to overcome separation. This is the nature of the heart.
The Law of Giving and Receiving as expressed
through the fourth chakra establishes the principle that
the heart is the organ that circulates love. The relation-
ship between the physical heart and the emotional heart
is more than metaphorical. Studies have shown that in
patients with recent heart attacks, men who believe that
their spouses love them suffer fewer complications and
have better outcomes then men who are in conflicted
marriages. People who perceive the world as hostile have
a higher risk of premature heart attacks than those who
feel the world is a nurturing place. Just the simple act of a
cardiac nurse calling to check on the well-being of
patients recently discharged from a coronary care unit
can reduce the risk of rehospitalization.
Every act of giving is simultaneously an act of receiv-
ing. Each time you welcome a gift into your life you are
providing the opportunity for someone to give. Just as a
healthy physical heart receives blood from the periphery
which it then oxygenates and pumps back out, your emo-
tional heart stays healthy by receiving and giving love in
all its forms.
The color of the fourth energy center is green. When
flowing, it is the green of nourishment; when congested, it
can be green with envy. It is associated with the element
of air and the sense of touch.
The mantra that awakens the fourth chakra is Yum.
The Fifth Center: Expression Chakra
The throat chakra, called Vishuddhain Sanskrit, is the
center of expression. When it is open and flowing, you
Meditation 87