Energy Healing: 4 Effective Methods and Why They’ll Work for You
What’s All This Buzz About Energy Healing?
Maybe you’ve been hearing about “energy healing” more and more lately and you’re curious about what exactly that means. Or, possibly you haven’t heard of it at all, but are looking for new ways to heal because the “same-old” conventional methods just simply aren’t enough. Either way, you’re in the right place. I absolutely love this topic, mostly because it was only a handful of years ago that I was a complete skeptic myself.
How I got here…
So how did I go from someone who was a non-believer (at best) and a mocker of the concept (at worst… I’m not proud of this!) to someone writing about the benefits energy healing provide!? After an out-of-nowhere breast cancer diagnosis and a desperate desire to prevent a reoccurrence (without any reliable plan from my conventional doctors), I threw myself into the world of woo-woo one bizarre treatment at a time. Well, at that time they felt bizarre, now they feel like a warm hug and a regular part of my ongoing lifestyle. But that happened over years of discovery, trying one holistic modality at a time, slowly learning and opening my mind to these foreign forms of healing I had never heard of prior, much less practiced. One of the most “out there” in my early days, was the concept of energy healing. And so, with that, let’s dive in.
What The Heck Is Energy Healing?
Alternative energy medicine and energy healing is a holistic practice that works with the body's subtle energy systems - sometimes called life force, chi, or prana. This holistic healing approach is based on the understanding that everything in the universe, including our bodies, is composed of energy that flows through and around us. When this energy becomes blocked or imbalanced, it can affect our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. It can lead to dis-ease… from depression to cancer and anything in between.
Just as a river flows freely supporting life along it’s path, our body's energy needs to flow smoothly through various pathways (often called meridians or channels) to maintain optimal health. Energy healing practitioners work as facilitators, helping to remove blockages and restore our natural flow, much like clearing debris from a stream. While a few sticks floating along won’t disrupt the river’s direction, if those sticks pile up into a dam, the entire river and ecosystem is affected. The clearer we can keep our internal rivers of energy, the better our health remains.
Sounds simple, but it’s quite nuanced, and that’s where energy healers come in. During an alternative healing session, practitioners typically work with their hands either directly on or slightly above the body. They act as conduits, helping to:
Clear energy blockages
Balance energy centers (chakras)
Restore natural energy flow and chakra alignment
Support the body's innate healing abilities
While some people might feel immediate sensations like warmth, tingling, energy flow sensations, or deep relaxation during a session, others might experience more subtle effects. The experience is highly individual, and the benefits often unfold and enhance gradually over time.
Holistic energy medicine is particularly interesting in that it acknowledges the interconnectedness of our physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects. A physical ailment might have emotional roots, or mental stress might manifest as physical tension. Energy healing approaches health from this integrated, dynamic perspective.
4 Types of natural energy healing techniques
There are many forms of energy healing therapy to choose from, but I’ll outline four key practices to begin: Reiki, Acupuncture, Crystal, and Sound Baths.
traditional Reiki therapy
Reiki is a gentle yet powerful Japanese energy healing practice that channels universal life force energy to promote balance and well-being. During a session, you remain fully clothed while a trained practitioner places their hands either lightly on or slightly above your body, acting as a conduit for healing energy to flow where it's most needed. The benefits of Reiki include its ability to induce deep relaxation, reduce stress, improve sleep, and support physical and emotional healing. It’s also a wonderful complement to traditional medical treatments. It requires no manipulation of the body, just the practitioner's trained ability to channel energy through specific attunements received from a Reiki Master.
traditional chinese Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient healing practice rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that has been used for thousands of years to promote healing and restore balance in the body. The practice involves the strategic placement of ultra-thin needles into specific points along the body's meridians – invisible energy pathways through which vital life force (qi) flows. Acupuncture works by stimulating these precise points to restore proper energy flow and trigger the body's natural healing responses. Modern research suggests that acupuncture may work by stimulating nerves, muscles, and connective tissue, boosting blood flow and activating the body's natural painkillers. Acupuncture is now widely recognized by Western medicine as an effective treatment for various conditions, including chronic pain, migraines, anxiety, digestive issues, and fertility challenges, with many people seeking it both as a preventive measure and a complementary therapy alongside conventional medical treatments.
