Chakra of the Week: Anahata

 

DISCLAIMER:

I am by no means an expert on each chakra, and I don't know everything. I have read extensively and taken an online course through a Jain instructor. This is just a general outline with a couple tips I've learned from experience. Please do your own research on top of this, because our practices are all different. 

We are halfway there! Only a few more chakras left before I finish covering the main seven.

What is the Anahata Chakra?

As always: A chakra is a sphere of energy in our astral body that is connected to a place in our physical body.

The Anahata Chakra is located in the middle of the chest, at the same level as your heart (hence in colloquial name). Most people call it the heart chakra because of it's location and function.

The symbol is a 12 petaled lotus flower with two intersecting triangles inside. This represents a union of opposites. The symbol it makes points in all directions, representing how air flows all around us. The petals represent the divine qualities of the heart.

Element

The Element surrounding the Anahata Chakra is air. Air is sensitive to movement, it can fill empty space. It flows and has no shape.

When I visualize this chakra, I try to focus on the movement of the air around me. Air can be stagnant and cloying. It can be harsh and strong. It can be gentle and cooling. I think a soft breeze is the ideal for me, but I know that everyone has a different energy, so for you it could be something else. Take time to get to know the chakra in you.

Color

The color associated with the Anahata is yellow. Chakras themselves do not have colors, as we know, they only reflect the colors surrounding them. Air is colorless, so the green comes from the yellow of the fire below and the blue of space above.

Diet

Warm foods help with the heart chakra. This chakra is about being warm and caring. Foods that resonate with this are really helpful. It's also important to eat at regular intervals, because consistency is key to chakra balance. Soup is great, but curries are good too. Living in Guatemala, I love pepian, the national dish. It's a sort of stew that's absolutely delicious! (note: the picture below is not pepian).

 

Signs of imbalance

The Anahata chakra is about caring and love. If you struggle with connection, this could be a sign of imbalance. You can either become too attached or detached. You might feel anxious about others liking you and emotionally dependent.

A balanced chakra

A balanced Anahata chakra results in a truly caring person. You show how you care through little actions and big ones, and you don't feel like your love is transactional. You are able to show you care without worrying that you might be taken advantage of.

To balance the chakra, meditate chanting the seed sound: Yam (pronounced rangm). Air is the element, so make sure you can get outside and breathe in fresh air. That's not always accessible, of course depending on where you live, but getting house plants that cleanse the air is beneficial, too.

Chest opening yoga poses really help with this one. The heart is located in the chest and emphasizing that area will make a difference. For example: Fish pose or melting pose.