Heart Chakra: Open the Gateway to Love, Compassion, and Healing

The seven chakras are the main energy centers in your body, according to esoteric tradition. They play a major role in your daily life and spiritual path. 

In this series, we’ve been studying the chakra system and how to restore balance in each chakra. So far, we have explored the root, sacral, and solar plexus chakras.

In this article, we will explore the spiritual meaning of the heart chakra—its location, signs of imbalance, and healing tools to restore its power. 

What Is the Heart Chakra?
The heart chakra, as its name indicates, is located in the center of the chest, surrounding the heart. Its Sanskrit name, Anahata, means “unstruck,” or “unhurt.” It is an energetic vortex that exists in the subtler aspect of the body, the ethereal body or energy field. 

The Anahata chakra is the energy center that governs love, compassion, forgiveness, emotional healing, and connection. Some authors link it with the color green and the air element. 

Signs of a Balanced Heart Chakra
The heart chakra is the center that governs love, giving us the ability to give and receive love freely, without blockages. As a result, when the heart chakra is balanced, we experience love and compassion. We feel deep compassion for ourselves and others. 

A balanced heart chakra also helps us to develop healthy emotional boundaries and harmonious relationships, accept love from others, and give love in return. 

Additionally, it is the sacred seat of universal love, allowing us to feel connected to all living beings and recognize them as part of ourselves, all linked by the universal mind. 

Symptoms of an Imbalanced Heart Chakra
An imbalanced heart chakra can be underactive (too little energy) or overactive (too much energy).
Underactive Chakra
The heart chakra promotes healthy connections and harmonious relationships. In this sense, when this chakra is imbalanced, we experience isolation, fear of intimacy, lack of empathy, and difficulty forgiving. We struggle to understand and connect with others, and become resentful or develop hatred.

Overactive Chakra
When we allocate too much importance to relationships and connections, we develop codependency and jealousy, tending to cling to relationships. Additionally, being overly self-compassionate may result in feelings of martyrdom and victim behavior.

Physical Symptoms
Energetic imbalances in the heart chakra may bring negative physical symptoms such as heart and lung issues, upper back pain, and tension in the chest.

Heart Chakra Healing and Balancing Practices
There are numerous practices available to address energetic imbalances in the heart chakra. 
Emotional Healing and Forgiveness
The subtler body often carries energetic blockages and stagnation because of pent-up emotions and resentment. Try emotional release practices to address these imbalances and let go of stagnant emotions.

Explore journaling practices to understand and release resentment. Try visualization techniques such as imagining someone you hold negative feelings for, and radiate love towards them from your heart. Consider other methods such as inner child work and heart-centered therapy.

Breathwork and Air Element Practices
The heart chakra is associated with the air element. Try breathwork to help this element of nature restore and balance your energy center. 

Conscious breathing exercises are helpful to release stagnant energy and tune into your body. For instance, the ancient practice of pranayamas, or the 4-7-8 breath technique.
Remember to spend time outdoors in fresh air and practice nature walks to receive the oxygen that your body (and your heart) needs.

Meditation and Visualization
Visualization techniques open the gate of the unconscious to promote healing in your energetic body. Consider incorporating these exercises during your meditation sessions. 

For instance, sit down comfortably, close your eyes, breathe deeply to center yourself, and visualize a green light. Imagine how this healing light expands from the heart, restoring it and helping to release negative energy.

Crystals and Stones    
Crystals and stones are a powerful addition to your collection of spiritual tools. They work at an energetic level to direct positive energy to your subtler body. Some crystals, such as rose quartz, green aventurine, and rhodonite, have a high vibration that is aligned with that of the heart chakra.

Use these crystals in love rituals, meditations, or wear them near the chest. You may also lie down, place a crystal on your heart, and imagine how its healing energy purifies this center. 

Affirmations and Mantras
Harness the power of words and vibrations by chanting the healing mantra associated with the heart chakra: Yam. Chanting while focusing on your heart chakra, feel how this vibration restores and balances it.  Additionally, recite the following positive affirmations:
“I am open to love and kindness.”

“I forgive myself and others.”

“My heart is a source of infinite compassion.”

Final Thoughts
The heart chakra has a major role in your chakra system, being the center between the lower and upper. In this sense, it is the bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. 

Thus, the heart is the true seat of spiritual wisdom, a sacred place to visit whenever you need spiritual healing. The best way to connect with your heart is by harnessing the power of love, embracing it as a daily spiritual practice.

Open your heart without fear, and ask yourself: What does unconditional love feel like?