Chakras are vortexes of spiritual energy in our bodies, and they are housed from the base of our spine to above our heads. Spiritual leaders generally focus on the dominant seven chakras, the first being at the base of the spine, up to the seventh, just above the head.

The fourth chakra is the heart chakra.

From a spiritual healing perspective, the goal of clearing the chakras is to heal emotional wounds that have been stored in the chakra for years if not many life times. As the energy of pain is removed, you’ll feel greater well-being, greater clarity, move to a higher vibration, and be able to be more in “flow” with what feels right and true.

A color is associated with each chakra, and for the heart chakra the color is green.

When I think of a heart chakra green, I think of the vibrant green of the newly budding world found in early May where I live in upstate New York. Since all reading this come from different parts of the world, I will give you an example of the green I mean is found here in this photo of an unfurling fern:

The greens in the Tarot card depicted with this blog are also worth meditating upon. This card is from the lovely Triple Goddess Tarot deck by Isha Lerner.

The “sacred sound” syllable of the heart chakra is AH. Consider toning this for a few minutes. Many consider the “AH” song to be an extremely transformative sound.

Also take some time to listen to this video by sound energy healer and Reiki master Dr. Jane Ma’ati Smith, as she plays Tibetan singing bowls that are attuned to the heart chakra.

–By Annie B. Bond, best-selling author of five books, including Home Enlightenment (Rodale, 2007), and most recently, True Food (National Geographic, 2010).