Ignite the 12 Powers with HeartMath

Have you ever studied the 12 powers, felt their profound significance, but felt clueless as to how exactly you could call them into service?

My first Unity experience was at Unity Church of Today in Warren, Michigan, where Rev. Jack Boland masterfully presented a 12-part series on The Twelve Powers of Man, a book written by Unity cofounder Charles Fillmore. I felt as if I’d been handed a treasure chest of gold and jewels. I listened to the recordings over and over for years but never applied them to my life. I stored it in my brain as knowledge, but the 12 powers remained dormant in me for about 35 years.

While Fillmore offered beautiful affirmations calling forth these life-giving attributes, I believe there is also a practical application you can add to your toolbox.

Recently, while designing a new class about the power of the heart, I read Rev. David McArthur’s book, Your Spiritual Heart: Access the Wisdom That Manifests Your Heart’s Desires. Then I happened upon one of his talks on YouTube, in which he quoted Fillmore:

“One should give attention to this unusual and usually faint whispering of Spirit in man. It is not of the intellect and it does not originate in the skull. It is the development, in man, of a greater capacity to know himself and to understand the purpose of creation. The Bible gives many examples of the awakening of this brain of the heart, in seers, in lawgivers, and in prophets. It is accredited as coming from the heart.”

That blew my mind! In my training to be a HeartMath® trainer and coach, I had already learned that the heart has its own intrinsic nervous system, a little brain in the heart, and that the heart sends more information to the brain than the other way around. The brain then interprets this information and causes the release of corresponding biochemicals into the body.

I go to my heart in every situation. Tapping into heart intelligence softens the sharp edges, improves my perspective of the world, balances my relationships, and changes the way I respond to others by seeing them through a lens of appreciation, kindness, and genuine care.

What the Heart Knows

The heart’s rhythmic pattern is an indicator of our state of well-being. This explains why you can feel foggy or scattered when you are overwhelmed, or like a clear-headed ninja when all is well in your emotional world. Experiencing uplifting emotions is a great way to clear that fog.

The heart is also highly intuitive. There’s a reason why we have so many common phrases like listen to your heart, your heart knows, and let your heart lead the way. Our heart, brain, and emotional system are designed to work together. When we only pay attention to our intellect or only to our emotional feelings, we are leaving out the “faint whispering” part of us that is the wisest. The heart.

Could this be why the heart is cited 826 times in the Bible, yet the brain is never mentioned? Your heart is your personal connection to your larger Self. Knowing this, doesn’t listening to your heart—your intuition—make more sense than ever?

Tapping Into the Heart

I believe that adding heart is the way to activate the 12 powers right where you are, even in the thick of adversity, fear, or panic, or in situations like giving a talk or writing a report. I am my own guinea pig. I’ve tested it. It is the most practical, street-level bridge to solutions, decisions, creative ideas, and emotional self-regulation I have ever experienced.

When I discovered the Fillmore quote above was from The Twelve Powers, I realized the heart was the piece I had been missing all those years ago. The way to call the 12 powers into activation in my own life would be to practice HeartMath techniques. They are elegantly simple, and many can be used eyes open, on the go.

I go to my heart in every situation. Tapping into heart intelligence softens the sharp edges, improves my perspective of the world, balances my relationships, and changes the way I respond to others by seeing them through a lens of appreciation, kindness, and genuine care.

Instead of reacting immediately, I pause and ask my heart, “Who do I want to be in this situation? How do I want to show up? How do I want this person to feel?” If I wish they would say I am right, I’m not in my heart. If I’m worrying, I’m not in my heart. If I am irritated, I’m not in my heart. These are my clues—and my cues—to shift to genuine care for the good of the whole.

One Simple Heart Practice

The simplest technique to practice, Quick Coherence®, is the most practical. It is not a breathing technique per se, and it’s not meditation—no floating feeling and out-of-body experiences with this. It is simply alignment of heart, brain, and emotions resulting from a coherent heart pattern. We’re going for calm here. Not relaxation—calm.

Step 1: Focus your attention in the area of the heart. Imagine your breath is flowing in and out of your heart or chest area, breathing a little slower and a little deeper than usual. Find an easy rhythm that’s comfortable.

Step 2: Make a sincere attempt to experience a regenerative feeling such as appreciation or care for someone or something in your life.

When you are experiencing this feeling, consider your feelings for someone who delights you, or imagine walking on the beach, or remember a feeling of an accomplishment—anything that gives you ease, joy, contentment, or appreciation.

The combination of breathing more slowly and deeply through the heart and the activation of a remembered feeling creates heart coherence. The result is a clear head, a sense of calm, and an opportunity to show up as your best self.

I told you it was elegantly simple, didn’t I? There are many more techniques, but this is my go-to. Now you try it.

If you wish to learn more about HeartMath techniques, visit heartmath.com or heartmath.org.