How can I tell if my heart is open?

Dear Jeddah,
I have been working and studying spiritual matter for approx 12 years. I am not sure I know when my heart is open, I have tried many meditations to do just that but I don’t usually notice the difference in how I feel. Can you tell me how to tell if it is open.
Love Leslie

Dear Leslie,
Every experience we have is made up of sensations which are a form of feedback as to what intention/thought/belief awareness is currently carrying out as per our instructions. Every intention/thought/belief is shaping awareness which gives rise to moment to moment experience. When our heart is open, it is usually in response to a intention/thought/belief which has goodwill as its essence. This goodwill causes the energy flow through that centre which lead us to experience expansive sensations. These can be subtle or obvious. In your case it may be that they are very subtle. Or it may be that you are looking for ’something’ to happen that the mind imagines should be happening and so you miss what is actually happening. There may also be unconscious instructions which doubt that it will work and therefore manifest the lack of experience instead of the experience you are consciously attempting.
Try recalling people/memories/thoughts that bring a sense of gratitude/appreciation and notice your experience. If there is a change in your experience at all, then this is the result of what you are presently holding in your being. Experiment with different intentions and notice even very small changes.
You are designed in such a way that something will be happening. Start to notice what that is and that will allow you to find your way into what is possible. And finally…remember to relax. There is nothing to achieve here. Genuine, sincere and innocent fun and enjoyment relax our being more than any specific spiritual practice.
Heartfully, Jeddah