The heart chakra, known as Anahata in Sanskrit, is the fourth of the seven chakras in the human body. This chakra links the lower chakras (associated with materiality) and the upper chakras (related to spirituality). The heart chakra is linked to our feelings of love, compassion, and connection. However, life’s challenges can lead to blockages in the heart chakra, affecting our emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. When your heart chakra is blocked, it can disrupt your inner harmony, impacting relationships, self-esteem, and the ability to give and receive love. This article delves into the signs of a blocked heart chakra, explores potential causes, and offers effective healing practices to restore balance and openness.
Signs of a blocked heart chakra
As all the chakras are linked between them, it is important to balance them all. A blocked heart chakra can deeply affect one’s emotional and physical well-being in many ways. Also know that if you have issues with the chakras 1, 2 and 3 it might impact this 4th chakra.
As the heart chakra is located in the lungs, spine, esophagus and nervous system the problems that might appear include heart and respiratory disease, breast cancer, angina pectoris, pneumonia, high blood pressure and spinal pain. Emotionally, blockage of the Heart Chakra will cause passivity, depression, insensitivity and emotional pain.
What are the emotional symptoms of a blocked heart chakra?
The possible emotional signs of a blocked Anahata chakra:
- Feelings of isolation, even when surrounded by loved ones.
- Difficulty in giving and receiving love freely.
- Persistent emotional barriers, safeguarding against vulnerability.
- Emotional symptoms include jealousy, bitterness, and an inability to forgive.
- A sense of distrust and skepticism towards forming new relationships.
- The feeling of being unloved or unworthy of love.
- Struggles with self-compassion, often being overly critical of oneself.
- Difficulty in empathizing with others or understanding their emotions.
- A lack of genuine joy, peace, or fulfillment in life’s experiences.
- Holding onto grudges, unable to let go of past hurts.
- An imbalance that affects not just relationships, but also personal growth and happiness.
Also know that the heart chakra can be underactive or hyperactive and therefore will cause different issues and symptoms.
Symptoms of an underactive heart chakra include:
- Shyness;
- Inability to trust others;
- Inability to open up to others;
- Lack of self-love;
- Possessiveness and jealousy in relationships;
- A judgmental attitude;
- Feelings of loneliness;
- Tendency to be antisocial;
- Feeling disconnected from others.
Symptoms of an overactive heart chakra include:
- Too much empathy and taking on the emotions of others;
- Sacrificing personal needs to please others;
- Inability to set boundaries in relationships;
- Codependence and even dependence.
What are the physical symptoms of blocked chakras?
The physical symptoms that appear when your heart chakra is blocked are:
- Chest pain or discomfort: Tightness, heaviness, or discomfort in the chest area, not linked to medical conditions of the heart.
- Breathing difficulties: Shortness of breath, shallow breathing, or a feeling of being constricted in the chest, indicating a disruption in the flow of energy.
- Upper back and shoulder Pain: Tension and pain in the shoulders and upper back, which may be attributed to emotional burdens or stress being carried.
- Heart palpitations: Unusual awareness of the heartbeat, including skipped beats or accelerated heart rate without physical exertion.
- Poor circulation: Feeling of coldness in the hands and feet, suggesting a disruption in the flow of energy and blood.
- Immune system issues: Frequent illnesses or autoimmune diseases can sometimes be related to energetic imbalances in the heart chakra area.
- Fatigue: Persistent tiredness or lack of energy, especially when it’s not linked to physical exertion, can be a sign of an energetic blockage.
Read also: The logic behind the yoga exercises for kyphosis
What emotions are stored in the heart chakra?
The heart chakra also known as Anahata chakra stores a wide range of emotions related to our connections with others and ourselves. The key emotions and states that are associated with the heart chakra are: love, compassion, empathy, joy, peace, gratitude, forgiveness, acceptance, grief.
When the heart chakra is blocked, it can lead to a predominance of negative emotions that affect one’s ability to connect, love, and maintain harmony in relationships. The main emotions associated with a blocked heart chakra include: loneliness, sadness, anger, fear of betrayal, grief, lack of empathy, jealousy and self-criticism.
What causes the heart chakra to be blocked?
Determining if your Heart Chakra is blocked is easier when you know what could potentially cause such a blockage. The reasons behind a Heart Chakra obstruction vary among individuals, yet any event that leads to emotional distress, especially concerning relationships, can act as a catalyst.
