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Published by Thorsons 1998

Copyright © Amanda Cochrane and Clare Harvey 1998

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CONTENTS

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

1. The History of Vibrational Healing

2. Body Energies

3. Sound Therapy

4. Light and Colour

5. Transmitting Healing Vibrations

6. Vibrational Medicines

7. Vibrational Healing in Action

Resources

Further Reading

Also in this Series

About the Publisher

INTRODUCTION

Vibrational healing is a kind of energy medicine. It springs from the belief that each of us has an energy or life force which influences our wellbeing, and that everything vibrates with energy. Although we cannot see or touch this energy, like the air we breathe it is essential to life. This invisible energy can be enhanced and rebalanced by naturally occurring vibrations such as light, colour, sound and the energies of plants, flowers and crystals, to restore harmony in mind, body and spirit.

The origins of vibrational healing can be traced back to the mists of time. Over 5,000 years ago wise men became aware that there is more to human beings than meets the eye. They spoke of a universal energy pervading all living organisms, a concept that formed the basis of many ancient philosophies and healing methods.

Throughout history different peoples such as the Aztecs, Ancient Egyptians, Native Americans and Australian Aborigines have used forms of vibrational healing. Traditional Chinese and Japanese medical systems also view life force as something that can be harnessed for healing.

Feelings of wellbeing are inextricably linked to this energy. When we have abundant, free-flowing and balanced energy, we enjoy vitality, good physical health, mental clarity and real contentment and fulfilment. Disturbances in the body’s energy field often accompany and are thought to underlie all kinds of discomforts and dissatisfaction.

Nowadays stress and ever-increasing exposure to man-made vibrations such as artificial lighting and the noise of traffic are primarily responsible for throwing our energy systems out of balance. Is it any wonder that we dream of escaping to a desert island to soak up the sun’s natural rays and listen to the soothing sound of waves lapping against the shore? Human beings are attuned to the energetic vibrations of nature and nothing else can nourish and revitalize life force in the same way.

Vibrational healing uses a variety of invisible wave forms to restore energetic equilibrium. Each therapy has its own healing frequency or energy waveband.

Light and colour, sound and music, crystals and gemstones, plants and flowers can all be used as catalysts for healing. Some healers can transmit healing vibrations through themselves to others.

The benefits of vibrational healing can be far-reaching. As well as healing the body and helping to release deeply ingrained tensions, vibrational healing causes a profound revitalization at all levels: mind, body and spirit.

Vibrational therapy is increasingly finding favour with people who sense that there is more to good health than the absence of illness. True wellbeing means having boundless energy, feeling emotionally balanced and being at ease with yourself and the kind of life you are living. When mind, body and spirit are nourished life becomes full of meaning and purpose.

The resurgence of interest in vibrational healing comes at a highly significant time. The ancient prophecies of Vedic seers (6,000 to 8,000 years ago), the Aztecs, Hopi Indians, Mayans, Tibetans and Aborigines refer to a golden age which is said to occur every 25,000 years, and predict that the next era of enlightenment will dawn around the year 2000. Recent translations of sacred texts and inscriptions found on Mayan stone discs suggest this information was recorded all those years ago for the benefit of future generations.

Legend also has it that there is a concentration of energy, rather like an electromagnetic sheath of light, that encircles the world. This energy can be likened to the photon belt, a band of light energy particles discovered by scientists in 1961, in the vicinity of the Pleiades. It is said that the photon belt is moving ever closer to our own solar system and that sometime between the year 2000 and 2012 the Earth is scheduled to slip into it. No one knows for sure what this event may bring. Some predict that it will heighten the vibrations upon the planet, resulting in the dawn of super-consciousness, so bringing to pass the ancient prophesies of a golden age.

Many healers believe, therefore, that it is extremely important to enhance the vibrational patterns of the human body to enable us to cope with the changes this event will bring. Vibrational healing has a major part to play at this time of transition.

1

THE HISTORY OF VIBRATIONAL HEALING

Vibrational healing – the notion that all living organisms are infused with a life force or energy that is influenced by other energetic vibrations – can be traced back in its various guises to ancient civilizations around the world. The traditional medical systems of the Chinese, Japanese and Tibetans, the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks, the Native Americans and Australian Aborigines feature at least one, if not several different vibrational therapies and remedies. Over the centuries physicians and healers have discovered many different ways of using light, sound and other vibrational wave forms in ways that can bring about healing.

