“To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are
already three parts dead.” - Bertrand Russell
The fourth chakra is located in the center of the chest. Because of its central location, it acts as a bridge between the lower three chakras, which connect us to the earth, and the upper three, which connect us to the Divine. Thus, it forms within us a link between the physical and the nonphysical. The color of this chakra is green and its element is Air. Also called the “heart” chakra, its basic principal is love. This chakra also acts as a bridge between the self and others, allowing us to form the bonds of love and relationships. The governing principal of the heart chakra is equilibrium. This chakra is all about balance—within ourselves and with our relationships and our environment. Self-love is an important component in being able to reach this state of balance. We can’t truly love someone else if we don’t love ourselves first. This requires an understanding and acceptance of our dualities.
Giving and receiving love is a central function of the heart chakra. When our heart center is out of balance, we are unable to do this with any ease. Shutting down the heart is a common response when pain seems unbearable. But a heart that is shut down from the feelings we don’t want to feel also becomes closed off from the love we most want to receive.
The fourth chakra rules over the heart, lungs, pericardium, thymus, upper back and ribs, arms, and hands. A heart chakra that is closed to minimize pain can become the catalyst for illness. Conditions of a distorted heart chakra can include:
• Problems with the heart and circulatory system
• Disorders of the lungs, including lung cancer, pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema
• Breast cancer and breast disorders, such as mastitis or cysts
• Shoulder, arm, and hand issues, such as carpal tunnel and tension or pain between the shoulder blade
• Immune system deficiencies
• Asthma, or shortness of breath
• Allergies
• Problems with the heart and circulatory system
• Disorders of the lungs, including lung cancer, pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema
• Breast cancer and breast disorders, such as mastitis or cysts
• Shoulder, arm, and hand issues, such as carpal tunnel and tension or pain between the shoulder blade
• Immune system deficiencies
• Asthma, or shortness of breath
• Allergies
TO EVALUATE THE HEALTH OF YOUR FOURTH CHAKRA, YOU’LL WANT TO ASK YOURSELF:
• Is love scary to me? Or do I give and receive it easily?
• Have I ever felt betrayed by a love partner? What did I do as a result?
• Have I ever felt rejected by family or friends? What did I do with my pain?
• Have I forgiven myself or others for past infractions, or do I still harbor resentment?
• Have I been told that I criticize and judge people?
• Which attributes could I develop more—altruism, love, compassion, forgiveness, hope, trust, harmony, support?
• Have I been diagnosed with heart-related problems or lung disease?
• Do I suffer from emphysema or recurring bouts of pneumonia?
• Do my hands or arms ache?
• Have I ever felt betrayed by a love partner? What did I do as a result?
• Have I ever felt rejected by family or friends? What did I do with my pain?
• Have I forgiven myself or others for past infractions, or do I still harbor resentment?
• Have I been told that I criticize and judge people?
• Which attributes could I develop more—altruism, love, compassion, forgiveness, hope, trust, harmony, support?
• Have I been diagnosed with heart-related problems or lung disease?
• Do I suffer from emphysema or recurring bouts of pneumonia?
• Do my hands or arms ache?
Loving and being loved is your birthright. An open and compassionate heart is the result of a balanced heart chakra. What can you do to balance your fourth chakra?
• Get a pet to love—a dog, a cat, a horse, even a bird. Pets love us unconditionally, making it safe for us to learn to love again.
• Search out the roots of your consciousness that tells you there is no hope of your experiencing real love. Meditate and journal, journal and meditate!
• Make the intention to be open to loving yourself and others more. Work to soften any walls you have erected around your heart.
• Listen within—to your body, mind, and heart—to hear what works for you. By doing what you love, you will be rewarded with love in return.
• Get a pet to love—a dog, a cat, a horse, even a bird. Pets love us unconditionally, making it safe for us to learn to love again.
• Search out the roots of your consciousness that tells you there is no hope of your experiencing real love. Meditate and journal, journal and meditate!
• Make the intention to be open to loving yourself and others more. Work to soften any walls you have erected around your heart.
• Listen within—to your body, mind, and heart—to hear what works for you. By doing what you love, you will be rewarded with love in return.
A balanced fourth chakra shows itself as one who is in a state of balance within ourselves and in our relationships and who is open to compassion and love. Energy freely flowing through the heart awards us with a profound sense of peace and fulfillment.