Energy workers

Comment

Comment by Lauren on August 31, 2009 at 11:38am

Gerry- I think we are on the same page regaurding my bosses melding technique. I am thinking what you mean by harmony is different, but i am not sure. She basically said during life events, such as trauma, stress, poor diets, etc. our physical body becomes seperated from energetic body. She works to integrate the two bodies into one. How she does this? I am unsure. Someone who learns this technique can use different therapies to accomplish this. She is an accupuncturist, so she uses accupuncture, herbs, & qi gong, but there is more to the technique than this. IMO, someone going there for accupuncture she get just that unless otherwise consented. I wouldn't just walk into a room & put my hand on someone & just start massaging them. It might be a welcome treat, but it could also put someone on the offensive. I definately need to have a conversation w/ her about this for my own peace of mind. Also I feel the same way re: the reiki issue.

Comment by Lauren on August 31, 2009 at 7:03am

Sorry, I had to get off the computer & just hit send so I didn't loose what I had written. I think I was pretty much done. The last sentance was going to be about how ironic the conversation was given the results. But it definately happened for a reason, I have learned several lessons.

Maria- I am able to put my finger on a lot of reasons why I am not feeling the vibe anymore at work & more info is coming my way every week. I not only know, but understand what you mean. More & more I am approaching my massage sessions with the intention to sense & learn. If something more developes, great. As you can see I am having a hard time finding a balance between learning & reading & just being, but it is slowly coming to me.

I have more to write, but dd wants breakfast.

Comment by Gerry Bunnell on August 31, 2009 at 3:45am

Lauren wrote:

"I have been questioning whether I should tell clients thst I have been attuned, even though I am not actually giving a reiki treatment & I did it for myself. This brings me back to the original issue, melding your energy w/ another persons seems to be a much deeper level than giving a massage or reiki & absolutely requires the client to have knowledge of what is happening (imo)."

Lauren, I had to sleep on this in order to figure out how I wanted to respond to this. What I am getting out of these statements concerns me a great deal. Before I get into the topic of energy "melding", I want to share with everyone an experience I had with a patient of mine a few years ago which caused me to think quite a bit.

I was asked if I could do massage without all that "Reiki stuff". I had to pause for a moment and process all of the emotions and objections that immediately surfaced in me to that question and then wonder what my patient was really getting at. I considered if I really could do massage without a transference of energy. My response to the patient at that time was "I can set that intent, yes." Knowing that energy is always shared on multiple levels, I wasn't satisfied with that answer and it appeared my patient wasn't either.

After reflecting more on it for a time, I realized that Reiki is a process that utilizes universal energy, not an energy itself. I can honestly state that I can do massage without the process of Reiki, but I can not do massage and avoid a transference of energy, nor would I attempt it again. Love is energy and without love, how can I possibly hope to help another heal. I do not believe one should be obligated to obtain consent from another in order to express unconditional love. If that would be the case, I want to check off of this planet.

"She said to me part of her energy work consists of melding her energy w/ the clients."...

"I am not totally sure what she means by melding of energy."

What you are talking about here sounds very similar to a very deep form of union. I describe it as a complete union of spirits on all chakric levels. I experienced it a few times while doing energy work with people long distance while conversing with them on the internet. I discontinued the practice many years ago for several reasons.

The energetic union seemed like the union described that tantric practitioners seek to obtain with their partners, a full blending of spirit. It is the most intimate connection 2 people can have, extremely euphoric. Once I started studying massage and getting more exposed to practitioner ethics, I realized how many ethical issues there are with this kind of energy work. I personally believe it can be compared to tantric massage in its intimacy and should be treated in the same way in regards to consent and psychological impact. I can not say for sure this is what your boss is practicing, but from your description and your response, it sounds similar.

"I do know that the goal is to integrate the energy body w/ the physical body,"

Hmmmmm, I hold that the physical body manifests from the energetic/spiritual body. The goal of my work is to bring harmony to the energetic body which then will maximize the healing potential of the recipient and manifest harmony on all other levels of the being. Perhaps the term integration is meant to be synonomous with harmony??? I feel any other approach would be meddling in things that are better not to meddle in.

Peace

Comment by Gerry Bunnell on August 30, 2009 at 7:06pm

Lauren, you may want to try composing your post in notepad, then copy and paste into the comment window. Since I tend to be a bit wordy at times, this has saved many a written word that otherwise would have been lost.

I have much to add to this string, but dinner is served.

Peace

Comment by Lauren on August 30, 2009 at 6:44pm

I'm not having much luck with this board, I just had my whole post written out then hit the wrong button, now it's gone! Ok, I'll see if I can remember everything.

