Chakras are called elements of the human energy body. Seven centers woven from subtle energies are located along the human spine and at the physical level correspond to plexuses of nerves. It is believed that they are interconnected by energy channels through which the human vitality circulates. In this article we will talk about the fourth chakra - Anahata.
Anahata Features
Anahata is also called the heart chakra. It is located exactly in the middle of the chakra pillar - three chakras separate it from the earth and three, respectively, from the sky. The properties of the chakra are also associated with a central location. If the lower chakras are connected with our ego and the earthly “I”, the upper ones - with the manifestations of the Divine, then the middle chakra as if combines these two worlds and connects them. Its energy spreads horizontally, covering the space surrounding us and those who are in it.
This chakra teaches us to interact with others, to be open to the world and not be afraid of it. The love of this chakra is that all-forgiving, when we do not have to get an answer to our feelings - just love ourselves. Anahata is responsible not only for romantic feelings, but also for relationships in general, and not necessarily with people - this can be your communication with anyone and anything: animals, nature, energies. The open Anahata Chakra is the ability to give and receive the emotional resource on which an equal exchange of energy is built.
Symbolism of the Chakra
For each chakra there is a set of symbols inherent in it. The main characteristic of the chakra is color, and for Anahata it is green. This means that any work with the Anahata Chakra can be supported by interaction with the green color: wearing clothes of a similar shade, being outdoors, meditating on green mandalas, even green products can remind you of your practice.
The symbolic image is the twelve-petalled lotus. Often inside the lotus are also represented the symbol that we know as the star of David. It consists of two combined equilateral triangles - one vertex up, the second down. In the context of the fourth chakra, this means combining the celestial and earthly streams into one, and its translation into the horizontal plane.
The element of Anahata is air, which once again emphasizes its influence on communication.
If Anahata is blocked
We are accustomed to call the manifestation of imbalance in the heart chakra “broken heart”. Having failed to recover from some event from the past that destroyed our confidence in the Universe, we begin to hide our true feelings and put on a face of cynicism.
A sign of a malfunctioning chakra is the closure of the world and all the worries associated with it. It is easier for such a person to isolate himself from everyone and not trust anyone than to contact someone. Most often this is the result of the previous deplorable experience of trusting the world and openness - sometimes after betrayal and blow it is easier to not trust anyone than to rely on someone again. This is the lesson of the Anahata heart chakra - learn to trust and accept everything that happens to you. Even if it hurts you.
All blocks of subtle energies are expressed over time on the physical plane. The block on the Anahata Chakra you will feel like stiffness or tightness in the chest, pain in the heart or upper abdomen. Outwardly, this will manifest itself in the form of a stoop and lowered shoulders. Respiratory difficulties can also be a reflection of the blocks in the Anahata Chakra.
What is this center responsible for? For the shoulder girdle and even the hands, because it is with their help that we interact with this world. Hand problems may indicate some kind of difficulty in giving, taking or creating something.
How to open the Anahata Chakra
It is always necessary to work on opening the chakra on several planes - both on the energy and mental, as well as on the physical. Start with what is easier for you - it can be physical exercises or an internal dialogue with oneself (rather than another attempt to escape from questions that you don’t want to look for answers).
Physical activity is good because it leads to the release of endorphins into the blood and affects the pinched area of the body where the chakra is located. The more accurately you select the exercises, the greater will be the impact on the blocked Anahata Chakra. What the chakra is responsible for, you already know - the chest, the area of the shoulder blades and the shoulder girdle. Any exercises where you need to actively wave your hands, well disperse the energy around the heart center. Most likely, at first it will be unusual and even uncomfortable for you - the blocks in the body do not want to leave just like that and often in the end they bring to the surface a layer of emotions hidden in them. Be prepared for the fact that along with krepatura you are waiting for old resentments that have surfaced upward or other hidden and not fully lived feelings that you might even forget about. It is not only a matter of the emotional nature of the Anahata Chakra - the opening of blocked energy centers always entails an aggravation of the reaction to the cause of the block. Your task this time is to work out the situation and emotion to the end, and not let it pack into a new energy and then physical block, letting everything go by its own accord.
Comprehensive love as a property of the chakra
Love for others begins with self-love. The first thing you should do when working on Anahata is to learn to accept and love yourself. One of the notorious common truths is to accept yourself as you are and to love with unconditional love, and not for any achievements.
In order to learn to love, you need to learn to forgive. Forgive yourself for all your past and present flaws and shortcomings. The past will remain in the past, and your shortcomings in the present can and should be worked on. But this should be done with a positive attitude and faith in one’s best qualities, rather than constantly scolding oneself.
Forgiving ourselves, we gain the key to understanding how to forgive others. Accept that we are all human beings - irrational beings whose motives are often caused by a surge of emotions, fears, unsatisfied desires. Forgive everyone who has ever hurt you and thank them for teaching you a lesson. Everything has its own meaning - thanks to them you have become what you are now.
