Anahata – The heart chakra

The Heart Chakra is the center that receives the love of the soul and connects the soul to the love of the Creator.

Structure of the thymus

In children, the thymus occupies almost the entire front of the chest. It reaches its maximum size during puberty and then begins to shrink. Until recently, it was believed that the thymus atrophies in adulthood. But research in recent years, prompted by the AIDS epidemic, has shown that there is some activity even after puberty.

Thymus function

The thymus is involved in the maturation of certain lymphocytes (white blood cells) and in the overall activity of the lymphatic tissue. This tissue allows a person to distinguish between self and non-self and to deal with this non-self appropriately. Antibody production occurs regularly in the first seven years of life, when the individual encounters a large number of antigens.

Esoterically, the antibody-antigen reaction leads to the formation of a worldview that then guides us through life, i.e. we learn what is good for us and what to avoid. How a person reacts to an antigen when they encounter it a second time depends largely on the original experience and whether the accepted worldview has been modified by new information from the soul level.

Energy transformation from the solar plexus area to the heart

The heart is the center through which we receive the love of the soul and through it we are connected to the love of the Creator. Currently, the heart chakra is relatively closed in most people and therefore does not fully receive love from the soul. However, as the Age of Aquarius approaches, the amount of energy entering our heart and the heart of the universe will increase greatly. To prepare for this change, it is important to begin to change the energies of the solar plexus to the energies of the heart.

This process has already begun, as can be seen from the many diseases related to the heart and immune systems. This happens in connection with the crisis that is caused by changes and symbolizes the degree of our resistance. The greatest resistance arises in connection with the need to change our desires and learn to give and take freely, with the trust that the needs that a person has will be fulfilled. This is unconditional love. There are very few diseases associated purely with the heart chakra today, most of them are related to the aforementioned transformation.

 Spiritual aspect: self-love

Self-love has been viewed negatively in the past, as it was seen as selfishness, disregarding the needs of others. “Love your neighbor as yourself” is often cited in connection with the need to think of others. But it is this “self” that many of us forget. How are we supposed to love others unconditionally if we are unable to love ourselves? We must learn to love ourselves, and that means with all our heart, without embellishment.

This includes all the parts of ourselves that we are not truly proud of: our nose, our strong thighs, our breasts, our ears, but also our bad temper, our intolerance, our moodiness, and our anger. Trying to ignore these parts and put them aside does not mean accepting and loving ourselves. We may not like what we see, but it is a reality that we must face. The more we ignore these things, the more energy it takes to keep them at bay.

Rejecting parts of yourself takes time.

Accepting them frees us and in most cases they become insignificant. Accepting these parts of ourselves does not mean that you have to give them space to continue to evolve. You can choose not to assert them, just as you can choose to wear a certain piece of clothing without fear that the one you just didn’t put on will jump out at you and attack you. So, as we transform the energies in the heart chakra, we may encounter situations in which we do not feel our best. But if we realize that these are developmental stages of soul consciousness, we will be able to bear everything much more easily. Without self-love, we become very dependent on others to provide us with the amount of love we need.

In the solar plexus it was the need to be accepted, here it is the need to be loved. These two conditions are interconnected, and most of what has been said about the solar plexus chakra also applies to the stage of transformation.

Emotion

When the heart is open and free, it radiates a feeling of joy. When it is closed and the flow between the heart and the solar plexus is not harmonious, the feelings radiated include pain, vulnerability, and sometimes bitterness.

Sometimes we can deal with “negative” emotions by letting go of expectations, not dwelling on the past, and loving. This cannot be achieved without some effort, but the joy we gain is worth the effort. We feel pain when what we expect does not happen, and this leads to dissatisfaction and feelings of rejection. Even if the expectations are only on a subconscious level, the result is the same. “I believed that he would be faithful to me” – there is no need to talk about it, it is enough if we expect it. “I expected that you would be there when I needed you” – this is again more of an assumption than a reality. “I did not expect that you would treat me this way” – this may be true, but it is the action of two people who are in a relationship.

We have all been hurt in one way or another in our lives. We don't like it, but it teaches us to love ourselves and not rely so much on others. However, there are some who keep coming back, making the same mistakes over and over again, and feeling increasingly disappointed with life.

The pain can hit so deep that bitterness begins to emerge.

