How much does a heart cost? I think our capitalistic view of the body results in our ability to trivialize the fragility of our most crucial organ. What do I mean? In this society, our bodies are commodities. It’s no secret that Amerikkka isn’t a country. It’s a corporation and our bodies are the product being traded on the stock market. Consequently, our worth is determined by how efficiently our avatar is able to function to sustain the system. I am of the conviction that such an existence cascades into how we view ourselves, our loved ones, our peers….strangers. Look how we disregard each other. Take some time to consider how we neglect to practice mindfulness in our interactions. Of course, I’m speaking on a large scale here, as there are Spirits among us who move with intentional integrity.

How much does a heart cost? How much attention do you pay for the impact of your intentions? How much attention do you pay for the impact of your words? What is the price point of your actions when in communion with fellow members of Humanity? If it is factual that the health of the heart contributes to our physical, mental, emotional, and Spiritual well-being, what gift of exchange do you present at the barter of energy and frequency?

Gentleness has been a running theme for myself and other black women, who have grown weary of the expectation of burden-bearing placed on us because of our “strength”. We’ve become aware of our collective fatigue, and the frustration that accompanies it. As a result, we unabashedly express the truth that we desire and deserve to exist sans the burden of carrying everyone and their holistic load along with us. We now know and accept that ease, bliss, peace, and softness are attributes we can cultivate within ourselves, while requiring others to enter our energetic fields with nothing less than their reflections. This is especially true for our romantic relationships. Many of us have gone through the early part of our adulthood residing in our masculinity. We were the initiators, the leaders, the providers, the driving forces of our unions. Often, we endured abuse of various forms, consequently reacting with violence of our own, due to the incapability of our partners to create a safe space for our innate femininity to flourish.

Let me pause here and say that I am a huge believer and supporter of the idea that romantic and communal relationships thrive best when driven by Womb wisdom; this does not equate to leadership. I believe that a man operates best when he is given space to direct the trajectory of the relationship, while the woman supports and influences decisions made on behalf of the union. The masculine provides, protects, and directs, while the feminine reciprocates with intuitive wisdom, nurture, and Spiritual protection.

Many of us have forcibly operated from our masculine energy because we watched our mothers do so. In union, we’ve provided for, protected, and led relationships, only to end up exhausted and frustrated, with heart strings suffering and barely anchored. We know this, because the chest pain that ensues in moments of intensity is excruciating and undeniable. The carelessness in which we have been handled, and the lack of consideration for our emotional vitality quickly lands us in danger territory. Yet, we are told to endure. This is where the revolutionary movement of gentleness and softness comes in. It is a call for us to intentionally return to our femininity, first giving it to ourselves, so that we may flow at a frequency that requires it in consistency. We’re learning to romanticize our lives so that anyone who desires to share space with us will do the same. We are training our bodies to find harsh environments repulsive. Why? Because we’ve landed into the truth that our hearts are more than a commodity for capitalistic living- that suffering isn’t required for a fulfilled life, nor for successful relationships.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, informally known as broken heart syndrome or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is a phenomenon that isn’t spoke of enough. So let’s explore it a bit. According to the American Heart Association, broken heart syndrome can be induced by any stressful event and the signs and symptoms mimic that of heart attack, which is why it can sometimes be misdiagnosed as such. During an episode of broken heart syndrome, the left ventricle (pumps blood out of the heart, to the aorta, then to the rest of the body) enlarges and pumps less efficiently, causing the rest of the heart chambers to pump more forcefully. Consequently, cardiogenic shock can happen. This is when an acutely weakened heart is unable to provide the body with the blood it needs, which can turn fatal if not treated immediately. In addition to cardiogenic shock, chordae tendinae rupture may also occur, although rare. It is when the “heart strings” that anchor the heart valves to the papillary muscle of the heart literally snap. They aren’t elastic. They are made of fibrous connective tissue, and extreme stress on the heart can cause them to break.

I am highly confident in saying this: there are black women who have died from this; we are just unaware due to lack of medical evidence. “Mama had a bad heart” because she was stressed, snatched out of her femininity, and abused.

How much does a heart cost? A 2019 business insider article states that the average cost (of course including the transplantation surgery) is $1,382,400. On the black market? Ranker.com places it at $119,000. At face value, a heart is quite affordable for those who got it. But let’s consider the non-tangible aspects of life. How much exactly does a heart cost? How much attention do you pay for the impact of your intentions? How much attention do you pay for the impact of your words? What is the price point of your actions when in communion with fellow members of Humanity? If it is factual that the health of the heart contributes to our physical, mental, emotional, and Spiritual well-being, what gift of exchange do you present at the barter of energy and frequency? How much does a heart cost…………..to you? How much value do you place on the holistic functionality of any being you choose to exchange time and space with?

I’ve recently had to ask myself this question after being pulled out of my femininity. I saw myself give in to harsh conditions, which led me to speak words of violence that I normally wouldn’t as one who innerstands the aforementioned totality of the heart. In science and spirit, I innerstand its fragility, yet, because gentleness and softness were no longer a part of my internal reality, I disregarded the cost. Do I regret it? Absolutely not. Not one bit. Would I do it again if given the opportunity? Absolutely not. Because in doing so, I shifted the frequency of my energetic compass. Since then, however, I’ve taken care to romanticize my life. Beauty surrounds me because I am beautiful, in every single aspect. I’ve returned to my baseline of softness and gentleness because I am, now more than ever, aware of the cost of my heart. Sure, it was broken, but I’ve made it my responsibility to fix it.

Be very mindful with how you deal with people. Count the cost of every heart to heart interaction and move accordingly. You can break your own heart in the process of disregarding another’s. Be blessed!

© 2021 The Evolving Goddess

Houston, J. (2019). Why organ transplants are so expensive in the US. Retrieved 5 December 2021, from https://www.businessinsider.com/why-organ-transplants-so-expensive-united-states-2019-9#:~:text=The%20average%20billed%20cost%20of,organs%20aren’t%20much%20cheaper.

Is Broken Heart Syndrome Real?. Retrieved 5 December 2021, from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiomyopathy/what-is-cardiomyopathy-in-adults/is-broken-heart-syndrome-real

Taylor, A. (2021). Here’s What All Your Organs And Parts Are Worth On The Black Market. Retrieved 5 December 2021, from https://www.ranker.com/list/organ-cost/april-a-taylor