A Journey Through The Chakras II:
The Journey Continues With Chakras Four and Five

by Susan Cameron

Chakra Four

Our journey is now half way complete as we reach chakra four. The heart chakra is located in the center of the chest above the region of the physical heart. The Sanskrit word is Anahata which translated means the sound that is made without any two things striking together. That sound is Aum or the sound of the Universe.

At the fourth chakra our energy is now inward directed to an individual power level. We have moved upward out of the tribal or group level of external power. In this chakra lies the center point of the human energy system. The fourth chakra mediates between body and spirit and determines their health strength and weakness. With an open heart chakra, we are able to integrate the upper world of spirit with the lower world of matter. We feel centered and at peace with ourselves and our world when we have a clear and open heart chakra.

The basic issues we encounter in the heart chakra deal with love, relationships and forgiveness. Love expands our horizons and being loved by another increases our experience of self. Love brings a spiritual awakening and the loss of it can bring profound despair. Love is the cornerstone of this energy field. It is not the passionate nature of the second chakra that is dependent on an object of its affection, but rather the love which exists within our very soul emanating outward to touch and include all others.

The element associated with the heart chakra is air. Air is the least dense of the elements and is commonly associated with knowledge and love. Air represents freedom, openness and freshness. Air disperses itself evenly throughout any space it occupies. Air represents the breath of life. The Hindus call air prana or the life force. The Chinese call it Chi.Air is vital to this fourth chakra. Practicing the deep breathing of meditation can significantly enhance our heart chakra. We can learn to relax the muscles of our chest and listen to the beat of our heart and enter the sacred world of love.

Love like power is something we all want and few of us ever feel like we have enough and even fewer of us understand what it is. To open the heart chakra requires a great deal of understanding and to see the world in terms of relationships. This includes our personal relationships with the world around us.

The most common block in the heart chakra is the lack of self-love. We cannot have intimacy with others if there is an absence of self-love. It is difficult to reach out to others when we are drowning in shame and criticism. To love ourselves is to act respectfully and responsibly toward ourselves and to enjoy our own company when alone, to honor our limits and speak our truth. Our relationship with others reflects our relationship with ourselves. We will find others who treat us the way we expect to be treated, others who respond to the relationship attitude we carry inside our heart chakra. Self-love is the foundation for loving others. When we close off our hearts in fear of hurt or pain, we live only as pretenders. We pretend to love, but deny the basic feeling of intimacy which would grow our love. It is only when we can open our hearts, trusting in the divine love, that we become the Lover, open to the joys of life.

If the heart chakra is blocked, then the arms will be blocked also. They may constantly fold over the chest, be bound at the sides, or move awkwardly and self-consciously. If the chest is full or inflated, there could be a refusal to reach out or a fear of surrender. If the arms are weak and move aimlessly and the chest is collapsed this could indicate an inability to take in and nourish oneself.

Forgiveness and compassion are both healing to the heart chakra. In this chakra we reach beyond ourselves and expand to include an understanding of another's needs. Pain opens us to a deeper understanding of others. Only by experiencing our own trials and tribulations can we have empathy and learn to understand and accept the feelings of others. Compassion is an excellent balance of upper and lower chakra expression. Compassion is a selfless act. Forgiveness is the most selfish act of all. In forgiveness of others we are freed from all of the bonds it has shackled us with. In forgiveness we regain our strength and any power that we have given up.

Once we have moved up to the energy of the heart chakra we are able to forgive very quickly and can take charge of the individual power within us. We don't have to carry grudges, envy and jealousy with us any longer. We are now free! We can live in the moment, forgive the past, and open our hearts to the abundance of love provided by the Universe.

The color associated with fourth chakra is green and the gemstones are emerald and rose quartz and the planetary energy is Venus.