of our heart. To give love simply to give love. This is our heart’s true nature. And though our heart loves unconditionally, it is also wise and knows when to take a moment to pause its outpouring in moments when we require giving back to ourselves. To renew and nourish ourselves with our supply.
At the same time, some of us hold this reservoir of love so tightly to our chest not extending it out to others for fear that any ounce of love given will be not be replenished. But that is not the case because whatever we give will come back to us. Maybe not immediately or in the same form that it was given. But it will always be gifted to us in another way, in some other form, at some other time. The energy of love is a continuous cycle. It is never-ending. It is a wellspring.
And yet, many of us were conditioned to not express the truth of our heart, its words, its love, and its desires. Expressing and revealing our heart’s truth is a practice. Being both patient and gentle with ourselves through this process is required. Once we connect to the authenticity of our heart, we may find it easier to express its truths and openly release the loving energy that lives inside of it. To soften to it, and let it breathe outside of us. When we attune to our heart’s truth, listen to its calls and embrace it without judgment, the more easily it becomes to stream its unfiltered essence into the world.
Today’s Practice: Give yourself love through lovingkindness (metta) meditation. When you have a moment, get into a comfortable position, tune into your heart space, and slowly repeat the following out loud or in your mind (3x):
May I be held in lovingkindness.
May I be happy and safe.
May I be healthy in body and in mind.
May I always have enough.
May my heart know peace
Notice how your heart feels after this meditation. The warmth and openness that lives in this center is always available to you, is generated by you, and rests within you.
If you have the capacity to extend love to others today, repeat these wishes to 1) someone that means a lot to you, 2) someone you’ve met casually who you might not know well/someone “neutral”, 3) someone you might have a difficult relationship with, 4) all beings (people and animals everywhere)
Sanskrit Name: Anahata
Location: center of chest/heart space
Element: Air
Color: Green
Wear the color green, eat green foods, work with green crystals to strengthen this energy center
Affirmation: I am open to giving & receiving love
Mantra: YAM
Practice chanting this. The vibration of this sound is said to activate and cleanse this energy center
Sound: ‘ah’ as in saw
Practice chanting this sound and focus on the vibration of the sound in your body
Frequency: 639 hz
Facilitates foundation for healthy relationships and interconnection. Enhances communication, understanding and love. Meditate or listen to this frequency (can be found on Spotify or YouTube).
Aromatherapy: Rose, Pine, Jasmine, Lavender