Heart Chakra Awareness: Balancing the Heart and the Head
- At February 02, 2009
- By Bonnie
- In Articles
- 3
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched–they must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller
Why do we have so many metaphors for the heart? We tell each other to “follow your heart” and we talk about people who are “hard-hearted” or someone with a “heart of gold.” We listen with an “open heart” and when someone hurts us we get a “broken heart.” When we get deep into a topic we “get to the heart of the matter.”
I believe that we use so many metaphors about the heart because we inherently know that it is at the core of our being.
Caroline Myss, author of Energy Anatomy, calls the heart the “central powerhouse of the human energy system.” Of the seven major chakras in the chakra system, the heart is literally at the center. It is the bridge between the lower chakras and the upper chakras.
Because the lower three chakras all relate to our physical experience and the upper three chakras relate to our higher levels of consciousness and spirituality, the heart connects our physical self and our spiritual self.
We are physical beings as well as spiritual beings. If that connection between the two is broken, we cannot survive. Or, in other words, if our heart stops beating, we die.
Our physical heart is surrounded by a protective layer called the pericardium. In fact, the pericardium is considered in Oriental medicine to be separate from the heart, having its own meridian (Heart Constrictor/Pericardium). Energetically, the pericardium serves as a protective barrier around the heart, not allowing any energy to be drained to other areas of the body.
The heart is very important, physically and energetically!
Have you heard the saying “Reason can win no war against a heart-felt choice?” Is your heart actually stronger than your head? Should it be? Do you ever feel like you are battling between your heart and your head? (I do.)
According to Native American traditions, the heart is the mind, it is the place of knowing. Does that mean we should stop using our head? I don’t think so. What I do think is that we need to have a good balance between the two and know when to use the intelligence of our heart and when to use our head.
Here are some exercises for you to try:
Find a quiet place where you can be undisturbed for a few minutes. Take some deep, slow, abdominal breaths and relax. Then, place your awareness at your heart center (you can place your hands there if that helps you to stay focused there).
Pay attention to how you feel in your heart right now. Is there tightness, warmth, sadness, a feeling of heaviness or light? Ask your heart if it has something to tell you (and listen!).
Now, if you have any decisions to make that you are unsure of, use your heart to help. Imagine yourself making your decision one way, then pay attention to how you feel in your heart. Switch gears now and imagine yourself making a different choice. Does that bring up a different feeling in your heart? Which feels more “right” to you?
If you feel like your head and your heart are out of balance (can’t get your head to quiet down enough to hear your heart OR you feel your heart is ruling your head), try holding one hand on your brow and one hand on your heart. Imagine a flow of light opening up between these two points and pulsing back and forth. Hold for about a minute or two. You may actually feel a pulsation, tingling or warmth in your hands. It still works, even if you don’t feel anything so give it a try!
An open heart is capable of experiencing and sharing the greatest virtues of humankind: unconditional love, forgiveness and compassion. I hope you experience your heart in this way every day.
Curtis
Thank you for the confirmation. I discovered this form of practice years ago and still come back to it when I ignore my heart for too long. The heart knows the truth and knows the path to happiness.
Jackie
Great article! Informative and super practical exercise to do. Did it and loved it! thanks Bonnie.
Bonnie
Thanks Jackie! I appreciate the feedback.
Blessings,
Bonnie