This is Part One of a four-part blog, based on The Spirit of Health: Mind-to-Toe Self-Care for Women
“Happiness is the ability to radiate positive energy.”
Dan Millman, writer
The words “energy,” “aura” and “chakra” are experiencing a timely resurgence, and have made their way quite comfortably into the Aquarian Age vocabulary; I refer to them often in The Spirit of Health. Like the mind body connection, the understanding of energy, the aura and chakras is also a part of our ancient future—a renewed interest in ancient wisdom. These are but three pieces in an enormous puzzle of the understanding of our spiritual nature. These concepts are far too vast for the scope of this book, and my simplified definitions are based upon my own understanding, gleaned from years of curiosity and study. As a seeker, perhaps you may come upon these concepts and want to delve more deeply into their meanings. There is a vast pool of esoteric knowledge available: sift through it and form the basis for your own understanding. These are very old subjects, and to find books on esotericism one used to search the shelves of stores specializing in old and rare books. But as people’s consciousness expands, so do their interests. Now the shelves of the popular bookstores reflect this growing hunger for spiritual wisdom. On these shelves, as well as in the library and on the Internet, you’ll find a bulging assortment of information just waiting for you. As with any subject, some material is well researched and well written, whereas other material may seem a bit weird; that interpretation and consideration is up to you. From every source an open mind can learn.
ENERGY “Energy” is the vital life force that all living creatures have within their “being.” Without this vital life force, we would cease to “be.” Energy is the outward manifestation of this life force, and the bridge for this connection is the breath, or prana or chi. Tobe “centered” is to have a sense of balance in life. What we are actually sensing is a balance of energy, or life force—the Yin and the Yang. The Yin is the receptive feminine function of the life force, and the Yang is the active masculine function; the result of their balance is called the Tao, the dance of the universal life force within the living being. When we feel this balance, the breath is even and smooth. When we feel off balance or “off center,” the breath becomes shallow and inhibited. To varying degrees, most of us are aware of our energy fields, as well as the energy fields of other people. Some folks are said to have, “good energy,” or “bad energy.” Some emit an “aura of confidence;” while others are “even keeled.” A woman with child radiates “that glow.” When someone is in love, they have a special aura or energy about them. As our level of awareness expands, so does our ability to be in touch with our own energy and the energy of others.
We also each have our own individual and personal chemistry. Some people’s energies and chemistry can blend to create an agreeable mixture, while mixing others can create an explosion. When energy between two or more people “works” or flows, it is called “synergy,” a Greek word meaning, “working together.” This is the welcomed feeling of “good chemistry,” of being “on the same page.” In this positive energy environment, you can feel relaxed, centered, and your breath will become even. You can “be yourself.” When there is synergy between people, creativity flows easily, and it feeds upon the positive interaction. Balanced energy between people encourages a feeling of cooperation rather than competition. Here, participants in life’s chemistry “experiment” begin to easily read each other’s needs and moods. Often the inner radar begins to sense intuitive information that helps to facilitate relationships, and working partnerships are easily formed. (Combine this synergy with hormones detected by the olfactory system, and often women’s menstrual cycles will begin to synchronize.) The workings of this chemistry are very simple, yet very complex, all at the same time. Perhaps the way chemistry seeks chemistry and energy seeks energy is one of the universe’s ways of nudging us out of a negative environment and into a more positive one, where we can keep our feet on our best path individually, and where we can all thrive collectively.
Energy is electromagnetic and moves throughout our entire being, circulating along thousands of channels that intersect in areas called “meridians” or nadis. Like pathways, they surround us in all directions; they regulate every living cell in our bodies, and connect with our glands and organs. Energy can be manipulated, it can be sent out from us, absorbed by us, and it can be stored. It can be directed by our own negative thinking, as well as by abuse and criticism from others. When we absorb negative energy, our channels get blocked and our energy feels “stuck,” often the result is emotional, spiritual and physical illness. Like a plant potted in a pot that’s too small, we become root-bound; our energies become blocked and we can’t reach out; our personal growth becomes stunted. When we absorb positive energy, the opposite occurs: we feel that flowing sense of balance, resulting in a positive effect on our emotional, spiritual and physical health. We feel safe and are able to reach out; it is then that personal expansion and growth can blossom. In a more complex sense, when our life force is not in a balanced state of equilibrium, sickness can manifest, resulting from blocked or slowed-down energy.
There are many intriguing methods for manipulating energy to release blockages and improve our health and overall happiness. For example, during acupuncture, the flow of the body’s energy system is regulated and redirected by the insertion of very fine needles along the energy lines, via the meridian points. Acupressure is less invasive, but similar in that therapists use their fingers and thumbs to apply pressure to the meridian points, rather than inserting needles. Redirecting energy movement to achieve balance is the underlying principle behind all healing modalities; this is called “energy work.” The goal is to increase areas of deficient energy and/or reduce areas of excess energy, thereby balancing the system. This ancient wisdom is the principle behind massage, aromatherapy, visualization, yoga, Tai Chi, Reiki, and magnet therapy, as well as crystal, sound and color therapy. These techniques, and many more, work toward restoring balance and harmony by tapping the body’s dynamic energy system.
This life force or “current” is living electricity, and it pulses and moves throughout the mind, body, and spirit. This force is alive and it vibrates and responds to color and sound waves, too. This is energy! With this vital voltage we choose between devotion and distress, affection and anger, rapture and rage. Through energy we place our fingers on the pulse of our own personal pizzaz—our chutzpah! Energy is excitement, it’s raw; it fuels our passions and ignites our hopes and our dreams. Energy is the stuff that people harness to change their lives. Energy is personal strength—not how many pounds you can lift, but how much love you can hold. Energy is what a hero grabs onto when they risk their life, and run to the rescue of another. Energy is the life force of love, of devotion, of commitment, of our zest, and of our spirits. If we could harness the power generated by human energy, we could light up the entire world.
“The measure of a mind’s evolution is its acceptance of the unacceptable.”
Rana
End of Part One of Four
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