10 Down-to-earth Ways To Clear Your Heart Chakra And Love More Deeply
Is there a relationship in your life that you're having trouble with? Are you lonely, or do you have a hard time connecting to others in a meaningful way? Do you have an emotional wound that won't heal? Is there someone (including yourself) you'd like to forgive? Are you on a path of spiritual growth? Would you like to rise to a higher level of compassion and non-judgment for others?
If any of this resonates with you, it might be helpful to learn some ways to clear and balance your heart chakra.
The fourth of the seven chakras, it's also called Anahata in Sankrit. It governs our ability to love unconditionally and to heal. Clearing and balancing your fourth chakra can help you(grow spiritually(dissolve the myth of separateness(heal emotionally and physically(forgive yourself and others(connect deeply to others(open your heart to the universal love that always surrounds you(rise above anger, hatred, and jealousy(experience deep inner balance and peace.
You don't have to be a trained energy healer to heal your 4th chakra. Read on to learn 10 down-to-earth, satisfying ways that you can clear your heart chakra. But first:
What Are the Chakras?
Chakras are organs of our energy body. They act as energy portals, exchanging energy with the rest of the cosmos.
There are seven primary chakras, located along the center line of the upper body, from the bottom of the spine to the top of the head. Each chakra is associated with different glands, organs, body areas, and elements of our life, personality, and spiritual development.
The chakras are critical to our physical health, the quality of our life, and our ability to develop spiritually.
The Healthy Chakra
A healthy chakra is open, allowing energy to flow freely both horizontally, in an exchange of energy with the universe, and vertically, connecting it with the other chakras.
It's very common to have one or more chakras that is blocked or out of balance to some degree. This can cause disruptions in a person’s body, mind, spirit, and life.
What is the Heart Chakra?
The Anahata chakra is located in the center of the chest at heart level. Its keywords are "unconditional love," "healing," and "connection." It relates to compassion, healing, divine love, self-love and relationships. Its associated color is green, and its element is air.
Situated at the middle of the chakra system, the fourth chakra integrates the upper and lower chakras, unifying physical and spiritual energies, body and spirit. With the fourth chakra, we start to move beyond the focus on the separate self, toward a focus on relationship and connection. At the fourth chakra, we start to reach for the heavens. A clear, balanced 4th chakra is essential to ongoing spiritual growth.
Is Your Heart Chakra Healthy?
Someone with a healthy fourth chakra is usually compassionate, able to love deeply, and has a sense of emotional fulfillment. In relationships, they are usually capable of deep intimacy while maintaining healthy personal boundaries. They are kind, forgiving, trusting, and nonjudgmental. They may radiate peace. Often they have a strong connection to nature. Whatever their profession, they act as a healing presence.
10 Ways to Clear and Balance Your Fourth Chakra
Here are ten ideas for heart chakra healing:
1. Get out in nature. Take a hike or meditate outdoors. Be deeply aware of the birds. 2. Spend time with small children or your animal companions. Get down on their level. Follow their lead.
3. Do your best to forgive someone. Just let it go.
4. Perform an anonymous "random act of kindness" every day for a week. Notice how it makes you feel.
5. Declare a "gratitude day." Spend the whole day noticing everything that you have to be grateful for.
6. Reconnect with an old, dear friend. Let them know what they've meant to you. 7. Volunteer at a food bank or homeless shelter. Withhold judgment; try to learn something from and see the divine spark within everyone you seek to help.
8. Use the heart chakra essential oils of rose, geranium, neroli, melissa, sandalwood, ylang ylang or jasmine.
9. Wear or decorate a room in a shade of green or pink that feels pleasing and healing to you.
10. Repeat an affirmation such as: "I am loved." "I forgive naturally and easily." "It is my nature to love and be loved." "I welcome the differences of others." "It is my nature to heal." "Love is everywhere." "I forgive myself." "I am at peace." "I have so much to be grateful for." "I am connected to everything in the universe."
Intention Matters!
Remember, when working with your chakras, intention matters! Before doing any of the activities above, set your intention. For example, you might set and hold a general intention for heart chakra healing, or a more specific goal of forgiving someone, healing from an emotional wound, developing compassion, dissolving separation, etc.
Just make your purpose clear, perform the activity mindfully, and as you're doing it, occasionally take a moment to silently affirm that your actions are creating your intention. Using any of the activities in conjunction with the affirmations is also very effective.
Seek Professional Help If
If you have any concerns about your physical or mental health, seek the help of a qualified medical or mental health professional.
A Heart Chakra Blessing
I wish you abundant love and compassion, flowing both in to and out from you, in a never-ending, radiant stream. May you experience the sea of love in which your being floats; may you feel your essential connection to all things.
Copyright 2010 -- Nancy Hausauer. All rights reserved.