Love is not the only emotion to affect the heart, however. Hate is also an emotion of the heart. Hate, cruelty, love and kindness are the negative and positive emotions of the heart. Nervousness, excitement, joy, tranquility, honor, and respect also affect the heart. Excess of any of these emotions can impair the energy of the heart. Restless nights during a time of emotional turmoil are such a common occurrence it's cliché. Anything that affects a part affects the whole.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the heart stores "shen" or spirit. When the heart is disturbed, shen is also disturbed. Insomnia, excessive dreaming and forgetfulness are symptoms of an unsettled shen. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, good health means maintaining a balance of body, mind and spirit. What disturbs your heart pulls your body, mind and spirit out of balance. One path back to balance is through meditation.

Heart Meditation

Set up your meditation space with a cushion or chair in a place where you won't be interrupted. You may want to include some gentle music, incense or lighted candles. Sit comfortably erect with your hands crossed on your abdomen. Focus your awareness on your body. Are your shoulders back and down? Is your spine aligned?

Feel the rise and fall of your abdomen under your hands as you breathe. Imagine there is a feather in one of your nostrils. As you inhale, you don't want the feather to be pulled into your nose or dislodged as you exhale. Slow even breaths will allow the feather to remain in place.

Move your attention to the soles of your feet (if you're in a chair) or the base of your spine (if you're seated on a cushion). Feel the earth beneath you. Slowly move your hands out to your sides (about waist level), palms toward the earth. Imagine that with each inhale you are more strongly connected to the energy of earth. After eight breaths, turn your palms upward toward heaven.

For eight breaths, imagine yourself connected to heaven through the top of your head and your palms. With each breath, your connection to heaven becomes stronger. Bring your hands back to your lap to rest, left palm in right with thumb-tips touching. Feel the energy of earth and heaven holding you securely as you watch your breath flow into and out of your abdomen for eight breaths.

Separate your hands on your lap until they are palm-up fingertips toward each other (as though you're holding a bowl). In time with your next inhale, slowly raise your hands to chest level. Turn your hands palms down and let them sink back to your navel with your exhale.

As you coordinate your breath with your movements, imagine a warm red energy flowing into your heart as you inhale. As you exhale, imagine negative energy and tension leaving your body and grounding into the earth. With each inhale you feel calmer and more positive. With each exhale pain, tension and confusion clear away like fog dispersing.

When you feel clear and wish to end the meditation, move your hands out to your sides and bring them in an arc up over your head. Imagine you are gathering energy from the air as you inhale. Bring your hands down toward your navel as you exhale, pulling that energy to you. Repeat this movement three times. Then sit for a moment in the peace you've just created.