There are many modalities of energy healing out there. As a Reiki Master I'm obviously partial to Reiki, but I don't believe one method to be better than any of the others. I think it just depends on the person and what works best for them. It's kind of like traveling. You can travel by car, train, bus, plane, etc. If you travel by car you could drive a Ford, Chevy, Dodge, etc. If you travel by air you could choose to fly United, Delta, or even Spirit (if you dare). There's different modes of transportation and options to choose from but they'll all get you there. The same goes for energy healing. There's lots of different kinds to choose from and each is beneficial in its own way, it's just about what works best for you. I've already covered Reiki pretty extensively in one of my previous blog posts, so I'll focus on a few others here.
Qigong
Qigong (pronounced "Chee gong") originated in China over 2,000 years ago with roots based in Chinese medicine, philosophy, and martial arts. The "Qi" in Qigong means "breath" or "air" and is viewed as a "life-force energy" much like the "Ki" in Reiki. "Gong" means work or effort and represents the practice and repetition needed to learn any skill. It's similar to Reiki in that it's based on the belief of a lifeforce energy that runs through the body yet different in that it's a much less passive practice. Meditation, slow movement, poses, and breathwork are used in Qigong to optimize the flow of energy in the body and promote a healthy mind, body, and spirit.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture also originated in China and is also based on the belief of a lifeforce energy (Qi) that runs through the body. Like Qigong and Reiki, there are multiple variants and different ways that acupuncture may be practiced but they all involve the use of very small needles being inserted into the body in various spots depending on the desired outcome. It sounds painful but the needles are so small that most people report little to no pain at all with insertion. The practitioner may or may not manipulate the needles in various ways after inserting them such as spinning, flicking, heating, moving them up and down relative to the skin, or even using electricity.
Reflexology
Reflexology also originated in China and is also based on the belief that Qi needs to run freely through the body to avoid problems on a mental, emotional, or spiritual level. Reflexology is more like a type of massage than Reiki or Acupuncture though in that it involves applying varying levels of pressure to certain areas on the hands, feet, or ears that correspond with different areas of the body. Reflexology uses charts to show the different areas where pressure can be applied and the various organs those spots correlate with. The belief is that this touch sends healing energy through the body until it reaches the area in need of healing.
Sound Healing
Sounds and music have been used for healing in many cultures for thousands of years so there really is no direct origin for this one. Practitioners of sound healing believe that on a sub-atomic level we're nothing more than particles vibrating at various frequencies. There's some science to back this too. They believe that our thoughts and emotions carry different vibrations to them as well. With the use of instruments such as tuning forks, singing bowls, glasses, gongs, vocal toning, etc., sound healing practitioners help to heal through sympathetic resonance, frequency response, or by balancing the hemispheres of the brain.
Healing Touch
Healing touch is very similar to Reiki in that it's based on the belief of a life force energy that runs through the body and that a blockage or stagnation of this energy can cause problems on a mental, emotional, or physical level. Like Reiki, it also involves the practitioner placing their hands on different areas of the body to help promote this flow of energy. There are different levels of learning in Healing Touch therapy like in Reiki, however Healing Touch doesn't require an attunement to begin practicing it like Reiki does. It was originally developed by a registered nurse named Janet Mentgen for the medical field but is now open to everyone.
There are many other forms of energy healing out there and I only offered a brief description of the ones mentioned in this post. I would highly recommend giving one form or another a try if you never have. At the very least you'll get a relaxing experience and maybe even a little nap. If you've had an amazing experience with energy healing that you'd like to share, comment below! I'd love to hear it!
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