DIY Energy Tip

Calm Your Thinking

When you’re too frazzled to think straight, gently place your fingertips on your forehead - on the bump halfway between your eyebrows and hair line.  Keep your fingertips here, breathing deeply, until you feel pulsing under your fingertips.  (This brings the blood back to your forebrain, allowing you think more clearly.)

Here's another version of the technique that includes additional points on your head.  In this version, her pinky finger is placed on the bump halfway between her eyebrows and hairline.

DIY Energy Tip

SETTLE & CENTRE

This is a Donna Eden technique she calls “The Hook Up”.  Place the middle finger of one hand between your eyebrows above your nose.  Place the middle finger of the other hand in your navel.  Gently press each finger into your skin, pulling upward for 15 - 20 seconds.  (This connects your central and governing meridians and balances your energy front to back and top to bottom.)

Watch Donna and friends demonstrate this quick, easy energy balance:

Reiki can help!

Most wellness models in our western culture teach that the body is the foundation for everything in life, that without a healthy body everything else suffers.  I believe this is backwards thinking.  Your body isn't the foundation of your health.  Your body is the physical manifestation of your life experiences.  When your life is out of balance your mind gets stressed.  And when your mind is stressed your body suffers.  The good news is that you can make changes in your life, at any time, that can positively affect your health. 

Unfortunately our medical system doesn't teach doctors, or allow them the time needed, to counsel their patients on the things that ultimately manifest in the physical body. So we need to take this responsibility on for ourselves.  How do we do that? 

Ask yourself what you think might be the root to your medical condition.  Think beyond the conventional answers like "I need to lose weight" or "I am depressed".  These may be true, but they're the symptoms.  You're looking for the underlying cause.  Dig deeper:  Is your marriage on the rocks?  Do you hate your job?  Are you lonely? 

Ask yourself "What does my body need so it can heal?"  Yes, maybe you need antibiotics or some professional counselling.  But maybe you need to finish that novel, hire a nanny, forgive an old injustice, or end a relationship.

This is tough stuff.  

Go easy on yourself.  

Reiki can help.  

 

 

Pathways to Health

Physical, Emotional, Mental and Spiritual Healing

According to The World Health Organization, "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease."  In keeping with this idea of health, working to create a sense of well-being on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels is what Reiki is all about.

Many people use the terms "healing" and "curing" interchangeably but it's important to understand they do not mean the same thing.  Curing means to completely eradicate an illness or disease in the physical body while healing can occur on many different levels and isn't  even necessarily linked to a physical condition.

click here to learn more about healing vs. curing 

 

 
What does it mean to heal on these different levels?

1. Physical - healing on this level might mean eliminating an illness completely, or could simply mean alleviating the symptoms for a while , allowing time to address any underlying root causes that might be found on the emotional, mental or spiritual levels. 
   
2. Emotional - emotional healing might result in calming fears or coming to acceptance of the effects of life-events such as illness, bereavement, job loss, etc.
   
3. Mental - the deep state of relaxation assists with the mental release of negative thought patterns or attitudes that might be interfering with relationships or achieving life goals.
   
4. Spiritual - healing from a spiritual level could result in a more compassionate attitude towards self, others and the natural world.  Or it might assist in releasing restrictive belief systems to support greater self-expression and creativity. 

The Body Heals with Play

The Mind Heals with Laughter

The Spirit heals with Joy

 

Relax into Healing

We all know we should relax more. 

 And we all know how difficult it can be to relax.

But here's something we don't all know:

It has been proven that relaxing can fundamentally change your health.

According to Mario Beauregard, author of "Brain Wars", the Harvard Medical School conducted a study which showed that more than 2200 genes were activated differently between people who practiced relaxation and people who didn't.  Perhaps even more interesting, they discovered a gene that is turned on or off by stress is turned the other way during relaxation.   Wow!

