How to balance and activate the heart chakra?

The word "chakra" comes from Sanskrit and means wheel or circle. The chakra is a fine material center of life energy, also described as an energy vortex.

The body has many energy points, known as chakras, both large and small, and they are connected by energy channels through which life energy flows.

Today, energy therapy focuses on the seven traditional chakras along the spine, from the groin to the scalp. Each major chakra has its own specific function, and each chakra also affects other physical, mental, and spiritual functions. When the movement of energy is disrupted or even blocked in the chakras, ailments and diseases begin to occur.

The heart chakra is also known as the cheast chakra and the fourth chakra. In Sanskrit it is also called anahata and it means unhurt, unstruck, unbeaten.

OVERVIEW OF THE HEART CHAKRA

Location: in the middle of the chest at heart level

Body parts/organs:

Each chakra is responsible for supplying energy to the organs and parts of the body in which it is located.

The heart chakra strngthens and revives the whole chest and the organs located there, it supplies energy to the blood circulation, verd, upper back, shoulders, arms and hands, which create a direct connection with the outside world. Accordingly, it appears with a strong energy flow in a nice, straight body posture.

In addition, this chakra is connected with with the bronchi and the lower part of lungs, where it regulates the breathing.

Thymus, which supports the body 's defense capability, is also controlled bythe fourth chakra, which is why the latter also regulates the immune system. However, it has the greatest impact on the heart.

Color: green

Element: air

Planet: Venus

Day of the week: Friday

Mantra: „YAM“

Motto: I love

Sense: touch

Themes: love, openness, understanding, compassion, security, tolerance, kindness, healing, universal love, commitment, dignity

WHEN THE HEART CHAKRA IS BALANCED

The fourth chakra is the center of healing, affection, love, and devotion. Only thanks to the heart chakra are we able to make connections with other people. At the same time, it connects the three lower chakras (root, sacral chakra, and solar plexus), which are the basis of our lives on a physical and emotional level, to the three upper chakras (throat chakra, third eye, crown chakra) where our higher human consciousness is located. Therefore it acts as a link and center for both levels.

Energy moving in this area also opens us up in the creative field, such as poetry, painting, and music. These areas are also associated with the planet of the fourth chakra, Venus.

A strongly developed heart chakra is expressed in sociability, kindness and taking responsibility voluntarily. It goes hand in hand with accepting yourself and others with a loving attitude, without having any selfish interests, in other words, it is expressed in unconditional love. There is also a huge healing potential in such healthy self-love.

BLOCKED OR OUT OF BALANCE HEART CHAKRA

Excessive energy in the fourth chakra can lead from excessive altruism to complete self-sacrifice (so-called helper syndrome). However, the blocked chakra is expressed in carelessness and intolerance, and such people have little empathy and can't empathize with others.

Chakra imbalance is in many cases associated with childhood, but can also develop as a result of later life experiences. Unfortunately, when a child grows up in a family that offers little joy and love, it unfortunately affects the child's vision of him-/herself and is passed on to adult life. As a result, our Inner Child becomes wounded and carries these patterns on to later relationships. The heart chakra can also be damaged by experiencing betrayals, deceptions, and heartaches, which can result in closing oneself to love out of fear of experiencing the pain of the past again.

Psychological characteristics of disharmony:

lack of empathy and compassion, carelessness, intolerance, inability to forgive oneself and others, feeling lonely, exaggerated ownership, codependence, self-sacrificing behavior, unhealthy or harmful relationships, difficulty finding contact with other people

Physical characteristics of disharmony:

cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, constant chest tightness, arrhythmias, angina, atherosclerosis or even heart attack, high blood pressure, circulatory problems, common colds, bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, tension and pain in the shoulders, rhemuatic pain in hand and finger joints, allergies, skin diseases

TEST HOW STRONG IS YOUR HEART CHAKRA

• Do you suffer from heart problems or circulatory disorders?
• Is being with friends tiring for you and taking all your energy away?
• Would you like to give more love to yourself and others?
• Are you willing to adapt your own behavior and opinions so you wouldn't be rejected?
• Are you unhappy in love or suffering from a painful break-up?
• Do you feel lonely and have difficulty finding contact with other people?
• Are there only very few people with whom you feel a deep connection?
• Do you have chronic skin inflammation (neurodermatitis) and eczema in exposed areas of the skin?
• Do you often feel oppression and pressure in the chest area?
• Do you have asthma or breathing problems?
• Do you catch colds often?

If you answered "yes" to more than six questions , then your fourth chakra is weak and definitely needs more support. By raising energy levels in the area, it can help coping with the ailments.

If you answered "yes" to four to six questions , the imbalance is not yet greatly developed, but this chakra should nevertheless be addressed and cared for, for example through aromatherapy (see recommendations below).

If you answered "yes" to less than four questions , there is only slight disharmony. However, so that the situation doesn't culminate further, it is advisable to deal with this chakra proactively and take care of it. In this way, it is also possible to prevent possible later complaints and diseases.

ACTIVATING HEART CHAKRA

Chakras can be activated and balanced through energetic therapies, like Reiki or other energetic massages, as well as physiotherapy, yoga, meditations and much more. But it is also very important to contribute to changing your own lifestyle and thought patternsto maximize the effect and keep the result permanent.

There is a lot that you can do yourself to support and strengthen the chakras. The movement of energy can already be harmonized through conscious thinking and experience of nature. It is also possible to do various healing exercises, which we will look at below.

At this point, however, it is also appropriate to recall the good old grain of wisdom that everything you think, you become, and you will draw it to your life. Thus, in addition to various therapies and other supportive practicies, it is important to monitor and work with your thoughts and attitudes in order to keep yourself more balanced through directing your thoughts.