This is one of the most destructive emotions, especially if it is allowed to develop over many years. It is difficult to convince people that they are responsible for their own pain. They are persistent in seeing things from only one perspective and are unable to understand why their needs were not met. They only want to get revenge and punish the person who caused the pain. In some cases, we may sympathize with them, but things have happened and we must move on. It is especially difficult when bitterness is part of the grief. “Why did he leave me when I needed him?”

All the bitterness in the world cannot change the situation, and the heavens can only help them by meeting in other realms….

After all, bitterness can only hurt us who create it. Even the body can take on a stiff or twisted shape, symbolizing the energy of the mind. “Forgive and forget” is not easy – especially forgetting. But time heals and the pain is not as strong. Time also distances us from events, so there is the possibility of new experiences, including forgiveness.

Forgiveness means letting go… it doesn’t always mean ignoring what happened, but accepting that we no longer want to participate in an experience. Everyone is on their own spiritual journey, and even though we may not like the actions of others, we must learn to love the soul behind it and let it go.

Forgiveness must also include oneself: We often blame circumstances, and even if we don’t want to excuse our behavior, it’s time to accept what we’ve learned and move forward. Pain is often associated with vulnerability. “I opened my heart to him. I thought I could trust him. He abandoned me. I feel so hurt and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to trust anyone again.”

Love is strongly linked to trust.

But many are so eager for the love they never knew in childhood that they open themselves up to others and are easily vulnerable. No one can love you as much as you do. No one else knows your needs as well as you do, and no one is as close to you. “He gives me all the material security I can think of, and yet I am unhappy. All I want is his closeness and love.” In an effort to get everything from a partner or relative, a person is capable of allowing themselves to be abused and belittled. When rejection occurs, they are shaken and hurt. The immediate reaction is—like a crab—to quickly retreat into their shell and hide. But as time passes, the person forgets what is outside and becomes convinced that the only possible reality is their solitary existence. Many who have been rejected by human society find refuge in the plant and animal kingdoms, to which they give their love. Nature is forgiving, faithful, and provides unconditional love.

Such people cry when they encounter suffering, especially that of animals and children. They cry for their own inner child, who is defenseless, often left to his own devices, and longs for love. They are convinced that no one loves them, but it is common for the shell that protects them to not let love in.

With a kind approach and encouragement, it is possible to get them to allow a small part of themselves to open up, accept love, and start believing again.

Self-love means learning to attract to ourselves the things we need and reject the things we don’t. By hiding in a shell or by giving ourselves over completely to our surroundings, we go from one extreme to the other—it’s either all or nothing. We must learn to discern, and that means using discernment to decide what is good and what is not. It’s not condemnation because we are unable to judge the actions of others without our opinion reflecting a part of ourselves. “Judge not, that you be not judged”.

The inability to distinguish can lead to the loss of one's own opinion and identity. The energy of the heart chakra must learn to balance. We should learn to love all souls as our brothers, but we do not always have to like their personality! The fear of vulnerability often leads a person to employment where they do not have to be very personally involved. These people can be grateful listeners, always willing to listen to the problems of others, but they rarely reveal their own, inner feelings.

If you ask them a personal question, they will answer you with a question and turn the conversation away from themselves. They are very afraid of being judged and consequently rejected and unloved. Yet, if you ask them if they reject their friends when things don’t go their way, they will say, “No, I always forgive them and I love them all the more for it.” It is difficult for them to realize that the same attitude could apply to them if they allowed people to get close to them. These people may have many acquaintances but few real friends—people with whom they would feel safe and to whom they could open their hearts. They would rather be in the company of strangers than friends. Because strangers carry the risk of certain expectations and therefore the potential for failure. The only thing a person can offer as an outsider is unconditional love, showing that no matter what happens, there is always love and support.

The ability to give unconditionally is often easier than receiving.

Acceptance requires true self-love and the realization that when we receive, we are not receiving for ourselves alone, but for our Creator. Some people, when they receive something, overlook this aspect and quickly try to find something to repay their debt with. They also find it difficult to accept compliments and tend to return them immediately, often in excessive amounts. They do not realize that rejecting a gift is also rejecting the giver.

Unconditional love does not mean giving in. A mother bird will push her young out of the nest in the name of love, even though their wings are not fully developed. Sometimes you have to be tough to be kind. When we have problems with love, it is best to find a quiet place and, sitting quietly, turn to your higher self and ask for a solution that is best for all involved. Such an answer will be objective and will mean progress for everyone on their journey. This does not mean that there cannot be pain, but persistence in solving the problem will give you the strength to see it through.

