Energy Healing
Background: Where does this technique come from?
Definition: A modern spiritual healing technique in which the practitioner places his hands on or near paired polarity points, allowing the energy to flow between them. Goal is to release long-held energetic wounds, and help ‘nudge’ the patient’s system to begin a process of healing and growth.
Source: Energy Healing: A Pathway to Inner Growth
by Jim Gilkeson.
Origin of Method / History: Not specifically addressed. Perhaps developed by author with a strong basis in polarity therapy, Rosalyn Bruyere’s chakra theory and other sources.
Theory: What is energy? What is energy healing?
What energy is being worked with? Human energy field. Field has these qualities: surrounds and permeates the physical body, can be experienced with our physical senses; some aspects can be measured with scientific instruments; changes in the field precipitate changes in mind, body, emotions, and spirituality; we can consciously influence field with attention, thoughts, feelings, and action. (Gilkeson, 19) Field is in “constant flux and change… a semi-permeable membrane, where our external or environmental influences meet with our internal life… Etheric conducts energy and consciousness.” (Gilkeson, 98)
Energy centers/pathways: 7 chakras. Meridians.
What is illness? Energy cysts: “Many events, from sudden impact and pain, loud sound, threat of danger… trigger the ‘fight or flight’ arousal of the sympathetic nervous system.” “Traumatized body parts or emotions become desensitized or numb…” whether this lasts “for an hour or an instant, we still sustain a wound and the energetic component of that wound is held in the etheric.” (Gilkeson, 101)
What is the mechanism for healing? “Awareness and attention nudge a process into action that leads to opening, balance, communication with the whole person and healing.” (Gilkeson, 140)
Role of practitioner: Create for client “a means of shifting out of the… traumatized state, clearing a space for consciousness and healing energy to enter areas that were injured, either physically or emotionally.” (Gilkeson, 77)
Role of person receiving healing: The natural tendency of repressed materials is “to try to move towards release… the instant the minimum requirements are in place – balance, safety, relaxation, openness – the process of transformation and healing starts.” (Gilkeson, 174)
Who can heal? Training? Book includes a number of exercises for learning to sense energy, and to begin doing healing work. Exercises are presented as laboratories for experiential learning.
Practice: How does a healing session work for this technique?
Beginning a session: Before starting, practitioner takes a moment to disconnect from client’s energy and orient himself by taking a “snapshot” of his own energy system, noting any areas of pain or discomfort, noting what is happening emotionally, and what attitudes and intentions he’s holding. Doing this helps ensure that the practitioner can recognize what impressions are internal and which are coming from the patient. (Gilkeson, 69)
Then he attunes to a higher consciousness or intelligence… may pray for a blessing or guidance.
Assessment: “In energy-based healing work, very often ‘sensing’ and ‘treatment’ are indistinguishable… awareness and attention, of themselves, nudge a process into action that leads to opening, balance, communication with the whole person, and healing.” (Gilkeson, 140)
Process: Healing involves placing hands on prescribed pairs of polarity points (e.g. medulla and forehead, or left foot chakra and left knee, etc.) and wait a few minutes to feel the natural exchange of energy, then move hands to the next pair of points.
Can be done with physical contact or just off body.
Uses: When is this Technique useful?
What do practitioners say it is useful for: Not addressed directly.
Contraindications: On one particular treatment, which activates energy processes, he notes that it should not be used on cancer patients with rapidly metastasizing tumors or on persons with severe schizophrenia, because part of their system has split off and is operating independently. It is appropriate to do techniques with these clients that calm and harmonize their energy.
Spiritual Component: States that healing the energy field is “inherently spiritual in nature” and “we need to think of energywork as essentially a spiritual practice.” (Gilkeson, 10) “Current interest in bodywork has fortunately, or unfortunately, been centered around its therapeutic aspects… for example, physical therapy and stress reduction. There is nothing wrong with using them for such purposes, but we should never overlook the fact that energywork comes from spiritual tradition… energywork, by its nature, brings us face to face with the spiritual, and by limiting its use to therapy, we overlook the vast wisdom that is offers.” (Gilkeson, 3)
“When energy healing is employed with
multi-dimensional goals it is really in its own element. Such goals might range
from self-exploration and a search for understanding of what might be behind
our illness, to a quest for insight, growth, and wisdom about the totality of
our lives. Likewise, energy healing can set in motion a change in consciousness
that can transport us from a strictly self-centered, personal focus to a
perspective of compassion and a felt sense of interconnection with all of
humanity, the natural world, and the cosmos. The sacred healing arts and
sciences have always dealt with what links the body with the soul, and the soul
with God.” (Gilkeson, 13)
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