The chakras are like the organs of the subtle body (the energetic part of a person that can be felt but not seen). These energy centers follow a path of development that begins with the root chakra (the foundation for safety and survival) and continues through the sacral chakra (the epicenter of emotional well-being and feelings) and the solar plexus (which houses the belief systems that contribute to a sense of self-esteem). It is not until the foundation of the lower three chakras is solid that you can truly experience self-love, an essential ingredient for an open heart.
The heart chakra develops between the ages of 21 and 28, when most people are already exploring romantic relationships.. It is a time when you are forced to face the painful wound of rejection, which occurs when you reveal your loving feelings towards another person and it turns out that they are not reciprocated.
Although there is a tendency to associate the heart with romantic relationships, the work of the heart chakra extends well beyond romance. If you want to open this chakra, loving others is not enough, you also need to cultivate your self-love..
Many people are covered by multiple shells and armor that arise from their insecurities with the idea of protecting themselves from the outside and from pain, but in reality what they do is prevent them from receiving the love of others. Therefore, only until self-love arises, is maintained and grows, unconditional love can be shared or received. This is the work of the heart chakra.
4 practices to open your heart chakra
Physical plane: pay attention to your posture
Most people walk hunched over, and this posture unconsciously closes the heart. So start to become aware of your posture while sitting, standing and walking. Straighten your spine, open the front of your chest, and drop your shoulders. Reflect frequently on this, begin to notice if you change your stance in certain situations and notice if you feel vulnerable in certain scenarios.
In addition, you can dedicate a few minutes to the practice of yoga and incorporate into your routine the asana of the camel Position yourself on your mat on your knees, place them hip-width apart. Bring your hands to the back of your pelvis for support. Gently lean your back and head back, and use your hands to support yourself on your calves. If you already have more experience, flex your spine until your hands reach your heels. This, in addition to helping you improve your posture, is very useful for opening the heart chakra.
Mental plane: write yourself a love letter
Have you ever written a love letter? It does not matter if it is on paper, the old-fashioned way, or through some digital means, such as email, it is very likely that you have dedicated your most beautiful words to your loved one at some point. And have you ever written such a letter to yourself? The most possible is that no.
You yourself must be your first and greatest love, because cultivating self-love allows you to create healthy loving relationships with others. Therefore, it would be very good if you began to dedicate a few minutes of the day to write something to yourself, where you tell yourself everything that you love about yourself, what makes you proud and what makes you happy to be you. Write as if you were writing to the love of your life. Eventually, that’s what you will become.
Emotional plane: perform a metta meditation
The meditation meta It has its origin in Buddhist practices, whose goal is to promote sincere and selfless love, compassion, detachment, and inner peace.
The word meta (Pali Indic language) has many meanings; among the most popular are: love, kindness and empathy. metta It is the deepest feeling of universal love that can exist.
the practice of meditation meta It is recommended to connect with emotions, overcome self-criticism and depression, banish negative feelings, counteract anger, insomnia and anguish, and practice unconditional love and compassion. In addition, it helps you recognize your feelings and channel them positively, not only towards yourself, but also towards others.
To perform it, close your eyes and visualize yourself sitting in front of you. Wish yourself the following:
- That I feel safe.
- May I be healthy.
- That I can feel happy.
- That I know love.
Next, visualize someone in your life whom you love or appreciate, and wish them the same loving-kindness phrases:
- Let him/her feel safe.
- May he/she be healthy.
- Let him/her feel happy.
- May he/she know love.
Finally, a point that may be complicated, but doing it will be liberating and will give you peace. Visualize someone in your life with whom you have a conflict or someone you find challenging, and wish them the same.
Now, meditate for a few minutes and let your being be flooded with the positive feelings that you just wanted and generated for yourself and for others.
Spiritual plane: be part of a volunteer
Helping those who need it is a great opportunity to give unconditionally. Choose an activity that motivates you, whether it is helping a pet shelter, an orphanage, a nursing home, an association that supports disabled or homeless people… there are many options, and you just need to decide to start donating a little bit of money. your time and effort to make others happy and, incidentally, yourself.
Helping is a way to generate empathy for the feelings and needs of others, and it is something that helps you experience how compassion and solidarity with others positively affects your sense of well-being.