Relax with Reiki

Understanding that relaxation can change the way your body operates at this most fundamental level helps to explain the benefits of reiki.  During a reiki treatment you achieve a state of deep relaxation, which is usually accompanied by increased energy and feelings of well-being.  Well, no wonder!  You're giving those stressed-out genes a chance to express themselves in a more balanced way.

There are many ways to relax and trigger the body's innate ability to heal.  If you're not sure which approach is best for you,  why not try reiki?

Reiki for Health & Wellness

R is for Reiki

Here are 4 really good reasons to give Reiki a try:

1. Reiki can never do harm.  The Reiki practitioner acts as a channel for the energy and your body does the rest.  You and your body are in control of your own healing.   
   
2. Reiki is not a religion.  Although Reiki is spiritually guided, Reiki has no religious affiliation.  You do not have to "believe" in anything for Reiki to work.   
   
3. Reiki does not interfere with your current medications or treatments.  Reiki is a complementary healing technique that  is used in hospitals and hospices.
   
4. Reiki works on both chronic illness (e.g. stress related complaints) and acute conditions (e.g. sports injuries). 

The benefits of Reiki:

• pain relief
• reduced stress
• improved sleep
• increased energy
• feelings of well-being

People who have regular Reiki treatments feel more balanced and report an increased enjoyment in life.  So what are you waiting for?  Why not try Reiki today?  All you've got to lose is your stress.

Click here to find a Canadian Reiki Association registered Practitioner near you.

"It is good, I think, for our hearts, our minds, our imaginations, to be stretched; but body, nerve, endurance and life-span are not as elastic."   Anne Morrow Lindbergh

The Simple Life

"The simple life is simply not enough.

We have appearances we must keep up."   

 lyrics from "Poor Boy"by Supertramp

 This weeks GBE2 prompt is "Simplicity". 

When we get nostalgic we like to think about the past, about those simpler times when the world moved a little slower,  things were a little less complicated.  And we tend to get nostalgic when we feel like we have no choice but to go roaring along at full speed.    Humans weren't built for speed - at least not the kind of speed we need these days.  Our muscles are designed for old fashioned physical speed.  They get stronger and faster with repetitive use, pushing them to their limits only enhances their performance.  But physical speed is not what we need in modern times.  We need psychological speed - to multi-task and prioritize and time-manage our lives.  But our neurological circuits are not designed for this type of speed.  Instead of getting stronger with repetitive use they wear out, slow down and eventually overload.

It may seem an impossible task to simplify our lives - so many things feel like they're outside of our control.  But we can make changes.  Teeny changes that don't take much effort but can add up like compound interest to make a simpler life, a simpler day, or even just a simpler hour or two.   For me, silence is simplicity.  I don't have a lot of control over the sounds in my life, but I can control the sounds  in my car.  So I drive in silence.  It's not much, just 20 minutes to work each day and 20 minutes home again.  But it's 40 minutes of simplicity I wouldn't find any other way.

What small thing can you do to put a little simplicity back in your life?

Taking Ownership

Ownership usually begins with a financial transaction, but not always.  You can, for example, decide to take ownership over your own health.   While the idea of owning your state of health is free, following through once you've made the decision certainly isn't.  But that's okay, because you're prepared to spend a bit of money on yourself.  
 
Let's say you're feeling stressed out and have $40 to put towards helping you feel better.   Let's compare some of the ways you might spend that money:

A big basket of junk food

 

One very nice bottle of wine.  (Or four cheap ones if you're really stressed).

 

A few bottles of pain relievers.

While none of the above are effective long term solutions, they are, unfortunately, the most popular self-medication choices.  Going to a spa for pampering and relaxation is a much better choice, but all $40 will get you is .....

half of a European facial

So what can you get for $40 that is safe, effective and healthy? 

One relaxing, rejuvenating and blissful hour of Reiki! 

Do-it-Yourself Energy Healing

There are many different ways the body's energy field can be used for healing - Reiki, Shamballa and Sound Therapy are just the tip of the iceberg.  Most energy healing systems require that you to seek a trained practitioner to assist you with your healing.  But what if you want to do it yourself?

