For today only: I will not be angry, I will not worry, I will be humble, I will be honest in my work and I will be compassionate to myself and others. Imagine if all humankind practiced the 5 elements of reiki every day? We imagine a very peaceful world...in fact, we're feeling pretty zen just thinking about it.
Although it's difficult to translate in English the exact meaning of reiki (a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation), ‘re’ can refer to a higher intelligence and ‘ki’ means life force. Similar to ‘qi’ in traditional Chinese medicine, the idea that a non-physical energy that animates all living things is central to the philosophies behind health and wellness.
Reiki, acupuncture, yoga, qi gong, tai chi and sound therapy are all examples of energy medicine. These branches of alternative health are based on the idea that all physical objects and psychological processes (emotions, beliefs, thoughts and attitudes) are energetic expressions.
A person’s energy body refers to the field of putative energy that exists outside of the body. This kind of energy is measured by the human body and how people feel. Also known as chakras, the spirit or an aura, this energy field is highly susceptible to picking up a range of frequencies and energetic wavelengths.
Kirlian Photography: A technique for recording photographic images of corona discharges and the auras of living creatures.
Similar to how certain sounds can resonate within the body to promote healing, certain negative energies (like fear, anger and worry) can lead to harm. Heartbreak, trauma and other factors can contribute to the fragmentation of the energy body (also known as the separation of the spirit) which is defined as an imbalance or disharmony in energy medicine.
The primary goal of traditional Chinese medicine for example, is to create wholeness and harmony within a person, allowing the mind/body/spirit to heal itself. It is believed that the energy body will eventually integrate into the physical body and since disease can exist in the energy body, energy medicine is also considered a profound preventative medicine.
Pictured above: Using a new combination of imaging techniques and CT scans, researchers have observed concentrated points of microvascular structures that clearly correspond to the map of acupuncture points created by Chinese energy doctors over 2000 years ago.
Even if disease has not yet harmed the physical self, there are a number of ways to prevent these negative energies from invading the physical body and one such method is attunements to the life force.
When a qualified reiki practitioner facilitates the movement of these energies by ‘channel clearing’ for example, he or she is performing the art of correcting defects in the energy field such as stagnation or blockages. The 'afterglow' that is often experienced post treatment is usually described as a glowing radiance and 'feeling of lightness' throughout the body.
Similarly, ‘dredging the meridians’ is a term used among traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and it means to clear the meridians (channels) in the body so that a person can achieve harmony and connect to a higher spiritual reality for optimal health.
Healing the energy field enhances overall health, boosts the immune system and rejuvenates the body and mind. Tuning in to higher frequencies of loving, peaceful and gentle energies are all positive and promote wellbeing.
The best part about energy medicine? We all have our own remarkable healing ability and the power to tap in to this higher intelligence or ‘life force’ to make adjustments to the way we feel. With a few simple breaths, daily mantras or by way of meditation, we can work on achieving harmony within ourselves anytime, anyplace and anywhere.
Tension is who you think you should be, relaxation is who you are. - Ancient Chinese Proverb
"Proof that the body is a projection of consciousness "- Brandon West