MYTHICAL LANDS

The inhabitants of some mythical places had a profound knowledge of vibrational healing.

The most ancient land of mythology is Lemuria or Mu, said to have been in existence some 500,000 years ago. Located in an area now covered by the Pacific Ocean, Lemuria was reputedly like the Garden of Eden, a vibrant land where all kinds of exquisite flowering plants flourished. The people could attune themselves to the Earth’s natural energies and they lived in harmony with nature. They were said to be highly sensitive individuals who could sense the energies of plants, flowers, animals and other people, and they found ways to harness particular vibrations for healing.

It is possible that flower remedies – essences encapsulating the energies of flowers – were first used therapeutically in Lemuria. They may have been taken as an aid to spiritual development and attaining enlightenment. The Lemurians allegedly harnessed the energetic vibrations of gems and crystals, primarily for spiritual expansion and growth.

The subtle energies (the therapeutic vibrational qualities) of herbs were valued for healing. By attuning themselves to the energetic vibrations of plants, the Lemurians were able to discern their healing properties. They realized that sage can help to dissolve energy blockages resulting from negative thought patterns, trauma and shock, which is why it was traditionally used as a cleansing herb. (In contrast, modern day herbalists use herbs according to their pharmacological properties: sage has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and is commonly used to relieve period pain and menopausal problems.) Sage was also burned as an offering to the four comers of the Earth – north, south, east and west – in a purification ceremony that is still practised by Native Americans.

In Indonesia the tradition of being able to sense the vibrations emitted by plants and herbs survives today. Typically the healer enters a state of meditation or mindfulness to increase his sensitivity to the vibrational qualities of a plant. Simultaneously he develops a capacity to sense sickness or disharmonious patterns within the physical body. This enables him match the appropriate herb to the vibrational flaw in the body.

According to myth, Lemuria gave way to Atlantis, a civilization which became far more technologically advanced than its predecessor.

It has been suggested that vibrational healing has its true origins in Atlantean culture. Numerous flower essences, gem remedies and homeopathic remedies were developed to treat illnesses that emerged for the first time in Atlantis.

The Atlanteans would have been aware that the energy of sunlight has a profound influence on all living cells. By creating flower essences and gem elixirs they were able to fuse the vibrations of nature with the subtle energetic properties of sunlight.

The Atlanteans are particularly famed for their knowledge of the healing power of crystals: they knew that the colours produced when sunlight passes through a crystalline prism can be used for healing purposes. Some speculate that crystals were grown artificially to achieve specific qualities and sizes for different uses such as laser surgery. A number of crystalline devices were utilized in the diagnosis as well as the treatment of disease.

Legend has it that when Atlantis crumbled, survivors fled to other parts of the globe taking with them their knowledge of vibrational healing. This is why different peoples throughout the world share similar healing philosophies and practices.

ANCIENT EGYPT

The power of Ancient Egyptian healer-physicians is legendary. According to Homer, the Greek historian and storyteller, their skills in medicine exceeded those of any others. There is little doubt that they knew of the therapeutic power of vibrational healing.

To understand the Ancient Egyptian approach to healing, we need to know a little about their view of man and his place in the universe. To the Ancient Egyptians, everything was interlinked. Man was a microcosm of the universe, which was charged with subtle energy currents: the cosmic ‘uranian’ forces and the subterranean ‘telluric’ forces. Like the Ancient Chinese philosophers, the Ancient Egyptians were intrigued by the relationship between Earth and the cosmos, and great emphasis was placed upon establishing a connection with the sun and stars. They regarded this link as fundamental to a sense of wellbeing.

All the temples in Ancient Egypt were aligned to particular stars and all the sacred buildings were of cosmic design. Great pyramids and obelisks were built to reach up to the heavens. The pyramidal points of these awe-inspiring constructions were capped with gold or electrum to reflect the sun’s rays across the land. It is said that great quartz crystals were placed on the top of certain pyramids which scattered coloured rays in different directions.

