The Heart Chakra

Understanding, Balancing
and Healing the Heart Chakra

Brenda Hunt
 Copyright © Brenda Hunt 2021
All rights reserved worldwide
No part of ‘The Heart Chakra – Understanding, Balancing and Healing the Heart
Chakra’ may be reproduced or stored by any means without the express permission of
Brenda Hunt

Whilst reasonable care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in this
publication, no responsibility can be accepted for the consequences of any actions based
on any opinions, information or advice found in the publication.

Healing information contained in this publication should not be taken as a

substitute for professional medical advice. You should always consult your doctor on
serious matters.

ISBN: 9798608777837
 Contents

Introduction
The Chakra energy system.
The Chakra System
The kundalini
Chakra System and influences
The heart chakra (4th chakra)
The energy of the heart chakra.
Heart chakra affects.
Strengthening your Chakra System.
The heart chakra and hormones
The heart chakra – thymus
Crystal healing and the Chakra System
The Heart Chakra
Aromatherapy and the chakras.
Heart chakra oils.
The heart chakra
Working with essential oils.
Chakra massage.
Aromatherapy bath.
Aromatherapy hair oil.
Steam inhalation.
Vaporisation.
Colour healing and the chakras
Dowsing to balance your chakras
Healing from within
A heart chakra altar
Chakra affirmations
heart chakra affirmations.
Working with the chakra system.
And into the future
About the Author
Introduction
This book is about the Heart Chakra, and in writing it I have
assumed that you have some understanding of the Chakras and
about working with your chakra energy system.
If you would like an overall guide to the chakra system, I have
written some books that you might find helpful:
‘A Beginner’s Guide to the Chakra System’
and ‘Dowsing & the Chakra System’.
If on the other hand you just want a very quick introduction to the
chakra system – here goes!
You will come across the word ‘Chakra’ in many different areas of
study - crystal healing, Reiki, yoga, colour healing, sound therapy
and many other energy-based therapies.
But sometimes that leaves you wondering just what these
mystical things called chakras actually are?
So many of the books that you read and so much of the
information that is available, seem to assume that you already know
what the chakras are, what they do for you, how to work with them,
how they affect you and how you can affect them. In fact many of the
books and information that you come across assume that you have a
detailed and intimate working knowledge of the chakras. But if this is
not the case, where do you start?
The Chakra energy system.
Understanding the Chakra system can help you bring balance to
all areas of your life - emotional, mental, physical and spiritual.
And understanding how each Chakra can affect different parts of
your body and your life can help bring problems into focus, letting
you see how physical problems can be linked to emotional stresses
and mental worries.
The Chakra System is a ‘system’ and I believe it should be
treated as a whole, complete system rather than always focusing on
a single chakra. So although this series does focus on each
individual chakra, you should never lose sight of the fact that in
general, you should work at keeping the whole system in balance.
There are times when you want or need to work more on
balancing a single chakra, but you should never do it to the exclusion
of all others.
I have M.E./CFS and I find that my root and throat chakras
require more constant attention than the system as a whole. They
are my areas of weakness – the root chakra for the overall
foundation of health and the throat chakra as the centre of the
immune system and thyroid so I do tend to focus on these two
chakras in as much as I will work with the crystals linked to them or
wear the chakra colours, red, black or brown for the root chakra or
blue for the throat chakra.
However, as a general rule, it is important to treat the system as
an interconnected structure and I always make sure that I balance
the whole system at least once a day.
In the West, we are used to seeing our bodies as a collection of
parts - a broken leg, high cholesterol, asthma, a bad heart, a serious
infection – and this way of looking at a medical problem means that
we seem to have forgotten that we are a whole person and should
be treated as a whole person, and the same can be true of chakra
healing.
 So try to avoid developing a habit of focusing on a single chakra,
in this case the heart chakra, as this can create imbalance in the
entire system.
In the same way that taking a medicine to solve one problem can
cause other problems because of the side effects of the drug,
treating one chakra extensively can cause problems in the energy
flow throughout the entire system and leads to other unintentional
problems.
Understanding the chakras, how they affect you, how your energy
flows through them, how you can improve your health and your well-
being through understanding and balancing the chakras, is a
fascinating journey.
So even though this book is devoted to understanding the heart
Chakra, make sure that you don’t restrict yourself to just a single
stop on your journey.
The Chakra System

So what are the chakras?

Ancient Indian Sanskrit texts teach us of the Chakra system. They
tell of centres of energy in the human body, with seven major points
arranged along the line of the spine.
The word Chakra means ‘wheel’ or ‘disc’, which is a good
description. They are generally seen as a vortex, a spiritual
whirlpool, where metaphysical energy enters your own energy field.
Each chakra is positioned at a major centre of the body, coinciding
with the endocrine system.
Our modern Western medicine can and regularly does produce
incredible treatments. But it does tend to see us as a biological
machine, a collection of parts which can be fixed, suppressed,
removed, and even replaced. This is wonderful if you have a serious
infection that can be killed with antibiotics or if your arteries are
beginning to block up and can be reopened with a stent.
People have their lives not only saved but transformed by some
of the advanced treatments available to us. But there are bad sides
as well as good.
Many medicines have an incredible list of side effects. Some can
even cause other diseases and then require other medicines to fix
those problems. Some people end up with a cupboard full of different
potions and pills and often they don’t even know what each one is
supposed to be doing.
We expect our modern medical treatment to be quick and the
results to be immediate, allowing us to go back to work within days,
even after major surgery, rather than taking time to rest and recover.
We seem to have developed a habit of seeing time resting as time
wasted, a weakness, even a sign of laziness. The fact that you
discharge yourself from hospital the day after an operation and get
straight back to work is seen as a sign of strength, I'm afraid I see it
as a sign of stupidity. We have become disconnected from the nature
of our own system and no longer listen to the messages our bodies
are trying desperately to send.
Pain is a signal, a sign that something is wrong. Blocking that
pain doesn’t mean that the problem is solved, you have just turned
off the alarm, the fire might still be raging inside you. You should
never ignore and mask pain on a regular basis, consult your doctor
and find out what the cause of the pain is.
Eastern systems of energy healing look at the body in a totally
different way.
It sees us as a ‘whole’, and as a holistic system.
Not only a complete physical body, where each part interacts with
the rest, but as a complete energy body, where physical illness - or
dis-ease - can be linked to emotional stress, spiritual distress or
mental stress.
As we become more aware of this in the West, we have also
become more aware of the various types of energy healing and
chakra healing.
The chakras balance and control the flow of subtle energies in the
body. This subtle energy system affects the physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual energy that makes up our whole system and
when we take a holistic view of healing, we can see that physical
illness often has its source in the other areas of our energy field.
Our modern lifestyle is not kind to our overall holistic well-being.
We talk about the 24/7 society and we often try to live 24/7. We
work long hours, travel long distances, commute for hours, take work
home and work weekends. Worse still, with the latest technology of
smartphones and tablets, many people are checking their work
emails at all times of the day and night, even in bed! Work is
certainly not 9-5 anymore.
And then, when we’re not working, we expect to be out shopping
or at restaurants and bars, meeting friends, taking part in sports or
partying. Even when we’re supposed to be resting on holiday we
often fly to the other side of the world, spend our time partying and
rushing around seeing the sights, taking part in extreme sports and
adrenaline fuelled activities and then fly back - needing a rest.
And then there's multitasking. It’s not enough to be working flat
out on just one thing, you have to be on Facebook, or blogging and
tweeting about it at the same time!
 Needing to sleep eight hours a night is seen as a weakness,
when in fact, sleep is our recovery time. It's a time when our body
repairs itself, when our brain processes the information it has
gathered during the day and prepares us for the next day. Good
quality sleep, and enough of it, is part of keeping us healthy.
It's no wonder that during our hectic, modern daily life, our
chakras can become completely out of balance and blocked.
When the energy flow does become unbalanced, speeds up or
becomes blocked, this can hinder the flow of energy throughout the
body.
Over time this can contribute to physical illness, serious stress or
emotional upset. Even seemingly fit people with active lifestyles can
suddenly succumb to a serious illness such as a stroke or heart
attack. Chronic fatigue syndrome (M.E.) tends to hit people who
have been extremely active, both mentally and physically, with the
kind of appointment diary that would make most people tired just to
read it! Thinking about the diary I used to consider normal before I
came down with CFS, is enough to drive me straight back to bed
nowadays.
We are very complex systems, and many illnesses cannot be
treated simply, even though we'd like to think that they could be
nowadays. All parts of our body interact with each other and we
should treat ourselves as a whole rather than as a collection of parts.
Keeping our energy system in balance is a vital part of
maintaining our general well-being and the chakra system is the
route for keeping this energy flowing.
In Eastern Yogic texts, the chakras are visualised as lotus flowers,
with the petals and fine roots of the flower distributing the life force –
or Prana – throughout the physical body and converting the energy
into chemical, hormonal and cellular changes.
As we've seen, there are seven major chakras in line with the
spine, which follow the endocrine system of our physical bodies.
The number seven corresponds to many things in nature.
 There are seven colours in the rainbow, the different wavelengths
of light that are shown when pure white light is diffracted when it is
disbursed through a prism or the water droplets in rain.
There are seven days in the week, seven notes on a musical
scale. The world has seven continents and the pH balance for pure
water is seven.
The number seven was considered sacred in antiquity. The
Egyptians had seven original and higher gods. There were Seven
Wonders of the World, followers of Mithra the Persian God, had a
complex system with seven grades of initiation into the mystical
religion.
There are many more examples of the importance of the number
seven in nature, in religion and in ancient civilisations. Seven is a
universally important number, so it is no surprise that there are
seven major chakras in the human body.
The chakras are not physically visible in the body, even though
they are closely associated with the endocrine system, so you can't
actually see them, although you can feel the energy moving through
them, especially if there is a sudden flow of energy through one of
the chakras in something like a Reiki treatment.
The vibration of crystals can harmonise the Chakras and allow
the energy to flow freely again, which is why it can be helpful to use
a chakra healing layout with a number of different gemstones as well
as the more direct use of a crystal or crystals that are specifically
linked to the problem or illness that you want to treat.
Different crystals are different colours, and the vibrational energy
of the colours is linked to each chakra and for this type of healing,
the colour is an important part of the choice that you make. There is
more information on working with healing crystals and the chakras in
a later chapter.
You can also work with dowsing, aromatherapy, colour, herbal
medicine and foods to help keep your system in balance.
The kundalini
In reading about the chakras, you will often come across
reference to the kundalini and awakening the kundalini, referring to
this mysterious thing as if you should automatically know what
they’re talking about.
So what is it?
The kundalini is the mythical serpent that sleeps coiled three and
a half times at the base of the spine at the heart Chakra, blocking the
rise of energy - also referred to as the life force, prana or chi - from
the earth though your chakra system.
Working on the energy of the heart chakra is vital to opening your
entire system to this energy flow
It represents the life force that rises up through the chakra
system, changing your energy field, and therefore your life on all
levels. Balancing the heart chakra allows the kundalini to awaken
and begin the release of its energy through your system.
Although there is a great deal written about awakening the
kundalini, treating it sometimes as if this is the only purpose of
working with your chakra system, it is actually a very powerful force
and should not be treated lightly.
In the teachings of Yoga, there are two nerve currents in the
spinal column, called Pingala on the right which contains ascending
vitality, and Ida on the left, containing descending vitality, and a
hollow canal called Sushumna running through the spinal-cord.
These Nadis or streams are the subtle channels through which
the life force or prana circulates.
At the lower end of the hollow canal is what the Yogis call the
‘lotus of the kundalini’ where the kundalini sleeps coiled up. When
that kundalini awakes it tries to force a passage through this hollow
canal, and as it rises, step-by-step, layer after layer of the mind
becomes open. When it reaches the crown chakra, the Yogi is
perfectly detached from the body, and the mind and soul finds itself
free.
 The kundalini image of the life force
being represented by a snake is seen throughout history, and
throughout religions. In fact, even today, the medical profession uses
the symbol of the caduceus with the two snakes or serpents
entwined around the staff of healing.
Chakra System and influences
Although the focus of this book is the heart chakra, this is a very
quick and simple overall guide for the seven major chakras.

