Workshop Review 6 Anahata -The Heart Chakra

Love in the fourth chakra differs from the sexual desire of the second chakra in that it refers to empathetic connection rather than an extension of our need or desire. Some of the qualities associated with this energy centre are: Care, Kindness ,Compassion, Belonging, Equilibrium. The heart is also associated with neutral , meditative mind.

We began the session with a short meditation, a visualisation to help open the heart . We brought to mind a person, place, creature or idea that enabled us to feel an uncomplicated, unconditional warmth. Then we carried that detailed vision to the heart centre ,encompassing it in cupped hands and using our breath to connect the visualisation to a physical sensation and the position of the chakra in the body.

A view in the Yorkshire Dales which always opens my heart!

We practiced 2 Kundalini Yoga sets, an energising Kriya to Strengthen Circulation, Heart and Immune system which includes running or marching as its opening exercise. We followed this with a set called Heart of Gold. This is a slower, meditative sequence with some quiet deeply held postures , generating energy in the hands and using that energy to nourish the whole body through the heart space,

In between Kriyas we took some time to read texts which I hoped would explore heart centred qualities and enable everyone to develop some of the ideas for their own writing. We read Each Note by Rumi, Kindness by Naomi Shihab Nye

and an extract from the book Landlines by Raynor Winn.

I suggested that people consider the qualities that might be helpful when writing about love and compassion.

After a short relaxation everyone settled down to write. I’d provided some writing prompts relating to the texts in case they needed some ideas to start them off. I’d also cut up the lyrics of David Bowie’s song Fill Your Heart (with love today) and one person enjoyed rearranging the words to make a new piece (as Bowie himself reputedly did sometimes in his early days of songwriting!). Cinnamon tea and snacks were served to help the process along!

Here are some of the pieces written in response. Thank you to the contributors and to everyone who came along and helped to make the afternoon a lovely one!

Fran wrote........

I sought the light

I knew it was there

I felt it before

I smelt it before

Through the dark it came

In the night

In the light

As I raised myself

And thrusted into the morning

I’d look up, there, it was

as a sound

as a smile

as a touch

as an embrace

as my very own

light

And this ,from Maria

Totally In My Hands

You let me cut your hair

I’m no hairdresser

but you sit still for me

and you trust me

I take in the softness of your skin

Around your neck and your ears

No mirrors for you to check what I am doing

Total trust

When I finish cutting you ask me if

I’m happy

My heart is full.