The sun was worshipped as a god named Ra. The Ancient Egyptians knew that light rays emitted by the sun are essential for life on Earth. They undoubtedly recognized the healing power of its component colours, too. There were healing temples of light and colour at Heliopolis in Egypt as well as in early Greece, China and India.

The Ancient Egyptians referred to medicine and healing as ‘the necessary art’ and it was clearly designed to cater for the mind, body and spirit.

Originally all cures were thought to have been revealed by the gods and interpreted by Thoth, god of medicine and science, and author of a 42-volume encyclopedia which was part of the great library at Alexandria.

Throughout the ancient world the ability to heal or practise medicine was usually either a gift, or a vocation handed down from father to son or from master to pupil.

In Ancient Egypt there were various classes of healers. The most highly regarded medicine was temple medicine. Training was strict and secrecy was imposed to preserve knowledge. The most renowned of all the Egyptian healers was Imhotep, whose powers were so extraordinary that he became one of the most popular deities of healing. Born about 3000 BC, during the reign of King Zoser, Imhotep was a sage and scribe, astronomer, magician, physician and architect of the famous step-pyramid of Sakkara, near Memphis.

Some physicians were skilled in the art of healing with their hands, one of the most ancient and traditional techniques of amplifying and transmitting energy. Some temple healers were capable of tapping into telluric and cosmic forces and directing them by sweeping their hands over the patient’s body, without touching him or her. This healing process is depicted in bas-reliefs. In the villages there were bonesetters who could heal simple fractures and sprains simply by laying their hands on the wounded parts.

There is little doubt that the Ancient Egyptians also harnessed the healing power of flowers. They did, after all, perfect the art of aromatherapy and so it is likely that they used flower remedies in other ways too.

ANCIENT GREECE

Many currents of Ancient Egyptian thought found their way to Ancient Greece. Pythagoras and Hippocrates both spoke of healing energies: Pythagoras said that a central fire in the universe was the prime cause of creation and that from this originated all healing energy. Hippocrates called this healing energy ‘vis medicatrix naturae’. Around 500 BC the Pythagoreans were the first to record the aura as a luminous body.

Asklepios was the personification of divine healing powers and the guardian of patients. He gave and preserved health and relieved disease, by wiping away illness with his hands or just touching the patient. He built temples in places of extraordinary natural beauty so that patients would be nurtured by the harmonious energies of their surroundings. These sanctuaries were safe, tranquil places in which the individual could explore the centre of his being: those who wished to be healed were expected to rectify their way of life and ultimately take responsibility for their own wellbeing.

Music played an important part in healing rituals. Both Plato and Aristotle tell us that the Ancient Greeks developed the theory that sound in the form of music or tone can have a healing effect. There are tales of Greek musicians who could recognize a person by their unique note or sound, and of great healers who could tune into the inner harmony of a patient, then play one note on a lyre which totally healed him or her.

Pythagoras established that there is a strong connection between the senses and music, and that sound contributes ‘greatly to health if used in an appropriate manner’. He combined and composed ‘diatonic, chromatic and enharmonic melodies’ with particular rhythms, and the positive vibrations of these melodies alleviated negative emotions, especially sorrow, rage, pity, pride and anger. Unfortunately we have no idea what this music sounded like.

Aristotle reported that flute music could stimulate the emotions and release pent-up tension. Casiodorus believed that Aeolian music could treat mental disorders and help to induce sleep, while Lydian music was suitable for children and could ‘soothe the soul when oppressed with excessive care’.

NATIVE WISDOM

Scattered across the globe are tribespeople who believe that everything in nature possesses a spirit or kind of energy.

SHAMANISM

Shamanism dates back thousands of years and embraces this notion. The principles of shamanism are common to many cultures including the Native Indians of North and South America, the people of Tibet and Indonesia, the Australian Aborigines, the Laplanders of the Arctic Circle, the Altai of Siberia, and many tribes throughout Africa.

These people share the belief that it is important to establish good relationships with the nature spirits if you wish to be healthy in mind, body and spirit. The shaman, or medicine man or woman, is a highly revered member of the community blessed with the special gift of being able to communicate with the nature spirits and call upon their help to heal the sick. Traditionally, through rhythmic dancing and drumming, the shaman enters a trance in which he is able to contact these spirits. Typically the medicines he uses are energetically charged stones and energy-purifying plants. By working with the subtle energies of nature the shaman is practising a form of vibrational healing.