I am not totally sure what she means by melding of energy. Having experienced it I can tell it is deeper than what I experience during an average massage, as I assume this is what you meant. I am thinking it is a way of looking at my energy from the inside. I do know that the goal is to integrate the energy body w/ the physical body, which is a fine goal, but it is my perogative whether it should be integrated or not. I am not sure if she was conciously trying to do this or not, as it can sometimes be hard to turn the work switch off. I realize I had my blocks up & I feel as though she was trying to penetrate them. I am not sure if the toxicity cam from her trying to break down my block or from her ego. The results are ironic consi

Comment by Maria Troia on August 30, 2009 at 2:23pm

@ Gerry: Brilliantly stated. I too am very particular about who I will receive treatment from, and not just with formal energy work. So yes, important to note that these things can be transferred and it is important to be able to discern who is clear and centered before we receive. Equally important to know when we are clear and centered before we give.

@ Lauren: I agree with your concerns about a method that involves "melding" of energy. I'd want more information on what that means. Is she doing psychic surgery/cord cutting? If so, yes, I believe that would warrant some discussion/consent.

But to me melding can also be a benign word that means when one's field is near enough, working in an intimate space, well, auric fields blend. If we blur our vision, some of us can see it, most of us can feel it. Frankly, we all do this. Is that what she calls melding? Again, more information would be needed for me to make a call on that one. As I was taught, intention is everything. So I'd have to be real clear on her intention.

Beyond intention, I'd want to know how deep the practitioner's training went, how deep their personal work has gone, how authentic they are. As I said above, all part of discerning. So, yes, especially as an energy-sensitive person, I'd be uncomfortable with receiving a different kind of work without it being explained to me first.

Personally, I've never felt the need to tell clients I am attuned to Reiki because the clients who come to me are typically coming in because I am who I am. But in a different setting where clients were being directed to me at a facility, well, I might share that with them so they will understand why they might feel differently at the end of the session compared with other sessions they've had. Or I might just let them feel the difference and figure it out, ask questions after the session (I know quite a few Reiki practitioners who do it this way). I think it's really up to you. If you feel it needs to be said, then I think it does or else it will be in the way, which creates that ego issue Gerry mentioned... if there's an inner dialogue going on in your head, then you're not really present. So that's one of those heart-centered questions only you can answer.

As to protection, for me this has always come from the meditative physical arts such as T'ai Chi, Qi Gong, Yoga, or at the least meditation and the breath. Protection for me always starts with being centered and grounded and these things do that for me. These things also deepen my focus when working, shut off the noise. When I'm clear, grounded, and focused, really nothing can come in. The other thing I do, which I've talked about here, is I constantly visualize my energy beaming out, like a water hose. When the energy moves consistently outward, you can't absorb anything. If you go back a few weeks, you'll find that post here in more detail.

I don't know of a book that specifically gets into ego and energy work, but everything I put into play in my sessions and my classes is really based on Tina and Robert Sohn's text, AMMA Therapy. AMMA Therapy(R) is highly reliant upon developing the sensitivity of the therapist and teaching grounding and centering. Self development is at the heart of the method. So, there are some good chapters there that I think anyone can benefit from. But I don't believe the word ego is ever used in the text.

In somewhat different ways, I've been where you are and I recognize this: the tree is being shaken. Never pleasant, but always the start of a profound experience that helps you sink your feet deeper into the earth. I think you are coming upon a transition that is going to really deepen your awareness of who you are. These are big questions, big challenges. If I may make one recommendation, try to live less in the left brain and rely more on the right. Go with what you feel and know in your belly. Our bodies know far more than our minds.

You know the answers... I hear them clearly in your posts: having an uneasy feeling you can't put your finger on, knowing one cannot do physical work without energy coming into it.

Think less, feel more. You're moving into good stuff!!

Maria Troia, MSEd, LMT, NCTMB, CH

www.kiraholistic.com

Comment by Lauren on August 30, 2009 at 12:29pm

Sorry, I have more to add, I wish there was an edit button.

Shoshanna-was that what you were talking about? If not please enlighten me, that is why I am posting here.

I was thinking last night because there was something more going on than just what was said. There is the issue of consent. She said to me part of her energy work consists of melding her energy w/ the clients. When she did the energy work w/ me a while ago she didn't tell me at the time, she told me a little bit into the work. At that time I was open to it & it was beneficial, but I feel you shouldn't do energy work like that w/out the other persons consent. I have since realized on Sat, when we had this conversation that she was trying to do that, but due to the nature of the topic my blocks were up. Sat. night I just had an extremely uneasy feeling inside of me & I couldn't put my finger on it. I have encountered people w/ misconceptions regaurding massage therapy, yoga, etc. and it never left me feeling that way. Today it dawned on me, and I understand why I was feeling that way. Yes, everything we do affects others' energy fields. I think that even if our clients don't know this in their brain, they know it on some level. So even if we aren't getting verbal consent, just them showing up for a massage is consent. I have been questioning whether I should tell clients thst I have been attuned, even though I am not actually giving a reiki treatment & I did it for myself. This brings me back to the original issue, melding your energy w/ another persons seems to be a much deeper level than giving a massage or reiki & absolutely requires the client to have knowledge of what is happening (imo). I got the impression that she is doing this w/ her clients w/out their approval, it really makes me uneasy as the conversation made me uneasy.

