Heart Healing in a Nutshell

Heart Healing in a Nutshell

Heart healing in a nutshellSanskrit: Anahata, meaning flawless, unstruck or unbeaten

(Joseph Campbell likens this unstruck vibration to the humming of an electrical transformer, or the unheard – to our ears – humming of atoms and molecules)

And the day came when the need to remain closed became more painful than the risk to open.

Anonymous

Infinite love is the only truth. Everything else is illusion.

– Johan Joubert, 5 Nov. 2003

Heart Space

  • Location: Behind the breast bone in the chest
  • Endocrine gland corresponding: thymus (seat of the immune system) and heart as brain (this concept is explained further on) and endocrine gland
  • Body parts involved: immune system, heart, cardiovascular system, cardiac plexus, lungs, breasts, upper back, chest muscles, skin
  • Element, Symbol, Color: air, hexagon, green and pink. Hues of green and pink restore a sense of balance and calm, allowing you to be filled with serenity and peace
  • Central Theme: unconditional love, compassion, empathy, human feelings – an open and warm heart, tolerance, giving and receiving of love
  • Purpose: self love and love for others in balance
  • Sensory function: touch
  • Sound/Mantra: YAM and ‘a’ (as in father)

Gemstones and crystals: rose quartz, emerald, green tourmaline, green jade, chrysoprase.  Select any of these heart harmonizing gemstones or crystals intuitively, and wear on a chain around your neck, or place directly in the middle of your chest. Lie back, relax and do the deep healing heart-centered meditation (at the end of the Opening your Heart section)

Aromatic oils: rose, jasmine, tarragon, clary sage, geranium, bergamot, and most oils made from flowers. Oil of orange blossom helps you radiate, for yourself and others. Use jojoba or sesame as the base oil. Mix a tablespoon of base oil with 2 drops of jasmine and 3 drops of tarragon. Mix well, spread on both palms, and massage the area above the heart as well as the heart’s sore spots or tender spots (terminology from kinesiology, thought field therapy (TFT), and emotional freedom techniques (EFT), for the meridians or energy channels of the heart), on both sides just below the clavicles in the angle it forms with the sternum or breastbone) with gentle circular movements.

Spices, Food, Medicinal plants/herbs:

  • Kiwifruits, broccoli, cuTapping pointscumber, green beans, peas, juicy figs, lettuce and dark green spinach: Improves endurance physically, mentally, emotionally. Eating green fruit and vegetables helps allay panic, fear and anxiety. Broccoli is rich in sulphorafane that suppresses cancer cell growth and neutralizes carcinogens, also carotenoids, folic acid, potassium, vit C. Spinach is rich in folic acid, lutein, carotenoids, magnesium, manganese, protein, quercetin and  vit K
  • Crateagus oxyacantha (Hawthorn berry) to balance blood pressure and reduce water retention
  • Tarragon and saffron as culinary herbs / spices
  • Melissa and Whitehorn as infusions
  • Thyme honey wine is an excellent heart-healing elixir. Mix 4 tablespoons of dried thyme (8 of fresh) with one liter of red wine. Simmer on low heat for 30 minutes. Remove from heat. Add 4 tablespoons of honey. Allow to stand for 1 week, pour through a sieve and take 2 tablespoons 3 x per day.
  • Echinacea helps your immune system cope with viruses, bacteria and other potential pathogens, or disease causing organisms
  • Antioxidants support all systems, including the heart, respiratory and immune systems.
  • Dr. Bach’s flower remedies: red chestnut, willow, chicory.

Associated ailments and illnesses:

Blocked 4th chakra: problems with loving relationships and the balance between giving and receiving; letting go and holding on; between neediness and the ability to receive. Inner life: loneliness and feelings of isolation, an inability to open up and share feelings/emotions even with close others. People with these problems might seem cold, but simply cannot express what they feel. This projects hostility and aggression into their outer world, so that this is also what they attract. Classical Type A personality behavior (obsession and perfection over work, worry, anxiety) is the most significant risk factor for heart disease.

