Chakra 4 of 7 · Anahata
Heart chakra
Love, kindness and letting people in. Including, like, yourself.
- Sanskrit
- Anahata
- Where
- The centre of the chest
- Colour
- Green (and pink)
- Element
- Air
- Mantra
- YAM
Signs it’s a little off
- ✧ You keep people at arm's length
- ✧ You find it hard to forgive, especially yourself
- ✧ Giving feels easy, receiving feels awkward
- ✧ You feel lonely even when you're not alone
What the heart chakra is
The heart chakra is chakra number four, right in the centre of your chest. It's the middle of the seven, the bridge between the three "earthy" chakras below and the three "spiritual" ones above.
In Sanskrit it's Anahata, which means "unstruck", as in a sound that's made without anything hitting anything. So poetic. Its element is air, the traditional lotus has twelve petals, and in the modern colour system it's green, with soft pink as its bonus colour.
It's all about love: for other people, for yourself, for your little houseplants.
Signs your heart chakra is closed off
People often describe a guarded heart chakra like this:
- keeping people at arm's length, even ones you like
- holding grudges, or being really hard on yourself
- finding it easy to give and super awkward to receive
- feeling lonely, even in a room full of people
Balanced, the heart chakra feels like warmth. You can be kind without being a doormat, let people in, and accept a compliment without arguing with it.
A heart-opening breath practice
This one is slow and soft. Think of breathing straight into the middle of your chest.
- Sit or stand tall. Roll your shoulders back and down so your chest feels open.
- Place both hands over the centre of your chest.
- Follow the cloud: breathe in for 5, out for 5. Feel your chest rise into your hands.
- After a few rounds, chant YAM (like "yum") softly on each exhale.
- End by thinking of one person you love. Then, plot twist, think of yourself.
Breathe into your heart
breathe in 5 · breathe out 5
Ready when you are
Practice
A one-minute heart opener
Clasp your hands behind your back (or hold a strap or towel), roll your shoulders down and gently lift your chest. Breathe slowly into the front of your chest for one minute.
Practice
Text someone why you love them
Send one person a message telling them one specific thing you love about them. No reason, no occasion. Heart chakra, wide open.
Heart chakra affirmations
- I give love and I let it in.
- I'm allowed to be soft.
- I forgive myself for the stuff I didn't know yet.
Other little ways to open your heart chakra
- Say thank you and only thank you when someone compliments you.
- Spend ten minutes outside near something green.
- Write a three-line letter to your younger self. You don't have to send it anywhere 🌸
- Hug someone for a full five seconds. It feels long. Do it anyway.
FAQ
What colour is the heart chakra?
Green, in the modern colour system, with pink as its second colour. Older texts describe a smoky grey-green lotus with a six-pointed star.
What is the heart chakra mantra?
YAM, its bija (seed) mantra. Chant it softly on the exhale with your hands on your chest.
Where is the heart chakra?
In the centre of the chest, level with the heart.
How do you open your heart chakra?
Heart-opening stretches, slow breathing into the chest, the YAM mantra, gratitude and small acts of kindness are the classic ways people work with it.