There are a few last things I wanted to address (this is where an edit button & a bittger text box would come in handy- so my thoughts would be in better order). I agree Gerry, there was many things that my boss (actually, Christine) said that I agree with. But, like you said, there was also a lot of ego & inaccuracies involved. I also agree that it is her place to do so & I have to respect that & for that reason I will be very careful about what I do. I need to have another conversation w/ her because I am very unclear about many things, particularly how to perform a massage that is only on a phsyical level. I don't see how you can seperate the two. Recently I feel as though I have found my way & I am exploring this path (and this conversation is opening up a lot of things for me & is very helpful). For the past few years I have been trying to practice on a physical level & I realize that it is not possible. I have not been protecting myself enough & that has led to a disharmonization in my energy body & physical body & has been affecting my work. Yes, this bothers me, but we are all learning & growing as body workers.

BTW, does anyone know of any good books about ego & energy work, or at least one that touches on the subject? I would like to explore this further.

Comment by Lauren on August 30, 2009 at 11:36am

Whoops, I think I accidently erased my message. Sorry.

I definately think harm can be done when working with the energy field. Ego is part of the equation, I think there could be an entire class devoted just to that. I think another issue is the practitioner needs to take special care in taking care of themselves on a physical level & an energetic level. Being grounded, centered, & ensuring your energy levels are full are necessary. If you are either bringing issues from home into your session or working on half a tank then it is going to show in your work. At best you will end up with 2 clients & no practitioner at worst you will pass on bad energy or absorb their bad energy- or both.

Comment by Gerry Bunnell on August 30, 2009 at 3:18am

There are a lot of subjects going on in this string that catch my attention. They seem to all revolve around the centric theme of ego and energy work.

I agree with Maria that we impact each other's energies all the time. Even by conversing on a forum such as this, we affect each other on subtle energetic levels. When we perform massage and bodywork on individuals we have a greater impact on their spiritual/energetic forms due to the greater intimacy of the contact. Does this mean we should avoid such contact out of concern we could impact others in negative ways? Absolutely not.

I do feel it is a fact that harm can be done and is done when a practitioner is operating out of a space of ego. I have taught the Usui Shiki Ryoho form of Reiki since 1997. One of the points I continually impress on my students regarding energy work is to set aside the ego and simply be the conduit for the work that is being done. This is much easier said then done, but this act is essential to assure that the form of Reiki remains benign and does no harm. Once ego comes into play. Concerns such as: "am I good enough?, am I doing this right?, will the client's condition be healed?,I want to really impress my client with my skill," are born of ego.

When energy work is performed from a space of ego, it is no longer pure unconditional love. It is then colored with the energies of the practitioner which can then transfer to the client/recipient. If one is not clear and able to set aside ego (a state of mind that can take much training for a practitioner to achieve) then they can cause even more disharmony in the energy field of the client they are working on.

I myself am very particular of who I will agree to work with when I am a recipient. It is possible for practitioner's to direct the flow of energy on a conscious and/or subconscious level. They do this when the intent of the session comes from ego. So I can understand where some of Christine Schenk's concerns are coming from. However I do not agree with all of her assertions.

I understand Reiki to be a tool, a simple method of accessing universal energies to share with others. It is neither good nor evil. It depends on the intent of the practitioner and how it is used. It is like a hammer that is meant to drive nails into wood to build a house that can easily be turned into a harmful weapon if used with the wrong intent. This does not mean everyone should stop using hammers. Then nothing would be built. To build a well constructed house with beauty and precision does require a bit of training and experience on how to use the hammer. :)

Lauren, I empathize with you in your position at work. It is a challenge to be restricted from doing work you know in your heart can be healing and helpful to the people you work with. I personally feel your boss is overreacting, but that is her place to do if she chooses. As Maria pointed out, this has shown you an open door, a potential new path for you. New adventures are always exciting. If your job causes you to work against your fundamental beliefs, I encourage you to consider other options. Like shoshana said, (listen to your inner guidance and follow your heart). It will never lead you astray.

Peace

Comment by Maria Troia on August 29, 2009 at 7:32pm

Lauren,

That line about people being "damaged" by energy workers caught me before too, but I forgot to address it. I couldn't help but wonder how she is clear that it is the prior energy work that damaged them and not past trauma, cellular memory, etc. The statement seems a bit subjective if you ask me.

Now, what's not puzzling to me is what you said here about having recently thought about finding another place of employment and little things you've not been happy about at work.

Ah, sounds to me like this is all right on schedule then and the universe is conspiring to help you move forward!

Good luck with the road ahead!

Maria Troia, MSEd, LMT, NCTMB, CH
www.kiraholistic.com

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