Page 245 - Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring

t he s ev e n c ha kr a s
heart chakra walls up hatred, resentment, bitterness, grief, anger, self-
centeredness, and loneliness (Myss 1996). A heart-centered person
moves from a cognitive, rational, head-ego focus toward openness to
learning, to seeing other ways of Being-in-the-world. One becomes a
person whose heart can hold forgiveness; one develops an open heart
filled with loving-kindness, equanimity, and mindfulness; a heart open
to the paradox of the ability to hold joy and pain, side by side. As the
evolved human opens the heart, he or she can discover wisdom seek-
ing/insight/new sight/new ways of seeing and understanding.
I have heard it said that when one opens the heart chakra, one is
opening up all other chakra energy points to allow an energetic flow
throughout the whole body. The heart chakra is the center for love,
compassion, and companionship and opens access to that which is
greater than the self on the physical plane of existence; this opens one
to connect with the infinite field of universal Love. This chakra teaches
us how to act out of love and compassion and caring, recognizing that
the most powerful energy we have is love (Myss 1996).
Myss says that more than any other chakra, the “[f]ourth repre-
sents our capacity to ‘let go and let God.’ With its energy we accept
our personal emotional challenges as extensions of a Divine plan,
which has as its intent our conscious evolution. By releasing our emo-
tional pain, by letting go of our need to know why things have hap-
pened as they have, we reach a state of tranquility. In order to achieve
that inner peace, however, we have to embrace the healing energy of
forgiveness, and release our lesser need for human self-determined jus-
tice” (Myss 1996:197–198).
The primary fears associated with the heart chakra include fear of
loneliness, commitment, and “following one’s heart”; the fear of an
inability to protect oneself emotionally; fear of emotional weakness,
betrayal. The loss of heart-centered energy can give rise to jealousy,
bitterness, anger, hatred, and an inability to forgive others and self
(Myss 1996:198). The primary strengths of this chakra include Love,
forgiveness, compassion, dedication, inspiration, hope, trust, and the
ability to heal oneself and others. Love in its purest form—uncondi-
tional Love—is the substance of the Divine. Our hearts are designed
to express beauty, compassion, forgiveness, joy, and love. Love is the

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