The heart is the first organ to function. It begins to form at 18-21 days and at 35 days the fatal heart is fully functioning. It has awareness, wisdom and self identity at this point. The heart has a pericardium on the outside layer which lubricates and protects it, a myocardium in the middle which pumps blood, and an endocardium inside which keeps the blood from sticking to the inside of the heart and forming potentially deadly blood clots.

The heart is considered a brain on its own, because it has its own nerve network acting independently of the “head brain”. It functions like a brain, in that makes decisions, has sensory perception and intuition, short and long term memory. Physiologically, it manages blood pressure, regulates heart rate and rhythm and hormones. Information goes from the heart to the brain and back via the vagus nerve, which is responsible for rest, digest and repair. The heart is also an endocrine gland in that it is discovered to produce ANF hormone. (Atrial Natriuretic Factor). This influences fluid/electrolyte balance and regulates blood vessels, kidneys and adrenal glands. Research shows it is involved with motivation, learning and behaviour.

The heart cells synthesise, and release epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine (the pleasure hormone which rewards behaviour). Oxytocin is also manufactured here and is the love or social bonding chemical which exists between mother and child, and between people.

The Electromagnetic field of the heart is the biggest in the body. It is 60 times greater than the brain . Cells respond to electromagnetic fields inside and outside the body, and the fascia or connective tissue also responds to these fields. Anyone who works sufficiently on this field is aware of the difference they can make personally, just by projecting positive vibrations through this field and cultivating ones presence.

The wisdom of the heart is incomparable. We come in to the world with existing heart wisdom and ancestral influences. The heart continually updates and stores more information, like an app update. It then shares this information on with the periosteum or covering of the bones -”essential memory “. This is the knowledge of self and essence of ones personality. Non essential memory is stored in the fascia . The periosteum will keep receiving updates from the heart, organs, endocrines and body parts close by .

People who do not seem to “learn the lesson easily” may have a disconnection between transfer of heart wisdom to periosteum. The cells will receive an instructional manual from the heart telling it who it is, what it believes and how to express itself.

We tap on the head brain, heart brain and gut brain in Bodytalk. The head brain is seen as processing the changes. The heart is storing them, and the gut brain is very much part of the decision making process. Tapping collapses the quantum waveform and old patterns held within the three brains and body- mind. It is a disruptor of the existing unhealthy patterns too, and is always done very gently. The heart encodes the new language given by the solution of the formula that has come up according to the innate wisdom of the clients body. A heart centred practitioner can emanate empathy and sensitivity to others, and transmit an energetic healing exchange just by their presence .

The heart chakra is all about our first relationship. That with ourself. If we have no self-love, we cannot receive the mirroring of love from another. Often out first relationships with our parents show us distortions here. Even if this relationship is imbalanced, one can always cultivate self love through practice of heart centredness and awareness, forgiveness, acceptance, much like the Hoponopono prayer says to do. This will create a loop of love coming back to us when we love ourselves , others who do so will gravitate towards us.

The golden ratio of the heart is phi. This is mimicked in nature/DNA/art/music and all around us . The wisdom of the heart is understood to be contained in the Jivatma or soul, which carries the wisdom of many lifetimes and the lessons gained from this.

There is so much more to understand and inner stand about the heart, but this is just a small introduction.

Debbie Ford

To live in the light of a new day and an unimaginable and unpredictable future, you must become fully present to a deeper truth - not a truth from your head, but a truth from your heart; not a truth from your ego, but a truth from the highest source.