The Heart & The Penis

Joris-Karl Huysmans, in his novel Là-Bas, wrote, “The heart, said to be man’s noblest organ, has the same shape as the penis, commonly supposed the most ignoble; the symbolism is not inappropriate, because the love which comes from the heart soon extends to the organ which it resembles.” This poetic comparison captures the symbolic parallels often drawn between the heart and the penis, despite their obvious physical differences. In Huysmans‘ view, the connection between the heart and penis speaks to the intertwining of love and desire, reflecting both the noble and primal elements within human connection. While anatomically they are distinct—the heart being more conical and the penis cylindrical—their cultural symbolism bridges concepts of intimacy, passion, and life force.

In Tantra, the heart and sexual centers are deeply interconnected, symbolizing a flow of energy that balances both emotional and physical intimacy. This connection extends to the concept of a “heart chakra” located at the penis, where sexual energy and loving intent meet. In Tantric thought, activating the heart chakra at this center is about aligning desire with love, creating a transformative bond that brings a sense of peace, depth, and wholeness to the connection. The symbolism of the heart and penis as kindred shapes embodies this union, inviting a form of connection that’s both primal and transcendent, where energy flows freely between the two chakras and fulfills body, mind, and spirit.