“She believed in angels, and, because she believed, they existed.”

— Clarice Lispector

I’ve been working with the concept of Ahimsa (non-harming) from the Yoga Sutras.

My quest has been to cause the least harm and bring compassion to every person, place, and situation.

During my reiki and meditation rituals, uncomfortable memories have surfaced, prompting me to express forgiveness and well wishes.

I've been depleted from this effort, so I walked to the seaside the other day to clear.

When I feel sad, I love the wishing sound of water and wind on my body. It's like being dusted from the outside straight into my bones with the salty breeze!

I was walking the seawall and ruminating. Feeling heavy and stuck, I heard a voice behind me say, "Way to go, Sera. Keep it up!"

My heart squeezed, the person clapped their hands, and my entire body lit up!

This is a charming event for two reasons:

The fact that the person said my name.
It was spelled 'Sara' or 'Sarah,' not 'Sera'; however, the effect resonated.
That the individual was speaking English.

A running and cycling event was occurring at the same time as my stroll, and the frequencies aligned, putting me in the same space as someone else with my name who was being cheered on by her friends.

The universe responded to my subtle plea for support!

After this experience, my heart was full, and I felt bright and buoyant.

I love it when synchronicities like this appear.

In the Mudras for Inner Alignment Event last weekend, we discussed the opposing sensations of Joy and Sadness, which are the expressions of the heart.

Sorrow is a great teacher and the root of emotional and spiritual maturation.

Ahimsa contains the same polarity; on one hand, it means non-harming, and on the other, it means radical self-love.

Two things can be true at once: a profound lesson from the heart.

I can love deeply and also love from a distance.
I may be excited about the start of something and grieve the ending of everything I knew to be true.

Do you make space for quiet to hear your heart speak? Do you trust that you are where you need to be? Do you love deeply regardless of what is returned?

These are questions for the Heart Chakra, Anahata.

What is the Heart Chakra?

The heart chakra is the bridge between the lower chakras (root, sacral, navel) and the upper chakras (throat, third eye, crown, and aura). Its strength is one hundred times greater than the brain's, and its electromagnetic field extends up to three feet from the body.

Its force is felt, and through love, it has the power to transcend any obstacles. It is the space of warmth, connection, eternal summer, hope, beauty, truth, grace, love, kindness, devotion, purity, and acceptance.

In Sanskrit, the heart is called Anahata, the unstruck sound. It refers to the spontaneous and ever-flowing expression of the heart space. It also expresses the celestial realm and spaciousness.

When the heart chakra is balanced, the body feels joy and ease. The heart radiates the third chakra's power, purpose, and intention, drawing upon the courage to express love and devotion.

Once we align within the simple and subtle truths of the heart, we move to the fifth chakra at the throat to develop our voice and physical manifestation of what we feel inside. Expression is the most eloquent when we move from the heart space and not the head/mind.

Heart Chakra Themes

Sound: Yam
Color: Green
Balanced: Compassionate, Forgiving, Accepting
Blocked: Grieving, Grasping, Greedy

About the Heart Chakra

Air is the element of the heart chakra. It expresses the heart's multifaceted capacity to move in all directions and its unbounded potential to touch everything. Wind is pervasive; it may be invigorating, gentle, erratic, harsh, refreshing, clearing, and destructive—much like love!

The fourth chakra is where we go deep within the seat of the self. It is where we feel the truth of what is and our connection to the source—be it Love, Divine, or God/Goddess. It is where we connect to the grace to accept. It is where we create a devotional attitude to pave the path. It is where we remember our connection to all living beings and make decisions for the betterment of all living creatures and not just for ourselves.

Love is the central theme of Anahata. Love allows us to forgive and move forward in remembrance of what has occurred. Love creates a space to regard each other as equals with our unique flavors and songs. Love is the spark of creation and inspiration; it helps us remember that we are not bound to our thoughts, emotions, or actions. Love is the ultimate healer.

Grief is the shadow side of the heart chakra, though sadness may be a great teacher. Through experience, we gain wisdom, and struggle and sorrow cleave different aspects of our character. We may be able to reach others who’ve experienced deep despair. Sadness is one of the ways we build relationships, bond, and recant the past to design a better future.

When balanced, the heart is playful and abounds in the celestial realm! There is a sense of freedom, childlike curiosity, and spaciousness. Like the wind, we may roam and roll in all directions and know that the North Star of our Soul will guide us home.

Poem for Anahata

Lolita carried birdsong in her apron.
She ran in her slippers across the dewy
grass and twirled until her hair was bushy
and tangled. At the core of her world,
there was this humming and crackling.
Rising each day to tend to the animal was
such a bore. Lolita longed to break free as
the wrinkled bark discarded by the forest
where the fledglings sang.
Music of the Sphere: notes to a lover who
languishes inside the budding frost.
Lolita! The swallows screamed,
Who do you chase?
They did not notice Lolita’s voracity
as she silently stripped the bones she
used to beg the coyotes to dinner.
Sweet Isles of Solitude, she reached
down to brush the wolf.
It rained and rained, and the wet
harvested new life.
She tossed petals at the parade and promised to
fold her palms over the dead. Contained in the
silent pulse, her questions were never answered.

At the heart of the world, there is only
emptiness and rhythm.

By Seraphina Dawn

Ways to Observe the Heart Chakra

The following are some of the guidelines I use to work with the fourth chakra.

Writing poetry or little prose pieces that capture my heart’s simple musings.
Writing about my dreams and the symbols that arise from my subconscious.
Spending time with children or animals.
Spending time in nature - the sounds of water and the wind make me feel more open and alive!
I meditate or do reiki to feel my heartbeat inside my body.
Letting myself rest when I am tired.
I let my heart howl when I’m sad or angry and use exercise to rinse the emotion.
Buying pleasant aromas and lovely scented things that make my skin tingle and light up!
I forgive myself, forgive others, and forgive the neglected, unconscious, and ignorant.
Letting myself feel sad when I’m sad.
Acknowledging when I’m grasping or clinging to something that is ending.