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Body Work |
I started writing this piece out of a deep need to heal my own heart, having come most of the way through a very painful time, but still feeling pain linger on in my heart like a soapy sponge that doesn’t quite rinse out no matter how much fresh water runs through it. At the same time, I felt deep-bone tired. I realized that the truly difficult months had drained my heart, leaving me weary and worn, and that I was in deep need of spiritual renewal. It was then, in the slow aftermath, that heart healing practices seemed to make the greatest difference. Over the years, I have gathered quite a collection of techniques for working with a saddened or heavy heart. The wisdom of many traditions and cultures touches on healing the heart. Every soul has its own intuition about how best to heal. Yoga, meditation, long walks in the mountains, gardening – the list is endless. I leave a description of the practices for another time, and look first at the energy of the heart, a foundational element in all healing. Energetics Of The Heart Many traditions have explored the energetic of the heart, developing ways to open and heal the heart. The Heart is recognized as a major energy center in the body, regardless of the terminology that is applied, be it chakra, energy center, the light within, or something else. The Heart Center is located midway between the nipples, in the chest. It is the location of the heart organ, and the area where many people intuitively feel their heart energy resides. Universally, the Heart is our connection to love and the divine. In Chinese medicine, the Heart is the ruler of all the organs. It is the one that controls our life destiny, and the life spirit of the Heart is the most critical to keeping us functioning and happy. Organs, in the Chinese medical sense, encompass much more than the flesh itself. Each organ includes the spirit of the organ and the associated meridian, as well. In order to differentiate this larger sense, the name of the organ is typically capitalized. I follow that custom in this article. Experientially, everyone has felt that when the Heart is open, loved, and loving, the chest area feels warm, spacious, and the whole central core, from belly to third eye, feels relaxed. In contrast, when the Heart is contracted, sad, or heavy, it feels tiny, hard, and isolated from the rest of the body. According to Chinese medicine, emotions and the health of organs are mutually dependent. Thus, weak Heart energy can cause depression or another heart imbalance, and depression or difficulty with love or relationships can harm the Heart. When healing the Heart, it is helpful to have an understanding of some of the energetic imbalances one might have a history of, or be prone to develop. The main imbalances associated with the Heart, and the interrelated symptoms and causes, are: Heart Qi Deficiency
– Causes/results: Prolonged depression, sadness; boundary violations;
abuse; lack of joy in life. Treatment: Use of herbs, acupuncture, Qi
tonics; being around fire; having fun. This meditation and many spiritual practices in general, often end by dedicating the effort to the good of all. The practice of cultivating a compassionate intention can itself be a powerful and healing force in a world deeply in need of peace. May the merits of this practice benefit all beings and bring peace.
Jean Bodeau is owner of Moonstone Acupuncture and Healing Center. She is currently working on a book of practices to heal the Heart. |
