Heart Chakra — Anahata

The Heart Chakra sits at the body's midpoint, bridging the lower, more physical chakras with the upper, more spiritual ones. It governs love, compassion, connection and your capacity for both giving and receiving without losing yourself in either direction.

What the Heart Chakra Governs

• Love — for self and others
• Compassion and empathy
• Forgiveness and letting go
• Connection and intimacy
• The balance between giving and receiving

Signs This Chakra Is Blocked

• Difficulty receiving love, help or support
• Over-giving to the point of depletion
• Guardedness or difficulty trusting others
• Grief that hasn't fully moved
• Chest tightness or shallow breathing

Signs This Chakra Is Balanced

• You give and receive love with equal ease
• Compassion for others doesn't come at the cost of your own boundaries
• Grief moves through you rather than lodging permanently
• A felt sense of connection to others and to yourself

Healing Practices for the Heart Chakra

• Conscious breathwork focused on opening the chest
• Gentle backbends or heart-opening yoga poses
• Practicing receiving — a compliment, help, a gift — without deflecting
• A daily affirmation: 'I give and receive love freely. My heart is open and safe.'
• Energy healing focused specifically on grief, loss and over-giving patterns

I give and receive love freely. My heart is open and safe.

Heart chakra imbalances are frequently tied to unresolved grief or family loyalty patterns — see our guide on grief, loss and family systems.