heart
When we point to ourselves and say this is me, we point to our heart.
Love and other positive feelings are associated with the open heart. The Daoist initiation is the opening of the heart.
On the day of judgement Anubis measures the weight of the heart against a feather. It needs to be light as a feather to pass into eternity. Every day is judgement day.
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the heart is more than just a pump |
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Emotions can be felt in the area of the heart. This knowledge is embedded in our language |
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big hearted |
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broken hearted |
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heart of the matter |
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heart break |
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sinking heart |
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hard hearted |
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faint hearted |
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heavy hearted |
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heart stricken |
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heart rending |
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heartless |
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heart in the mouth |
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Lose heart |
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Heart and soul |
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heartache |
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Learn by heart |
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In good heart |
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At heart |
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To set ones heart on |
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take to heart |
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open hearted |
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wearing our heart on our sleeve |
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heart of gold |
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heartstrings |
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take heart |
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hearten |
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hearty |
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heartful |
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light hearted |
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soft hearted |
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heartfelt |
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old expressions |
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heartsick |
depressed |
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heartquake |
terror delight |
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heart-sore |
grieving |
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heartsome |
lively spirited |
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heart bond |
betrothal |
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Heartstruck |
distressed |
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Heartling |
a dear |
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heart of oak |
brave |
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out of heart |
discouraged |
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poor heart |
Exclamation of pity |
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heartwhole |
free from hypocricy or affectation, sincere, genuine |
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other cultures have the same kind of expressions |
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far hearted |
(bushmen) - ungenerous – not reciprocating |
In modern Western culture some feelings are vigorously suppressed. The penalties for not hiding these can include ostracisation, gaol and forced medical treatment. If we grow up to suppress our feelings we close the feeling heart.
hormonal gland
The heart is an endocrine (hormonal) gland. It produces the hormone atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) which influences blood vessels, kidneys, adrenal glands and many regulatory regions in the brain.
It secretes oxytocin, the "love" or "bonding hormone." activated in childbirth, lactation, sexual and maternal responses, learning social cues and bonding and is also involved in cognition . Concentrations of oxytocin in the heart are as high as those found in the brain.
Intrinsic Cardiac Adrenergic cells in the heart make and release the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine.
electrical centre
The heart is the main electrical centre and the biggest oscillator of the body generating an electrical field of 2 ½ watts of energy - 60 times the output of the brain.
The heart’s energy field extends a few feet beyond the healthy body and is felt by humans and other animals. The heart of the Buddha is said to have radiated for many kilometers.
Others can sense its feelings and thoughts at a distance.
heart brain
We think with our whole body. Each plexus is a mind. There is evidence that each computes and remembers. The nervous system around the gut weighs about as much as the brain.
The heart has its own neural processing unit.with an intricate network of around 40,000 various kinds of sensory neurons and support cells, neurotransmitters and proteins like those found in the brain. Intrinsic cardiac ganglia are distributed particularly around the orifices of major vessels. In the center of each cardiac ganglia is a mass of dendrites which interconnect the neurons. This plexus operates and processes information independently of the brain. It can feel, sense, learn and remember. It senses heart rate, pressure, and some hormonal and chemicals levels. Without this a transplanted heart could not function in a new host.
transplants
A transplanted heart is not driven by its recipient. It brings its own firing circuitry and rhythm and brings its memories to its new owner. Recipients have reported unexpected changes of interests and activities to those of a donor.
entrainment
Oscillating systems near each other come to synchronize. For example pendulums in a room together will come to swing in unison.
The heart as the most powerful oscillator in the body entrains the rest of the system including brainwaves to its rhythms. The heart coordinates and sychronises the mind with the body.
synchronisation with the brain
Brainwave patterns of the cerebral cortex synchronize to heart rhythm signals via the cardiac center of the brain stem along the same sensory pathways that transmit pain and other sensations to the intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus and then to the amygdala which connects to the base of the frontal lobes which prioritise decision making and integrate reason and feeling.
When we are stressed our heart rhythms are less regular and coherent, our musculature is aroused and internal organs slow down. This can be damaging if it persists.
When we feel grateful, sincere and loving heart rhythms are more harmonious. There is a feeling of well-being.
If our heart rhythms are disordered when we are young we learn to expect disharmony and become familiar and comfortable with internal disorder. We learn to be distressed and to stay that way.
The heart meditation on the stress pages calms the heart and then synchronises with body and mind coordinating thought, feeling and movement into harmonious balance rather than one fighting the other. Vision, awareness, listening, creativity, feelings, sensitivities and mental clarity expand. Decision-making is easier Cardiovascular efficiency, health and physical performance are enhanced.
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HeartMath |
copyright (C) John Brasted 2008
updated 11/06/11
