Our heart is both an amazing creation of nature and a profound symbol of our inner world, where anatomical uniqueness and emotional richness intersect.

The Heart: A Fusion of Form and Metaphor

Our heart is both an amazing creation of nature and a profound symbol of our inner world, where anatomical uniqueness and emotional richness intersect. Imagining the heart with its rounded yet dynamic shape, we perceive an organ that does not occupy the center of the chest in the conventional sense but has a certain displacement and a tapered end, emphasizing its individuality and reminding us that every detail of our body carries a special purpose. This physical portrayal transitions into a richer metaphorical dimension, where the heart becomes a source of strength—a place where desires, will, and moral compasses are born. Here, feelings and thoughts merge in a unique harmony, like the strings of a gusli resonating under the skillful guidance of a master. Such imagery helps us understand that our heart is not merely a biological mechanism but the central hub of our emotional life, reflecting our inner world and guiding our life’s path. In conclusion, by uniting a clear anatomical form with profound symbolism, the heart remains a source of inspiration, reminding us that our true essence lies within, where our aspirations and dreams reside.

How would you describe the “form” of your heart and what might this metaphor signify?

If we consider the "form" of the heart as a metaphor, it can be described as something that embodies both its physical realization and deep inner qualities. For instance, from an anatomical perspective, the heart can be envisioned as having a rounded yet dynamic shape that is “inclined towards the left side” and “tapers” – emphasizing its unique composition (“The heart is more tilted to the left side, … it is rounded in appearance, but not elongated, then tapers and its end converges into a point.” (source: link txt, page: Page 1)). Such a detailed form can symbolize the direction of our feelings and energy.

On the other hand, metaphorically, the heart is seen as a source of inner strength, the deep “self,” and the place where desires, will, and moral impulses originate. Its form here is not merely an organ but a holistic inner world where our feelings and thoughts are hidden. For example, the expression “The heart is our inner person” emphasizes that it is within the heart that “God Himself is revealed and dwells,” encapsulating the very essence of human existence (source: link txt, page: Page 1).

Furthermore, the heart is regarded as an organ that not only determines our physical state but is also closely linked to our desires and the choices we make in life (“The heart is the organ of our desires, the source of our will, and the intentions, whether good or evil. From the texts of Sacred Scripture, it is evident that it is the desires and aspirations of the heart that determine a person's behavior and the path chosen in life.” (source: link txt, page: Page 1)). The image of the gusli, where feelings are the strings and thought is the gusli player, conveys the idea of harmony—the interplay of reason and emotion creating the unique resonance of our soul.

Thus, the metaphorical “form” of the heart intertwines the concreteness of its physical image with the depth of our internal experiences, demonstrating that our heart is simultaneously an organ with distinct structural characteristics and the repository of all our emotions, desires, and moral bearings.

Supporting citation(s):

“The heart is more tilted to the left side, as we have already stated, but its base is not located in the middle of the chest, left and right of it, and its top is not to the right at the upper part, but the end is at the bottom, albeit slightly tilted towards the left at its end. It is rounded in appearance, but not elongated, then tapers and its end converges into a point. The heart has three ventricles: the larger one on the right, the smaller one on the left, and a middle one between them. The two small ventricles end near the lungs.” (source: link txt, page: Page 1)

“The heart is our inner person. These and many other images and characteristics are used by the holy apostles and Church Fathers to describe the heart and express its essence. In short, we can say that the heart is our ‘inner person’, the place that is revealed through the work of grace and in which God Himself is unveiled and dwells.” (source: link txt, page: Page 1)

“The heart is the organ of our desires, the source of our will, and the intentions, whether good or evil. From the texts of Sacred Scripture, it is evident that it is the desires and aspirations of the heart that determine a person's behavior and the path they choose in life. It is indeed the heart, not the mind (as psychologists try to prove), that thinks, reflects, and comprehends.” (source: link txt, page: Page 1)