The essence of the heart is courage. We sometimes need courage on our journey, and the encouragement of others can support us.

Sincere encouragement is one of the greatest gifts we can give someone. In our quest to be loved, we can often take on more responsibility than we can handle. The issue of responsibility falls under the “third eye” chakra, but if we are blinded by our own needs, this center loses control. Responsibility for others, which begins with good intentions, can eventually become a burden that drags us down and drains us of energy. As with people who try to please everyone, sometimes healthy anger can be constructive, but more often it creates a sense of despair and fear that we are unable to find a solution to the problem. The final resort for many people is illness, as we will show in the chapter on heart disease.

Self-love also means preserving ourselves – without that we would not be able to help anyone else.

 Body language

We have all seen children who, after being reprimanded, stand in the corner of the room with their arms folded over their chest. They are protecting their aching hearts and carry this habit into adulthood, expressing themselves in this way whenever they need comfort. We also talk about being touched by someone's kindness, and this feeling is strongly tied to the heart. Today, there are many people who are not immediately touched by anything, and when they are, it is something sexual. Touch has become one of the most important elements of complementary therapies, including in cases of cancer and AIDS, and patients are often seen as "untouchable." Hopefully, as the field of alternative medicine expands, we will increasingly see massage and other touch therapies as a regular part of patient care.

Diseases related to the heart chakra

1) Heart disease

The heart is the organ of rhythm. It drives blood and everything in it through the body to every cell. Its pulsation has two phases: systole, or contraction of the ventricles, and diastole, or relaxation. The entire cycle lasts 0.8 seconds, with each phase lasting approximately 0.4 seconds, meaning half the time is spent in activity and half in relaxation. Is the same true of your life?

Do you spend twelve hours a day working and twelve hours resting?

If not, the heart is under stress. The heart muscle receives nourishment during diastole, and if this phase is inadequate, the tissue is also deprived of oxygen, which can lead to angina pectoris and possibly a heart attack (myocardial infarction or coronary thrombosis). These problems are aggravated by blockage of the heart arteries, fatty deposits and thrombosis (blood clots). These are usually caused by high cholesterol levels (80% of which are formed during stress) and slow blood flow (due to insufficient exercise). These factors can be reduced by adequate rest.

By this I mean rest for the mind, body and spirit. Relaxation is not possible if we are pressed for time and if the brain is still active in an attempt to achieve some goal. In such a case, it is not even possible to force the mind to relax, because the brain will protest. There are many courses available today on how to manage stress and hopefully they will teach their participants not only to cope with stressful situations, but also to live a fuller life.

From an esoteric perspective, hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis) means the unchangeability of the situation. In many cases, this occurs when a person takes on too much responsibility and does not know how to stop. These people reach a dead end from which there is no way out. The only solution is a heart attack. Others often have a hard attitude, resulting from a lack of love and their own hardships in childhood. This leads symbolically to insufficient nutrition of their heart muscle and the corresponding symptoms.

It is confirmed that people who have had a heart attack have previously felt isolated, and those who recover well from the attack have a loving partner at home. Love is very important for the function of the heart – whether it is love from others or love for oneself.

2) Immune system diseases

The number of diseases of this kind has been increasing in recent years, which is associated with the shift of energies. Allergies and increased sensitivity are caused by an oversensitive immune system, while cancer, AIDS and fatigue syndrome are caused by some deficiency or insufficiently effective immune system. The immune system, as mentioned above, is the guard at the entrance to the body. It recognizes friend from foe and accepts friend, rejects enemy. Imbalance of this entrance defense causes the following diseases:

A) Allergy and hypersensitivity

Forty percent of the British population today suffer from some form of allergy. With allergies we assume a family history, whereas hypersensitivity comes out of the blue. Both allergies and hypersensitivity are caused by an overactive immune system, leading to symptoms such as fever, asthma, diarrhoea, eczema or hives. Esoterically speaking, the guardian is oversensitive and reacts as if everything were threatening. This is symbolised by the hypersensitivity discussed in the chapter on the solar plexus. It is as if the world were a dangerous place and only by constant vigilance could we avoid injury. Such stress increases reactivity, which then leads to further problems. I am convinced that more of these problems will arise over time, as people's sensitivities increase in line with the energies that come into our souls.

Through visualization, we can disperse excess solar plexus energy into the heart or down into the earth, where it can be used for our benefit.

In this way, we will reduce our fears and the guardian will once again be able to distinguish friend from foe.

