How can we work with the Heart Chakra for Emotional Healing?

All of my blogs here have focused on how we can work with each of the chakras to facilitate deeper emotional healing (for a more generic overview of each chakra, head over to my sister site Physiocare Holistics here.) One chakra stands out above the rest when we consider what most of us define as matters of emotional importance - anahata, or the Heart Chakra.

Our Heart Chakra is the chakra associated with unconditional love and self-love, as well as governing many of our relationships with others – so it’s an area of specific focus when we want to heal and grow emotionally.

What is the Heart Chakra?

The Heart Chakra is the fourth chakra, situated in the centre of the chest. It is associated with love, joy, forgiveness and empathy. Although lots of people associate the colour pink with the Heart Chakra, it’s actually symbolised by the colour green.

Interestingly ‘anahata’ (the Sanskrit word for the Heart Chakra) means unhurt or unbeaten. This gives us a clearer insight into the true energy of this chakra – the ability to love freely with a completely open heart, unafraid and acting from a place of compassion rather than fear.

Of course, most of us have encountered situations throughout our lives where we have been hurt, experienced heartbreak or emotional pain. Because of this, lots of people experience blockages and stagnation in their Heart Chakra which impact upon their relationship with themselves and others, as well as other areas of their lives.

How is the Heart Chakra linked to mental and physical wellbeing?

When the Heart Chakra is open and balanced, we feel connected to the world around us - loving, joyful and open, developing a deeper spiritual understanding of ourselves and others. But when it is blocked, we can experience a variety of physical and psychological symptoms including:

• Heart and chest issues
• Poor circulation
• High or low blood pressure
• Co-dependency
• Lack of trust in yourself and others
• Loneliness and isolation
• Defensiveness
• Fear and anxiety surrounding intimacy
• Being stuck in rescuer or victim mode

Supporting and balancing our Heart Chakra

If you’re struggling with any of the symptoms of Heart Chakra imbalance listed above, don’t worry. Fortunately there are lots of easy and accessible ways to support our emotional health through healing the Heart Chakra. These include:

Yoga: There are specific yoga poses to support every chakra, as the yogic texts and chakra system are closely connected. In particular poses known as ‘heart openers’ are linked to the Heart Chakra – including Cobra, Upward Facing Dog, Bow Pose and Camel Pose. There is even a pose called Anahatasana – also known as Puppy Pose, which directly connects the Heart Chakra to the earth to help recharge and rebalance using universal healing energy. 

Meditation: Meditation itself has a calming effect on the mind, helping us to connect with ourselves on a deeper level and aiding our relationships with others. There are plenty of guided meditations specifically aimed at healing and opening the Heart Chakra to choose from – find a selection that resonates with you and work on developing a regular meditation practice for best results.

Crystal healing: I’ve witnessed first-hand how using crystals in our everyday lives can have an incredibly powerful effect on our physical and mental health. Crystals associated with Heart Chakra healing and support include rose quartz, emerald, amazonite and malachite. You can carry these with you or wear them as jewellery, or place them in your home.

Food and drinks: As is the case with all the chakras, certain foods and drinks can be used to nourish and re-align the Heart Chakra. The two most potent are rose and cacao. Cacao has long been recognised as gentle yet powerful heart-opening medicinal remedy, whilst rose is associated with love, harmony and compassion. Try a rose tea or rosewater-scented dessert, or attend a cacao ceremony for supported heart healing.

Affirmations: Saying affirmations aloud or in your head has been shown to bring about significant shifts in our subconscious beliefs and how we feel about ourselves, which in turn influences our behaviours. Look up some heart-opening affirmations and incorporate them into your daily routine, starting silently at first until you begin to feel more confident saying them aloud.

For more on the entire chakra system and chakra healing with me, take a look at the entire chakra blog series here: You may also wish to download my Chakra Healing Guide 

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