Tips for activating the heart chakra

It is possible to constantly support your heart chakra and help it stay in balance. You can use the following tips and tricks:

• If possible in any way, then love and pamper yourself.
• Find yourself at least an hour once a week, when you can do things that will make you happy.
• Walk in the greenery, be it in a park or a forest, and absorb the supportive power of nature.
• Drink water harmonized with semi-precious stones. See below for stone recommendations. Put the cleaned and washed stones in a container and fill the container with water. Allow the stones to charge for a while before drinking.
• It is recommended to take relaxing baths for the whole body, adding to the bath some essential oils (look for recommendations below). You can use different aromatherapeutic methods, for example oil burners, diffusers, or body oils.
• Use green color. For example, you can bring home green plants or add green details to the interior.
• Eat green-colored vegetables and fruits. Prepare green food. For example, fruits like apples, pears, grapes, kiwis, hawthorn fruits. In addition, you can eat avocado, sprouts, peas, beans, cucumbers, cabbage, lettuces. Of the herbs and spices, the fourth chakra is supported by hibiscus, jasmine, rose, basil, chamomile, sage, marjoram, thyme, parsley, coriander, cayenne, lavender, sweet wormwood.
• Use semi-precious stones or wear jewelry made from them. See suggestions below.
• Repeat affirmations or chant mantras. See recommendations below.
• Meditate. You can use the suggested color meditation described below or you can listen to different chakra-supporting meditations from YouTube.
• If you can use Reiki, you can also charge your heart chakra with Reiki. Or if you have not practiced Reiki before, instead you can try the healing exercises below.

Essential oils

To support and activate your heart chakra you can try aromatherapy.

To do this, add 3-4 drops of a suitable essential oil to a foot bath or make pleasant warm and relaxing bath for the whole body. In addition, you can make yourself a roll-on or body oil.

For activating the heart chakra, you can use the following essential oils:

lavender, rose, jasmine, geranium, bergamot, melissa, palmarosa, ylang ylang, neroli, cinnamon (leaf), sweet marjoram, cistus, helichrysum, hyssop, may chang (litsea cubeba), black spruce

Semi-precious stones

To support and activate your heart chakra you can also use suitable crystals.

For that you can simply hold the stone in your hand until you feel that you have received its energy. Then place this hand on the chakra so that the energy of the stone can flow directly into the chakra. If you wish, you can also place the stone directly on the chakra and keep it there until you feel that the chakra is filled with the energy of the stone.

If you wear jewelry with semi-precious stonesthat support the chakra, then it's constantly sending you supportive and activating energy.

Of course, don't forget to cleanse the stones and jewelry from time to time and recharge them with fresh energy.

Südametšakrat toetavad järgmised poolvääriskivid:

nefrite, peridot, watermelon tourmaline, rose quartz, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, ruby, seraphinite, charoite, garnet, jade, kunzite, agate, moss agate, green tourmaline, emerald, malachite, chrysocolla, green aventurine, chrysprase, ocean jasper, clear quartz

Affirmations or positive phrases

To support and strengthen the chakra, you can repeat the following positive phrases or affirmations both in the morning after waking up and in the evening before going to bed:

• "I love myself and others unconditionally."
• "When I open up, I'll stay protected."
• "I let my heart heal myself."
• "I am completely open to giving love. I am completely open to receiving love. ”
• "I forgive myself and others."
• "I build loving and supportive relationships."
• "My heart is filled with joy and gratitude."
• "I let go of anger and forgive immediately, completely, and unconditionally."
• "I love and support my inner child."

You can say affirmations one by one, trying to feel the meaning of each sentence deep within yourself. Cognition makes it easier to embrace these conformations.

Mantra

Chanting mantras is an ancient and proven method of energetically strengthening the chakras. It helps release tensions and remove blockages in the chakra and activates it.

The traditional mantra of the fourth chakra is "YAM".

To chant a mantra, find a peaceful place where you will not be disturbed. You can sit or stand, the main thing is that you are comfortable and that your chest is open.

Close your eyes and focus all your attention on the heart chakra. Once this has become the center of your awareness, you can start chanting the mantra.

When repeating the mantra, try to feel yourself inside and sense the mantra. Notice the reverberation that echoes through your body.

Breathe calmly and evenly. Try to find your rhythm, usually it goes according to the breathing.

In the beginning, practice the mantra for up to 15 minutes. If possible, repeat this often.

Color meditation

Sit on a chair or pillow, your legs in a full or half lotos position, and stretch your spine. If you wish, you can also meditate lying down.

Close your eyes and take a deep breath in and out. Turn your palms up, you can support them on your thighs while sitting. If you wish, you can also place your hands on your heart. Allow the whole body to relax.

Then turn your mind inwards and focus on the location of the heart chakra in the middle of your chest in the heart area. Imagine a vivid swirl of green light flowing there.

Feel how this vortex increases when you inhale and contracts when you exhale. Watch the green light pulsate in the rhythm of your breathing. Continue breathing like this until you feel the chakra evenly filled with intense green light.

If you feel the pulsation of energy in your chest, allow the energy to calm down. Breathe deeply and calmly a few more times. Then open your eyes and return to your everyday life.

Healing exercise

Lie down and close your eyes.

Rub your palms against each other until they are warm and charged with energy. If you know how to use Reiki, you can also connect yourself with the healing power of Reiki. Then place your left hand on your chest at the height of your heart and your right hand on it.

At the same time, try to relax and release your body from tension. Focus on breathing - take a deep breath in and out seven times. Feel the green vivid energy flowing from your hands into your heart chakra with each breath.

Be in the moment and feel and enjoy the warmth that flows through the fourth chakra. When you are ready, open your eyes and return to your daily routine.