“Listen to your heart” is a powerful metaphor which speaks volumes as the heart is an organ of intelligence and can store and communicate information. Your heart not only can communicate vital information to other parts of your body, but also to other individuals through its powerful electromagnetic field. The heart continues to mystify, as researchers study the connections between the heart, quantum states and consciousness. Heart energy travels in magical ways.
The heart is not just a necessary organ to work as a pump to flow blood throughout the body and it is not just a cute shape we draw to signify love. It is your center and is your connection between Heaven and Earth. Known as the seat of your soul, the heart has the power to influence your decisions through intuition, influence the health of our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies, and through our heart-centered energy, influence the world around us.
Through understanding the intelligence of the heart and how to cultivate self-compassion, we can learn to transform our traumas into love and forgiveness and make peace with our inner world which can help create peace throughout the world.
Neurocardiologists have shown through studies that the heart contains about 40,000 neurons and has its own intrinsic nervous system in what is known as the heart’s “little brain”. The Institute of HeartMath research shows how the heart can communicate harmonious and synchronized heart rhythm patterns to the brain and the nervous system which is known as heart coherence. When we are experiencing emotions associated with the heart such as love, compassion, creativity, gratitude, kindness and patience, we can reach a state of heart coherence. Heart coherence can help reduce stress and therefore positively influence our physical health, cognitive health and emotional regulation.
Not only does the heart communicate through neuro pathways, but it also communicates biochemically. The heart releases the hormone, oxytocin, also known as the love hormone and has been found that concentrations in the heart can be as much as in the brain. The heart also communicates through its electromagnetic field. The heart’s electromagnetic field has been shown to be 5,000 times greater than the brain’s. The true power of the heart may hold some mysteries until we completely understand the true nature of energy and the quantum world. For now, we do know this electromagnetic field has a direct influence on the world around us. I would suspect many of us understand that our prayers and intentions are clearly influenced through our heart.
The act of cultivating self-compassion and accessing the heart’s intelligence can go hand-in-hand and heart-to-heart. Through walking my path as a wounded healer, I have found that self-compassion is one of the most powerful medicines to heal trauma. Self-compassion can become a portal of transformation, alchemizing our wounds into an awareness that reshapes the way we perceive our inner and outer worlds.
Ways to practice Heart-felt Self-Compassion:
- Breathwork. Through intentional breathing and taking deep, slow breaths, we can improve autonomic nervous system functions and tap into the wellspring of our parasympathetic nervous system which induces a relaxation response. Place your hand on your chest and feel your heartbeat and inflow and outflow of breath. Just the act of placing your hand on your chest can stimulate the release of oxytocin from your heart. Breathing should be relaxed and full, inhaling through the nose, breathing deeply into the diaphragm and out slowly through the mouth. Deep breathing can help us let go of sadness and grief and make the unconscious conscious. Go with the flow.
- Tune into your heart through sound. Become aware of how music and sound healing vibrations can influence your heart rate and breathing patterns. What songs and vibrations bring you into a harmonious state of being? Vocally toning the sound of “AH” is a powerful vibration associated with the heart center. It is the sound of letting go and can be helpful in moving stagnant energy. Breathe in and sound out “AH” on your outbreath. With practice, this can help repattern your energy into a balanced state.
- Embrace the Earth as healer. The Earth holds healing frequencies for us to tap into. Grounding or Earthing is the practice of interacting with the soil and water through touching the grass, rocks, flowers, trees and yes, hugging a tree. Exposure to these negative ions found in nature can help bring our body into balance. Engage all your senses in nature. Open your heart to the miracle of life.
- Count your blessings. Gratitude is one of the highest vibrational frequencies and as a daily practice, it can connect us with our heart instantaneously. Through gratitude we can easily connect with emotions such as love, joy and peace. Circulate gratitude throughout your body with a positive affirmation such as, “I AM LOVE”.
- Mindfulness. Our world is so full of distractions and our time here is limited. Be here now by bringing your attention to this present moment and what makes your heart sing with joy. Get the attention of your heart by pouring kindness and compassion into it. You deserve joy at this very moment.
I wish I could say there has never been a more crucial time in history for us to learn self-compassion and to soften our hearts, but that would not be true. The world has always been full of hardness, cruelty, and cynicism, and love has always been the answer. Our hearts have always held the capacity to love and to love loudly and profoundly. Now through scientific studies, we have a better understanding of just how powerful our abilities are to love and transform the world around us. It always starts with doing the inner work and letting our light shine outwards. Be bold and shine your heart of gold!
This content is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician and/or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have regarding medical conditions.
Kirsten Antony
Kirsten Antony is a Registered Nurse and Holistic Health Care Practitioner. She offers in-home services specializing in foot care, reflexology, sound healing and healing touch to those in the Denver Metro Area. For more information, please visit www.coloradofootcarenurse.com or www.facebook.com/soultosoleholistichealthcare or call 303-668-8992.