Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
As Valentine’s Day approaches on Sunday the mad dash for cards, gifts, and candy has begun. But as you throw the heart shaped items into the cart in an attempt to start the new year of holidays off, have you ever stopped to wonder why we chose to represent the heart with this shape?! If you can remember back to elementary school we learned that the actual shape of the heart is like our fist. Then how did we manage to get the common shape that seems to be pasted everywhere every February? The symbol that has become so popular was first used by magicians and alchemists. They would use the heart while doing spells pertaining to love and strengthening relationships. It on its own has become to symbolize love, charity, joy, and compassion. The Popular symbol of the heart that we see comes from the inverted triangle. The inverted triangle is known to symbolize divine feminine power and serves as a receptacle for pouring out and receiving love. It is also used as the symbol of water, also having ties to emotions. You can find the triangle in some of the chakras whether inverted, or not. With the inverted triangle at the center it’s believed that the heart would help to ignite all the chakra points through the spine.
While it’s nice to look at the heart we’ve come to use to symbolize love coming from a wholesome triangle. Some say we got the shape due to its similarities to the breasts or bottom. Even having similar shapes to the water lily and Ivy leaves. Though the shape of the heart can be argued to be many different things. The use of it will never change. So while you pick up your Valentine’s Day gifts whether for a loved one or even yourself maybe you’ll look at the heart a little differently.
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