Being around people with a closed heart feels really icky. They feel cold, critical, negative, serious, judgmental, withholding and full of fear. When I am around people with a closed heart chakra, I want to be like a turtle and hide in my shell, or run in the other direction. It feels uncomfortable to say the least. They seem to be like dark holes, sucking all happiness from the surrounding atmosphere and bringing the vibe down for everyone they encounter. And when I am away from them, I breathe a huge sigh of relief and am glad to get back to joyful living.
By contrast, being around people with an open heart feels warm, joyful, light, accepting, loving, safe, giving, bright, and incredibly invigorating. People with an open heart laugh freely and easily. You know who these people are because you will be drawn to them like a moth to light and you’ll want to be around them all the time. The open heart is one of connection with others. Open hearts bring love for others and allow us to see the divine spirit within each and every one of us. An open heart is giving gifts and accepting gifts.
We are all on this earth to be exactly who we are, to share our hearts and spirits with the world. When we love ourselves, take good care of our physical bodies, and follow our hearts- we affect everyone around us in a beautiful and positive way. This is how we can change the world. This is how we can make the world a better place- by living the life we love, honoring our spirits and our natural gifts, and sharing our joy with others.

One of my favorite authors, Sonia Choquette, has many wonderful books about living with an open heart and following your intuition. I love every book she’s written. Her book, ‘True Balance: A Commonsense Guide for Renewing Your Spirit’ is about the seven chakras, or energy centers, in the body. (The picture above is from her book ‘True Balance.’) She has a chapter about the Heart Chakra. At the end of the chapter, she has a list of things you can do to open your heart. I feel inspired to share the list with all of you. The list has suggestions for when your heart is slightly imbalanced, moderately imbalanced, and profoundly imbalanced. There are questionnaires in the book to see how open your heart is, but all of the lists have many things that can benefit us all. So I am including everything. When you read it, you might be inspired with some ideas of your own for opening your heart. And you might realize that there are many heart-opening activities you already do. If the inspiration comes, please share it with all of us in the comments below.
(I have put a star next to some of my favorites on the list.) 

From ‘True Balance’ by Sonia Choquette:

“AWAKENING YOUR HEART

When your heart is slightly imbalanced

-Offer to help the new person at work.

-Read poetry.

-Hold hands with the people you love.*

-Give someone a bear hug*

-Invite someone over for dinner or make someone dinner and deliver it to their home.

-Buy a dozen postcards, go to your favorite coffee shop, and write them out to your friends and family.

-Think of your best qualities while soaking in a warm bath with a few drops of rose essential oil to open the heart chakra.

-Carry your baby picture in your wallet, and look at it whenever you are feeling unloved.*

-Write a letter of appreciation to someone who has made a positive difference in your life.*

-Rent a love-story movie.*

-Eat fresh green vegetables and salads.*

-Wear something green to open and balance the heart chakra.*

When your heart is moderately imbalanced 

-Apologize to those you have hurt.*

-Spend a weekend in nature.*

-Say “I’d love to” when someone makes a request.

-Make a gratitude scrapbook.

-Surprise someone with a long-distance phone card as a gift.

-Offer to babysit free your best friend’s or neighbor’s children.

-Go to a reputable intuitive or healer, and have them give you an intuitive reading or do some energy work on you.

-Make a photo collage of all the people you love, and display it prominently in your home.*

-Send an anonymous care basket or flowers to someone who is feeling blue.

-Rent the movie Moonstruck by Norman Jewison or How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Chuck Jones.

-Write poetry and share it with others.

-Read a funny book.

-Have a loving chat with a childhood best friend.*

When your heart is profoundly imbalanced

-Forgive your parents or someone you hold a grudge against.*

-Create your spiritual family, and connect with them often.*

-Get a full-spectrum light, and use it every day.

-Get a puppy or a kitten.*

-Take a healing workshop.

-Ask for help instead of doing things alone.*

-Volunteer in an AIDS ward, a soup kitchen, or an animal shelter.

-Donate your old-but-still-good suits and shoes to an “off welfare and back to work” program

-Get Rolfed, or have deep tissue massage therapy.

-Befriend an elderly person, and offer to take him or her once a week to the grocery store or on an outing.

-Admit your weaknesses and seek support.

–Tell the people you love that you love them.*

-Live and let live. (You never know how much time you or anyone else has.)* “

So there are some ideas for opening your heart. I have learned how much more fun life is when your heart is open and I pray for everyone to feel the bliss of living with an open heart.

 So let this week’s message be to:
Open Your Heart and Let Your Spirit Shine!!!

All My Love,
Taryn