Whilst the shamanic ideal of living in harmony with nature is shared by different cultures, each has evolved their own way of doing this.

In many South American cultures the planet Earth is given the name pachamama, meaning sacred Earth mother. Pachamama is a living being with physical, astral and spiritual bodies, which interconnect. She is a nurturer, and a spiritual mother who holds the secrets of the Universe within her.

The Ancient Incas of Peru referred to the Earth energies as the Apus. The Apus guard the Earth and when a person is born they take responsibility for his or her development. They are the intermediaries between humans and the Earth. The Inca shamans worked with these energies or spirits for guidance, resolution of disputes and all healing.

The Q’ueros are a Quechua speaking people living in the mist-shrouded mountains of south central Peru. They are the descendants of Incan high priests or shaman and the keepers of ancient mystical traditions. They have managed to keep their cultural and spiritual beliefs alive, untainted by the influences of the outside world, for over 400 years. One of these traditions is the despacho ceremony, where offerings are made to pachamama, in thanks and honour of her energies.

The Q’ueros speak of two realities: the panya and the yoqe. Panya is everything associated with the ordinary world or physical reality; yoqe is all that belongs to the extraordinary world or the invisible reality – the enigma of the energies that are present in all beings: people, animals, plants and stones. They refer to the subtle energy that exists in all people as animu. At birth this energy, which comes from pachamama, enters the body through the top of the head.

All the skills that the Q’ueros priests or shamans (known as pago) learn are to do with the harmonious interplay of energies. The shaman’s gift is the ability to heal his people’s relationship with the cosmic forces in ways that bring harmony and balance into their lives.

Q’uyas are power stones are used by the Pag’o shamans for healing. Each stone holds energies placed there by nature, and the most powerful come from areas very high in the Andes where lightning strikes the Earth. As well as having their own energies, each stone is endowed with a healing function by the shaman. They can be used to cleanse heavy energetic vibrations from the body arising from negative thoughts and feelings.

ANIMAL ENERGY

The South American Indians regard contact with animal guardians as especially important for healing and restoring harmonious relationships with Father Sky, Mother Earth and all the elements. Guidance, strength and knowledge is gained from tuning in to animal spirits or subtle energies.

In the jungles of eastern Peru there are shamans who use a mind-expanding jungle vine called ayahuasca in their ceremonies. This visionary plant expands awareness in such a way that it enables the shamans to see and hear animal spirits in their visions. The spirits of snakes, tigers, jaguars, eagles, condors, crocodiles or dolphins usually present themselves: these animals are believed to possess special energies that can cure the sick. Ayahuasca also helps to release negative vibrations held in the body as a result of destructive thought processes and all forms of trauma.

NEGATIVE VIBRATIONS

In shamanic traditions there is much reference to evil spirits which prey on mental, emotional and vital energy. These energy parasites are often nothing more sinister than our own negative thought patterns.

An ancient Tibetan myth (originating from the Bon religion) recounts the origin of negativity and the causes of illness. It tells of five demons which manifest five poisons (actually referred to in this religion as the five passions): ignorance, jealousy, pride, attachment and hatred. The Tibetan shamans communicate with the disturbed spirits, especially the five great demons, to persuade them not to create problems and confusion.

The Tibetan shamans see illness as an energy imbalance that humans create between themselves and all existence. Humans disturb the spirits of the five elements – space, air, fire, water and earth – the four seasons, and the spirits of nature – sky, sun, moon, mountains, rocks, rivers and plants. We do this by digging up the earth, polluting the air, rivers and lakes, and so forth.

The shaman determines whether a person has an energetic imbalance or is being provoked by negative energy (or a demonic spirit). He then performs purification rituals: he summons powerful life force energy from all over the universe and condenses it into syllables which he speaks, and introduces into the disturbed person’s heart through her crown chakra (located on the crown of the head), to strengthen her life force. The life force may also be revived by recanting a mantra (words of natural power) of the life deity, which calls upon the blessings of the buddhas, the magic power of all the spirit protectors and guardians.

