The Inner Workings of Energy Healing: A Closer Look
In this article we will discuss how and why energy healing works. We will use the metaphor of a clogged water pipe to convey this message. We will answer some other questions typically asked by someone diving for the first time into the world of energy healing.
Prana, the Vital Life Force
We live in an ocean of energy. There is an energy field within and outside our physical body, which supplies the vital life forces that keep us alive. Although we may not be conscious or aware of their presence, these forces are fundamental to our being and consciousness.
The vital life force in our energy body, called “prana” in Sanskrit, or “chi” in Chinese, is invisible to the eyes but is continuously in motion within and outside our physical body. It is that life energy which keeps our body alive and healthy.
Free-flow of Prana
There are energy centres and energy meridians (or channels) in our energy body. Sometimes when these meridians get clogged, life force or prana, cannot flow as smoothly as it is supposed to. Due to this there is excess prana accumulated in some areas of the meridians and below the requisite level is others.
As a metaphor we can imagine a water pipe which is clogged with dirt so the water is not flowing smoothly. In some areas, excess water gets accumulated, while in other parts, there is little or no water.
If there are blockages in our energy body, dirty, diseased, contaminated energy starts getting accumulated in areas just before the clog. In parts after the clog, the cells, tissues and organs start getting depleted due to this uneven distribution of prana. When this condition sustains for prolonged periods and the affected cells cannot endure the irregular flow of prana anymore, it manifests as “dis-ease”.
In the water pipe metaphor, it is like dirty water stagnating in the clogged pipe over a long time. It will stink. And if not taken care of, the pipe may become permanently unusable or may even burst.
Energy follows Thought
How do we clean a clogged pipe? May be we can shake it a little bit, so that there is movement of water, and hopefully the dirt will get loosened up and flow out with the water. This is exactly what physical exercises do to our stuck-up energy channels and meridians, and we feel so fresh and active after a jog or a swim.
But sometimes, the energy blockages become so rigid, that simple physical exercises are not enough to unclog them. These then manifest as chronic, psychosomatic diseases.
Western medical science uses various procedures and chemical formulas (medicines) to resolve the conditions/ailments which are a physical manifestation of prolonged clogging of our energy channels.
An energy healer has special skills to unclog the energy centres and meridians. Once prana re-starts flowing freely, vitality and wellness gets restored.
The basic premise of any energy healing modality is: “Energy follows Thought”
How is the Energy Body cleaned?
Just as water flows from a higher level to a lower level, energy also moves from higher vibration to grosser vibration bodies.
And as the patient’s body has an energy field, so does the healers body.
As the healer does various recommended practices and purifies himself/herself, the healer’s energy body becomes subtler, cleaner and stronger. We may say that the rate of vibration of the healer’s energy body increases.
During healing, with intention, he/she creates thought forms for unclogging the patient’s energy channels, meridians and energy centres. Once they have been sufficiently cleaned, clean prana is projected to the patient whose prana levels are depleted.
How long does it take to get healed?
Imagine a huge over-loaded truck moving in a certain direction. It is suddenly asked to turn about and return back. It will decelerate, slow down, take a turn and then again accelerate in the new direction. Similarly through regular healing, the progression of the ailment is first slowed down, reversed and then gradually the patient starts recovering. The modalities work on eliminating the root cause and not just the symptoms, for a more permanent healing.
The duration of healing is subjective and depend on many factors, including:
- Severity of the ailment: The rate at which the patient’s energy body is getting clogged, or more simply the severity of the disease.
- Receptivity of the patient: How willing the patient to receive the healing and absorb the clean prana being projected on him by the healer.
- Frequency of treatment: Suppose, the intensity of pain needs two pain-killers a day, but the patient is taking only one a day, then the residual pain would still be there. Similarly, depending on the severity of the ailment and the receptivity of the patient, apt frequency has to be decided by the healer.
- Rate of absorption of prana: Let’s imagine pouring water on sandy soil versus clay. The rate of absorption of water on these soil types would be different. Similarly, some people have a grosser energy body, while others have a subtle one. This affects the rate at which prana gets absorbed. Similarly, the age of the patient also has a bearing on the rate of recovery.
Very often, when energy healing is started, it has to be done more frequently. As the patient’s energy body starts getting cleaner, the frequency of the healing sessions may be reduced. It is generally suggested that the healing sessions should continue for some time even after the patient feels completely well, as there may still be some residual diseased energy remaining in the body. Sometimes patients request for occasional “maintenance healing” to continue for months after they have completely recovered.
Why does disease re-occur?
Once the entire series of healing sessions have been completed, the results are expected to be permanent. But the energy body might get clogged again, as discussed next.
Our physical body, energy body, emotions and thoughts are all inter-related. If any one of these dimensions is in a state of imbalance, it gradually percolates into other dimensions as well.
Often the root cause of a chronic ailment are toxic thought patterns (e.g. lack of self-love, self-sabotaging thoughts, low self-esteem, resentfulness, to name just a few) or unwholesome emotions (e.g. stress, worry, anxiety, etc). If the patient keeps on churning negative types of thoughts and emotions even after getting well, the point of creation of the problem is not eliminated and the ailment can never be completely cured.
That is why, for holistic and complete recovery, all dimensions have to be addressed. Not only the physical symptoms have to be treated, but also the energy body has to be treated and emotions and thinking patterns has to be corrected.
There are ways to treat all these dimensions through energy healing. However cooperation from the patient is necessary. The patient has to start thinking positively and regulate his/her emotions. That’s why receptivity is very important. (Ref: Article on “Receptivity in Energy Healing”)
Further, in some cases, the ailment may be causal (karmic) in origin. In such cases, in addition to healing at emotional and psychological levels, the karmic level also has to be addressed.
The way to neutralise karmic ailments is primarily through service, tithing, forgiveness, gratitude, prayers and blessings, all of which have to be done by the patient himself/herself. He/she has to “learn the lesson” which the divinity is trying to convey through the disease and change his/her life’s path accordingly for permanent healing – this is healing at the Spiritual level.
Conclusion
In this article we have discussed the significance of prana, the vital life force and why it should be freely flowing in our body. We have also discussed how and why energy healing works. We have answered the typical concern as to how long energy healing takes, for how long it remains effective and the reasons as to why an ailment may not get permanently healed.