(People who exhibit Type A behavior manifest excessive competitiveness, aggression, free floating hostility and a fast-paced life style, insisting on perfectionism in themselves and others. They are constantly struggling to accomplish ill defined goals in the shortest possible time. In several studies this type of behavior has been shown to be as important a risk factor as smoking and hypertension in the development of coronary heart disease, including myocardial infarction (heart attack). This is the opposite type of behavior exhibited by individuals who are relaxed, unhurried and less aggressive, which is called type B behavior

Heart disease (e.g. angina, arrhythmia, heart failure), high or low blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attack, stroke, allergies, infections, cancer, all respiratory area health challenges (infections, inflammation of  lungs, intercostal muscles and ribs), middle back muscle and vertebra pain, shoulder pain, breast disease including breast cancer, skin problems (a 1st and 4th chakra imbalance). Metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes – also medium risk blood sugar and insulin resistance) is indicative of a 3rd and 4th chakra imbalance.

Wide open and bleeding 4th: Care is love in action, Institute of HeartMath founder Doc Childre once said. ‘The capacity to care in human beings and other living creatures is an expression of love that is wonderful to behold. It is, however, important to balance the care and concern we feel and express in action to others. If caring is taken to excess, it can be as detrimental to the health of your heart, as no, or very little, caring. Symptoms of over-care: feeling overwhelmed, guilty, anxious, obsessively working and trying to fix everything, being over attached to the problems of others. This can often lead to lack of care for self, ultimately to burn out and even death from heart attack or heart failure. A measure of balance is wise and healthy. After all, the heart pumps blood to itself first, before it pumps it to the rest of the body. This is an example of self care, and not selfish at all.’

Balanced characteristics:

  • compassionate and empathetic
  • loving personality
  • altruistic
  • impersonal and often detached friendliness
  • showing and feeling empathy and compassion
  • self-loving
  • doing things for others with an open mind and gladness of heart
  • maintaining boundaries for giving and receiving love and care in balance
  • peaceful
  • excellent health with optimally functioning immune system

Heart centered meditation

The feelings/emotions of kindness, compassion, appreciation and love can be encoded into your heart, creating a coherent wave pattern between your heart and brain, amplifying the electromagnetic field generated by both organs, reaching out, and extending from, the body, to encompass not only yourself, but everyone and everything around you.

Sit comfortably on the floor or in a chair, in a quiet place, or outside in the greenness of nature, with soft pink candle light, rose quartz crystal and soothing music if you prefer. Hold your back straight, chin parallel to the floor, hands relaxed in your lap, eyes closed. Breathe deeply and slowly and feel yourself relaxing with each exhalation. Do this for 5-20 minutes until you’re completely relaxed. As you breathe in and out, know that when the heart beats, it pumps blood to itself first, and from there to the rest of the body. If it didn’t do this, the rest of the body would die. This is an example of self love. It is not a selfish act. Give appreciation and deep love to your own heart, for its lifetime service.

 

As you breathe in, feel the breath entering your nose and mouth, extending into your heart, and from there to the rest of your body, into every cell of your being. As you breathe out, feel the breath exiting the cells, moving to the heart, and from there to the mouth and nose. Repeat the ‘ah’ sound of gratitude as you breathe out. Do it softly or aloud, whichever feels comfortable to you. Notice the deep sense of peace and calm infusing your whole body and mind. You can envision this sense as a blanket of green and blue enveloping your heart, your whole body, your loved ones, all sentient beings, the earth and the universe.

 

Then, in your mind’s eye, imagine a bright, healing light shining into your heart. The light becomes softer, changing to hues of pink or green, associated with feelings of love, peace, reassurance, forgiveness and acceptance. The light dissolves all tension from your heart and chest. Feel all heaviness, sadness, regret, pain and seriousness lift and release, leaving you light hearted and joyful. Feel your heart developing its own radiance as though an inner flame is being rekindled. Allow this light from inside your heart to spread to every part of you, into the far reaches of every cell, molecule, thought and emotion. Imagine yourself filled with this light’s purity and wonder; your body, mind, emotions and soul healed by the radiance inside your own heart. Sense this light spreading into your feet and eyes to illuminate your path with love. Repeat the positive affirmations, and actually feel them infusing your heart: my heart is light and free; I am always being guided in love; my life is filled with love, lightness, laughter and infinite wisdom; my heart opens with love, peace and forgiveness. Bathe in love’s feelings and light for as long as you can. Then slowly become aware of your body, move and stretch your limbs, notice your breathing, experience the calm and peace inside. Gently come back to normal awareness. 

In conclusion

Heart centered wellness is an example of energy medicine and science combining in a healing dance where fact, mystery, imagination and soul exploration create an aspect of wholeness.

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