The first step toward superconscious living is the healing and opening of our hearts. Sri Yukteshwar, Guru of Paramhansa Yogananda, asserts that we cannot even take one step forward without first awakening the natural love of the heart. This love is the unconditional, divine love of the heart, independent of any person. In its most natural state, the heart simply desires to love. When it is open, it radiates this divine love to everyone, embracing the entire creation.

Sri Yukteshwar points out the eight obstacles of the heart that hinder spiritual progress: Hatred, Shame, Fear, Grief, Condemnation, Racial prejudice, Pride of Pedigree, and a narrow sense of respectability.

There are various ways to open the heart. Chanting or listening to uplifting music plays a crucial role, as does engaging in selfless service. Communicating with nature has an uplifting effect on the heart, as does practicing the presence of God in everything we do, even in the most mundane everyday tasks. Loving the soul in others, living in joy, feeling ourselves to be part of everyone and everything are some of the ways.

We have help of various tools to find out what is keeping us from opening our heart. We can then apply various remedies to assist us. One such remedy is use of flower essence. Nature has given us flower essences which work at subtle energy level to release us from various meanness of heart. We can also use rose quartz to work with our emotions and enable our heart to emanate its natural divine love. Many such remedies and vibrational healing at subtle energy level can be used. As we open our heart, layers of ignore slip away and in this very place we find a wonderful beautiful world.