| Is there a relationship in your life that you're | | | | compassionate, able to love deeply, and has a |
| having trouble with? Are you lonely, or do you | | | | sense of emotional fulfillment. In relationships, they |
| have a hard time connecting to others in a | | | | are usually capable of deep intimacy while |
| meaningful way? Do you have an emotional | | | | maintaining healthy personal boundaries. They are |
| wound that won't heal? Is there someone | | | | kind, forgiving, trusting, and nonjudgmental. They |
| (including yourself) you'd like to forgive? Are you | | | | may radiate peace. Often they have a strong |
| on a path of spiritual growth? Would you like to | | | | connection to nature. Whatever their profession, |
| rise to a higher level of compassion and | | | | they act as a healing presence. |
| non-judgment for others? | | | | 10 Ways to Clear and Balance Your Fourth |
| If any of this resonates with you, it might be | | | | Chakra |
| helpful to learn some ways to clear and balance | | | | Here are ten ideas for heart chakra healing: |
| your heart chakra. | | | | |
| The fourth of the seven chakras, it's also called | | | | 1. Get out in nature. Take a hike or meditate |
| Anahata in Sankrit. It governs our ability to love | | | | outdoors. Be deeply aware of the birds. |
| unconditionally and to heal. | | | | 2. Spend time with small children or your animal |
| Clearing and balancing your fourth chakra can help | | | | companions. Get down on their level. Follow their |
| you | | | | lead. |
| - grow spiritually | | | | 3. Do your best to forgive someone. Just let it go. |
| - dissolve the myth of separateness | | | | 4. Perform an anonymous "random act of |
| - heal emotionally and physically | | | | kindness" every day for a week. Notice how it |
| - forgive yourself and others | | | | makes you feel. |
| - connect deeply to others | | | | 5. Declare a "gratitude day." Spend the whole day |
| - open your heart to the universal love that | | | | noticing everything that you have to be grateful |
| always surrounds you | | | | for. |
| - rise above anger, hatred, and jealousy | | | | 6. Reconnect with an old, dear friend. Let them |
| - experience deep inner balance and peace. | | | | know what they've meant to you. |
| You don't have to be a trained energy healer to | | | | 7. Volunteer at a food bank or homeless shelter. |
| heal your 4th chakra. Read on to learn 10 | | | | Withhold judgment; try to learn something from |
| down-to-earth, satisfying ways that you can clear | | | | and see the divine spark within everyone you |
| your heart chakra. But first: | | | | seek to help. |
| What Are the Chakras? | | | | 8. Use the heart chakra essential oils of rose, |
| Chakras are organs of our energy body. They | | | | geranium, neroli, melissa, sandalwood, ylang ylang |
| act as energy portals, exchanging energy with the | | | | or jasmine. |
| rest of the cosmos. | | | | 9. Wear or decorate a room in a shade of green |
| There are seven primary chakras, located along | | | | or pink that feels pleasing and healing to you. |
| the center line of the upper body, from the | | | | 10. Repeat an affirmation such as: "I am loved." "I |
| bottom of the spine to the top of the head. Each | | | | forgive naturally and easily." "It is my nature to |
| chakra is associated with different glands, organs, | | | | love and be loved." "I welcome the differences of |
| body areas, and elements of our life, personality, | | | | others." "It is my nature to heal." "Love is |
| and spiritual development. | | | | everywhere." "I forgive myself." "I am at peace." |
| The chakras are critical to our physical health, the | | | | "I have so much to be grateful for." "I am |
| quality of our life, and our ability to develop | | | | connected to everything in the universe." |
| spiritually. | | | | Intention Matters! |
| The Healthy Chakra | | | | Remember, when working with your chakras, |
| A healthy chakra is open, allowing energy to flow | | | | intention matters! Before doing any of the |
| freely both horizontally, in an exchange of energy | | | | activities above, set your intention. For example, |
| with the universe, and vertically, connecting it with | | | | you might set and hold a general intention for |
| the other chakras. | | | | heart chakra healing, or a more specific goal of |
| It's very common to have one or more chakras | | | | forgiving someone, healing from an emotional |
| that is blocked or out of balance to some degree. | | | | wound, developing compassion, dissolving |
| This can cause disruptions in a person's body, | | | | separation, etc. |
| mind, spirit, and life. | | | | Just make your purpose clear, perform the |
| What is the Heart Chakra? | | | | activity mindfully, and as you're doing it, |
| The Anahata chakra is located in the center of | | | | occasionally take a moment to silently affirm that |
| the chest at heart level. Its keywords are | | | | your actions are creating your intention. Using any |
| "unconditional love," "healing," and "connection." It | | | | of the activities in conjunction with the |
| relates to compassion, healing, divine love, | | | | affirmations is also very effective. |
| self-love and relationships. Its associated color is | | | | Seek Professional Help If |
| green, and its element is air. | | | | If you have any concerns about your physical or |
| Situated at the middle of the chakra system, the | | | | mental health, seek the help of a qualified medical |
| fourth chakra integrates the upper and lower | | | | or mental health professional. |
| chakras, unifying physical and spiritual energies, | | | | A Heart Chakra Blessing |
| body and spirit. With the fourth chakra, we start | | | | I wish you abundant love and compassion, flowing |
| to move beyond the focus on the separate self, | | | | both in to and out from you, in a never-ending, |
| toward a focus on relationship and connection. At | | | | radiant stream. May you experience the sea of |
| the fourth chakra, we start to reach for the | | | | love in which your being floats; may you feel your |
| heavens. A clear, balanced 4th chakra is essential | | | | essential connection to all things. |
| to ongoing spiritual growth. | | | | Copyright 2010 -- Nancy Hausauer. All rights |
| Is Your Heart Chakra Healthy? | | | | reserved. |
| Someone with a healthy fourth chakra is usually | | | | |