Growing up 25 miles North of Philadelphia my school class trips frequently included The Franklin Institute. Back then the Institute was a collection of technology that we walked through and we were impressed by the sheer quantity of historical engineering stuff, rooms full of hundreds of bicycles and other technology. The display we all looked forward to was walking through the two story giant heart (photo and caption from Franklin Institute). For most layman and many physicians the heart is explained with parallels to a mechanical pump. However by walking through the giant heart and studying more of its operation the heart is a wondrous symbol of integrated intelligence. Interpreting messages from the lower part of the brain stem, the heart knows when to beat, it knows perfect timing on when to rest and pump. Its 4 control valves time their closure to maximize efficiency and synchronization between the four chambers. And the outcome... it sends fresh oxygenated blood to the body and then accepts depleted O2 blood back as it then readies for the next pump out to the lungs. It operates in divine rhythm.I love looking at the arteries and veins on the outside of the heart muscle. The red arteries indicate O2 rich blood being sent to the organs while the blue veins are for O2 depleted blood returning to be refreshed. There is no other organ like the heart; it is the only muscle with dual purpose to both provide food and also feed itself. Thinking about the operation of the heart-lung interface is also fascinating. There is a chemical gas exchange mechanism in operation. Imagine that somehow, a cellular transfer of O2 exists between the alveoli and the capillaries.
Once after a medical experience surrounding my heart I began to imagine what blood flow might look like to a personified blood cell equipped with sight and velocity indicators. That whole experience of imagination and interpretation has been a visualization of wellness, a foundation of my heart connection.
