Energy Medicine

Energy is at the core of everybody and everything – it’s the essential, unifying element of the universe. In the scientific community, it is understood that the body is made of molecules, which are reduced into atoms and subatomic particles that are in constant motion. Quantum physics states that mass and energy are interchangeable, and consequently that mass is merely a manifestation of energy. This means that everything, including humans, are simply energy stored in mass particle form. What’s more exciting is that this web of energy not only affects us, but it is us. With this knowledge in hand, everything must be energetically connected to everything else, at some degree, including you and me. According to the theories associated with the universal energy field, all matter and psychological processes — thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and attitudes — are composed of energy. When applied to the human body, every atom, molecule, cell, tissue and body system is composed of energy. When superimposed on each other, these systems create what is known as the human energy field, which in the study of energy medicine, is an extension of the universal energy field.

The concept of a universal energy field is present across history and across cultures. To the Japanese, it is called Ki. In Chinese medicine it is known as Chi or Qi and the ancient Egyptians called it Ka. In the Americas, the Incas called it Sami and the Ancient Nahua called it Yolia and Tonalli. The Yoruba traditions refer to it as Axé and the Hawaiians refer to it as Mana. These are just a few examples of cultures across the globe that acknowledge this field in their understanding of life and of healing. Energy Healing is based on the understanding that this universal energy field and the human energy field are deeply interrelated via a dynamic system of powerful influences that affect our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

The International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine (ISSSEEM), an interdisciplinary organization that focuses on the study of the basic sciences and medical and therapeutic applications of subtle energies, defines energy medicine as follows:

Energy medicine includes all energetic and informational interactions resulting from self-regulation or brought about through other energy linkages between mind and body. In addition to various therapeutic energies which we may use, there are also energy pulses from the environment which influence humans and animals in a variety of ways. For instance, low-level changes in magnetic, electric, electromagnetic, acoustic, and gravitational fields often have profound effects on both biology and psychology. In addition to energies originating in the environment, it has been documented that humans are capable of generating and controlling subtle, not-yet-measurable energies that seem to influence both psychological and physical mechanisms.

Energy healing practitioners readily accept that our body functions and is powered by energy. Therefore, depending on client needs and goals, we will choose from a variety of modalities to sweep the energy bodies, address energetic imbalances and blockages, release trapped emotions, and replenish/rejuvenate various energy centers.

Energy medicine and breathwork can be utilized on their own or as a supplement to clinical therapy. The effects of energy healing and breathwork are cumulative. While one session can improve well-being, regular sessions can invite significant improvements into our lives.

Reiki

The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words – Rei which means “God’s wisdom” or “the higher power” and Ki which is “universal life force energy”. So, Reiki is believed to be “spiritually guided life force energy.” Reiki can be administered by laying on of hands just off the body, lightly touching the body, or through visualization via distance healing. It is based on the knowing that universal life force energy flows through us all. In a Reiki session, the practitioner is seeking to be a channel to transmit Universal Life Energy to the client directly from the universe. There are 3 pillars to Reiki:

1. Gassho (Prayer)

2. Reijo-Ho (Connection, Intention, Scanning)

3. Chiryo (Treatment)

The goal or Reiki treatment is to create deep relaxation, to help speed healing, reduce pain and stress, and decrease other symptoms you may be experiencing. Reiki teachings posit that if one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more susceptible to illness and stress, and if it is high, we are more likely to experience health and happiness. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit. Reiki is a complimentary medical/healing art that works alone as well as in concert with other treatments. Healing sessions can result in shifts in awareness, release of emotional/energetic patterns, and increase in feelings of peace, vitality, self-worth, and authenticity.

Channeling Universal Life Force Energy, or Ki in Japanese, as a healing art has been around for thousands of years in various forms. Universal Life Force Energy itself has always existed, which means no earthly being created it. We’ve been tapping into it, in one way or another, for as long as history seems to show. However, one of most well-known individuals in the East to understand, document and convey a specific set of teachings about it was Dr. Mikao Usui. Usui Sensei brought the Reiki method of healing to mainstream Japan in the 1920s after a deep spiritual experience upon fasting for 21 days. Before his revelations on Reiki, Dr. Mikao Usui studied medicine, psychology and religion as well as the art of divination and psychic abilities. Dr. Mikao Usui felt urged to spread his knowledge and began teaching others in Japan. Usui Sensei died in 1926, leaving behind many Reiki Masters to continue administering and teaching his healing methods. One of these masters was Dr. Chujiro Hayashi who championed the hand positions to treat ailments. Many additional styles of Reiki have since been developed. One of Hayashi Sensei’s students Mrs. Hawayo Takata was elevated to Master level and brought Reiki into the West. Many forms of Western Reiki are rooted in her teachings.

