At the center of the chakra system, the heart chakra plays a special role in the subtle body. The seven main chakras are divided into two groups of three: the lower chakras (root, sacral, and solar plexus), which relate more to physicality, and the higher chakras (throat, third eye, and crown), which relate more to spirituality. As such, the heart chakra is the bridge between them, connecting the physical and the spiritual.

The heart chakra is also the source of how we relate to each other and even to ourselves. Our capacity to love, feel gratitude, exercise generosity, and forgive all stem from the heart chakra. When balanced, it allows us to connect deeply to others and to develop meaningful relationships, and it helps us appreciate beauty and recognize it in all things.

But a blocked heart chakra usually manifests as difficulty in relationships. People with a blockage here often put themselves in situations where they can play one of two roles: the savior or the victim. It also becomes hard to relate to others, and easy to get excessively jealous or codependent. We might become antisocial, withdrawn, and defensive, or start to fear intimacy. The inability to forgive is also a symptom of a blocked heart chakra, leading people to hold a grudge for far too long. With its location by the heart and lungs, imbalances in this chakra can manifest physically as circulatory or respiratory ailments.

Heart chakra: Compassion
Organ:       Heart
Color:        Green & Pink
Element:     Air
Tone:         C
Affirm:       I love