Today’s video is about setting healthy boundaries for a balanced heart. A few weeks ago I released a social media post about tending to our “gates” Do you tend to your gates? Where in your life have you left your gate unintentionally open so that perhaps unconsciously energy is unintentionally flowing in and out without you even being aware of it? I’m talking about creating and maintaining secure boundaries within yourself that clearly express when you want to open your gate and when you need to close it to attend to our self care. We can be powerful gatekeepers to our own inner feelings and needs, allowing whatever sustains us to enter through our gates and closing our gates to whatever drains our energy. Carol responded: This is a fabulous and intriguing question and topic; where can we find more information please? With five element theory a branch of traditional Chinese medicine, the gates that open and close to our heart are a metaphor for our heart protector meridian, also known as your pericardium. Your pericardium is a sac that surrounds and protects your heart. Our heart protector is extremely important when it comes to opening and closing the gate to our heart in terms of letting in the experiences, relationships. When experiences and relationships are life giving our gates can open and let experiences flow freely in, but when experiences and relationships are depleting and toxic our gates should close protecting our heart from injury. When our heart protector is not protecting our heart we are vulnerable, but when it is doing its job it protects our heart with healthy boundaries to keep out that which is harmful and allow the trustworthy and peaceful experiences in. If you would like to learn more about fire element, five element theory and what is involved in protecting your heart I will be running a course in May of 2021 that will be starting with a 5 day challenge in April of 2021. You can register for it at melissawest.com/fire