Root – 1st Chakra

Reproductive - stability, adrenal glands, survival, trust, ego,
practicality, confidence, energy distribution
The Root chakra colours are red but also black and dark brown.
You can work with healing crystals in this colour range, such as
ruby, red garnet, hematite, black onyx and red jasper.

Sacral – 2nd Chakra

Genito-urinary - sexuality, fertility, reproductive, intuition, feelings,
creativity.
Located 1” below the navel. and above the genitals.
This balances sexuality, emotion, desire, creativity, intuition and
self worth. If it is blocked you may feel emotionally explosive, lacking
energy, have feelings of isolation. Physically it can lead to kidney
and uterine disorders, lower back pain, impotence and prostate
problems.
The sacral chakra colour is orange.
Crystals: carnelian, orange calcite, aragonite, amber, orange
sapphire

Solar plexus – 3rd Chakra

 Digestive - stomach, pancreas, emotions, stress, self confidence.
Located below the breastbone and behind the stomach. From the
back of the body, it is just below the shoulder blades.
It is also known as the power chakra and is associated with
personal power, ambition, anger and joy, intellectual activity and the
central nervous system. If this chakra is blocked you can lack
confidence, worry about the opinions of others, be oversensitive to
criticism, suffer low self esteem or have an addictive personality.
Physically it can cover digestive problems, stomach ulcers,
diabetes, chronic fatigue and allergies.
Crystals: citrine, yellow sapphire, golden tiger’s eye, yellow
jasper, topaz

Heart – 4th Chakra

Circulatory - blood pressure, immune system, love, compassion,
healing, personal growth.
Located in the centre of the chest at the heart area.
It is associated with compassion, love and spirituality. When this
chakra is out of balance you feel indecisive, paranoid, fear betrayal
or generally feel sorry for yourself. Physically it can lead to heart
disease, asthma, high blood pressure, lung disease and cancers. It
can also cover problems with the arms, hands and fingers.
Colour: Green, pink
Crystals: green - aventurine, malachite, jade, peridot, emerald,
Pink - rose quartz, kunzite, morganite, rhodochrosite, unakite

Throat – 5th Chakra

Respiratory - hearing, lymphatic system, communication,
creativity, personal expression
Located just below the collar bone in the throat area of the neck.
It is associated with self-expression, voice, communication and
the expression of creativity through speech and writing. If it is out of
balance you can feel that you want to hold back, an inability to
express emotions, blocked creativity or perfectionism. Physically it
can cover colds, sore throats, hearing and thyroid problems and
tinnitus.
Crystals: lapis lazuli, sodalite, aquamarine, blue lace agate,
sapphire, turquoise, chrysocolla, turquoise

Third eye – 6th Chakra

Autonomic nervous - pituitary, eyes, mental and emotional
balance, understanding, mental organisation
Located between and just above the eyes.
It is associated with intuition, psychic ability, energies of the spirit
and the elimination of selfish attitudes. If it is out of balance you may
feel afraid of success, non-assertive or the opposite, egotistical.
Physically it can lead to headaches, nightmares, eye problems and
poor vision or neurological disturbances.
Crystals: amethyst, sugilite, charoite, fluorite, lepidolite, iolite

Crown – 7th Chakra

Central nervous system - mental clarity, consciousness,
perception, nerves, sleep, intuition, inspiration. Located at the crown,
just beyond the top of the skull.
This chakra is associated with enlightenment, spirituality, energy
and wisdom. If this chakra is blocked there may be a constant sense
of frustration, confusion, depression, obsession, no spark of joy.
Physically it can cover a sensitivity to pollutants, epilepsy or chronic
exhaustion.
Crystals: clear quartz, diamond, selenite, danburite, amethyst,
tanzanite
The heart chakra (4th chakra)