Muscle testing is an easy way to use your own energy field to answer questions like "Is this supplement good for me?" or "Is this food good for my body right now?" Knowing the answers to these questions may not provide immediate relief from your symptoms, but if you listen to your body and ingest only what it can handle, over time, you will feel positive results.  Don't worry - this doesn't mean you can never eat junk food again.  What it does mean though, is you may have to avoid eating it at times when you're body just isn't up to the challenge - like when you're tired or stressed.

The basic principle here is that our personal energy field is affected by what it  interacts with.   If it interacts with something harmonious it strengthens, but weakens when it interacts with something negative. 

This technique is so easy.  Watch the video below and 6 minutes from now you'll be able to communicate with your energy field!

Find Reiki - Lose Stress

"It is good, I think, for our hearts, our minds, our imaginations, to be stretched; but body, nerve, endurance and life-span are not as elastic."   Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote those words in 1955.  A time when we were just beginning to suspect the finer mysteries of the quantum world and no one questioned the separation of mind from the body.   Well things have changed.  We now know humans have a subtle energy field and this field cannot be separated from the functioning of the mind-body.  But that doesn't make Anne Morrow Lindbergh's quote out-dated.  In fact, it's more poignant than ever.  Our modern world constantly stretches our hearts, minds and imaginations.  If you watch the news, hold down a job or live with children you're stretched alright - maybe even to the point of snapping!  This stretching takes a toll on the physical body - we call it stress.  Stress impairs your immune system and an impaired immune system makes you more susceptible to illness and injury.

So how do you reduce stress?  First, turn off the news.  Trust me - you won't miss anything important.  (If anything really big happens people will talk about it.  Listen if you want.)   You probably can't afford to quit your job, and children stay at home into their 30's these days.  So what can you do?

Try Reiki!  It balances your subtle energy field and promotes deep relaxation.   This level of relaxation allows your body to do what it does best - heal itself - and creates vitality and wellness at the physical, emotional and spiritual level.

Go ahead - give Reiki a try.  All you can lose is your stress.

Click here to find a Canadian Reiki Association registered Practitioner near you.

Why should I....

 try Tai Chi?

Tai Chi is a simple yet profound series of movements performed with calm intent.   With practice Tai Chi improves your physical stamina, balance, flexibility, energy level, strength, body awareness and overall health.  Perhaps more interestingly, it also provides stress relief, improves mood, creativity, inner harmony and life balance.   

Your Tai Chi practice can be customized to suit your physical condition, lifestyle and level of interest. 

And it's reasonably priced!  A sincere Tai Chi teacher ensures his/her classes are affordable as Chi is universal energy that is always present and free to us all.

Your Two Brains

In traditional Yogic chakra theory, there are 7 major chakras in the body.  These chakras are like emotional and spiritual transducers that absorb and distribute life energy to various body organs and tissues.   In the same way that physical toxins can produce illness, emotional toxins can poison the physical and spiritual body in many subtle ways.

To read my previous post on the heart chakra please click here.  Today we explore the solar plexus chakra.

The Solar Plexus Chakra

This chakra, located just below your sternum, is associated with your stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, and adrenal glands.  These are the organs associated with digestion.

Emotionally and spiritually your solar plexus chakra is related to your sense of personal power - your self-esteem and self-worth.   It is said this is where we hold on to our perceptions of how we compare with others and our issues of responsibility.  People who feel strongly the emotions of fear and intimidation, and those chronically stressed by their responsibilities, often complain of indigestion, heartburn and gastritis - all digestive ailments.

We tend to place our hand over our solar plexus chakra when we're experiencing a "gut reaction" or having a "gut feeling".  It's also the area of our body we instinctively protect by crossing our arms when we feel we're being emotionally attacked.  This is no coincidence.  Research shows that our gut has a mind of its own.  Just like the larger brain in our head, our digestive system receives impulses, records experiences and responds to emotions.  Its nerve cells are influenced by the same neurotransmitters that are found in our brain.   It's a two-way street.  Our gut can affect our brain the same way our brain can affect our gut!  This means balancing the energy in your solar plexus chakra will bring relief not only to your stressed-out digestive system, but to your stressed-out brain as well.  And who couldn't use a little stress relief?

