July 31, 2020

The heart, hṛdaya. This is such an evocative word and it is also easily misinterpreted or limited. Here, we are exploring this concept as attribute 4 in the list of qualities describing the One. In contemplating this, we also invite the remembering of our essence as Her.

The heart has layers of meaning: the anatomical heart, the emotional heart and the spiritual heart. The anatomical heart is the most concrete and perhaps this least significant for our purposes here. The anatomical heart is located slightly left of centre in the upper thoracic cavity. It pumps blood, carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide to the cells and back to the lungs for exhalation, respectively. It governs our body’s capacity to function and is integral for life itself. The heartbeat, as mimicked by the drum, (the damaru in Shiva Nataraja imagery - see earlier blog: ) has been a key component of shamanic practices across cultures.

The emotional heart is the creatrix, the processing plant and digesting system for our emotional landscape. This is “located” in the body about ten centimetres to the right of the anatomical heart. This hub, the anahata chakra, is often described as a wheel of spinning light located along the central column of the torso which is just in front of the anatomical spine. This is where we feel - especially love and sadness, grief and heartbreak that is part and parcel of human love. As a result, this location can be one where we are heavily armoured, or protected as we shield our tender heart from the hurt that is an inherent aspect of embodiment. Alternatively, we can be too open here and unable to hold and digest the emotions that we feel ourselves and that we pick up from others. Creating balance through feeling all that we feel without attaching to or rejecting to any feeling, is important for optimal functioning.

The heart refers to the centre point between two poles as well as the innermost part of something. This references the spiritual heart, the seat of our essence nature. This non- locale point is an area that is described in various ways in Tantrik sources. One common location technique is to feel into a point at the centre of the base of the pelvis (anterior of the coccyx) and a point about three fist-widths above the crown of the head. Then, feel into the line that connects those two poles. This is the central axis, the main energetic column of the subtle body, called the sushumna nadi. The chakras, including the heart chakra are found along this column. Now, locate the centre between those two poles along this central column of the torso. This non-specific point is below the heart chakra and often described as slightly on the posterior side of the central column. This is the spot that we want to connect with and expand our awareness of through our spiritual practices. We have all felt this place in moments of transcendent beauty, awe and love that is beyond a connection to one individual.

Another way we could describe this point is that it is the innermost point of our being. This deep essence dot is that place that holds the universe in microcosmic form. It is

infinite spacious, all-encompassing totality, pure potency and enlivened vibration. It is the three previous qualities interwoven and given a home within our body.

The spiritual heart is where all opposites meet. It is the place of union, where the inhale becomes the exhale. As we feel into this centre more and more we are able to merge the contrasts into a unified experience. This is place where love and hate merge into an unconditional loving presence that holds all feelings and is beyond any one experience or any one love. As Rumi said, this is where we “must forsake a thousand half-loves to bring one full heart home.”

Reposing in this centre is the fundamental intention of our spiritual practice. From here, an ease of being, a quiet acceptance of all that is and a soft willingness to experience whatever arises emerges. This is ananda, the joy of being that becomes our core operational mode.