Here are the main causes:
- Emotional trauma from past relationships, leading to fear of vulnerability.
- Experiencing loss or grief, such as the death of a loved one or the end of a significant relationship.
- Betrayal or abandonment, shaking the foundation of trust and openness.
- Long-standing resentment, inability to forgive, holding onto past hurts.
- Chronic stress or anxiety, eroding the sense of peace and connection.
- A lack of self-love and self-acceptance, critical self-judgment.
- Growing up in a loveless or overly critical environment, shaping beliefs about worthiness of love.
- Physical neglect or abuse, impacting the ability to feel safe in one’s body.
- Heartbreaking experiences which are not fully processed or released.
- Cultural or societal norms that discourage emotional expression or vulnerability.
- Spiritual disconnection, feeling out of touch with one’s heart or purpose.
- Constant self-neglect, prioritizing others’ needs excessively over one’s own well-being.
- The accumulation of everyday stressors without adequate emotional release or support.
Healing practices for a blocked heart chakra
Healing a blocked heart chakra involves practices that encourage the flow of energy, fostering openness, love, forgiveness, and self-acceptance. Here are some effective healing practices:
- Meditation and Visualization:
- Focus on heart-chakra meditation, envisioning a bright green light or energy filling and opening the heart center.
- Yoga:
- Incorporate poses that open the chest and shoulders, such as Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana), Bow Pose (Dhanurasana), and Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana).
- Heart-opening sequences can help release emotional blockages and enhance energy flow.
- Breathing Exercises (Pranayama):
- Practice deep breathing techniques, such as Anulom Vilom (Alternate Nostril Breathing) or Kapalabhati, focusing on deepening breaths into the heart area to stimulate energy flow.
- Use of Crystals:
- Crystals like rose quartz, green aventurine, and jade can be used in meditation or worn as jewelry to support heart chakra healing.
- Place these crystals on the heart area during meditation for enhanced effect.
- Aromatherapy:
- Essential oils such as rose, lavender, and geranium can be diffused or applied topically (with a carrier oil) to help balance the heart chakra.
- These scents can evoke feelings of love, peace, and comfort.
- Affirmations:
- Repeat positive affirmations that reinforce love, acceptance, and forgiveness, such as “I openly accept and give love” or “I am worthy of love”.
- Reiki and Energy Healing:
- Seek Reiki or other forms of energy healing to help clear blockages and restore balance to the heart chakra.
- Sound Healing:
- Listening to solfeggio frequencies, singing bowls, or chanting the seed mantra “YAM” can help align and open the heart chakra.
- Nature and Gratitude:
- Spend time in nature to ground yourself and practice gratitude, focusing on the beauty and abundance around you.
- Forgiveness Practices:
- Engage in forgiveness exercises, either through journaling or meditation, to release past hurts and open your heart to healing.
How do you unblock heart chakra?
Unblocking the heart chakra involves a combination of emotional, spiritual, and physical practices. These all help restoring the balance and facilitate the flow of positive energy. Here’s how you can work on unblocking your heart chakra:
- Practice heart-centered meditation and also forgiveness practices
- Engage in yoga poses that open the heart
- Use healing stones and crystals like rose quartz, jade, and green aventurine during practices and meditations
- Incorporate aromatherapy. Use essential oils like rose, lavender and geranium or ylang-ylang
- Repeat positive affirmations as much as you can. These affirmations can be used also during meditation.
- Perform also acts of self-love and self-care instead of always focusing on others
- Connect with nature by spending time in green lush environments whenever you can
- Practice deep breathing or pranayama especially during the morning when you wake up
Which affirmations can help balance the heart chakra?
We use affirmations for personal and spiritual development as they can be an effective way to cultivate positive qualities, release negative emotions and beliefs. Here are some of the common affirmations for the heart chakra:
- I give and receive love with joy;
- I feel compassion for myself and others;
- I am filled with gratitude for the love of my life;
- My heart is full of unconditional love for all beings;
- I choose kindness and love over judgment and hate;
- I am worthy to receive love;
- I love and accept myself unconditionally;
- I willingly accept and embrace the love of others;
- I release and renounce any resentment;
- I forgive myself and others.