B) Cancer

Cancer can appear in practically any organ. Therefore, from an esoteric point of view, the connections are expressed by the corresponding chakra. Regardless, cellular changes are usually caused by an imbalance between the solar plexus and the heart chakra. The name of the disease “cancer” is derived from cancer – capable of moving in any direction. Cancer is able to spread anywhere in the body and uses the blood and lymphatic systems to do so. At the cellular level, normal cells grow and mature and, according to the rules of the body, do not exceed their limits and maintain the same size and shape as neighboring cells. A cancer cell does not mature and therefore does not follow the rules of the body. It can have more than one nucleus, take on a variety of shapes and exceed the usual limitations.

The guard's job is to stop these panicked cells, but for some reason he doesn't notice their suspicious behavior. Once the cells leave their original, "primary," place of birth and development, they set off for other organs. There, through the production of their DNA, they manage to force normal cells to produce even more cancer cells. And so other cancer cells are created - "secondary."

From a spiritual perspective, this indicates certain personality issues. One idea is that the guardian has left his post to help others.

This is indeed the case with many cancer patients – they are still working to help others, but at the same time they are weakening their own defenses. It is a case of the saying: “when the cat is not at home, the mouse is free” and reminds us once again that love must begin with oneself.

Analogy

A group of people at a belt select and remove the “bad” peas before the “good” peas get into the common pot. Some are so concerned about others that they don’t notice the “bad” peas that go into the pot from their belt. By not taking care of their own task, they jeopardize the entire process.

American psychologist Lawrence Le Shan, in his book “You Can Fight for Your Life,” wrote that many patients who got cancer “didn’t sing their own song.” They lived their lives for others and denied their own needs. This highlights another fact that if you are not constantly present in your body, there is no proper regulatory force to decide what is right and what is wrong. As mentioned earlier, those who are fighters and “deniers” have a good prognosis for cancer. They take control of their lives.

Those who feel hopeless or show stoic acceptance have a worse prognosis.

As with all other diseases, cancer does not mean that any changes have to be made, because sometimes the mere presence of the disease will bring about the changes that the soul needs. Regardless, it is worth taking some time to reflect on whether there are areas of life that we have neglected. Cancer certainly appears in organs that are related to unfinished tasks, especially where there are also some repressed emotions. We can compare it to a neglected child. The less attention, the more screaming. The more screaming, the more noise. Problematic cells, like children, require to be acknowledged and balance restored. And not with anger or accusation, but with love and thoughtful guidance.

Cancer is also known to occur within two years of a loss of identity, such as the death of a partner, loss of a job, children leaving home, etc. This brings us back to the relationship between the solar plexus and the heart, where there is a close connection between identity and love. The loss of one leads to the loss of the other. Let us believe that the development of self-esteem and self-love will also bring about a reduced incidence of cancer in the population.

Breast cancer.

The breast is a nurturing organ. In breast cancer, this function is out of balance. In my experience, women with left breast cancer often do not feel supported or loved by the men in their lives, whether they are husbands or fathers. Women with right breast cancer suffer from the actions of women who could be their mothers or daughters. Both require recognizing their own nurturing abilities and releasing the pain they are holding in their breasts.

C) AIDS

The AIDS virus damages the thymus' ability to produce T cells (CD4), whose function is essential for almost all immune responses. People with this disorder become easily ill with a variety of infections and tumors that would normally be eliminated by our guardian.

From a psychological perspective, it is worth noting that many of these patients are members of minorities and are often seen as “victims” of society – such as homosexuals, drug addicts and even hemophiliacs. In these people, we can often find a history of inadequate support and care in their youth, which later led to poor self-esteem in adulthood. Their guardian has fallen into despondency.

Unconditional love and encouragement of self-love have been clearly shown to help relieve symptoms.

This is especially true for children who have managed to find a home that provides them with such love. At present, alternative therapists visit mainly AIDS wards. Ironically, it is a scourge like AIDS that should be the key that allows alternative therapies to enter hospitals. AIDS is a disease of the victims - those parts of society that are not currently in love. Where in your body is AIDS? Look inside and you will find areas that are waiting to be fed and embraced with love.

D) Auto-immune diseases

This group of diseases includes rheumatoid arthritis, generalized lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, generalized sclerosis, polymyalgia rheumatica, some types of thyroid disease, some forms of diabetes, pernicious anemia, vitiligo, and others. And every month more are added to this list. The common denominator of all cases is that an antibody has been formed against one's own tissue. For example, in rheumatoid arthritis, an antibody is formed that acts against the lining of the joints and other similar tissues. In lupus erythematosus, the antibody is directed against the DNA of the cells.

