Many mudras are intended to solely enhance meditation practices or change the energy within one’s own self, but there are some important mudras that can change our relationship with the world – and the people – around us. Anahata mudra symbolises a connection and recognition of the heart, both physically and energetically, and is intended to help cultivate the qualities of the heart chakra or Anahata, meaning ‘unstruck sound’.
Much like the physical heart, Anahata is the place we might associate with love and compassion, kindness and empathy, but perhaps unlike the physical heart sometimes worn on our sleeves, Anahata is completely pure and untouched, unaffected and unhurt. Anahata chakra holds our ability to love and be loved, and importantly, to give unconditional love.
Is unconditional love a part of your practice or way of life? Is there anyone or anything you feel you love unconditionally? Very often, we tend to give this special love only to things like pets and children, but truly cultivating compassion, unconditional love and empathy for others can help transform the way we act and feel in the world, and can make a profound difference to the amount of emotions and baggage we hold on to.
Reminders From the Heart
Throughout yogic, philosophical and spiritual texts, it is always said that our highest, most purposeful and positive actions come directly from the depths of Anahata chakra – that place of unconditioned and unaffected love. Anahata mudra is a reminder to pause and soften, inwardly listen and reflect before acting, asking whether our actions are aligned with the heart or are originating from the ego mind. Ultimately, the two primal aspects of love and fear are where many of our actions come from.
Our own decision making can be altered by the practice of Anahata mudra, encouraging us to closely observe where our decisions and actions are coming from, When you’re next confronted with a challenging situation, an important decision to make or if you’re reflecting upon certain unhealthy or addictive habits, notice how you feel. We physically hold ourselves differently depending upon whether an action comes from love or fear. Many daily decisions develop from the conditioned mind, bound by past experiences (known in yogic philosophy, Hindu and Buddhist traditions as sanskars), habits, attachments and the ego’s construct of ‘I, me, my’. Any result of these decisions is likely to lead to further detachment and disconnection from the heart, and before we know it, we’re living totally blindly and only according to our own perceptions. This state of living is incredibly stagnating, and Tamassic, an aspect of the Gunas or energies of nature. Tamas is the energy of lethargy, heaviness and darkness and comes from the Latin word temere, meaning ‘blindly’. Anjali mudra can serve as a continual tool to soften and drop into the heart, enabling us to cultivate vital unconditional love towards others and ourselves.
Psychological Fitness
Psychological fitness coach and course leader Dr. Mark Atkinson uses methods like ‘softening the gaze’, becoming aware of ‘spaciousness’ instead of focusing on external objects or people, and smiling and breathing deeply into any emotion that arises. Softening the gaze and relaxing the body when difficulty occurs can be an effective way to stay grounded and present, seeing the situation for what it is rather than being swept up by our thoughts, preconceptions and often false, fearful beliefs.
Pause and observe where your recent decisions were made from. Have they been fearful and bound by beliefs, past experience, perceptions and habit? Or were they made from a place of observing reality, tapping into the unconditioned heart and seeing the situation for what it really is?
Practice Anahata mudra when you’re experiencing difficulties with other people or challenging life situations. If you feel triggered into anxiety, fear, guilt, anger or jealousy, pause and observe yourself. Do these reactionary emotions serve you? Do you experience them often? Does your holding onto them help solve the situation? Are you seeing your own story or are you experiencing the truth? Soften your eyes and breath, feel into any sensations you’re experiencing, and drop into the place of unconditioned, untouched, unstruck love that is always present and waiting for you.
