the heart's magnetic tendrils
the heart-brain connection, and a last call for holiday shipping
this week, i’ve been diving deep into the heart’s anatomy. this magnificent beating, pumping, juicy, intelligent organ. i know i’m only skimming the surface of information, and that folks spend their whole lives studying this powerful and mystical kaleidoscope that keeps us alive. but i’m finding the tendrils of the heart reaching far beyond textbook medical reason.
a lot of the herbal texts and lessons i’ve had in the past concerning the heart have focused primarily on the plants and their actions on the cardiovascular system as a whole. use this for that mentality. anti-spasmodics, cardiotonics, and the like. as i get deeper into how our hearts truly work, the more i see the patterns and connections that reach into the underlying issues of our culture.
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in embryonic development, the heart is the first organ to develop with the brain not far behind, growing almost simultaneously, accompanying the same massive cells.
as a part of our cardiovascular system, we have both arterial circulation and venous circulation (arteries and veins). our arterial circulation is active - conducting oxygenated blood and nutrients, moving from the heart out to the tissues. it’s able to do this because it’s lined with smooth muscle (picture a tube, lined with a layer of muscle, pushing blood through). this same smooth muscle inside of these tubes are triggered by nerve endings. it’s innervated by the nervous system.
so whether your mind is tense or relaxed, literally controls the flow of blood in your body, affecting the heart’s overall functionality.
digesting this and more information, i can’t help but think about one of the leading causes of death in western culture - cardiovascular disease - and the importance or focus we place on the analytical mind, the stress taking over our society, and the reason why i have an article in my inbox titled “CEOs embrace psychedelic drugs” (aka stress/burnout/exhaustion leading to a “closing” of the heart).
of course, there are other reasons why cardiovascular disease develops, gut health and the food we consume being of significant importance, but couldn’t we lead this back to capitalism, the lack of structure in our society to support connection with the earth and good food, and ultimately the demise of our exhausted minds trying to keep up in our world not built for our survival?
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if the health of the heart is very much affected by the health of the mind, why do we try to separate the two? why do we place more importance on the brain than the heart? while basic perception, thought, and memory derive from the brain, what would happen if we began to to perceive from the heart? would we quit our overworking jobs, defy capitalism, and demand a better way of existing on this planet? would we awaken to the energetic tendrils that flow from our heart to the world around us - an electromagnetic field 10x greater than the brain? would we begin to admit that these tendrils touch out to the tendrils of plants, trees, rocks, and animals, and -feel- life itself? would we stop punishing the earth with our linear minds?
“heart” is so much more than the organ itself (“follow your heart”, “speak from the heart”) - there are no idioms for the “liver” or “kidney”. it accompanies this intelligence, this intuition, or a secret third thing that embodies the soul. who we are is not in the mind - this jumble and mess of thoughts that we can learn to identify or detach from. who we are is in the heart. how do we get back there?
𖦹𖦹𖦹
last call for holiday orders 12/16 ｡°
𖦹 just a friendly reminder that if you’d like to get your apothecary goods in time for the holidays, please place your order by December 16th 𖦹
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here are some heart-centered potions we carry:
tender surrender :: a tincture for traversing through the deep portal of grief or loneliness. for easing the heart’s heat and resistance to the next phase of life. for opening, and remembering the self and our heart’s resiliency.
calm tea :: a calming tea for nervous system support, relaxation, and rest. rose, linden, and lemon balm accompany this blend, all important and powerful herbs for strengthening and relieving tension in the heart.
fresh milky oats :: a nerve trophorestorative tincture, bringing restoration and ease back to our nervous systems.
light under the river bed :: a flower and gem essence for meeting change & transition with courage, soft joy, and protection.
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know a friend who might want to read this? feel free to forward it along.
as always, i appreciate your support this season. wishing you a nourishing and easeful weekend.
xx,
britt