It is a very effective method of self-destruction, and from a psychological point of view, it is very often possible to find a “martyr syndrome” in these people. It is very difficult to convince them to change their attitude and increase their self-esteem.

People of this type usually work very intensively for others and forget about their own needs.

Sometimes these own needs emerge, not clearly, but often in a rather desperate way. In therapy, it is very important to meet these patients halfway. This will encourage helpfulness on the part of the patient and prevent the caregiver from becoming involved in a process that can be destructive for all involved. In these cases, the tendency to please others is strongly expressed, and this must be removed and replaced by love for oneself. Many decide to change their attitude, but this is difficult because it means changing lifelong habits. These people need constant reassurance and encouragement, but they must not be led by the hand, if possible.

E) Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)

This disease, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome and post-viral syndrome, is a disease that is now increasingly common in Western society. It affects the muscles and brain, leading to extreme exhaustion, weakness, and muscle pain. There are a number of other symptoms, including those of other diseases now included under one name. From a spiritual perspective, I have observed that the disease seems to affect those who “do not go their own way.” These are often people who try to please and act in accordance with the wishes of others. They are going in one direction miles away from their own path.

Misorientation leads to fatigue and weakness because there is no real spiritual energy entering their body.

The disease allows them to take stock of their situation from time to time and, if necessary, change direction. In many cases, friends abandon them, thereby revealing the true extent of love, which is not always the case, some of which are related to the overgrowth of yeast bacteria such as candida. The disease takes many forms and their common cause is unknown. It can occur at any age, in both sexes, and affects all areas of life.

Some patients are bedridden due to weakness and apathy, others are mobile but suffer from severe pain and headaches. It is possible that in time we will discover that these are several different diseases now included under one name.

From a spiritual perspective, I have observed that illness seems to affect those who “do not go their own way.” These are often people who try to please and act in accordance with the wishes of others. They go in one direction miles away from their own path. The misdirection leads to fatigue and weakness because there is no real spiritual energy entering their bodies. Illness allows them to realize the situation from time to time and, if necessary, change direction. In many cases, friends abandon them, thereby revealing the true magnitude of the love that was there.

I have found that as long as patients accept their illness, it continues to get worse. The day they accept that things have to change, the illness begins to improve. However, this does not happen overnight, and patience is a word that patients with fatigue syndrome hear very often in connection with their recovery.

Realizing what is right for you, after long years of doing what was necessary for someone else, takes time and deep reflection, but the path will reappear and with it, health.

Perhaps the only lesson these people had to learn while on this Earth was self-love. If they have achieved that, they are truly rich.

Exercises to harmonize the relationship between the solar plexus and the heart

1) Start loving yourself by loving your physical body, your sacred temple—it is the only one you have been given on this journey. If you are unable to love every detail of it, start with a small part of it, such as your little finger. Take a nice-smelling oil and rub it into that part of your body with the conviction that you love it.

2) Make a commitment to yourself to allow yourself one indulgence per day, or per week, or per month – choose an achievable goal. This could mean taking a nice hot bath, reading a good book, sitting down and eating a nice meal, taking a walk after lunch, or taking a vacation this year.

3) Strengthen your desire for true love: “I am loved, I am lovable, I am love.”

4) Use the color green to harmonize the heart. You can do this by wearing something green or by taking a walk in nature. Nature works in cycles and reveals the rhythm of life.

5) You can use the color pink, which is the color of the heart chakra. You can use a pink crystal, the color of your clothes, or the decor of your home for this. Whenever a disagreement arises, imagine yourself and others surrounded by a pink veil, symbolizing unconditional love.

6) Irradiate the injured parts of your body with pink or golden light to relieve pain and restore energy to that area.

7) Forgive someone who has hurt you in the past. You can write them a letter you never sent them, or imagine them sitting in front of you and tell them how you feel. Also, remember to meet them where their higher self is and send their soul love on its future journey.

8) As with the solar plexus, learn to say “No.” When you are asked for a favor, pause for a moment, say that you need to think it over or consult your diary before committing to something. Then, in the space thus created, ask your higher self whether you are doing this favor from your heart or in an effort to please. If your motivation is simply to please, change the request or try to change your wish. You can use the same process whenever you are tempted to say “Yes” without thinking.