Daily Excerpt: How to Live from Your Heart (Hucknall) - Introduction
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excerpt from How to Live from Your Heart by Nanette Hucknall -
Introduction
Buddha said: The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.
Living from your heart is a way of life. It means to listen with your
heart, to relate to others with your heart, to receive and give to others with
your heart, to access knowledge with your heart, to inspire and be inspired,
and to learn discrimination, trusting in your heart’s ability to recognize
right from wrong. It means being open to any possibility and any creative
thought.
The heart is the way to higher wisdom and the spirit within. Using
your heart as an instrument brings an acceptance of nature’s beauty, the
containment of opposites and a way for healing energies to flow.
But what is the heart? The physical heart, of course, is an organ that
keeps us alive, but the physical heart is very different from the heart this
book is referring to. Where does one feel love or pain? It always comes not
from the physical heart but from a place in the center of our chest. This
center, or heart chakra (a Sanskrit Indian term), is a chalice from which
all the emotions pour forth. It also contains heart energy, an energy that,
when properly directed, nourishes others as well as oneself.
To open the heart to every possibility requires concentration and continuous
self-exploration. With an open heart comes the responsibility of
its proper use, a responsibility that is sometimes abused. Most religions
emphasize relationship—relationship to God, relationship to man. They
find relationship important for well-being and the growth of the spirit, but
many leaders have fallen because of their misuse of relationship. I refer
here to the spiritual teachers who have misused the heart by manipulating
others. Many of these spiritual teachers have, in fact, developed and
opened the heart by working spiritually on their chosen path before succumbing
to personal desires. This false use of the heart happens in exoteric
as well as esoteric religions.
The use of the heart is a very powerful tool, and if not used properly,
it can cause a lot of unhappiness for the person who is under its spell. I
use the word ‘spell’ literally. The quality of an open heart is very hypnotic.
When you experience love coming from a person’s heart, it often hides
what is being said or being asked for.
One of the functions of the heart center is to connect to the Higher
Self, which is part of everyone. It has access to higher wisdom and contains
all the good, refined, beautiful qualities a person has accumulated on the
path of life’s journey. The Higher Self is often represented as a wise being:
a woman, a man, or even a light form. This wise being guides the individual
through the heart and helps the spirit to blossom. It is spoken of in psychological
models as being the part within that understands what is right
for the individual.
The willingness to accept change, to learn, to expand one’s viewpoint,
and to explore and embrace the unknown, are directed by the Higher Self.
It also contains the positive traits or characteristics a person displays to
others. The ability to love, share, exchange, and cooperate are aspects of
this.
With the use of the heart, relationships feel nurtured and dynamic.
There develops an inner understanding that helps relationships grow and
prosper. This ability expands beyond personal relationships to a broadened
understanding of community and diverse cultures. The heart gives an
unbiased perspective of world events, one based on justice.
With constant use, the heart becomes a vehicle for learning. It helps
in discriminating good and negative action, as well as what is correct behavior.
With the use of the heart comes a feeling of being one with nature.
Nature has within it all the aspects that are found in working with the
heart. The flowers of a garden represent a person’s heart center. When the
flowers are in bloom, it’s as if the center has opened and the true value or
worth of an individual is an open view to everyone. Nature reminds us of
what lies within.
Constant use of the heart brings spiritual growth. Without this energy,
the individual is walking in a world of finite objects with no hope
for change or growth. The disillusions of life are but these finite realities,
unchanging and stagnant. With the use of the heart, these disillusions take
on a different reality. They are viewed as learning experiences and paths to
greater understanding, not only of oneself but also of others. These experiences
reflect on the consciousness and can either affect it in a positive or
a negative manner.
Some people feel that using the heart will make them appear maudlin
or super sweet. This is a mistaken concept. People who act that way are not
using their hearts. They are more involved in emotions and needs, which
are very different. When people express themselves with their hearts, the
quality is often subtle, not obvious. It is an energy that is quiet and refined,
yet all encompassing. It’s like sitting in a tub of warm water and allowing
the warmth to penetrate your whole body. Such warmth is soft and nurturing,
not full of need. The energy is not always apparent. The receiver has to
be open and receive it without fear or resistance; otherwise it can dissolve
into the air.
When I speak of heart energy, I refer to an energy coming through the
heart center from a Higher Source that is always loving and wise. Using
this type of energy is very different from using psychic energy, which is the
energy force of the body. The higher energy only comes through the heart
center and is strictly regulated by the heart. An imbalance happens when
people force the energy with their will and use it improperly. To avoid any
possibility of this occurring, throughout the book I recommend connecting
to the Higher Self and letting it guide you.
I have included many exercises in the book to help you use your heart
in everyday life. These exercises should be done in sequence. I also suggest
methods of application and time frames. Try to follow these, but feel free
to add new exercises and experiment. The heart is always the regulator; so
follow its indications as to what is best for you.
The exercises are just an introduction to the use of the heart. With
each exercise, there is an explanation of what some of the results may be.
Again, feel free to not accept that which doesn’t work for you.
There are several exercises that will help you link with your Higher
Self, and they are listed at the end of the book for you to try.
I would suggest that you begin the book by doing these exercises. Try
all of them, one at a time, on separate days. Pick the one that you feel most
comfortable doing and which gives you the best results. The main thing
that needs to be emphasized is that the connection to the Higher Self is
always through the heart. If you work with the exercises on a regular basis,
eventually you can let go of the exercises, and just with your heart immediately
establish the link to the Higher Self and its guidance. Like anything
important in life, it takes practice. So when you start to work with the exercises,
don’t feel discouraged if you don’t experience the Higher Self immediately.
It’s true that in time you will, but sometimes you almost have to
demand its attention, particularly when you have never done this kind of
work before.
The beauty of the heart is its ability for diversity and its acceptance of
anything new. Be open to its energy and try to feel the beauty of its qualities.
Note: I use “he” in odd numbered chapters and “she” in even numbered
chapters, but the material is meant for both genders. I use the word disidentifiy
and disidentified throughout the book. It means looking at something
from a place of observation. It does not mean being disinterested.
How to Live from Year Heart has earned the following awards:
Pinnacle Book Achievement Award
Kops-Fetherling Legacy Award
Readers' Favorite Book Award finalist
Book Excellence Award finalist
Book of the Year finalist
For more posts about Nanette and her books, click HERE.
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