Pranic Healing

Pranic Healing is rooted in ancient Indian/Vedic wisdom as well as Chinese Medicine. Prana is a Sanskrit word that is commonly translated as “life breath” or “vital source” and refers to the essential, unifying element of universal energy we referenced above.

Pranic Healing was developed by Master Choa Kok Sui, a Filipino chemical engineer of Chinese descent. Sui’s background as a chemical engineer and his study of Chinese Medical Science, including Medical Chi Kung, enabled him to create a system of easy-to-learn techniques that balance, harmonize and transform the body’s energy processes. Pranic Healing is a simple, yet powerful and effective system of no-touch energy healing. It is based on the fundamental energy medicine principle that the body is a self-repairing, energetic entity and that the body’s healing process can be accelerated by increasing our prana. Pranic Healing principles identify three major sources of prana: solar prana, air prana, and earth/ground prana. Advanced techniques also utilize color therapy and crystals to address physical and emotional imbalances to promote healing.

Pranic Healing can be conducted in-person or distantly. Physical contact is not required because the practitioner is working on the energy body, rather than directly on the physical body. During a typical healing session, the pranic healing practitioner uses their hands and/or crystals to a) assess the energy body, b) clean the energy body to remove congested, obstructing energies, and c) send fresh, clean prana (energy) into the body to facilitate healing.

The basic treatments in Pranic Healing include:

1. In areas where there is pranic depletion, cleansing and energizing are applied to the affected areas. The emphasis is on energizing.

2. In areas where there is pranic congestion, diseased and congested energy is removed or swept from the affected areas. This is followed by projecting prana to the treated area. The emphasis is on cleansing and decongesting.

3. A malfunctioning chakra that is slowed, blocked, or hyperactive is restored by cleansing and energizing it with prana.

4. Drooping and entangled health rays are detangled and strengthened.

5. Blocked meridians or energy channels are cleansed and energized.

6. Leaks in the outer aura are repaired and sealed.

Pranic Healing may be better suited than Reiki for individuals who feel an accumulation of heavy emotion, dense energy, pain, and overall a more prescriptive approach to a particular ailment.

Breathwork healing

Conscious, intentional breathing is one of many techniques that help heal and improve our human energy field, and therefore our physical, mental, and emotional health. Breathwork is an active, intentional, systematic form of breathing that assists the brain in bypassing mind chatter, which then brings us to enter into a higher state of awareness, allowing for cathartic release, clarity, and deep relaxation.

Breathwork is a healing modality that has been present across time and cultures. In Mesoamerican artwork, speech-breath hovers before the nose or mouth as a single bead or pair of beads in Olmec and Maya art and as spirals in Aztec art. The measured action conveyed by artists through the mark-making process reflected the measured breathing that transmitted vital life forces from humans to the cosmos, and cosmos to humans. Shamanic Breathwork has been used in Mesoamerican healing ceremonies for thousands of years, in combination with song and prayer. Similarly, in Vedic practices, there are various breathwork and chanting exercises meant to expand our consciousness. In Sanskrit, pranayama is derived from the words prana, which means vital life force energy as we explained above, and ayama, which means expansion, and is used to refer to conscious regulation of our breath. Pranayama techniques use the breath to direct and expand the flow of prana through energy channels in our bodies.

Breathwork Healing sessions begin with intention setting and introduction to the practice and what to expect. The breathwork itself lasts 20-30 minutes. To complete the session, the facilitator guides the client into Savasana (rest pose) and engages in dialogue regarding your experience to promote integration. Breathwork is definitely work, BUT it is work well worth the time and effort to jumpstart your healing journey, and I will be guiding you and holding space for you every step of the process.