HeartMath as Scientific Meditation Method in Dialogue with Theological Phenomena

Abstract

The HeartMath Institute originated in 1991 through Doc Childre’s vision of promoting heart intelligence and health. The HeartMath system is an interdisciplinary undertaking, which bridges natural, human, social, spiritual, and ecological sciences, with the goal of promoting personal, social, and global coherence. The general goal of this paper is to introduce HeartMath as a coherent scientific approach to dialogue theological information, as well as a specific meditation method to explore theological phenomena. The particular aim is to contribute a theoretical and practically orientated pilot study with heuristic phenomenological reflection on personal experience of HeartMath theory, practice, meditation, related action, and reports in the form of scientific articles. This study is directly relevant to the DIALOGO conference theme of dialogue between science and theology. Methodology concerns the theoretical and practical value of HeartMath meditation methods as described with examples from HeartMath Global Coherence (GC) and Inner Balance (IB) apps. There are five GC reflective meditations on the theme of science and theology, complemented by five IB purely contemplative meditations. The reflective and discursive focus of the paper is on the monitoring of meditation sessions related to science and theology. The specific focus is on HeartMath techniques, electronic devices, and the planetary health potential of the Global Coherence Initiative.

A HeartMath intervention, focusing on coherence, resilience and faith, following a trauma

“…In terms of the results, quantitatively, using the valid and reliable HeartMath, BRS, SCSRFQ and SOC measurements, there were positive significant differences between re-test and post-test on average coherence; achievement score; and low, medium and high coherence total scores. This supported the previous research on psychophysiological coherence (Edwards 2013(Edwards , 2014aEdwards & Edwards 2021;Edwards, Edwards & Highley 2015). Results also indicated an increase in BRS and SCSRFQ total scores at post-testing.…”

“…It is at the centre of connectedness, is central to faith (McCraty & Rees 2009), is the human organ of spiritual perception (Bourgeault 2016) and has been linked with, for example, faith experiences and vice versa (Anderson 2020). HeartMath, a relatively new psychophysiological approach (Institute of HeartMath 2014), founded in 1997, has been presented and discussed as a scientific meditation method in dialogue with theological phenomena (Edwards 2021). HeartMath focuses on aspects including heart rate variability (HRV), breathing cycles and positive emotions (McCraty, Atkinson & Tomasino 2001).…”