Anaharta-The Heart Chakra

What & Where?

The Sanskrit name of the 4th chakra is Anahata, which means, sound that is made without any two things striking; unstruck.  It is located in the center of your chest.  The colors are green and pink, and it is associated with the planet Venus.

The nerve plexus associated with Anaharta is the Cardiac Plexus.  The major function of this chakra is Love, not on the relationship basis, but on the global basis.  The love in a relationship wants to possess the person; on the global level it wants what is best for the person. This chakra deals with self-love and others, acceptance of everyone (including yourself), and compassion

Main Function

The Heart Chakra is the central Chakra which is the conduit from the lower Chakras of the worldly concerns of security, procreation and personal power; to the higher concerns of expression, inner voice and spirituality.  It also is the conduit that flows the spirituality of the upper three chakras to the lower chakras of worldly concerns.  Without opening and balancing the heart chakra it is difficult to balance the other Chakras, and the flow from the upper to lower and lower to upper chakras is diminished or blocked. 

This Chakra is the center of Love.  It is about self-acceptance, forgiveness and compassion.  It is the acceptance of everyone, including and especially oneself, by recognizing that we are all doing the best that we can at this moment in time.  Self-love, self-acceptance, forgiveness and compassion need to be applied to oneself as well as others in order for us to be able to love unconditionally.   When we lack any of the conditions it can lead to low self-esteem, self-doubt and self-pity; thus, balancing this chakra will break this cycle. Balance will improve all relationships in your life, whether of a romantic, familial or friendly nature. 

An imbalance in the lower chakras will seriously affect ones ability to balance the heart chakra.  Insecurity, emotional imbalance, lack of self-esteem or other dysfunction of the lower chakras will make it difficult, if not impossible, to balance the Heart Chakra.    Without self-esteem, a sense of security, and emotional balance it is not possible to love unconditionally.  Without those balances, self-love is difficult and, we are not capable of loving others in a way that is healthy for both parties, and we are totally incapable of global love and compassion.

Does the phrase follow your heart mean anything to you?  My heart goes out to them, I know in my heart of hearts that…, it breaks my heart to hear that…., follow your heart.  All of these are expressions of the range of emotions that deal with the heart chakra.  We tend to be rational beings and think with our heads.  However, the heart is often a better means of determining our deeper needs.  You tend to lose something when you only “use your head.”

Related Bodily Functions

The body associations are heart, chest, lungs, and circulation.  Related health issues, high blood pressure, trouble breathing, heart disease and cancer.

Over Active Heart Chakra

                                               

When you are full of doubt, cling, act needy and jealous with someone you profess to love, you can be sure that the heart chakra is overactive.  Often with over active Chakras love is conditional, and if someone does not meet these conditions you threaten to withhold your love.  Under these circumstances only, a poor imitation of love can be achieved.  You may repeat patterns of love of those who raised you.  You may be judgmental and critical of those you love, and hope that the object of your “love” will somehow change to fit your ideal.  You need to stop and look at your self.  How is your self-love?  Until you learn to love yourself, you will have difficulty loving others in a way that does not smoother them or dry up over time as you lose interest in the imitation.  The Archetype here is the Actor/Performer, as they don’t know real love, compassion or forgiveness.  They look outside themselves for love and fulfillment.

Under Active

When you avoid relationships with people, whether romantic or platonic, it is a sure sign that the chakra is under active.   Do you feel unworthy of love?  Are you constantly seeking affirmation that your romantic and personal friends love you?   You may fall in love and it will be so hard that it is difficult if not impossible to let go of that love.   You may avoid getting into relationships, or even attempting to get into a relationship because you fear the rejection.  This is the person that will go to the dance, but never ask anyone to dance for fear of the rejection.   In all of these situations self-pity may also be present.  Do you feel sorry for yourself? 

Balanced

The balanced chakra is characterized by your ability to know and love yourself called selfhood.  It allows you to love everyone unconditionally, secure in the knowledge that you are anchored in Selfhood.  This is the condition where you give and receive love freely.  People in balance with their heart chakra tend to be loving, inclusive and exude a warm fuzzy feeling when you are around them.  It is possible for them to love others without reservation.  They will not project some fantasy of love on others, as they have self-love that frees them to love others.  When this Archetype of the Lover comes into your life, it will change your life for the better. 

Self Examination

Answer these questions, you may share your answers or not as you choose.

• How do you respond to others?  Is it through your mind and intellect or with your heart?
• How much do you feel connected to others?  Try smiling at other people?  Record their response.
• Are you hard on yourself for your failings?   Forgiveness and compassion are based in this chakra.  Balance is key.  Accept and honor your light and dark sides, they are there for a reason.
• Do you “put on a good face” not associated with your feelings?
• Do you see yourself as compassionate or do you judge others? 

"The person that meditates perseveringly on this chakra may easily have out-of-body experiences and fly thus to parallel astral universes. Such a person is the perfect instrument of the divine cosmic love and obtains all other divine qualities." ~Swami Shivananda

Ponder this quote from Stephen Covey as he was advising a man who felt he no longer loved his wife, or was not loved in return:

“Love her”, said Covey.  “I told you, the feeling just isn’t there anymore”, said the man. “Lover her”, Covey said once more.  “You don’t understand.  The feeling of love just isn’t there,” repeated the man.  “Then love her.  If the feeling isn’t there, that’s a good reason to love her.”  “But how do you love when you do not love,” asked the man?

Covey replied: “My friend, love is a verb.  Love—the feeling—is a fruit of love, the verb.  So love her. Serve her. Sacrifice. Listen to her. Empathize. Appreciate. Affirm her.  Are you willing to do that?”

Love is a feeling, but it is a feeling that is created out of action. ~Anodea Judith from Eastern Body-Western Mind.

Symbol

The green in the symbol is the protective layer of the delicate pink inside.  The outside corresponds to the pericardium of the heart, and protects the pure heart from negative, outside assault.  The inner heart remains pure and unblemished, and is the seat of the Spirit that dwells in us all.  This spirit may be called anything; I just call it the Word.