The heart is recognized by many of the world’s ancient civilizations as a key centre and source of wisdom, spirit, and positive emotions such as love and compassion. The sense of I dwells in the heart and notice that most of us point to the chest when we say I. The heart is where we experience the consciousness of who we truly are. In that sense, the heart can be thought of as a physical and spiritual vessel that holds our true self, our essence, our true identity.
By opening or connecting with our heart, we connect with and live from our true self. We live authentically. A connection with the heart or heart opening as it is often called, means uniting one’s awareness with the heart and allowing oneself to directly experience the full spectrum of emotions, thoughts, and sensations arising in the present moment with unconditional love and acceptance of the self.
Physically, heart opening is often experienced as openness, lightness, and expansion in the centre of the chest where the spiritual heart is said to be located (the heart chakra). When our heart is awakened and open, we experience inner freedom and spontaneity manifested in softness, aliveness and gracefulness of the body. We are free from shame, guilt, and self-consciousness.
Many people are not able to perceive this heart opening however, and instead feel a contraction in the centre of their chest, or a closed heart, which is related to mental, emotional, and physical forms of suffering. The heart is never actually closed and it continues to radiate the energy of life and love, but this energy along with the true self ends up buried under layers of tension of unexpressed feelings, fears and experiences from our past and present. Because of hurtful experiences, inner walls are often unconsciously erected as a way of coping and protecting the heart. When this happens, we tend to be reactive and hang on to our hurt. We end up living in a more contracted way as we close ourselves off from not only feeling pain, but also joy and love.
If you would like to develop a deeper connection with your heart and live more authentically, spend a few minutes each day resting in the heart. Find a moment to sit comfortably, close your eyes, and place your hands over the center of your chest. Breathe into the heart center and allow any tensions to melt away. Come to rest in your heart.
By opening or connecting with our heart, we connect with and live from our true self. We live authentically. A connection with the heart or heart opening as it is often called, means uniting one’s awareness with the heart and allowing oneself to directly experience the full spectrum of emotions, thoughts, and sensations arising in the present moment with unconditional love and acceptance of the self.
Physically, heart opening is often experienced as openness, lightness, and expansion in the centre of the chest where the spiritual heart is said to be located (the heart chakra). When our heart is awakened and open, we experience inner freedom and spontaneity manifested in softness, aliveness and gracefulness of the body. We are free from shame, guilt, and self-consciousness.
Many people are not able to perceive this heart opening however, and instead feel a contraction in the centre of their chest, or a closed heart, which is related to mental, emotional, and physical forms of suffering. The heart is never actually closed and it continues to radiate the energy of life and love, but this energy along with the true self ends up buried under layers of tension of unexpressed feelings, fears and experiences from our past and present. Because of hurtful experiences, inner walls are often unconsciously erected as a way of coping and protecting the heart. When this happens, we tend to be reactive and hang on to our hurt. We end up living in a more contracted way as we close ourselves off from not only feeling pain, but also joy and love.
If you would like to develop a deeper connection with your heart and live more authentically, spend a few minutes each day resting in the heart. Find a moment to sit comfortably, close your eyes, and place your hands over the center of your chest. Breathe into the heart center and allow any tensions to melt away. Come to rest in your heart.
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