Energy is a Living Experience
The wise Master Mingtong Gu shared a story about finding himself completely alone in an old hotel. Perhaps it was his expectation of seeing fellow guests that unnerved him. Although the Qigong master was hard to understand with his accent, his passion was clear in the storytelling. During his unintended isolation and walking the grounds he had an epiphany that he felt deep in his being:
“The planet doesn’t need humans, but we need the planet.”
Master Mingtong Gu
He went on to say (and I paraphrase): “And without each other we can not truly heal. Mostly, we treat others without the direct experience of our bodies. We tell others what’s good for them, but we don’t do that for ourselves. Do we know true happiness? True joy? We tell our kids and other people, ‘Follow your heart.’ But do we know where our hearts are?” Then he brought his fist to his heart:
“Feel your heart. Touch it. Tap it.”
Master Mingtong Gu
Then Master Mingtong Gu led the group of listeners in a series of movements and humming sounds.
“Embody your energy. Allow the self to feel what is true, not to think or say what’s true, or what other people say is true. Energy is a living experience. We came to this earth to experience living.”
Master Mingtong Gu
This is but a drop of wisdom I imbibed from the annual International Energy Psychology Conference, held in Phoenix, AZ, bringing together teachers, practitioners, and healing modalities that are centuries old and decidedly modern. Yet, the true lessons from Master Mingtong Gu’s words unfolded a few days later.
It occurred when I visited the Grand Canyon and Sedona for the first time. Honestly, I don’t know why I waited so long. I took this photo from a propeller plane. If ever there was an experience of understanding that our planet doesn’t need humans but we definitely need each other, this trek was it.
Indeed, it was a mind bending, heart opening, and perspective-shifting few days. And who knew that Sedona is a land of vortexes? I immediately felt the energy as we emerged onto the Red Rock Scenic Byway as the magnificent red sandstone spires revealed the distant terrains of Earth’s geology. I was moved to tears. In his slim volume, What is a Vortex?, Dennis Andres, defines a vortex as:
“A vortex is a place where the Earth is at its healthiest and most alive. The remarkable natural beauty of the area is the physical indicator of the aliveness. More importantly, the aliveness shows up in an increased energy that is present. The energy acts as an amplifier, magnifying what we bring to it on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels (emphasis mine).”
Dennis Andres
In a more recent book replete with photos, Experience the Vortex, Andres—who is regarded as a nature and spiritual guide of the area, aka Mr. Sedona—updated his definition of vortex by adding that the energy of Sedona also responds. It’s dynamic. “Rather than unconscious, it is aware. Rather than impersonal, it can be intimate. Tap any initiator, and the vortex will be a willing partner.”
What will you initiate from your own energies?
Of course, peak experiences and personal transformations can happen anywhere when you are open, curious, and connected. I think of a huge weeping beech tree from my childhood in Connecticut where I spent many summer afternoons reading novels upon its voluminous trunk or swinging from its rope-like branches. Andres believes that the reason people do or don’t have such experiences has more to do with one’s sensitivity, like a personal radar system that detects energies. I would agree.
Yet, having a sensitivity to energy (or cultivating it) can have its drawbacks too. Judith Orloff, MD, who brought awareness to the term empath and the experiences of highly sensitive people was also a speaker at the conference. She recently released a new book, The Genius of Empathy: Practical Skills to Heal Your Sensitive Self, Your Relationships, and the World. (Her previous books include The Empath’s Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People and Thriving as An Empath.) She’s also hilarious. To a room full of empaths and energy healers, she quipped: “Don’t be too interested in everyone—because they are everywhere!” As such, learning not to tune in is also a necessary skill. We need boundaries.
“Empaths care about what other people think and I don’t care what they think!”
Judith Orloff
Orloff cautioned that you must learn to find balance and have self-empathy: “If you wear an invisible sign, people will find you.” And she learned this the hard way. People are attracted to one another’s wounds. These days we’d call this kind of interpersonal dynamic trauma bonding. When this happens, she cautioned, wounds get perpetuated rather than healed. Why? Because people connect to the energy of trauma and can’t relate to the healthy parts. Better to find healthier people, she advised.
Looking for the Good
Psychologist Arielle Schwartz is known for her teachings on post-traumatic growth, resilience, and vagal-informed yoga. She was also a keynote speaker. (I know! An abundance of riches! ) She had something to say about trauma using her framework of Resilience-Informed Therapy. Ninety percent of us have experienced at least one trauma and many of us have had several adverse childhood experiences. As such, the threat of traumatic experiences can be considered almost universal. In her view, the work of healing is becoming a resilience detective:
- Who helped you?
- How did you move forward?
- What things do you now have control over?
- What and who are bridges to healing? (For example, a loving kindness meditation practice; being in nature; a healthy diet; community, mentors, therapists and helpers)
She harkens the healing process as a hero’s-heroine’s journey, which can be terrifying and treacherous. Yet, by consistently being open to finding resources and opportunities, you can change the trajectory. This also means gently guiding those younger parts of yourself that may be stuck in the past and leading them in new directions, offering courage and compassion, having a wider lens on life, and orienting these vulnerable parts toward healing and health.
You can be your own healer.
Which brings me full circle to the extraordinary power of the natural world and the subtle energies we can intentionally harness that connects our heads with our hearts. Sometimes it helps to have tangible reminders. I like to find a token from a place or experience that I find enlivening. It could be a shell, a stone, a feather, an object, or a piece of art.
This time I discovered beautiful chakra key healing discs created by Barbara Evans, a spiritual teacher who travels the world. I was drawn to one particular design. It is called Eye of Awakening. This healing disc, which you can hold in the palm of your hand, is said to “clear, balance, and activate the third eye (6th) chakra,” an energy center associated with perspective and intuition. I gathered it was meant to be.
But it wasn’t until after I flew over the Grand Canyon, set foot in a vortex in Sedona, and was back in New England (enduring a pollen storm) that I read up on this particular healing disc in Evan’s booklet, The Art of Raising Frequency: Setting the Vibrations for Healing.
“Eye of Awakening reminds us of our Divinity and invites us to walk in the steps of the Masters, one small step at a time, in order to connect with our Divine Essence and experience it in our everyday living. This process awakens our gifts of intuition and insight and empowers us to know and trust when our intuition is true. Eye of Awakening carries the wisdom of the Earth: as people connect with this Chakra Key and begin to make beneficial frequency shifts, it supports expansion, while helping them stay grounded and connected to the Earth.”
Barbara Evans
One small step at a time.
That seems like sound advice. And something I will definitley tap on.
My wish for you, dear reader:
May you connect with your energies.
May you raise your frequencies for healing, health, and happiness.
May you be a resilience detective.
May you find vitality, ease, and joy.
Namaste.
Learn more about energy psychology.
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