The heart chakra is also known as the Anahata =

unbeaten, a sound made without striking
Also known as the heart centre or ‘that which is even new’
The symbol of this chakra is the 12 petal green lotus flower,
containing two intersecting triangles in a green circle.
The gland associated with it is the thymus and the organ is the
skin – the largest organ of the body.
It is located in the centre of the chest at the heart area and the
colours of the chakra are pink and green. Pink is associated with
emotional well being and green is a very balancing, soothing colour
Food has a huge part to play in our health and wellbeing. After all,
you really are what you eat.
The heart chakra is linked to vegetables in the selection of food,
especially greens. So you should choose leafy green’s like spinach,
kale and salad greens as well as Brussels sprouts peas and
asparagus. You can also choose green fruits such as green grapes,
avocado and kiwi fruit. And of course it also includes some of the
green super food such as green tea, spirulina and wheatgrass
 When you want to work with healing crystals to balance the
energy of the heart chakra, you can choose either green or pink or a
combination. If you want to choose green crystals you can work with
aventurine, malachite, jade, peridot or emerald. If you would like to
work with pink crystals you can choose from rose quartz, kunzite,
morganite, rhodonite or rhodochrosite. You can also choose to work
with unakite which is a combination of green and pink and a very
balancing energy for the heart chakra.
If you like to work with aromatherapy oils and massage,
bergamot, rose, neroli, lavender, geranium and sandlewood all have
an affinity to the heart chakra.
The energy of the heart chakra.
This is the central chakra of the whole chakra system, the heart of
the system.
Obviously, the heart chakra influences matters of the heart -
relationships, love and romance and compassion. It also affects
spirituality and self- acceptance.
Physically, it affects the heart, blood pressure, the lungs and
respiratory system and the upper back and arms.
Modern Western life seems to cause a great deal of trouble for
the heart chakra. Heart disease is a serious problem, it's a major
cause of death, and there are also millions of people who suffer from
heart disease, high blood pressure, poor circulation and respiratory
problems - chronic health problems that cause a great deal of pain
and restrict the ability to live life to the fullest.
At its most basic, the heart is a biological pump whose job it is to
circulate oxygen rich blood around the body. It carries everything that
is needed to all parts of the body, and then removes all the toxins
through the kidneys and liver and lungs. Once we look at it this way,
it's easy to see how vital a healthy heart is to our entire system.
But in our pursuit of success, instant gratification, excitement and
material abundance, we have forgotten how to cherish the things
that truly matter. We often see those who follow their heart rather
than their head as being dreamers, and we mean it to be an insult
rather than praise. But some of our greatest minds have been
dreamers.
Albert Einstein said
“imagination is more important than knowledge. For
knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while
imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be
to know and understand.”
Even the medical profession is beginning to realise that there is a
link between our emotional and mental health and physical health.
High blood pressure and heart diseases are often a physical sign of
someone who is stressed, who is constantly angry or frustrated, and
who is bottling up a great deal of emotional pain.
Every life will have disappointments, losses, problems and
challenges, but when the heart chakra is balanced, all of these
events can be dealt with and processed with positive energy,
allowing you a sense of balance and acceptance, and an ability to
look beyond the immediate problems.
The heart chakra is the central point of the chakra system,
balancing the lower physical chakras with the upper spiritual
chakras. When it is in balance it allows you to create balance
throughout your entire system.
Creating a life/ work balance, creating balance in relationships,
rather than being too demanding or too self-pitying, creating balance
between physical and emotional needs, allowing you to see
opportunities for growth and development, balancing material and
spiritual parts of your life.
A blocked heart chakra can cause paranoia and fear of betrayal,
indecisiveness, shyness, bitterness and jealousy.
Someone with a blocked heart chakra can find it very difficult to
experience true love, instead travelling through a series of short,
intense relationships, constantly looking for love, but constantly
finding pain and emotional instability.
This can be seen in friendships as well as romantic relationships,
a constant series of being let down, disappointed or abandoned, and
this can lead to a spiral downwards, finding yourself unable to trust
and unable to believe in yourself, beginning to ask - ‘Why can't I find
love?’ ‘What is wrong with me?’
The fear of being let down can lead you to shun intimacy
altogether, choosing to ignore the emotion because of the fear of
betrayal, and a sense of jealousy or possessiveness will destroy any
chance of real happiness.
A balanced heart chakra will allow you to love yourself, which is
the very beginning of being able to love anyone else. You'll be able
to appreciate yourself and then the feelings of others.
 It will bring a sense of internal balance that will improve your self-
confidence and your self-esteem, allowing you to have a healthy
connection to others and to create successful relationships based on
mutual respect, trust and compassion.
The ability to balance the material and spiritual parts of our world
is vital to happiness and good health.
A balanced heart chakra and the ability to follow your heart is not
a block to success, far from it, it leads to being more relaxed with
yourself and with others.
Rather than having doubt and insecurity at your core, you have a
great sense of security and safety, which allows you to be open
compassionate, forgiving and to radiate positive energy.
Pleasure, creativity, enjoyment and love are not a waste of time,
they are the things that make life worthwhile. When you put them at
the core of your being, everything else will fall into place.
Heart chakra affects.
So the heart chakra is associated with the heart, both physically,
emotionally and spiritually.
The energy of the heart chakra is linked to compassion, love and
spirituality. It is involved in your ability to have healthy relationships
both with others and with yourself.
Physically it can affect areas of the heart, but also the respiratory
system and the immune system.
It is the area of your energy system that is connected with self-
confidence, self-esteem, self-expression, creativity, generosity,
compassion and respect.
It is the chakra that allows us to recognise the importance of living
with compassion and kindness for others as well as ourselves.
The heart chakra vibrates to the universal force of love for all
beings.

In Balance.
When it is in balance you have your own sense of internal
balance, healthy connection to other people and to relationships.
You can balance between material and spiritual needs. You are
compassionate and are able to give love unconditionally. You are
also able to nurture yourself as well as others.

Out of balance.
When the heart chakra is out of balance you can feel indecisive,
paranoid, a fear of betrayal or you can feel generally sorry for
yourself. It can manifest in shyness, isolation, bitterness or a
tendency to be over possessive or jealous.
It can also manifest in a fear of loneliness but at the same time a
fear of commitment. A habit of demanding attention and it can
sometimes be seen as the martyr or poor me syndrome.
It is also the chakra where old traumas are stored. Old pains,
losses or fears can cause problems with this chakra and this can
lead to an inability to set healthy boundaries.
This loneliness, grief or depression can lead to physical decline,
general illness and an inability of the immune system to function
properly.
Physically it can lead to heart disease, tension, asthma, high
blood pressure, circulatory problems, breast problems, lung disease,
breathing problems and cancers. It can also cover problems with the
arms, hands and fingers.
Strengthening your Chakra System.

In the rest of this book I will be concentrating on specific areas of

alternative therapy and the ways in which they can help you balance
your heart chakra. But you can also make changes in your general
lifestyle that will help you regain balance.
Our modern lifestyle can cause many problems in the heart
chakra. We spend so much of our time inside, locked away from the
natural world, sometimes we don't even breath natural fresh air for
days at a time, moving from the house, to the car, to the office or
some type of other 'inside' to spend the working hours.
We have lost the connection with the natural world, often not even
realising what phase of the moon is shining on us at night or where
our food has come from apart from the supermarket. Most of us have
lost our connection with natural food, simply buying and eating
processed, pre-packed and takeaway meals that sometimes don't
even resemble food.
Even the forms of entertainment and information can be
unhealthy for our energy field.
The TV, cinema and social media is full of negative messages -
violence, anger, wars, misery, danger, selfishness, out of control self-
interest and human catastrophe. The one thing they all have in
common is that they are all examples of very negative energy.
These are the types of problem that can cause blockages in the
heart chakra and problems in life, but how can you change that.
You can make a huge change in your energy field by taking time
to 'smell the roses'.
Take time to get outside, to breathe real air and walk on the earth
rather than concrete. Take slow time, not time running, cycling or
playing active sports. All that might be very good for your physical
health but you also need slow time, time strolling in a garden or park,
time walking in the country or at the coast, time sitting admiring the
work you’ve done in the garden.
Taking the time to breathe real, fresh air and allowing time in your
life for yourself is not selfish at all. We have been brainwashed into
believing that it is, that allowing time for yourself is the worst type of
selfish, especially but not exclusively for women. We have become
used to putting everyone and everything before our own needs, but
in fact taking time for yourself is exactly the opposite of being selfish.
When you allow time for yourself, time to heal, to balance your
energy field and to relax, you will be more able to deal with everyone
and everything else, you will be able to achieve more in less time
with less effort and energy.
We are part of nature and being in nature feeds our energy field,
so try and take a walk in a park or out in the country where you can
smell the scent of nature, enjoy the colour of the flowers and touch
the trees. A walk on the beach can fill your lungs with wonderful
fresh air and walking on sand in bare feet is a unique sensation as
well as being a good exfoliator for your feet.
 Being aware of the seasons, the phases of the moon and the
ancient festivals of nature is a wonderful way of reconnecting with
the natural energy of the earth and our own natural energy.
If you have a garden or access to a garden or outside space,
work with it. Growing flowers can add beauty to your life, growing
your own herbs and vegetable can not only give you fresh air and
exercise, but will also give you fresh, organic ingredients for your
food. Nothing tastes better than a fresh green salad just picked from
your garden, balcony or windowbox.
You should also try to improve and create relationships with other
people. Our personal lives can become very narrow and very lonely.
Many of us live alone or in a series of short term relationships. Even
when we are part of a positive relationship or a loving family, it's not
unusual to not even know our next door neighbours, to live in an
area without having any links in that neighbourhood, a house just as
a dormitory not a home. This sense of social isolation can damage
the energy of the heart chakra and over time it can drain your vital
energy.
Try of make connections with other people. Join organisations, do
some of your socialising locally, get involved in your local church or
join a club.
Belonging and sharing, connecting with and helping other people
is an essential part of having a healthy energy field and chakra
system.
The heart chakra and hormones

