Why Disconnection From Self And Others Can Be Hazardous To Your Health (The Heart Chakra)

We return to our chakra series! Before you think that I’ve forgotten to write about something relevant for the holidays, I’m exploring a very appropriate topic for this triggering time of social unrest and holiday zest, the Heart Chakra.

This chakra is so central to a lot of the work that I do in my private practice, and was the first chakra I ever started to really explore and heal when I learned about the chakra system.

Right now, our Heart system is being challenged on so many levels, because we are collectively entering a time where we are transcending. And, right before we transcend, we get challenged, big time, on all things we’ve held near and dear. And, in order to transcend our challenges when he stakes are high, it is often necessary for our hearts to break open. And hearts breaking open is exactly what I’ve been witnessing recently in my private practice – lives breaking down in order to rebuild, changes made to create alignment with purpose, or simply new realizations to greatly enhance new ways of living. All of this can only happen when we’re open to it.

When I first truly explored the chakras, and began with the Heart Chakra, my Heart was raw, tender, angry, but soon to be open. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. And, my pain of how my life was going was greater than my fear of changing. I had nothing to lose, so I started to honor my Heart. Never looked back since.

So far in the chakra series, we’ve covered:

Why Fear Of Survival Can Be Hazardous To Your Health (Root/First Chakra)

Why Repressing Your Anger May Be Harmful To Your Health (Sacral Plexus/Second Chakra)

Why Not Stepping Into Your Power May Be Hazardous To Your Health (Solar Plexus/Third Chakra)

Why Not Trusting Your Intuition Can Be Hazardous To Your Health (Third Eye/Sixth Chakra)

Why Not Speaking Your Truth Can Be Hazardous To Your Health (Throat/Fifth Chakra)

As you can imagine, the Heart Chakra is located in the center of the chest. This chakra corresponds to the thymus, heart, and circulation. It’s color is green, and it is the center of love, joy, and compassion. From it, we tap into our Higher Selves, self-love, and Divine Love.

When our Heart Chakra is blocked, we feel:

• Lonely
• Disconnected from ourselves and others
• Resentful
• Depressed (due to lack of hope)
• Grief
• Distrust in ourselves
• Lack of compassion
• Unable to accept love given by others

On a physical level, a blocked Heart Chakra may manifest as:

• Heart issues (like congestive heart failure or heart attacks)
• Asthma and allergies
• Lung cancer
• Breast cancer
• Bronchial pneumonia

When our Heart Chakra is open, we feel:

• Connected to ourselves and others
• Connected to our Higher Selves
• Connected to Divine Love
• Trust in ourselves
• Compassion

This chakra is interesting, because it also correlates to similar attributes as the Heart in Chinese Medicine. The Heart in Chinese Medicine is yang in nature (meaning that its energy works upwards and outwards), and it is all about expression and connection. You can tell that the Heart in Chinese Medicine is in need of rebalancing when we are unable to connect with ourselves and with others, are unable to express ourselves as we’d like to, and people are unable to hear us the way we want to be heard.

Also, as I mentioned in my previous blog post, “How The Complexion Is Related To The Heart In Chinese Medicine“, “The Heart, in Chinese Medicine, rules the mind, spirit and circulation, and is affected by heat, joy, anxiety and bitterness.  Our spirit (Shen) resides in our Hearts, so when our spirit is joyful or sorrowful, it can show up in our complexion”.

Additionally, the Heart Chakra also encompasses issues about the Lungs. A major aspect of the energy of the Lungs in Chinese Medicine is about grief and letting go. Here, grief is an aspect of both an unbalanced Heart Chakra in Reiki and of the Lungs in Chinese Medicine.

Here are my favorite ways to unblock the Heart Chakra:

1. Drink rosebud tea. Mei Gui Hua (Rosae Rugosae), or rose flower buds, are considered an herb in Chinese Medicine. Its treatment principles are that they move Qi and Blood, harmonize the Liver and Spleen, and dispel stasis. Energetically, roses resonate with the Heart Chakra. Create a mini-tea ceremony for yourself by pouring boiling water over 9 rosebuds (9 is a Chinese lucky number), and while the tea is steeping, set an intention or make a prayer for what you want out of love (to be able to express more self-love, for instance). That way, when you’re ready to drink the tea, you will be ingesting this special prayer and intention. And, in addition, you will be moving your Qi and Blood, which is always a good thing!
2. Wear Rose Quartz. My favorite way of wearing stones is as a pendant. But, you can wear a rose quartz bracelet, earrings, or as a tumbled stone in your pocket. Rose quartz is probably the most popular “love stone”, because it emits the strong vibration of unconditional love, joy, warmth, and healing. It’s excellent when dealing with issues around self-love and compassion. Always remember to clear your newly purchased stone by holding it above white sage smoke for a few seconds, energizing it with the intention of helping you cultivate love. When you’ve used it for a while, or you feel it’s helped you process a lot, clear it again with white sage smoke to clear it.
3. Ask Kwan Yin for assistance. Kwan Yin (also known as Guanyin) is a Bodhisattva (a Being of Enlightenment), the Goddess of Compassion and Mercy, and one of the Lords of Karma. She is an Ascended Master, and can help you release your hurts and truly forgive those who have hurt you. She helps you to open your heart and radiate love so that love can come back to you. It is no coincidence that when I was learning to heal, I became aware of her presence.

What are your favorite ways to heal and open your Heart Chakra?
I’d love to hear about them, in the comments, below!

With compassion,

 

 

 

 

 

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All information on this website is my own opinion, and not to be taken as medical advice. Reliance on any information provided on this website is solely at your own risk. Please refer to your medical practitioner before making any medical decisions.