Healing or cure: Which to prefer?

What's the difference between  HEALING and CURING? 

According to Michael Lerner, Ph.D. and head of Commonweal Cancer Help Program  "Healing and curing are not synonymous.  Cure refers to complete biological resolution of a disease state, while healing refers to a revitalizing and regenerative process that can occur on emotional, spiritual, or physical levels - and sometimes on all three levels in concert."

So based on this definition, the energy arts of Reiki, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Sound Therapy and Shamballa are all healing systems.  

We usually hear about healing systems in the context of what is called the "holistic approach".   According to the merriam-webster online dictionary holistic means "relating to or concerned with wholes or with complete systems rather than with the analysis of, treatment of, or dissection into parts <holistic medicine attempts to treat both the mind and the body> <holistic ecology views humans and the environment as a single system>".   

So again, based on this definition Touch for Health, Reiki, Tai Chi and Qi Gong are all holistic healing systems.

When thinking about healing vs curing it's important to note that, while healing can include curing, neither necessarily encompasses the other:  You can be healed and not cured.  You can be cured and not healed.    In an example of the first scenario (healed, not cured) imagine a person with a terminal disease who lives beyond what is statistically expected, and finds joy, peace and satisfaction in their final months of life.  In the second scenario (cured, not healed) imagine a person who recovers from a life threatening disease and continues to live with depression, anxiety and pain.   As Mitchell Raynor, M.D. puts it in his book Sounds of Healing: "Our concept of healing should never be limited to physical cure."  

It's rather obvious that anyone's preference would be to have both healing and a cure.  So how do you improve your chances of attaining this goal?  First by seeking professional medical attention and following any treatment advice you're given.  Then find a complementary holistic healing modality that appeals to you - Touch for Health, Reiki, Tai Chi and Qi Gong are just a few of the many available.

The really great thing about the complementary healing systems is that you can use them any time.  You don't have to be in need of a cure to benefit from healing.  Do you know anyone who wouldn't want to be more relaxed, have increased energy and feelings of well being, or have less aches and pains?  Neither do I!

4 Secrets for Reducing Your Stress

You know you need to reduce your stress - but how?  
Here are 4 easy ways:

1.  Have a Reiki treatment.  Reiki is a holistic healing method using natural energy forces to create balance, vitality and wellness.   Reiki works by placing the hands over the major glands of the endocrine system, which governs metabolism, growth, aging, and the body's ability to heal itself. 

2.  Have a Sound Therapy treatment.   Sound therapy is the therapeutic use of sound and music to reduce anxiety and emotional stress, lower blood pressure and heart rate, and promote healing.   It's like a sound massage for your organs, bones and tissues.

3.  Learn to meditate.   Meditation teaches you to calm your mind, and a calm mind is the key to your health.   There are many different types of meditation to choose from.  You can meditate alone or with others, for as long or as little as you like.  Daily meditation leads to a sense of peace, insight and clarity.

4.  Learn Tai Chi.  Tai Chi is a moderate cardiovascular training exercise that can be done by virtually anyone regardless of their condition.   Tai Chi helps regulate the immune system, improves posture, and helps to focus your mind.  In fact, Tai Chi is called "moving meditation".   It has all the benefits of meditation with the added benefits of exercise.  It's the perfect stress reducer!

The benefits of having a Reki or Sound Therapy treatment are immediate, and arranging a treatment is as easy as phoning your local practitioner.   Learning meditation or Tai Chi takes some commitment, but the long term stress reducing benefits are more than worth the effort. 

I recommend starting your stress reduction program with a few Reiki or Sound Therapy treatments to get you on the road to relaxation.  Then add meditation and/or Tai Chi to build on your success.

Old Zen saying "Slow down and the thing you are chasing will come around and catch you."