The shamans of the Altai people living in Siberia refer to vital energy or life force as chula. They see chula as one of nine souls, and as important for health and normal development. It is thought that a person with a predisposition to openness is vulnerable to evil spirits or negative energies which may ‘steal their chula’. When this happens the life force is weakened and the person becomes sick. The shaman can perform soul retrieval rites which rekindle the life force and restore the patient’s health and wellbeing.

INDIA

Over 5,000 years ago wise men or yogis living in the remote Himalayan mountains spoke of a universal energy. Known as prana, this energy is still seen by yogis as the basic constituent of all life. Prana, the breath of life, moves through all things and brings vitality to them. The yogis were aware that this energy is affected by different forms of vibrations. Their ancient Sanskrit language is actually comprised of words which set up a sympathetic vibration in the body. The word for tiger, for example, houses the essential energy of the tiger. When they spoke this word, people would be calling upon the spirit or energy of the animal.

The yogis developed a system of natural medicine known as Ayurveda, whose principles have spread throughout Asia and has been handed down from generation to generation. It is still alive today and has recently kindled much interest in the Western world.

One of the oldest Ayurvedic practices is chanting and reciting silent mantras. The repetition of sacred sounds maintains and promotes wellbeing in mind, body and spirit, because of the effect on the body’s energy systems.

The ancient texts of Indian yogic literature describe various energy systems associated with the body. According to the sages the physical body is energized and coordinated by an energetic subtle body called the etheric body. Within this etheric body are vital energy centres known as chakras, which are linked with each other and the nervous system by lines of life force. The chakras gather and hold different forms of energy, and can alter their vibrations so that they can be used for different healing purposes.

Chanting conditions the chakras so that energy flows smoothly throughout the body. When the body’s energies are balanced and free-flowing, the mind is still. When the mind is free of distracting thoughts and the disruptive effects of emotions such as anxiety, fear and guilt, it is possible to enjoy greater access to the soul or higher self. In other words, meditative techniques for bringing peace of mind also revitalize and rebalance the body’s energies. The yogis also discovered that certain movements and body positions encourage prana to flow through the body. Yoga is the classical example of this ancient form of energizing exercise.

FAR EASTERN PHILOSOPHIES

Common to Eastern medical and mystical tradition is the idea that the universe is a living organism, a rhythmic vibrational field, infused and permeated with life force. During the third millennium BC the Ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism emerged which holds that every living organism, as well as the universe itself, is infused and permeated with a rhythmic vibrational energy known as qi or chi. The Japanese call this energy ki, and in India it is referred to as prana.

Taoism teaches that if man lives in harmony with the laws of nature, his whole system will be balanced mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually, because qi will flow freely and evenly through the body.

Problems arise when we consider ourselves to be separate and superior to nature. Nowadays processed and over-refined foods, polluted air and a lack of healthy exercise often distance us from the natural way of life and stifle qi. Emotional stress, an over-indulgent or frenetic lifestyle, injury and illness also block the flow of vital energy. The Taoists suggest that energy imbalances are responsible for us becoming susceptible to emotional upsets such as anger, irritability, sadness and fear. These negative feelings can weaken bodily systems and make us vulnerable to disease.

The early Eastern philosophers devised ways of promoting the free-flow of energy to preserve wellbeing and instil peace of mind. Exercise regimes based on slow, rhythmic movements such as Tai Chi and Qi Gong were devised to balance qi. Today millions of people in China and Japan perform these slow moving, free-flowing movements as part of their daily routine. Various types of massage to encourage the swift and even movement of qi have also been developed. As in India, meditative techniques such as chanting were found to affect qi. In Japan there is also an ancient tradition of drumming which opens up the chakras and stimulates the flow of ki energy.

2
BODY ENERGIES

To understand how vibrational healing works we have to acknowledge the existence of an energy or life force that permeates all living beings. We cannot see or touch this energy, but like the air we breathe, it is essential to life.

For many people living in the West, the idea that there is more to human beings than meets the eye is hard to imagine. In other regions of the world however, especially the Far East and Asia, this view is widely accepted. The traditional medical systems of the Chinese, Japanese, Tibetans, Indonesians, Australian Aborigines and Native Americans all regard this energy as something tangible that can be influenced for better or worse.