We tend to talk vaguely about hormones – especially the female

hormones - without really understanding what they are and how they
affect the whole system.
Hormones are produced in glands throughout the body. They are
chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream and enter
tissues where they regulate everything from growth and emotions,
reproduction and metabolism, general health and well-being.
An imbalance of insulin leads to diabetes, an imbalance of
oestrogen can lead to weight gain or hot flushes, and recent studies
are confirming that an excess of testosterone can be responsible for
increased violence in some men.
Hormones are powerful. It takes only a tiny amount to cause huge
changes in cells or even your whole body, changing your life. That is
why too much or too little of a certain hormone can be serious.
Laboratory tests can measure the hormone levels in your blood,
urine or saliva, and your doctor can arrange for these tests if you
have symptoms of a hormone disorder.
Home pregnancy tests are similar - they test for pregnancy
hormones in your urine.
So in short, balanced hormones are vital to a balanced system.
Each of the seven major chakras has an influence on different
glandular systems. So keeping your chakra system balanced will
automatically have a balancing effect on your hormone system.
The heart chakra – thymus
This specialised gland produces the hormones that stimulate
growth in early life, by the early teens it begins to shrink and be
replaced by fatty tissue.
The thymus also stimulates the production of lymphocytes - T-
cells - which form part of the blood’s white cell defence system, and
as such are critical cells of the immune system.
As we age, the thymus continues to function as an endocrine
gland, important in stimulating the immune system.
The decline in the function of the thymus has been linked to loss
of immune function in the elderly, which can lead to being more
susceptible to infection and illness such as cancer, making it even
more important to protect and strengthen the immune system as we
age.
It is very important for good health to keep the timeless gland
activated because this will keep your immune system strong which of
course means that you are likely to be affected by fewer illnesses
and to heal faster when you do catch a bug.
Having a strong immune system is the aim of most healthy living
systems and diets. It is your defence mechanism protecting you
against all the bugs and bacteria and microorganisms that can cause
illness and damage to your body.
Crystal healing and the Chakra
System

Rose Quartz

Healing crystals are a wonderful way to help balance and

maintain the energy of your chakra system.
Each chakra radiates to a specific colour, which means that you
can work with a crystal of the right colour energy when you are
balancing the chakra system, either as a crystal layout or as a
general, daily balancing method.
Crystals are an easy way to work regularly on the chakras, either
by carrying a piece in your pocket, keeping a larger piece close to
you as you work, or by wearing them as jewellery and keeping them
close to you as ornaments.
The origins of jewellery are linked to the chakra centres as the
gemstones were used as amulets and talismans and general
jewellery developed from that use. The types of jewellery that we use
link to the different chakras - Crowns and headbands, earrings,
chains of different lengths lying at the throat, heart and solar plexus
chakra. Bracelets and belts can work on the lower chakras. Our
ancestors were comfortable with the energy of crystals and
gemstones, and they developed ways of keeping this energy close to
them.
As well as working with the general chakra colours, working with
crystals allows you to be more specific in your healing choice,
picking a crystal from the colour spectrum that can help with a
specific area of energy. For instance, any blue crystal can be used
for balancing the throat chakra, but you can choose lapis lazuli or
sodalite if you want to strengthen your immune system or lower
blood pressure. You might choose kyanite if the area of concern is
an emotional blockage in the throat chakra, feeling unable to get
your ideas across or a feeling that those around you just don‘t listen
to you.
This book is not intended to be a complete guide to crystal
healing - that is a fascinating subject and requires a number of books
to explore it fully, indeed I have written a number of books if you
would like to delve into it greater depth.
But this book concentrates on balancing the heart chakra, and
this section of it is just intended as a guide, to help you choose the
right crystals for this chakra.
This fourth chakra is balanced by the colours green or pink, both
very soothing and calming colours. Green is the colour of nature and
is related to balance in the system is also related to healing and
compassion. Pink is associated with emotional well-being and of
course with love
You can work with a combination of crystals, either different
colours to balance different chakras or either green or pink or a
combination of them to help balance the heart chakra
For instance, I regularly work with morganite because I find it is a
gentle and loving energy, which I find very helpful in combating any
of the frustration I feel caused by ME/CFS. I also like to work with
rose quartz which is very good for creativity, in fact I have a piece of
it on my desk beside the computer.
In the green spectrum personally, I feel drawn to aventurine which
is very good at helping you sort through confusion, and to green
tourmaline which I find inspires creativity and is very helpful when I
am at the beginning of a new project, giving me the energy to start
something fresh.
It is always important to follow your own instincts with crystal
healing. You will find that your energy field draws you to the right
crystal for you.
Although this might sound strange and almost magical - well it is
magical - what happens is that you are attracted to a particular type
of gem or individual gem because it’s pretty, or a nice shape, or it
feels right in your hand. When you find a piece that you just can’t put
down again you will know that you have definitely found ‘your’ crystal

The Heart Chakra is in the centre of the chest and is balanced

by the green and pink shades of crystal.
You can choose the colour you feel most drawn to or use a
combination of pink and green crystals in your heart chakra healing.
There are even some crystals such as unakite and watermelon
tourmaline that are a mix of both colours.
Some crystals and gemstones are rare, which makes them
difficult to find and sometimes very expensive, but this doesn’t mean
that their energy is any stronger.
Personally, I love working with the rare, green garnet, demantoid,
but I also love the energy of aventurine, so don’t worry about having
to look for a rare and expensive piece, just work with the crystals you
are drawn to.
These are just some suggestions for you to choose from, there
are many more crystals, especially in the green spectrum.
 Green Crystals:
Aventurine

This lovely green crystal, which has a subtle sparkle, is often

called the brain stone or the good luck stone and it can help clear up
muddled thoughts and allow you to see opportunities coming your
way. It can help open your mind and heart to see the possibilities
that are available to you and to live with positive energy.

Malachite

Malachite a crystal that contains a lot of copper, in fact it is a

copper ore. It can help ease pain, especially inflammation pain such
as arthritis. It is also considered to help protects the system against
toxins. As a heart chakra healer, it can help rid your energy field of
emotional toxins that can hold you back.

Jade
 Jade has long been known as the gem of health, wealth and long
life and is extremely popular in China. It is a beautiful gentle energy
and again is said to help remove toxins from your system.
It is a very lucky gemstones and very protective, helping to ease
and release tensions that you might have been holding onto in your
heart chakra for a very long time without realising it.

Peridot

Peridot is a gentle but powerful healer. It is considered to bring

positive energy for anyone dealing with traumatic emotional
situations.
It is also considered to help you understand relationships, help in
new beginnings and to help those recovering from illness. It allows
you to forgive yourself and release hidden guilt that may be holding
you back.

Emerald
 Emerald, whether you wear a beautiful gemstone or carry a
tumbled piece like this, can show you that kindness and peace can
enhance love and unity between partners. It can have a very calming
effect on the emotions and is very good at improving your self-
esteem and self-confidence.

Green Garnet

Demantoid and Tsavorite are two of the rarest gemstones in the

world and are beautiful shades of green. The photo is of demantoid
which is a powerful energy for strengthening your vitality. It can also
help strengthen your belief in your own opinions and ideas which
makes it very useful for anyone who tends to be influenced by others
Tsavorite is a richer shade and can help instil a zest for life,
healing emotional trauma and helping you find your inner beauty as
well as easing worries.

