Painful life experiences can lead you to close your heart like a tender flower that closes its petals against the chill of the night. In this exercise, you learn to consciously open your heart so that you and all around you can share in the heavenly fragrance of its blossom.

1. Sit quietly, feet flat on the floor, back straight, shoulders relaxed.
   
   
2. Close your eyes, and breathe slowly and deeply.
   
   
3. Focus your attention on your feet and their connection to the ground. They are your roots anchoring you firmly and safely to the earth.
   
   
4. Continue to breathe slowly for a minute as you strengthen and deepen your connection to the earth (see Grounding).
   
   
5. When you feel well anchored, bring your attention also to your heart energy center. It is in the center of your chest, between your nipples, roughly on a level with your armpits.
   
   
6. In your heart center, picture a flower bud.
   
   
7. Keeping part of your focus on your connection to the earth, slowly open the flower bud to full bloom.
   
   
8. When the bloom is wide open, employ your breathing rhythm to bring loving energy into and out of your heart center. On the inhale, allow loving energy from the universe to flow into your flowering heart center from all directions (front, back, both sides). On the exhale, allow your loving energy to flow out into the universe in all directions.
   
   
9. To complete the exercise, slowly come back to the world by shifting your attention from the opened heart blossom to focus only on your roots into the earth.
   
   
10. Next, focus only on your breathing rhythm, the gentle inhale and exhale.
    
    
11. Now, notice what is happening throughout your body. Notice your emotional state. Notice your mental state.
    
    
12. Open your eyes and continue your day.
    
    
    Author's Bio
    
    

    Al Link and Pala Copeland own and operate 4 Freedoms Relationship Tantra. They regularly host lover’s romantic weekends near Ottawa Canada, and weeklong retreats in exotic locations. For more information call toll free from Canada or USA: 1-800-684-5308 International long distance: 1-819-689-5308. Visit their website www.tantra-sex.com and their blog www.askaboutloveandsex.com or send email: 4freedoms@tantraloving.com They have four books published including Soul Sex: Tantra for Two, New Page, 2003; The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Supercharged Kama Sutra, Penguin, 2007; Sensual Love Secrets for Couples: The Four Freedoms Body, Heart, Mind and Soul, Llewellyn 2007; Tantra Step by Step: 28 Days to Ecstasy, Llewellyn 2007.