The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.

Eden Ahbez, “Nature Boy” (song, recorded by Nat King Cole)

You know once you open the heart chakra, there really is no going back…you may think you can…but once you experience divine love and the sound of Anahata you simply can’t stay closed to it for very long…it feels that good…it does that much good.

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Anahata is considered the seat of the Jivatman, and Para Shakti. In the Upanishads, this is described as being like a tiny flame that resided inside the heart. Anahata is so called because it is in this place that sages hear that sound (Anahata – Shabda) which comes without the striking of any two things together.” . It is associated with the element of air, the sense of touch, and with actions of the hands.

Anahata is associated with the ability to make decisions outside of the realm of karma. In Manipuraand below, man is bound by the laws of karma, and the fate he has in store for him. In Anahata, one is making decisions, ‘following your heart’, based upon one’s higher self, and not from the unfulfilled emotions and desires of lower nature.

It is also associated with love and compassion, charity to others, and forms of psychic healing.

My heart has been opened many times. Motherhood is one way I experienced the expression of unconditional love…but that was love expressed outward toward others, I still struggled with love inward, for the self and even experienced much doubt that I myself was lovable or more precisely worthy of love. I have written about it before, but it bears repeating or revisiting as the experience transformed me in ways I have yet to fully discover. My greatest teacher to date has been my late husband Robert G. LaFavor. It was through his eyes that I learned to truly open my heart to love. He spoke to me of self love and inner beauty in a way that pierced the veil as no one had before. And then he, shuffled off this mortal coil…as they say. And this is where the true work begun….as it was (and has been off and on) tempting to retreat back into relative safety; into that space that only gives and doesn’t receive or only receives partially; to sink into a place of self denial where there is no room for love or to look for love “in all the wrong places” or all the wrong ways. To mistake sex for love or need for love…it isn’t easy to rebound from hurt and loss but when the base is strongly laid it is indeed possible. It is truly in leaving, in death, that Rob taught me the most – or should I say I had the opportunity to learn….

So what lessons did I learn from loving and losing? That the worst pain is not feeling

Time really can heal or at least transform all wounds

Loving again is a sure fire way to honor lost love

That romantic, family and even friendly love is just the tip of the iceberg, so much love and so many ways to experience it and express it.

When people say things “happen for a reason” although you may want to smack them; wait…they are probably right.

You never ever know how profound your presence can be in the life of others, and even a brief encounter can shift tides.

Pain has a funny way of creating movement and movement leads to change and oddly the need for stillness…it’s a cycle that seems to have a purpose

That there are a million ways to connect to your heart if you are willing to try and when you do you will always always always come out ahead.

Rob taught me that even when I wasn’t at my best I was still lovable, to believe in myself and to take care of myself and when he was with me I believed him and then I had to discover the truth of his lessons after he was gone. I am now happily (ridiculously so) re-married and following a path that I didn’t even know was an option to me before his death…do I still miss him? yes. do i still doubt? who doesn’t. would I change anything? NO WAY… someone once asked me “if you knew he was going to die only 4 years after meeting him would you still have done it”…Yes a million times yes.

And that experience teaches me everyday not to live for fear of what might or might not happen but truly to live in the moment of love and to do the things that bring the most love into the world. I still contend he simply had a job to do and once that was fulfilled he was ready for his next adventure….He died on John Lennon’s birthday….Imagine….Imagine what you can do with an open and balanced heart….

from www.allgoodthings.com ….

from Anodea Judith: Excessive Heart: Codependancy, poor boundaries, jealousy, being a martyr, being a pleaser

Deficient Heart: Antisocial, withdrawn, critical, intolerant, lack of empathy, fear of intimacy

Balanced Heart Chakra: caring, compassionate, empathetic, accepting, self-loving, peaceful, centered, content

Asana (yoga pose) for the week:

Ardha Bhekasana (half frog pose)

Wellness Tip of the Week:

Do one thing completely for yourself. And one thing completely for someone else. In both cases no strings attached. Don’t treat yourself as a reward for anything, do it because you are worth it…don’t give to someone because it will get you anything in return; do it because it feels good to help others. If you really need a big heart boost charity work will do wonders. I highly recommend anything with kids, dogs or the infirm…Oh who am I kidding charity work just opens you in ways you can’t imagine…but don’t just donate (although that is nice) go out and experience it…you’ll see…

Mantra for the week

inhale: I am exhale: love

Namaste

bow your head to your heart, and as you honour that connection remember to “lead with your heart, guide with your mind”