Seraphinite
 Seraphinite is a very spiritual gem, a powerful heart chakra crystal
but also powerful for the entire energy field. It can help you regain
order in your life which makes it very helpful when you feel that
things are sinking rapidly into chaos, as it can help you know that
you can take back control
 Pink Crystals:
Rose Quartz

Rose Quartz is known as the Love Stone. It has a wonderful,

calming energy and can help strengthen self-confidence and self-
esteem and creativity as well as helping to attract love and
strengthen the love between partners. It is also considered to help
improve the blood circulation, and its calming energy can help lower
tension and stress which is always good for the heart

Kunzite

Kunzite it is a beautiful crystal with soothing joyful energy. It is

linked to emotion and allows you to open your heart if you have a
tendency to be overprotective of your personal feelings. It can also
help to ease heartache and grief. It is a lovely energy for lifting your
mood, easing depression, and healing the heart. It is also considered
to be very good for new beginnings and can help to support new
mothers.

Morganite
 Morganite is the pink form of Beryl, the family that also gives us
emeralds and aquamarines. It is a very soothing, relaxing energy
and considered to be good for stress illnesses. It is also said to be
helpful when you are recovering from surgery.

Rhodochrosite

Rhodochrosite tends towards the raspberry and rose red end of

the spectrum, but even though it is more vibrant, its energy is very
tender and loving. It can help ease stress and encourage a positive
attitude and enthusiasm for life it can help make you cheerful, active,
creative and passionate.
Physically it is considered to help stabilise blood pressure and
help with asthma or other breathing problems. It can also be a very
useful crystal for anyone who suffers migraines, if you feel the
tension of a migraine begin to build, hold the rhodochrosite in the
hollow at the base of your skull.

Rubellite
 Rubellite is a beautiful and vibrant pink form of tourmaline, some
almost reach the red spectrum which means that it can also help
balance the root chakra.
Rubellite can help you understand and open up to love as well as
allowing you to forgive yourself and find your own love.
I have found it to be a very powerful energy for healing the heart
after great loss or emotional trauma and it is one of the crystals that
you can work with in easing depression.
 Colour combined crystals
Unakite

Unakite is a form of Jasper and is a beautiful mixture of green and

pink. This is a very balancing crystal energy and can help bring
balance to your emotions, to relationships and for balancing the
physical and emotional sides of our nature. It is also considered to
be a very protective energy and is a popular crystal during the early
stages of pregnancy.
It is also considered to help ease deep-seated emotional heart
pain that can be causing physical heart problems, allowing you to
deal with these hidden, toxic emotions that are causing stress and
anxiety

Watermelon Tourmaline

This is a very rare type of tourmaline that literally looks like a slice
of watermelon. It is a very balancing energy and is considered to
help you understand your true self, ridding you of insecurities and
allowing you to find the meaning of your life.
Aromatherapy and the chakras.

Aromatherapy - the art of using plant essences for their healing

energies - dates back to the earliest historical times.
They were used by priests and healers in the ancient civilisations
of Egypt, Persia and China and continued to be used and respected
until science and bottled medicines took over and we lost our way
and our knowledge of ancient healing.
But in recent years we have been regaining our interest in the
tried and trusted traditional ways of healing, and aromatherapy has
been at the forefront of this movement, so much so that it has almost
become too widespread. The term aromatherapy has been added to
products from candles to bath foam, shampoo to household
cleaners. All too easy to lose sight of what aromatherapy really is.
 It is a method of healing using essential oils from plants, very
concentrated plant extracts, which is why they are not to be used
directly on the skin. They are far too powerful and must be diluted
with a carrier oil or in water – although oil and water don’t mix, so
you cannot simply add it to a bottle of water, but you can add a few
drops to a bath or foot spa or to a facial steamer.
Essential oils can be used when working with the chakra system,
either through massage or aromatherapy baths. You can also use
the aromatherapy oils as a perfume as long as they are mixed with a
carrier oil or cream, or you can use them in an oil burner for your
home or work space.
Inhaling the scent is a vital part of healing when working with
these beautiful, essential oils, and they can help bring balance and
harmony to our systems through our chakra system. They can be
used to create the right atmosphere for healing or you can place a
few drops in an oil or cream to create a lotion of the essential oil that
can be applied directly to the chakra area.
You can use an aromatherapy burner to add essential oils to your
healing area when you're balancing the chakra system with crystals
or by dowsing, or during a yoga or reiki session.
You can also choose an essential oil to add aromatherapy
energies to a meditation session.
You should choose an aromatherapy oil that you are drawn to or
that you have decided you need for its specific healing energy, but
there are some oils that are specifically suited to each of the chakras
and the following list can give you some guidance in your choice.
It is important to research the aromatherapy oils you choose
before you to decide to work with them.
Some oils should be avoided if you are pregnant, such as
rosemary, basil, cedarwood, fennel, juniper, marjoram, myrrh, thyme,
basil, nutmeg, clary sage, sage and parsley. In fact you should
always take great care with essential oils when pregnant or with
babies or young children.
 Other oils should be avoided by those who suffered epilepsy,
have kidney problems or high blood pressure. So it is important to
research the oils you want to use, and preferably to go to a reputable
supplier, who will be able to guide you in your choice.
When you are working with aromatherapy oils for healing it is
essential to work with genuine, good quality oils rather than some of
the more basic oils that are sold for burners and are simply for
scenting your home.
Heart chakra oils.
Each chakra has different types of energy, different parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum and different colour energies. In the same
way, each chakra has a natural affinity to specific essential oils, the
energies that are naturally attuned to the needs and wavelength of
that chakra in the same way that certain colours, healing crystals
and foods can help balance each specific chakra.
The heart chakra
Rose essential oil has many properties including that of an
antidepressant and is therefore very helpful in dealing with anxiety,
stress, depression, low self-confidence attention. It is also good for
mature skin.
Bergamot it’s very good for anxiety and insomnia and can also
help relieve stress and tension. It is the oil that is added to tea to
create Earl Grey. It can help release emotional pain and is
considered to be a powerful antidepressant.
Ylang Ylang is another essential oil that can help lift depression.
It can also help soothe fears and anxieties. It is considered to help
control blood pressure as well as improving blood flow and therefore
is very useful for a healthy heart and circulatory system.
Neroli as a beautiful oil often used in luxury skin preparations. It
is calming, can soothe the nerves, help lift depression and as a very
good oil for relieving stress. Studies have also shown that it can help
reduce blood pressure.
Lavender is an extremely versatile and well-known essential oil. It
has been used for thousands of years by the Egyptians the Romans
and the Greeks. Today it is used to help, relieve stress, anxiety and
insomnia.
Geranium is a relaxing and refreshing essential oil often used to
help relieve stress and reduce depression. The antibacterial
properties are also considered to help protect from infection and can
be used to help heal a wound. It has also shown to combat
inflammation in neural pathways which could help to prevent or slow
diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Working with essential oils.
There are many different ways of working with aromatherapy
essential oils, and we tend to have developed a habit of either using
them in an oil burner or using them in some pre-prepared form, such
as candles or commercially available lotions and creams. But it is far
more beneficial if you can choose the specific oils that you want to
work with.
Always buy good quality essential oils and then store them
correctly. They are sold in small, dark bottles and they should be
stored in a cool place, out of the light. The essential oils are very
concentrated and need to be protected from strong light. They also
evaporate quickly in the air, which is why they need to be kept in
small, airtight, dark glass bottles.
Essential oils are very concentrated and very powerful, which is
why they are always diluted before you put them on the skin.
As they will only dissolve in fatty oils rather than water, they are
added to base oils such as almond or sunflower oil or sometimes, to
alcohol.
If you are making your own blend or massage oil, the dilution is
approximately 1-3% aromatherapy oil in carrier oil. So if you are
using 25 ml of almond oil you would add between seven and 25
drops of essential oil. As a general rule, you need a stronger mix of
the essential oil if you are working on a physical ailment and a
weaker solution if you are working on emotional or spiritual problems
Almond oil or sunflower oil are fine if you are making a massage
oil, but you can also use rich oils such as avocado, jojoba or apricot
kernel oil if you want to make a nourishing oil for the skin. You can
also add a few drops of your chosen essential oil or oils to an
unperfumed body lotion or face cream.
Chakra massage.
Once you have created your massage oil, body cream or lotion
you can work directly on the chakra area.
 First of all, put the oil or cream on your hands and breathe in
deeply. The aroma of the essential oil is an important part of the
healing process, but do be careful not to get the pure oils close to
your mouth or eyes and of course you should never swallow them,
they are extremely concentrated and can be toxic if used incorrectly.
Once you have inhaled their scent, either rub the appropriate oil
mix directly into the chakra body area or rub it into your hands and
massage that area, either physically on the skin or as an auric
massage, a little above the actual skin and inside your energy field.
Aromatherapy bath.
We've become very used to having a large range of products
available to us that are sold as aromatherapy shower creams, bath
oils or body lotions, but this is not the same as creating your own
prescription for a healing bath.
Aromatic bathing is one of the most effective and enjoyable ways
of having an aromatherapy treatment, the Romans were certainly in
favour of this type of healing.
First of all run the bath. Then add between four and eight drops of
your chosen essential oils and mix to the water. Don't add them
earlier as the oil doesn't dissolve in water, and much of the effect will
be lost. An aromatherapy bath is a particularly good way of treating
emotional, mental or spiritual imbalances in the chakra system as it
is a very relaxing treatment and an excellent way of breathing in the
healing scent of the oils. It is therefore a very effective way of dealing
with problems such as stress, insomnia, tension, headaches and
anxiety.
Aromatherapy baths can also be a particularly effective way of
dealing with skin conditions and aches and pains.
If you would like to combine therapies for your chakra healing,
you can also add crystals to your bath. Simply place a tumbled piece
of your chosen crystal to the aromatherapy bath. For instance, if you
wanted to work on a lack of self-confidence., you could add two
drops of lavender, two drops of geranium and some rose quartz
crystals to your bath.
Do check your crystal before you add it to water. Most will be fine
but there are some crystals that would dissolve in water, for instance
selenite or halite and some are toxic, such as raw malachite or
galena.
Aromatherapy hair oil.
You can add a few drops of your chosen essential oil to a
nourishing base oil such as jojoba or sweet almond oil if you'd like to
make your own rich conditioner. Massage it into the scalp, and then
wrap your hair in warm towels for a couple of hours. This will help
balance either the third eye or the crown chakra, and is a wonderful
way of relieving tension at the same time as improving your hair.
Steam inhalation.
This method of working with aromatherapy oils has long been
popular in treating colds, throat and chest infections or sinus
problems - problems with the throat chakra. Thyme or peppermint oil
are good choices if you want to work on balancing your throat chakra
in this method. You can also use this method as a facial sauna to
cleanse and soothe you skin
Vaporisation.
Using an oil burner or vaporiser is a wonderful way to perfume a
room with essential oils. It's a perfect way to create a relaxing energy
for a chakra healing session, but you can also choose this method
when you want to work on a particular chakra by choosing one of the
aromatherapy oils for that particular chakra for the burner. Always
make sure that you place the oil burner in a safe place, as of course
it does have a candle in the base of it. You can also use a light bulb
ring or a small bowl of water placed on a radiator – you should
NEVER put essential oils directly onto a heat source. Either of these
methods will defuse the oil around the room but of course they do
not involve a lighted candle so they are safer, especially if you have
young children or pets.
Colour healing and the chakras

