Heart chakra healing is the practice of opening to love, compassion, and forgiveness by balancing the Anahata, your fourth energy centre at the centre of the chest. When the heart is open, love moves freely in both directions, given and received, without condition. When it is blocked, you hold grief, struggle to forgive, or put everyone else’s needs before your own.
The heart is the bridge between the lower, earthly chakras and the higher, spiritual ones. All real compassion begins with how gently you hold yourself.
Heart chakra at a glance
- Sanskrit nameAnahata
- ElementAir
- ColourGreen
- LocationCentre of the chest
- Seed mantraYAM
- Frequency639 Hz
- GovernsLove, compassion, connection, and forgiveness, for others and for yourself
- Affirmation“I love”
Signs your heart chakra is blocked or out of balance
When this centre is out of balance, you tend to feel it first in your mood and your relationships, then in the body.
Emotional and mental signs: Self-criticism, loneliness even around people, withdrawal, jealousy, clinginess, and holding on to old grief or resentment.
Physical signs: Tightness in the heart or chest, shortness of breath, high blood pressure, breast issues, and a weakened immune system.
When your heart chakra is balanced
A balanced heart chakra leaves you feeling loving, compassionate, open, grateful, forgiving, and deeply connected.
How to heal and balance your heart chakra
The heart opens through gentleness, not force. Begin with how you speak to yourself, then add one or two of the tools below.
Crystals
Rose quartz, green aventurine, emerald, jade, and malachite.
Essential oils
Rose, bergamot, geranium, and melissa.
Yoga and movement
Standing backbend or Camel pose to open the chest.
Breathwork
Heart-centred breathing: hand on the chest, inhale to expand the heart space, exhale to soften it.
Reiki hand position
Rest your hands over the centre of the chest.
Foods and tea
Leafy greens, broccoli, avocado, green apple, and zucchini. Sip hawthorn or rose tea.
An everyday practice
Tell someone how you feel, or write down three things you are grateful for.
Heart chakra affirmations
- “I am open to giving and receiving love.”
- “Compassion begins with how I speak to myself.”
- “My heart is a safe place for me to live from.”
- “I forgive myself and others, freely.”
Want to go deeper? Your heart chakra is one of seven energy centres that work together. Take the free chakra quiz to find which one needs your attention, read the free chakra healing guide, and download the printable Chakra Healing Guide & Workbook for a page-by-page practice.
Heart chakra FAQ
What are the signs of a blocked heart chakra?
Signs include difficulty forgiving, harsh self-criticism, loneliness even around others, holding on to resentment or grief, and putting everyone else first. Physically it can show as chest tightness, shortness of breath, or a weakened immune system.
How do you heal the heart chakra?
Practise self-compassion and gratitude, and let yourself both give and receive. Work with rose quartz, rose or bergamot oil, heart-opening backbends, and heart-centred breathing. Repeat heart chakra affirmations and, where you can, choose forgiveness.
What colour and element is the heart chakra?
The heart chakra is associated with the colour green (and pink) and the element of air. Its seed mantra is YAM and its sound frequency is 639 Hz.
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