the heart chakra

The heart chakra is represented by the color green. In some people who have developed the ability to be unconditionally loving, the heart chakra becomes a rosy pink. This is the chakra of love, romance, relationships and communication.

If the heart chakra is healthy, we are able to empathize with others as well as treat ourselves in a kind and loving way. We have healthy relationships with good friends and nurturing lovers, and we are able to receive and give love in compassionate and loving ways.

When the heart chakra is unbalanced, we can have trouble maintaining healthy relationships, or a tendency to fall into dysfunctional patterns. We may become hard on ourselves, holding ourselves up to standards no one could possibly meet. Or we may appear domineering or "cold-hearted." We may be perceived as stingy or mean (think Scrooge.)

There are numerous diseases which plague this area of the body and this reflects the unloving nature of our culture and the blows we ourselves suffer. it is critical to keep a healthy heart AND a healthy heart chakra, so that physical symptoms can be allievated in later life. This is the area where unresolved emotional woundings will surface most readily, and this is one reason why heart problems and breast cancer are so prevalent in our world.

The foods which will help to balance the heart chakra include all green foods - interestingly, the most plentiful color of the spectrum. This is the central chakra and this color is critical in the diet, from deep dark spinach to palest green scallions and leeks. "white" vegetables are by default green because they grow, and they don't contain complete proteins.

Because the heart chakra also resonates to the vibration of pink, red foods are also of great benefit, but do not substitute for green.