heart chakra explained

Here’s our top guide to the seven major chakras and everything you need to know about them. Today we’ll focus on the heart chakra.

The fourth chakra is located in the centre of the chest and is the integration point or the middle point between the lower and higher chakras. It is the place where the physical and the spiritual come together (the lower three chakras are associated with physical elements and the upper three are with the spiritual). The phrase ‘as above so below’ is sometimes said in reference to this as the aim is to balance the lower three chakras with the higher chakras through the heart chakra. 

This chakra influences your ability to give and receive love from others and ourselves. It represents love, compassion, empathy and joy, our deeper understanding for ourselves and others and having an open heart.

Mantra: YAM

Colour: Green

Key characteristics: Love, compassion, empathy, inner peace, warmth, generosity, forgiveness, kindness and joy.

Signs of imbalance: feeling lonely, isolated, difficulty connecting with others, fear of rejection, trust issues, difficulty giving or receiving affection, detached or unemotional, overly dependent in relationships, hatred, depression, grief, selfishness

Signs of balance: emotional intelligence, empathy, compassionate, caring, loving, openly give and receive love, trusting, peaceful, generous, connected, passionate

Physical/body links: Heart, lungs, Thymus gland, arms and hands, 

Element associated: Air

Developmental stage: 21 – 28 years old

Yoga poses: camel pose, wheel pose, humble warrior, dancer pose, cow face pose, upward facing dog, 

Crystals:  Rose quartz, jade, green calcite, green tourmaline, or green aventurine, emerald

Essential oils: rose, lavender, sandalwood, orange, and jasmine.

Affirmations:

I deeply love and accept myself

I completely love and accept all of me

I am wanted

I am loved

I am loveable

My heart is open to love

I connect with others easily

I forgive myself

I forgive others