Crystal Healing therapy
Natural crystal healing is an ancient practice that harnesses the unique energetic properties of natural stones and minerals to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Each crystal is believed to carry its own unique vibrational frequency and healing properties – for example, amethyst for spiritual awareness, rose quartz for emotional healing, or clear quartz for clarity. During a crystal healing session, practitioners carefully select, and place, specific stones on or around the body's energy centers (chakras), often combining this with intention-setting and meditation to facilitate healing. The crystals can be used in various ways: worn as jewelry, placed in living spaces, held during meditation, or arranged in specific patterns on the body. While scientific evidence for crystal healing remains limited, many people report experiencing deep relaxation, emotional release, and a sense of balance through their work with crystals, viewing them as tools for focusing intention and supporting their overall wellness journey.
Sound Healing and vibrational healing
Sound bath therapy is an ancient therapeutic practice that uses vibration, frequency, and sound waves to promote physical and emotional well-being. This modality encompasses various techniques, including singing bowls (both crystal and Tibetan), tuning forks, gongs, drums, vocal toning, and binaural beats, each producing specific frequencies that interact with the body's energy field and natural rhythms. During a session, these sound tools create vibrations that can help shift brainwave patterns, promoting deep relaxation, reducing stress, and potentially alleviating physical pain. The theory behind sound healing suggests that our bodies are composed of roughly 60% water, making them excellent conductors of sound vibration – when specific frequencies are introduced, they can help restore the body's natural harmonic resonance, much like tuning a musical instrument.
The Secret Sauce
I remember my first session with a Reiki therapist and lying on the table repeating the words “please let this work” over and over again in my mind. I wanted it so badly, but I was still so skeptical. Sure enough, I didn’t feel any major notable change or surge of energy… that day. But I returned for another visit, and another, and after a few months of consistent sessions one day, I did feel a surge of energy. It truly felt like a dam burst open and energy was reaching parts of my body it hadn’t for a long time. It didn’t happen with one session though, it happened over time and with consistency.
And so, based on my personal experience and my experience working with other women on their own holistic health journeys, I believe two important factors aid in energy work being successful:
Repetition. As I mentioned before, this isn’t a one-and-done form of treatment. Sure even one session will lead to positive change in your body, every bit helps. But the magic builds and it takes time to release blockages that have been potentially building for years, perhaps a lifetime. Many people will try Reiki once, not feel anything monumental, and then believe it’s not right for them. Or it won’t work for them. But that’s simply untrue. Energy healing works and helps everyone when used consistently and repetitively.
Belief. You must believe, or at least be open to accepting that energy healing is effective. The mind-body connection is real. If you are lying on the table with crystals all over your body and telling yourself this is ridiculous or a waste of time, it will be just that. If you are lying there with an open mind and eager heart curious about how this new practice will serve you, it will do just that. The self-fulfilling prophecy goes both ways, stay in touch with your childlike curiosity as you explore the powers at play.
Getting Started
Now that we’ve briefly reviewed 4 methods of energy healing, my hope is one resonated more with you than the others and you’re ready to dip your toe in the water (or dive in headfirst!). It’s a wonderful world, one filled with hope, freedom, and magic. And we all could use a little more wonder in our lives! I wholeheartedly believe in (and I’ve witnessed it in my own life) the incredible healing capabilities within the world of energy healing. Have fun during the exploration process! And remember, whichever method you choose, commit to at least 3 months of consistency before determining if it’s right for you and keep an open mind. There is joy within the journey if you are present enough to experience it.
Keep healing, my friend!
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