Last month my dog Harley was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy; he had suddenly been struggling to breathe and had other increasing symptoms. I was devastated when I first heard the news—there were many tears and much overwhelm. After starting medications, Harley has shown huge, impressive improvement, but he is still considered to have a low-functioning heart and a risk of heart failure. His prognosis is uncertain at this point, so we are thankful for each day with him and continue to enjoy the moments. It’s worthwhile to note that we are back to regular exercise, and Harley is happy, overall.

Harley’s diagnosis and needed care has had me thinking about our hearts. How they hurt. How they love. How they can be so full–of love, ache, emotion, light, joy, weight and power. My father died of a heart-attack, and I think of how quickly he left the planet, with so many things undone, and how I’m reminded each time at my doctor’s appointment how I need to be aware of my heart health because of my father. We take supplements like fish oil and do cardio “to support the heart.” Yet, when we don’t breathe–really breathe–and get stuck in sadness, pain and ick, we hurt our heart. Emotional strain can breed physical challenges.

Our hearts get quite the workout here on the planet. While some people may have physical heart conditions, all of us have experienced emotional strain, tough and hurtful relationships, and loss. And all of these dynamics affect our hearts emotionally and energetically. In energetic and spiritual realms, we talk about the heart chakra, an energy center of the body which includes not only our heart but also our lungs, and this beautiful system creates our breath.

Our breath is extremely important—obviously, right?  But our intentional breath is just as important, and it’s great for our heart. I’ve been guided to regularly work with my reiki clients and practice intentional breath at the start of their session. For example, I often ask a client to hear or say, “I breathe in light, love and all I need,” as he/she breathes in, and I ask a client to hear or say, “I release anything that does not serve me,” as he/she breathes out. Then, I encourage the client to be specific and intend when he/she wishes to breathe in and receive with the inhale and be specific with what he/she wishes to let go with the exhale. It can look like intending “As I breathe in light and love and ___” with my inhale and “I release and let go of ____” with my exhale. If we do this intentional breath as often as we need but minimally once per day, we support our heart.

Taking care of our hearts physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally involves many practices: Eating well, exercising, lowering stress levels, expressing our feelings and thoughts, staying hopeful and positive, releasing anger and guilt, healing and relieving grief, and breathing with intention.

And sometimes the only, the fastest and the best place to start is with the breath… intentional breath. Take care of your heart, support others taking care of theirs… and I’ll keep you posted on Harley’s heart–so full of love and light and such a healing force.

© Erika M. Schreck, 2014.
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