To regain lost trust in people, start talking. Think about the fact that the interlocutor also always carries you a box with his fears and doubts, and he has every reason not to trust you in the same way as you do not trust him. By your example, you must show that there is nothing to fear - your heart is open, exudes love and understanding. The best way to know who you really are through communicating with others: your reaction to unexpected situations in relationships will reveal a lot of new things about yourself.
The path to yourself through the heart center
Another study of the Anahata Chakra is following the call of your heart. If you do what you love and love what you do, then your life is moving in the right direction in the halo of positive emotions. If your every day begins with the thought of hated work, then it's time to reconsider your settings:
- Remember why you chose this particular activity? Was this done because of an urgent need or was your work really inspiring?
- Remember, why did you lose your passion for your favorite business and the light in your eyes died out? What can you do to make it light up again?
- Make a list of what you really love right now. How often do you allow yourself to do this? In the near future, be sure to take time for classes that bring you sincere pleasure.
Kundalini Yoga by Maya Fiennes
Anahata chakra in a blocked state requires special attention. With the help of special exercises, you can remove it from a negative state. We suggest paying attention to the technique of Maya Fiennes.
Maya Fiennes (or Fiennes, as her last name is translated) is a well-known teacher of Kundalini Yoga, and in the past - a pianist. Musical experience could not but affect the method of teaching Maya - in her video lessons, in addition to asanas, she also gives chanting of mantras. Exercises, mantras and meditations - this is Miss Fiennes's recipe for bringing chakras to a state of balance. She shares this in her class program entitled “Seven Chakras through Kundalini Yoga.” The Anahata Chakra is elaborated in detail in the fourth of seven sets of simple exercises. Each of the complexes of exercises is designed for at least 40 days of classes - it is believed that just so much is needed to feel and accept the changes in yourself.
A separate sequence is built from a welcome mantra, a warm-up, breathing exercises, kriyas and meditations. Kriya is a specific action that combines elements of dynamic exercise, breathing technique and meditation. Maya's exercises are very easy - the difficulty is rather in repeating them several times over several minutes. Maya also gives the necessary setting for practice at the beginning of the lesson and accompanies the process with reminders of why we are doing this.
Chanting Mantras
Work with the voice is a separate wide area of yoga practice. One of the signs that a person has enough vital energy is that it is easy for him for no reason to start singing, especially in a good mood. If it is difficult for you to squeeze a sound out of yourself, then your energy level has fallen. However, it can again be swung to higher levels with the same singing. For this, special sounds called mantras are used in yoga.
Usually a mantra is a certain Sanskrit phrase or even a separate syllable. So, the most famous mantra in the world consists of only one syllable - “Om” or “Aum”.
Each sound has its own specific vibration and energy. It is believed that each of the chakras corresponds to its own sound or even a whole “song”. The mantra of the Anahata Chakra is the sound of “Yam”. It needs to be chanted for a long time for several minutes in a row (preferably at least five). Stretch the sounds, let them flow smoothly into each other without noticeable transitions - you should get something like “Yaaaaaaaaaam”. Try to sing in such a way as to feel vibrations from the voice throughout the body, and, first of all, in the chest, the receptacle of the Anahata Chakra.
Mandala meditation
You can reinforce your study of the fourth chakra with visual sensations. For this, in yoga there is a practice of meditation on the mandala. A mandala is a sacred image, most often an ornament in a circle. Prolonged contemplation of the mandala helps calm the mind and renew consciousness.
For Anahata you will need a green mandala. You can search the Internet for a suitable mandala picture for the Anahata Chakra - the photo can simply be printed on a color printer. In this case, do not spare the ink to make the pattern bright and saturated. Look for that mandala, at the sight of which something really responds to you inside. Most likely, it will be green.
For meditation, the mandala must be placed at eye level and taken care that nothing distracts you from contemplation. Look exactly at the center of the picture, and let the vision defocus. If at some point the image floats, then you are on the right track. Allow your “I” to remain in the mandala, and thoughts - to roll in any direction, and watch where they lead you.
Another interesting way to work with mandalas is to draw it yourself. It is important to take care of the availability of all necessary tools and materials in advance. Stock up on green pencils and felt-tip pens. Perhaps your Anahata Chakra energies are associated with some other colors - take them as well. When drawing, try to focus on the process and your inner feelings. Keep track of thoughts and realize where they are running. If the picture will be created with positive emotions, then later you can meditate on it or even give it to a loved one. But if you feel that you have put some kind of negativity into your work, releasing it from your mind, then it is better to burn the drawing. Even if he is very sorry.
Practice Recommendations
You should not study Anahata immediately, without preliminary study of the lower chakras. A harmonious personality is born when all centers function correctly and energies flow through them freely. Even if you want to immediately start with pronounced blocks and problems, try to start with working on the root chakra - you may find another “bunch” of undeveloped internal conflicts.
The same applies to further practice - do not stop at Anahata, rise higher and do other centers. Best of all - keep a diary. The development of chakras is related to the release of deeply hidden and stifled emotions, so do not be surprised if you will be visited by revelation after revelation. Write down your thoughts, come back to them from time to time and re-read them. If the old fears that you would like to get rid of come to the surface, then you can simply burn this diary.