The heart has long been used as a symbol to refer to the spiritual, emotional and moral core of a human being. As the heart was once widely believed to be the seat of the human mind, the word heart continues to be used poetically to refer to the soul, and also, love.
Ever wondered why so? How can an organ as mechanical as the heart, already occupied with the strenous work of continuously spurting blood to every corner of your body, deal with your emotions? Why is it that the heart is strongly associated with the human mind? You may say it's just a poetic reference, but why heart in that case?
According to ancient India, the human body consists of several chakras or force centers - 7 significant ones(viz Muladhara, Swadishtana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha, Ajna and Sahasrara chakras). One of them-the Anahata Chakra is located very close to the heart. The Anahata chakra symbolizes the consciousness of love, empathy, selflessness and devotion. On the psychic level, this center of force inspires the human being to love, be compassionate, devoted and to accept things that happen in a divine way.
It is proven there are more neural pathways from the heart up to the brain than from the brain to the heart. The heart can perceive things before the brain can think them out. When your heart is in a smooth rhythm pattern, the higher centers of the brain function optimally, and create new neural pathways. So, the human mind and the heart ARE neurally related.
Ok, but why "<3"?
Although the much used heart symbol only vaguely resembles the shape of the actual human heart, it is universally accepted and used to depict love, and in particular, the heart.. But..Why?
I came across a few stories that claimed to be relevant. Here's one of them-
This story dates back to 17th century BC. The city-state of Cyrene had a lucrative trade in a rare, now-extinct plant called silphium.Although mostly used for seasoning, silphium was reputed to be a means of birth control. Silphium was so economically important to Cyrene that coins that were minted depicted the plant's seedpod. Theory has it that the shape of the seedpod first became associated with sex, and eventually, with love. This shape is what we know as the heart symbol today.
So this is about the <3. If you know more relevant stories, do share it here :)
Ever wondered why so? How can an organ as mechanical as the heart, already occupied with the strenous work of continuously spurting blood to every corner of your body, deal with your emotions? Why is it that the heart is strongly associated with the human mind? You may say it's just a poetic reference, but why heart in that case?
According to ancient India, the human body consists of several chakras or force centers - 7 significant ones(viz Muladhara, Swadishtana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha, Ajna and Sahasrara chakras). One of them-the Anahata Chakra is located very close to the heart. The Anahata chakra symbolizes the consciousness of love, empathy, selflessness and devotion. On the psychic level, this center of force inspires the human being to love, be compassionate, devoted and to accept things that happen in a divine way.
It is proven there are more neural pathways from the heart up to the brain than from the brain to the heart. The heart can perceive things before the brain can think them out. When your heart is in a smooth rhythm pattern, the higher centers of the brain function optimally, and create new neural pathways. So, the human mind and the heart ARE neurally related.
Ok, but why "<3"?
Although the much used heart symbol only vaguely resembles the shape of the actual human heart, it is universally accepted and used to depict love, and in particular, the heart.. But..Why?
I came across a few stories that claimed to be relevant. Here's one of them-
This story dates back to 17th century BC. The city-state of Cyrene had a lucrative trade in a rare, now-extinct plant called silphium.Although mostly used for seasoning, silphium was reputed to be a means of birth control. Silphium was so economically important to Cyrene that coins that were minted depicted the plant's seedpod. Theory has it that the shape of the seedpod first became associated with sex, and eventually, with love. This shape is what we know as the heart symbol today.
So this is about the <3. If you know more relevant stories, do share it here :)
