Anahata - What's Flowing?
Anahata, the Heart Chakra, located in the center of the chest is the source of love and compassion. It represents the Air element and brings us harmony and the ability to give and receive unconditional love. It is said to be the great integrator of opposites in the psyche: mind and body, male and female, persona and shadow, ego and unity.
Ideally, this chakra brings us warmth, forgiveness, healing and selflessness. A healthy Anahata allows us to love deeply, feel compassion and have a deep sense of peace and centeredness. As the root of compassion and understanding it allows for healing and personal transformation. I initially wondered how this could be…compassion and understanding are for others, right? I learned that compassion and understanding are not only to be given to others but also to be given to ourselves. Before we can truly heal and change our vibrations we must let go of regrets and past indiscretions. For that we must find compassion in our hearts for ourselves for true forgiveness.
Anahata is the one chakra that is often too active, too open to influence from surrounding energy. Do you ever feel as though you give too much to others will being taken advantage of? This can indicate an over active Heart Chakra that is too open…yes, too open! An imbalance in Anahata can leave you susceptible to energy drains from outside sources. You may feel the need to give more of yourself than is healthy. Remember the common analogy of the oxygen masks that fall from above in an air plane emergency…always attach yours before helping others with theirs? You need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others.
A closed Heart Chakra can result in emotional disconnection from others. You may feel closed off, like you can’t relate with others on an emotional level. Perhaps you judge others and have difficulty accepting their differing opinion or actions contrary to what you deem appropraite. You may have a difficult time forgiving someone who has wronged you, which may develop into a full-blown grudge. Carrying this burden steals your energy away from meaningful pursuits and emotional peace.
Physically, Anahata governs the thymus gland, the heart, the blood and the circulatory, immune and endocrine systems. High blood pressure is a key indicator in a disruption in the Heart Chakra. Medical research shows that high blood pressure is often related directly to pent up stress, anger and frustration. Balancing Anahata improves heart health by releasing not only the mental strain related to these issues but also the stresses related to past traumas and emotional pain.
Balancing Anahata will allow the energy of love and compassion to flow in and out of your heart resulting in well placed trust in others and the ability to give and receive unconditional love.
Tomorrow I’ll touch on what optimized Anahata energy flow feels like.