As we have seen, the different colours of the rainbow are relevant

to each of the different chakras, so it’s easy to see how we can work
with colour healing therapy to balance the chakra system.
Like many of the therapies that we are rediscovering, colour
therapy has very ancient roots. It dates back to ancient Egypt and
the civilisations of India and China, and coloured light flowing
through stained glass windows in a church can have a powerful
effect.
 It’s well known that colours affect us. How we feel, our moods and
our emotional state, in either positive or negative ways.
Colour can also have a profound effect on us physically. Sitting in
a red room will make you feel warmer than sitting in a blue room,
even though both are exactly the same temperature, simply because
of the colour.
The effects of colour are reflected in language - feeling blue, in
the pink, red rage, green with envy.
Colours can have good and bad effects on us and can be used
with this in mind, whether you are decorating a room, choosing a
new outfit or working with colour for healing.
You can work with colours for therapy in a number of ways.
Crystal healing itself is a method of working with colours for
balancing the chakras, either placing the right coloured crystal on
each chakra, or wearing jewellery that features a crystal of the
chosen colour.
You can also infuse the colour into water and create an elixir.
Make a collection of different coloured glass bottles, one for each
chakra colour that you want to work with. A beautiful green or pink
glass bottle for instance for the heart chakra.
Fill the bottle with pure spring water and let it stand in the
sunshine for about three hours. Pour the water into a glass and take
small sips from it throughout the day. An elixir can be quite powerful,
so don’t take a full glass of colour elixir until you understand how it
will affect you.
You can also use visualisation of colour during meditation to help
balance your chakra system.
Of course, you can also wear the colour that you want to work
with, either in your everyday clothes, or during a healing session.
You can place a silk scarf of the chosen colour over a specific
chakra. You can also wrap the entire body in a rainbow of silk
scarves to balance the entire chakra system.
Recently, it has become easier to find methods of producing
coloured light either using a coloured screen over a light source or
by working with coloured light bulbs and mood lamps. Coloured LED
lamps are an easy way of adding beautiful coloured light displays in
your room, either keeping it on a single colour or letting it range
across the colour spectrum.
The heart chakra vibrates to two colours, green and pink, but in
colour healing it is normally green that is used.
Green light is very balancing.
Green is midway in the colour spectrum and is related to balance.
It is the colour of nature and is a very calm, soothing, compassionate
and cooling energy.
It is a very restful colour for the eyes and tends to fade into the
background, easing rest and relaxation. This makes it a good colour
for bedrooms while a calming nature makes it good for studies or
places of relaxation and calm reflection.
It can be used to help cool the blood, bring emotional and
physical balance and it is good for the heart
It is also considered to be very cleansing and detoxifying and is
used to help deal with the imbalance in the body. It is considered to
be helpful for those living with diabetes, bronchial problems, gout,
cysts and tumours. It is also used to help deal with painful joints.
Although Green is a harmonious and balancing colour, it can also
encourage some negative traits. Don’t forget the saying green eyed
monster. So it can lead to possessiveness, jealousy, indifference,
envy, a tendency to selfishness or greed, even to a certain tendency
to being devious or miserly. So although it is in general a very
relaxing and nurturing colour, you should always take care if you
have any tendencies to these more negative traits as it may well
encourage them
As long as you understand these energies of green both negative
and positive, you can introduce all shades of green into your healing
and it is of course a vital part of balancing the heart chakra.
Although green is the colour that is most regularly used in healing
the heart chakra, pink is also a colour that resonates to this chakra.
 Pink is always seen as a very feminine and romantic colour, used
to dress little girls and decorate feminine bedrooms and this can
make it a colour that is overlooked or not taken seriously.
However pink has wonderful healing properties especially
emotional and it can be a very helpful colour. It can help heal
sadness and grief or heartache. It can be relaxing and nurturing
encouraging emotional healing and friendship as well as more
romantic love. It can be a very calming soothing colour, especially
useful if you are emotionally stressed or suffering from anxiety.
It is combination of red and white, mixing the passion and power
of red with the purity and gentleness of white. This means the richer
and deeper the pink the more the energy is turned towards passion
while the paler the pink the more it will affect compassion.
Pink can encourage understanding, warmth, romance, hope and
intuitive energy.
However it can also lead to over emotion and to somebody being
weak and overcautious, even emotionally needy and demanding.
Being too pink and girly can lead to being immature with a lack of
confidence, so it really isn’t a good idea to live in pink.
Dowsing to balance your chakras

