One regret, dear world,
That I am determined not to have

When I am lying on my deathbed
Is that
I did not kiss you enough.
– Hafiz

The fourth chakra is located in the region of the heart and between the shoulder blades. This is the area of the body where love resides, in the cave of the heart. In our culture the rate of heart attacks is very high; we are depleted of unconditional love and devotion in many ways.

A cold, closed, or fearful heart is a heart that is under attack. This area of the body calls for deep breath work and healing touch. It seeks balance, for it is the center of the whole system. Find out more about the beauty and healing power of the heart, here:

There is no greater elixir than the pure love emanating from the fourth chakra when this area of the body expands with light and forgiveness. It is said, “A broken heart is an open heart.” Sometimes we must feel pain and sorrow before pure love and healing can occur. Both our grief and joy are inspired emotions that govern the heart. Pulsating in a delicate, rhythmic dance, these polarities unite, offering wholeness, balance, and compassion for all living beings.

When this chakra is in a negative state, the individual is very fearful to open his or her heart and feels isolated and alone. Feelings of attachment, jealousy, envy, and mistrust are maladies of a wounded heart. Relationships can be very difficult with an individual who has closed the chamber of the heart to the world. Forgiveness is a must and one must always remember, “Love heals all.”

In a healthy and healed fourth chakra, one is united with the beautiful gifts of grace and peace. The ecstasy of love teaches us to let go and trust in the world, ultimately transcending the flames of sexual passion and emptying our life giving spirit and spirituality into the world. Service in this context is a devotional journey that clears the way for healing on a global scale. It is truly “a path of the heart.”

Attributes
Function: Love
Color: Green
Musical Note: F
Healing Flower: Rose
Animal Totems: Deer and dove
Foods: Vegetables
herbs: Lavender, jasmine
Metal: Copper
Gemstones: Emerald, malachite, and tourmaline