[CHAKRA SERIES] Heart: The Alchemical Turn from Ego to Soul [Stage 1: Nigredo ⇾ Stage 2: Albedo]
The heart chakra, associated with the colour green or rose pink, is the centre of unconditional love and our deepest desires. When our hearts are open, we view ourselves, our experiences, and all living beings with wisdom and compassion.
While the three lower chakras focus on self-concerns, the heart chakra marks our return to spirit. Here, we experience empathy and compassion; when we understand and wish to help others, the barriers between us dissolve. The desire to rise above ego-driven wants in favour of a higher calling—such as charity, social causes, or spiritual commitment—signals spiritual evolution.
Integrating heart chakra consciousness can be a gradual process, marked by an inner struggle between the ego and the higher self. Many people become lost in addictions, distractions, or the pursuit of wealth and power. Ultimately, after much resistance, the ego recognises its true role and surrenders in service to the higher self or soul, allowing us to discover universal love, compassion, and empathy.
A heart-centred person lives according to what feels authentically right and true, making superficial appearances and others’ opinions irrelevant. Guilt is seldom experienced because actions are guided by the highest and purest intentions. The heart chakra governs the heart and circulatory system and is associated with the air element, reflecting the lighter, finer qualities of love such as bliss, beauty, harmony, and laughter.
At the level of heart chakra consciousness, we access the astral body, which enables us to experience love for all humanity. This subtle body appears as clouds of colored light extending six to twelve inches beyond the physical body. Similar to the lower emotional body of the sacral chakra, the astral body vibrates at a higher frequency and is even more refined and beautiful, often tinged with rose light.