Working with a dowsing pendulum is

fascinating and can help you in almost all areas of life, whether you
want to find water, find things you have lost, help with making
decisions or in balancing energy. Dowsing is one of my passions and
I find that once someone is able to break through the disbelief and
discover what dowsing can do for them, there’s no holding back.
I have written a number of books on dowsing, including one on
dowsing and the chakras. There isn’t room to go into detail in this
book so I am either assuming that you are already a dowser or that
you will want to look for more information elsewhere.
Normally when you are dowsing, you are looking for a ‘yes’ or
‘no’, a ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ response from the pendulum or
dowsing rods, and you will learn what these responses are so that
you can read the answers you are getting from your dowsing.
Dowsing for energy balancing is different. Rather than looking for
yes or no, you are asking the pendulum to balance the energy, so
you will just let your pendulum move as it wants until it stops. When
it stops it means that the energy it is reading is balanced.
As with all dowsing, before you start you should check that it is
alright to dowse your chakras.
Clear your mind and sit or stand somewhere comfortable.
Ask your pendulum if it is all right at this time to work on your
chakra system. At this point you are looking for a negative or positive
response because you are asking a question rather than dowsing to
balance the energy.
There may be times when you get a negative response and this
might be because you are too tired, too emotionally drained or that it
just isn’t an appropriate time to work on your chakra system.
Accept this and put your pendulum away for another time.
If you receive a ‘yes’ answer (which you normally will) ask the
pendulum to help you in balancing your chakras.
Whichever hand you dowse with, hold the other palm over, but
not touching, your heart chakra and hold the pendulum away to the
side of your body.
The pendulum will either remain neutral -indicating that the
chakra is in balance - or it will move. If it does start to move, allow it
to move as it wishes, for as long as it wishes. Once it comes back to
your neutral position you can move your palm over the next chakra.
Alternatively you can focus mentally on each chakra as you
balance it, rather than holding your hand over the area
The strength or size of the movement indicates the balance – or
imbalance of the chakra. If you have an injury or long term illness
you will find that the relevant chakra will stubbornly slip out of
balance on a regular basis.
I have M.E./CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) and I find that my
root and throat chakras are frequently out of balance and need more
time to rebalance than the other chakras.
You can dowse on a single chakra – for instance the root chakra -
as well as the whole system. You can do this to either balance a
single chakra or to help ease a specific pain - for instance on your
throat chakra if you have a sore throat or a cold, on your sacral
chakra if you have indigestion or a stomach upset, or on your third
eye chakra if you have a headache.
However, you should not get into the habit of overworking one
area as this will cause imbalance in the system as a whole.
You should also always take care not to ignore pain or simply
keep working it away with your pendulum.
It’s quite alright to work on easing a temporary pain with an
obvious cause – too many hours standing causing sore feet, too
many hours at a computer screen causing a headache or too many
hours in the garden causing sore everything!
But a persistent, recurring pain is a sign from your body that there
is something wrong and you should never just try to get rid of that
type of pain, whether with your dowsing pendulum or over the
counter pain killers.
You should seek medical advice and find out what is causing the
pain.
Healing from within

Most of the methods of balancing that we have looked at are, in

some way, external. But you can also work on balancing and healing
your chakra system from within, by choosing foods and herbal teas
that balance and complement the chakra system.
 When you are working with food to heal your energy system, it is
important that you choose foods that are healthy in and of
themselves, not only from a physical point of view but food that has
healthy energy as well.
This means choosing foods that have been grown or reared with
respect, given time to develop the goodness and balanced life force
that they should have.
Fruit and vegetables that are forced and produced with chemicals
and fertilisers to speed their growth, haven’t had the time that they
need to produce the sugars and nutrients that they should have.
Some crops are harvested early and then shipped around the globe
to reach the supermarkets before they are ripe and ready to be
picked.
Fruit and vegetables use the energy of the sun to grow and
produce the vitamins that we need, they also draw the minerals we
require from the earth that they grow in, drawing the goodness from
the rocks beneath us and they need the proper amount of time to
gather this goodness.
It’s also important to ensure that the meat and fish you are eating
has been reared properly and with respect, and that the animals have
been fed with good quality food themselves, and that they have been
cared for. Look for free range or organic meat, dairy and eggs if you
can, the ideal is to be able to buy from a farmer’s market or farm shop
where you can deal with the farmers who produce the food.
If you are going to work with food for energy healing, you should
try and choose good quality organic and preferably locally produced
food, so that you are ingesting the best energy that you can for your
healing.
You can also work with herbal teas – properly called herbal
infusions – taking the healing properties of herbal medicine in the
easy to use form of a refreshing drink rather than in our modern tablet
form.
As with all other forms of healing, it’s best to work on your entire
chakra system rather than focusing on one area. Although you can
concentrate on a single chakra to heal a specific problem, you should
always remember that it is as system and we are a whole system
rather than a collection of parts. And when working with food for
chakra healing, your diet would be awfully boring if you just
concentrated on one area!
The heart chakra vibrates to the colour green - so eat your greens!
Leafy greens including kale and spinach, and broccoli are
particularly good, as are raw foods that still have all their chlorophyll.
You can also choose foods such as Brussels sprouts, peas and
green beans and asparagus.
There are also plenty of green fruit such as kiwi fruit, apples,
grapes, avocado and limes.
The heart chakra is connected to your emotions, so if it is out of
balance there is always a danger of emotional eating or on the other
hand, emotional not eating. A healthy relationship with food is central
to good health, and this kind of unhealthy and unbalanced
relationship with food can be a very strong indication that your heart
chakra is blocked.
If you are at the beginning of a journey to healing your heart
chakra, you may find green smoothies very helpful as they are
obviously full of green energy, but are also full of health giving
properties, are easy to fit into your lifestyle, can either reduce your
tendency to snacking or encourage your appetite. The process of
making a green smoothie rather than reaching for a packet of crisps,
also makes you think about the fuel you are putting into your body
and is away to give yourself more self-care and self-love, all of which
are important for healing and strengthening the heart chakra.
And of course a smoothie is not the only type of drink that can
have healthy properties. Herbal teas or infusions are very easy drinks
to prepare, have the healing properties of herbs and are much
healthier than a can of soda
Lemon Balm, Hawthorn, Apple, rose and Rosehip teas are a good
choice for the heart chakra.
 Lemon balm belongs to the mint family and can help aid digestion
and soothe the stomach, and it is also a very calming and soothing
energy and has been used to help treat anxiety and stress.
Rosehip is an extremely rich source of vitamins C which makes it
an excellent tea for boosting the immune system. As an antioxidant it
can help prevent heart disease which can be caused by oxidation. It
has also been shown to reduce the buildup of fat in cells
As an herbal medicine, Hawthorn is widely regarded in Europe as
a safe and effective treatment for the early stages of heart disease. It
is considered to help with the circulatory system, angina, high blood
pressure, and is even considered to help with congestive heart failure
and cardiac arrhythmia.
Apple are well known as a healthy fruit, after all the saying an
apple a day keeps the doctor away has been known for many years.
Apple tea is considered to be high in antioxidants which can help
strengthen the immune system fighting disease and infection. Apples
also contain phytonutrients which can help in maintaining a healthy
heart and if drunk regularly is considered to lower cholesterol and to
help lower the risk of stroke.
Rose tea is another drink that contains high levels of vitamins C
and antioxidants. The fact that these have an ability to repair cellular
damage means that they can help protect against serious illnesses
such as heart disease. It can also help strengthen the immune
system. As with rose essential oil rose tea can help relieve stress,
calming the mind and him proving your general mood, as well as
helping with depression.
A heart chakra altar

Focusing your mind can be very difficult, there are so many

distractions in our modern world, so any things that demand the
attention and sap the spiritual energy, and this can cause blockages
and imbalance in the chakra system.
Creating a personal sacred space is an excellent way of focusing
your attention and giving you the space to step out of the everyday
clamour of life.
Most of us are anchored in the physical world and we need
outward signs, physical markers to help draw us into our inner world
of spiritual healing.
Try to set aside some space, no matter how small, that will give
you these outward visual triggers, a collection of items that form a
spiritual home in a part of your life.
You can create your altar in a corner of your garden or on a small
table or shelf in the corner of room, even a small corner of your desk.
 You can have more than one altar in your home and of course you
can create one in your work area. They don’t have to be obviously
altars, just a collection of objects that are special to you and that have
spiritual meaning for you. An altar gives you a space where you can
think, meditate or simply take time away from the everyday noise.
And the way you use your altar is also personal. You may choose
to pray at it, meditate, light a candle and create a peaceful moment in
time for yourself. You might just pick the objects up and take a close
look at them as individual items that are special to you.
But whatever you choose and however you choose to use your
altar, keep it special and personal, your own private, spiritual space.
Don’t allow it to become cluttered with other stuff, keep it tidy, dusted,
a separate area away from the everyday rush.
Creating a heart chakra altar is an excellent way of creating the
focus that can help in your healing and balancing, designing a space
that represents the heart chakra and gives you that physical focal
point.
If you have a garden or access to outside space, this is a very
good place for your heart chakra altar, a place that you can centre
yourself in nature. Ideally you will be able to actually sit on the ground
and settle yourself in close contact with the earth energy, physically
connecting your chakra system with Mother Earth. It is also an ideal
place to practice your yoga.
If you can't manage to physically sit on the ground, set a seat as a
permanent part of your altar area so that it is easy to sit down, take
your shoes off and still have that physical connection with the earth
and the energy of our beautiful planet. It's best to have a permanent
seat rather than having to go and find one and carry it out each time -
which you won't do!
Your heart chakra altar should incorporate the colours green and
pink in some way, a soft pink cloth and green plant pots or hand
painted and stencilled furniture in a floral pattern. Of course you can
also include plants, an easy choice for a heart chakra altar, green
leaves and pink flowers.
 Taking care of plants is an excellent way of creating balance in
your heart chakra and there are a number of herbs that have an
affinity with the heart chakra so creating a small herbal garden as
your altar can serve a double purpose, giving you the space and time
to meditate and relax while growing and tending the plants that can
also help with your health.
Lavender, roses and geranium are considered to have an affinity
to the heart chakra.
If your heart chakra altar is inside you could use some heart
shaped ornaments or furnishing decorated with hearts, indeed if you
are creating a meditation area in a room you could design a gentle,
calming space with cushions, throws or hangings in pink and green
is, highlighted with hearts. But don’t overdo it, it’s very easy to tip from
gentle soothing and loving to overpowering, twee and kitsch. It’s
important to be able to respect your personal altar space.
The heart chakra is associated with the sense of touch and the
skin, so you can include soft, tactile fabrics and possibly some oil or
cream infused with rose or geranium to rub onto your skin as part of
your altar ritual.

