The heart chakra is an energy center located in the middle of the chest. The heart chakra resonates with the color green. The body parts associated with the heart chakra include the heart, breasts, lungs, diaphragm, ribs, chest, thymus, circulatory system, shoulders, arms, and hands. Spiritually and emotionally, the heart chakra is related to the ultimate guiding principle of universal love, which includes kindness, forgiveness, hope, self love, universal consciousness, emotional balance, and empathy.

When energy is flowing through the heart chakra properly, you appreciate the beauty that is all around you and you feel deeply connected to everything.

Life experiences that can lead to an imbalance include breakups, death of a loved one, abuse, and rejection. Stress, illness, and overthinking can also cause an imbalance of the heart chakra.

Spiritual and emotional signs that there may be an imbalance of the heart chakra include despair, hate, envy, fear, jealousy, feeling withdrawn or antisocial, codependency, holding grudges, and anger.

Physical signs that there may be an imbalance of the heart chakra include heart disease, asthma, lung disease, breast cancers, pneumonia, thymus gland disorders, and upper back/shoulder problems.

There are relatively easy ways to begin to re-balance your heart chakra. But first, understand that you must be aware of your emotional and physical reactions when you feel them in order for these methods to be effective. Be mindful and intentional about your chakra work. Also, make it a point to consistently practice those chakra balancing exercises until you feel a change. Even though you will have to reconcile the core issues that contributed to the imbalance, once you start doing these simple practices, the deeper meaning of your heart chakra blockage will be revealed to you in a way that will make resolving these issues easier. Remember: Chakra balancing is a work in progress.

One of the ways to balance the heart chakra is to develop an appreciation of beauty in all its different forms. For example, you can do this by listening to music, visiting museums, watching videos about fashion, and reading novels and poetry. You may want to take a course or seminar on these subjects.

Practice self-care and self love by eating well, getting enough rest, exercising, treating yourself to a spa day—anything that makes you feel special.

Love yourself unconditionally by accepting who you are—as is—body, mind, and spirit.

Reciting affirmations each day can also help. Some affirmations include “I love all of me, without question,” “I am beautiful, I am loved,” “I forgive myself,”  and “I am open to receive love and give love.”

If you meditate, sit quietly for a few minutes and simply visualize the color green. Also, meditating while holding crystals, carrying crystals in your pocket or purse as you go about your daily activities, and wearing crystal jewelry are also great ways to balance your chakras. The heart chakra resonates with green crystals such as bloodstone, jade, malachite, emerald, and moss agate. The heart chakra also resonates with pink crystals like rose quartz, rhodonite, and ruby.

Eating green foods can also help rebalance the hearty chakra. These foods include limes, green apples, avocados, kale, lettuce, spinach, bok choy, collard greens, and broccoli. Don’t forget to use green spices such as basil, thyme, and cilantro.

Another thing to do is to incorporate green or pink into your day-to-day life as in clothing. items of clothing, or items in your home.

Finally, each chakra vibrates to a specific frequency and resonates with different sounds. Therefore, one way to tap into the sound vibration of the heart chakra is to listen to binaural beats made specifically for that chakra.