Finding a Pathway to Compassion and Understanding

How do we know when we are ‘in’ our hearts? Before starting a Reiki or sound healing, we might ask you to try to quieten the mind and drop into your heart, but what does that mean, how does it feel and why is it important to practise spending time there?

To “drop into the heart” is to move away from the chatter of the mind and into a space of deeper connection. It feels like opening a door and stepping into a sanctuary of warmth and openness where mental noise quietens down and a gentle, expansive presence takes over. In this place, we become attuned to our innermost emotions and those of others too.

It’s here, in the heart’s centre, that compassion naturally arises. Instead of analysing or judging, we begin to feel others’ experiences, empathising with their joys and struggles. This heart-centred awareness brings with it a profound understanding, one that transcends words and connects us.

When we speak from the heart, our words carry the weight of this understanding. We no longer seek to defend our position or win an argument. Instead, our words become a channel for kindness, sincerity, and connection. This kind of communication is felt by others on a deeper level because it’s not just logical, it’s delivered with genuine care and presence.

Modern science and ancient traditions both recognise the heart’s unique role in shaping human experience. Scientists are currently studying the concept of the “heart brain”. They have discovered that there are 40,000 neurons in the heart that communicate with the brain, and, in fact, the heart sends more signals to the brain than the brain does to the heart, influencing emotions, decision-making and cognitive function.

The heart’s electromagnetic field is much stronger than the brain’s and can be detected several feet away from the body. We know that the heart’s energy can affect others, creating connection, empathy and even healing. Negative emotions also radiate through our energy field impacting others.

It’s a wonderful practice to send love energetically or to intention for others who may need it. The effects have been shown both scientifically (on mood and wellbeing) as well as spiritually.

Conscious breathing, gratitude, feeling positive emotions such as compassion and love, and meditating are all tools for “dropping into the heart” and generating a harmonious pattern in the heart’s rhythm. The affect this can have on your family and loved ones is considerable but what it can do for us, both spiritually and physically, right down to the cellular level, is significant.