Of course you can also include healing crystals – I always include

healing crystals in everything, I find the energy powerful, very healing
and calming. The crystals can be smooth tumbled pieces, natural
unpolished pieces or carvings. I like to work with rose quartz in any
heart chakra healing area because it is very soothing, calming and
loving. I also like to include some green aventurine as it is mentally
very calming and can help you see your way through problems,
especially if you are muddled or confused.
Chakra affirmations

The brain is a very powerful thing and often underestimated in its

ability to change our physical bodies.
In fact it’s almost said is an insult quite often, oh it’s all in your
head, as if being in your head means that it isn’t real. But your reality
is created by your thoughts, if you tell yourself often enough that you
can’t do something, or even more dangerously if somebody else, a
parent or a teacher, tells the child often enough that they are lazy,
stupid, unattractive, a failure, then those thoughts will create the
future reality of that person.
Telling yourself something often enough will create a reality, which
is why positive thinking is so important for good health throughout
our entire energy system, emotional, spiritual, mental and physical.
Using affirmations regularly and practising this positive mental
attitude means that you can achieve astonishing results simply
through the power of thought.
This works in exactly the same way with your chakras, Part of
your chakra balancing can be to use positive affirmations as you
meditate, work with colour or crystal healing, focus your attention on
your heart chakra altar or any other way that you are balancing and
healing your chakra.
In the same way that each chakra is related to a different part of
our physical body, our emotional body, our spiritual and mental
needs and our hormonal system, different affirmations suit the
different chakras.
heart chakra affirmations.
An affirmation is simply a set of words that focuses your positive
attention on a goal you wish to achieve.
I find it best to focus on a single affirmation at a time, placing it
somewhere where you will repeat it to yourself regularly.
For instance you could write it on a Post-it note and stick it on
your bathroom mirror, or write it out and put it close to your computer
screen. You could put it in a frame and hang it in your bedroom next
to where you get ready in the morning, in fact you can choose to
place your affirmation anywhere as long as you chose somewhere
where you will see it regularly.
It is important to see it, certainly at first, to give you a visual
prompt to use your affirmation even when it feels foolish to you.
Your affirmation can be any form of words that is positive and that
you find encouraging.
These are a few suggestions but none of them are fixed, your
affirmation will be something that suits you personally and your own
healing needs.

***************

I’m able to love myself and appreciate my abilities.

***************

I am able to listen to my inner voices and trust myself

***************

I know that I am worthy of being loved

***************
 I am able to follow my heart’s desire

***************

I can let go of the past, forgive others and forgive myself

***************

I am willing to release all fear and worry

***************

Love is universal and makes everything possible

***************

Any form of words that is positive will help you to reprogram your
brain, so choose any of these forms. Mix and match them or use
them as a starting point to create your own affirmation. The
important thing is to choose your affirmation and repeat it to yourself
regularly.
Using a positive affirmation is a well used technique to change the
negative voices that many of us have in our head, into something
positive.
When you believe that you can do something, it’s much more
likely that you will do it. There are times when affirmations can to
turn failures into great successes, successes that can seem almost
miraculous.
Believing in yourself really is the key to being able to do things
and that is the same whether you believe that you are attractive and
therefore you will attract other people, whether you believe you can
pass exams and therefore you will pass exams.
It can work in jobhunting, if you believe you can get the job you
are much more likely to get it, if you believe you can get the
promotion and that you are worth the pay rise then you are much
more likely to be the one who succeeds.
But do stick with it. You must remember that you have probably
spent years being trained to think negatively. Other people and then
you yourself, have spent most of your life creating a negative self
image for yourself, which affects your entire energy field, so you
must allow time for this to be reversed and for your positive self-
image to become your normal state of mind.
It will probably seem very strange, in fact odd at first but stick with
it and believe in what you are saying. The more you say it the more
you will create the links in your brain and it will become your new
reality.
Working with the chakra system.

There is a big difference between understanding the chakra

system and understanding this what effect it can have on you in
everyday life, now you need to put this into practice.
As we’ve seen at its simplest, imbalance in the chakra system
means illness, unhappiness, dissatisfaction, exhaustion and
depression.
Balance means good health, energy, a positive outlook, creativity
and happiness.
Set aside time to work on your whole chakra system, ensuring
that you keep the entire system in balance with the energy flowing
from the firm foundations of a well nurtured heart chakra to the
crown chakra.
Remember that time dedicated to yourself and your well being is
not at all selfish. You are ensuring that you keep you energy
balanced throughout your entire system – physical, emotional,
mental and spiritual. If you keep yourself healthy and balanced, you
will be much more able to take care of others.
It's often said that the body is a temple – but then again, there are
all those interesting ruins of Greek and Roman temples. Make sure
that your temple does not resemble them – no matter how
picturesque they are. Make sure that your temple is well cared for
and well-built, balancing the heart chakra will ensure that your
temple has a strong foundation, balance the entire chakra system
and will mean that your temple is not only strong but beautiful as
well.
And into the future
The chakra journey is never ending.
It is a path that we can follow for our entire lives, fine tuning,
learning, adapting and growing. Constantly understanding something
new about ourselves and learning how to improve our chakra
balance and our lives.
In any form of healing it is important to be open to new knowledge
and new experiences, always growing and adapting to
circumstances and learning to enjoy the journey.
As soon as you think you know everything, you have closed your
mind to the wonders that the world can show. No one can know
everything - that would be so boring!
So I hope this book can help start you on your journey to a
lifetime of learning to understand your heart chakra. You can read
more about the individual chakras in the rest of this series or about
the whole system in some of my other books.
I hope they bring you ever closer to the goal of perfect balance.
About the Author

From a long line of healers on the West Coast of Ireland, Brenda

has worked with energy healing, the chakra system, a dowsing
pendulum and healing crystals for almost 20 years and is a member
of the British Society of Dowsers.
She regularly gives talks and classes on dowsing, vibrational
therapies, crystal healing and colour healing as well as writing
books, articles and well known series of Core Information charts on a
number of alternative therapies.

you can contact her at:

[email protected]
website: www.healing earth.co.uk
 Also by Brenda Hunt

Available as paperbacks and Kindles on Amazon

Healing crystals – a guide to working with series

A guide to working with Amethyst
A guide to working with Rose Quartz
A guide to working with Obsidian
A guide to working with Carnelian
A guide to working with Citrine
A guide to working with Tourmaline

A Beginner’s Guide to Crystal Healing

A Beginner’s Guide to the Chakra System
A Beginner’s Guide to Pendulum Dowsing
Crystal Healing and M.E./ CFS

Dowsing and the Chakra System

Dowsing for a happy, healthy home
Dowsing and your garden
Dowsing for Good Health

The Chakra Series

– Understanding, Balancing & Healing
The Root Chakra
The Sacral Chakra
The Solar Plexus Chakra
The Heart Chakra
Coming soon:
The Throat Chakra
The Third Eye Chakra
The Crown Chakra