The heart chakra, or Anahata, is the fourth chakra in your body’s energy system. Located in the centre of your chest, it’s associated with love, compassion, and emotional resilience. When balanced, your heart chakra encourages emotional openness, empathy, and inner peace. However, during challenging life stages, such as menopause, this vital energy centre can become blocked resulting in both physical symptoms and emotional struggles. In this month’s blog, we’ll explore the heart chakra’s influence on your health, how menopause can impact it, and ways to keep it balanced and unblocked.
What is the Heart Chakra?
The heart chakra, represented by a green, twelve-petaled lotus, is connected to both your physical and emotional heart. It is the bridge between your three lower chakras (often referred to as the “survival chakras” as they’re focused on physical and emotional security) and the upper chakras (connected to your intuition and spirituality). A balanced heart chakra allows for emotional connection and resilience, helping you to feel love and compassion toward yourself and others. To learn more about the Root, Sacral and Solar Plexus Chakras read our previous blogs at https://phoenixwellness.co.uk/our-blogs
What organs are linked to the Heart Chakra?
As with all the chakras in your body, the Heart is particularly influential in several organs and systems, specifically:
- Heart and Circulatory System: Responsible for your blood flow, circulation, and cardiovascular health.
- Lungs and Respiratory System: Linked to your breath and life energy.
- Thymus Gland: Located behind your sternum in the centre of your chest, this gland supports your immune system and is associated with heart-centred energy.
- Shoulders, Arms, and Hands: Your ability to reach out to others and receive love is symbolically tied to these areas – think about what you do when you hug someone or want to comfort someone!
These physical connections make the heart chakra a significant energy centre for both your emotional and physical wellbeing.
How might Menopause block your Heart Chakra?
Menopause, as we know is a normal biological process, which brings about hormonal fluctuations that can be emotionally and physically challenging for some of us. The decrease in oestrogen and progesterone can create instability in your mood and physical comfort, which can block or unsettle the heart chakra. So, what might you experience if your heart chakra becomes blocked during menopause?
- Emotional Imbalance: Menopause often brings emotional fluctuations such as anxiety, sadness, mood swings, anger and irritability. These feelings can close off your heart chakra, making it difficult for you to connect emotionally with yourself or others. You might feel “unloved” or find it hard to show love towards those around you.
- Physical Discomfort: Your heart and lungs are directly affected by hormonal changes, often leading to increased heart palpitations and respiratory issues. This can strain your heart chakra’s energy and create feelings of unease or vulnerability. Alongside changes in oestrogen and progesterone levels through menopause, we can also experience fluctuations in the production of oxytocin known as “the love” hormone resulting in feeling less comfortable expressing or accepting love.
- Loss of Identity: Menopause marks a new phase of life, leading many of us to question our purpose, roles, and identity. This existential questioning can block your heart chakra, creating emotional isolation or feelings of being disconnected from who we once were.
How can you tell if your Heart Chakra is blocked?
There are a few signs that would suggest your heart chakra has become blocked as you go through menopause. Here are the most common indicators that you might want to look out for:
- Emotional numbness or a sense of being emotionally “closed off”.
- Difficulty connecting with others or a sense of isolation.
- A lack of self-compassion or self-love.
- Heart or chest discomfort, anxiety, and irregular heartbeat.
- Shoulder and back tension.
If these symptoms sound familiar, it may be time to explore ways to nurture and unblock your heart chakra. Of course, if any of the physical symptoms persist or worsen, especially if pain is felt in your chest, shoulders, neck or jaw, this could be an indicator of something more serious so always seek medical help. We cannot overlook the fact that heart disease or heart attack is now the number one killer of women especially post menopause, and yet is often missed or overlooked by the medical profession because we do not display the commonly recognised symptoms (as presented in men)!
What can you do to unblock and heal your Heart Chakra?
The journey to a balanced heart chakra is deeply personal and will be different for every woman, but there are several techniques that can help you to open and restore this energy centre. Here are some ideas for you to explore:
- Meditation and Visualization: Practicing guided heart chakra meditations can help you to focus energy on opening your heart centre.
- Breathing Exercises: Since your heart chakra connects closely to your respiratory system, deep breathing exercises can support heart chakra healing., as well as calming your nervous system, reducing stress, and encouraging your heart chakra to open.
- Physical Movement: Movement can be a powerful way for you to release energy blockages throughout your body. Heart-opening yoga poses gently stretch your chest and encourage energy flow through your heart chakra. Walking in nature can also help, especially in green environments, aligning with the heart chakra’s colour and calming the spirit. You may want to check out my short video on YouTube “Embracing the Joy of the Season” where I and my colleagues discuss the healing energy of nature at this time of year. By embracing the new rhythms and spirituality of the autumn and winter we can heal our mind, body and soul, building our resilience and freeing our energy for the coming of the light and the Spring.
- Reiki and Energy Healing: Reiki focuses on balancing energy through gentle touch or hovering hands and can specifically target your heart chakra to help release emotional or physical blockages. Reiki is well known for having many health benefits and is recommending by the NHS as an alternative therapy in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.
- Sound Healing: This is a relatively new therapy that is growing in popularity. Sound frequencies are known to influence chakra healing. Try listening to 528 Hz frequency (associated with love and healing) or engaging with crystal singing bowls, such as at a Sound Bath or Gong Meditation, to help balance your heart chakra.
- Crystals: Rose quartz, green aventurine, and emerald are connected to the heart chakra promoting emotional healing and open heartedness.
- Herbal Teas: Hawthorn Berry or Rose and Hibiscus are thought to promote heart health and emotional calmness.
- Aromatherapy: Essential oils like rose, geranium, and lavender can be diffused, added to baths, or used as part of your self-care routine to foster a sense of self-love and balance.
- Journaling and Reflection: During menopause, your emotions and thoughts can be overwhelming. Journaling is a great way (and one of my favourites) to process feelings, affirm self-compassion, and understand how to cultivate a more heart-centred approach to your life. Writing about gratitude or acts of kindness can open your heart chakra, nurturing emotional resilience and self-awareness.
Summary
Menopause is a time of immense change, but it can also be a time of renewal and growth, if you are willing to open your mind to its full possibilities and opportunities. By paying attention to and looking after your heart chakra, you can navigate this stage with even more grace, love, and openness, fostering deeper connections to yourself and others. Embracing a variety of healing practices can help you to keep your heart chakra in balance, making menopause a journey toward self-compassion and empowerment.
For more support
If you would like to learn more about the important role of your Heart Chakra and how you can harness its healing powers for a better menopause experience, you may want to join the next instalment in our very special programme SEASONS OF WISDOM. Taking place online on Wednesday 20th November, 19.30-21.00, we’ll explore the role of the Heart Chakra and learn lots of ways to open this important energy centre.
For more information and to book your ticket go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1062665865209?aff=oddtdtcreator