The heart chakra, or Anahata, is the fourth chakra in the human energy system. It is located in the center of the chest and is associated with love, compassion, and emotional balance. When the heart chakra is open, we are able to give and receive love freely, and we feel connected to others and the world around us.
Opening the heart chakra can be a transformative experience that leads to greater happiness, peace, and fulfillment.
Living with an open heart chakra can bring many benefits to your life. When your heart chakra is open, you may experience:
Greater compassion and empathy for others
Increased ability to give and receive love
Improved relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners
Increased sense of purpose and meaning in life
Greater sense of inner peace and fulfillment
Ways I open my heart center:
Acts of kindness-
Goodness, this one is tricky though. The acts of kindness must come from a place of LOVE and good intention, to actually open my heart center. Often times I do many acts of kindness a day- out of duty, obligation, inability to say no, or people pleasing. But when I do something truly selfless for someone out of love- damn, it breaks my heart center wide open (in a raw and beautiful way). Here is a tiny example. My middle daughter wanted to bring treats to school for her birthday. So we went to the store before school and grabbed some treats. When I got back from bringing them to the bus stop, I saw the treats on the counter. I immediately debated whether or not to run them to school or let her bring them the next day- which would have also been fine. But she is so sweet and sensitive and has been struggling emotionally lately. I thought of her heart and how disappointed she was going to be when she opened her backpack and realized she forgot them. My heart felt her heart. So I grabbed my keys and drove to school, dropped them off with the office staff. Quick, easy, annoying errand. But as I was driving home, my whole heart center opened and I felt a burst of aliveness in my body. I felt good. I felt full of love, this simple act of kindness cracked my heart open wide and made me feel great. And I knew she would be so grateful (or maybe not, we shall see). But her reaction in the end doesn't matter- what matters is that it made me feel full of love and alive- which is what life is all about.
Chakra toning -
My dear friend, Maggie taught me how to open my Chakras through Chakra toning. It works really well and only takes a few minutes! At first, it may feel odd, but once you notice the results, it's definitely worth the "weird."
Just chant each of these tones 3x each and see how you feel afterwards:
Root - uh (as in hut)
Sacral - ooo (as in pool)
Solar plexus - ohh (as in snow, or go)
Heart - ahhh (as in ma)
Throat - long eye sound (as in my)
Third eye - long a (as in bake or cake)
Crown - high eeeee (go as high as you can, as in me)
Reiki -
Reiki is a form of energy healing that opens and balances all of our Chakras, including the heart Chakra. The heart Chakra is very important because it is the middle Chakra that connects our lower Chakras with our upper Chakras. When our heart Chakra is open, it allows our Chakras to flow freely among each other along the Hara Line (which is the energy line along our spinal cord that links each Chakra together). Reiki is a simple way to open each Chakra and balance them in harmony with each other. I offer Reiki (in person and long distance). I also teach Reiki, so that you can easily heal yourself with Reiki everyday! Reiki is an incredible healing modality that has numerous benefits!
Crying -
Crying has long been known as a cathartic release of pent-up emotions, but did you know it can also open your heart chakra? The heart chakra is the center of our bigger emotions and governs our ability to love and connect with others. It is also the center to our ability to feel JOY in life. When we cry, we release emotional blockages that may be preventing us from experiencing deeper connections with ourselves and others.
Physically, crying can lower stress levels by reducing the body's cortisol levels, a hormone that contributes to feelings of stress and anxiety. Crying also releases endorphins, the body's natural feel-good hormones, which can help us feel better and even alleviate physical pain.
Emotionally, crying can provide a sense of emotional relief, helping us to process and release difficult emotions. Our tears hold stuck energy and stuck emotions. It can also promote empathy and connection if we cry with another human, as we connect with others through our shared emotional experiences. In this way, crying can help us to develop greater emotional intelligence and foster deeper relationships with those around us.
So the next time you feel the urge to cry, don't hold back. Allow yourself to fully express your emotions and trust that the act of crying is not a sign of weakness, but rather a powerful tool for personal growth and transformation.
Tuning Forks -
Tuning forks can be a powerful tool for opening the heart chakra. Each tuning fork is tuned to a specific frequency that corresponds with one of the body's energy centers or chakras. When a tuning fork is struck and held near the heart, its vibrations can help to stimulate and balance the heart chakra. This can promote feelings of love, compassion, and empathy, and help to release emotional blockages that may be preventing us from fully experiencing these emotions. Tuning forks can be used alone or in conjunction with other healing modalities, such as meditation or Reiki, to help support overall physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Cacao -
Ceremonial cacao is a special type of chocolate that has been used for centuries in spiritual and healing practices. It contains high levels of antioxidants and other compounds that have been shown to have physical health benefits. But beyond its physical properties, ceremonial cacao is also believed to have the power to open the heart chakra. The spirit of cacao is said to be gentle and loving, and when consumed in a ceremonial context, it can help to promote feelings of empathy, compassion, and connection to others. By opening the heart chakra, ceremonial cacao can help to release emotional blockages and promotes healing on a deep, spiritual level. Its effects can be enhanced through other practices such as meditation, breathwork, and intention setting, making it a powerful tool for those seeking to deepen their spiritual practice and connect with their inner selves.
Gratitude -
Practicing gratitude is a simple yet powerful way to open the heart chakra. When we cultivate a sense of gratitude, we focus on the blessings in our lives rather than the things we lack. This helps to shift our perspective from one of scarcity to one of abundance, which can promote feelings of joy, contentment, and love. By opening the heart chakra in this way, we can also become more open to giving and receiving love, as well as to connecting with others on a deeper level. Practicing gratitude can be as simple as keeping a gratitude journal, taking time to reflect on the things we are thankful for, or expressing gratitude to others in our lives. By incorporating this practice into our daily routine, we can cultivate a more open and loving heart chakra and experience the many benefits that come with it.
Meditate-
I like to do heart chakra meditations when I feel closed off. Try typing in guided heart chakra opening meditations on YouTube! Start with a shorter one (5-10) min if you're new to meditating! Then work your way up to longer ones. I also love doing loving kindness meditations. Purely Being on Spotify is one of my favorite go tos for guided meditations as well - she has SO many juicy ones. Here is a link to a heart opening meditation of hers for you:
Whatever method you chose, I urge you to try at least one.
Let me know how you feel after using any of these methods, I'd be curious to see what works for you!
Xoxo
Bails
Comments