SCIENCE SUPPORTS THE ENERGY THEORY

The idea that all things are infused with energy is not as mystical as it may seem. Modern physics is beginning to add credibility to what wise men believed all those years ago. In this century it has become old-fashioned to think of things as solid objects, as Newton and his colleagues in the late 17th and early 18th centuries did.

Scientists now believe that our world is composed of energy fields and vibrational wave forms that constantly interact with one another. Indeed, some view the universe as a vast web of inseparable energy patterns.

There is scientific evidence that human beings possess their own energy fields. Dr Saxton Burr, an American researcher and Professor of Anatomy at Yale University Medical School in the mid-1940s, shattered conventional belief when he put forward what he called the electrodynamic theory of life. He suggested that all physical forms, be they human, animal, vegetable or mineral, are held together and governed by electro-magnetic fields of energy which he called life-fields. Although these fields are invisible, their effect can be reproduced by placing a magnet under a card and sprinkling iron filings over it. The filings form a pattern which reflects the magnetic force field.

The life-field, as Dr Burr called the energy field, is like a flexible jelly mould which produces a shape, and the physical body is akin to the jelly. Although physical forms are separate entities, they are linked in terms of energy to all other bodies.

The human electromagnetic energy field can be measured with sensitive instruments such as vacuum tube voltmeters. It responds to the energetic impulses associated with different kinds of thoughts: positive thinking strengthens the energy field, and negative thoughts weaken it. Certain vibrational wave forms in the environment also influence our energy field. Fluctuations in the Earth’s electromagnetic field, for example, have a direct effect on our vitality and health.

Western medical science has made extensive studies of the Earth’s electromagnetic field. Careful monitoring has shown that there is a link between field flow (the strength of intensity of the electromagnetic currents or waves) and the occurrence of viral and bacterial epidemics. In short we are locked into a life-field which links and affects us all.

MAPPING THE ENERGIES

For centuries healers have been working with different energy systems described by ancient medical and esoteric teachings. To grasp the principles of vibrational healing it is helpful to know a little about these.

THE AURA

Since time immemorial artists and mystics have seen auras. Ancient Indian sculptures, Aboriginal rock paintings and Native American totem sculptures all show figures surrounded by light or with lines emanating from their bodies. Around 500 BC the Pythagoreans of Ancient Greece were the first to describe the aura as a luminous body. They believed its light could produce a variety of effects in humans.

The aura is an invisible, yet luminous kind of radiation which resembles a halo surrounding the physical body. It has parallels with the electromagnetic force field, in that it surrounds the body with a field of biomagnetic energy, which acts as a barometer of the body’s physiological pro-cesses. All life forms possess an aura, composed of vibrational frequencies emitted by fundamental particles of the body.

Human auras vary widely in size, density and colour and consist of different coloured light rays, each associated with an organ of the body. The vibrancy and hue of an aura depends on the person’s spiritual evolution as well as his or her general health. The more balanced and healthy you are, the greater your auric field.

The shape, colour and strength of the rays vary from person to person, reflecting their personality, mood, emotions and experiences. For example, a lot of red in an aura indicates the presence of anger, while blue relates to idealism. Those who have auras with soft edges are susceptible to the influence of others, while a hard, distinct outline may indicate a person with a defensive or aggressive attitude resulting from deep insecurity.

The aura is a reflection of the immune system. The stronger your aura, the more resilient you are to illness. An aura can radiate some three or four feet from the body, its energy infusing the whole subtle body system (see below). In ill health, the aura shrinks back close to the body in an attempt to conserve vital energy.

THE SUBTLE BODIES

The subtle bodies are layers of energy. They can be visualized as seven bands of light encasing and emanating from the physical body. Each layer vibrates at a slightly different frequency and can be defined by its colour, density and appearance. Each has a specialized function and influences various emotional, mental and physical processes.

 Etheric body or lining – the first subtle body, which lies between the physical and other subtle bodies to sustain a dynamic equilibrium between them. An energetic replica of the physical body containing a blueprint of all the organs.

 Emotional body – the seat of the emotions. When the emotional body is in balance it brings emotional security and stability.

 Mental body – reflects mental activity and enables us to think clearly and rationally. It contains the structures of our thoughts and ideas.

 Astral body – encapsulates the entire personality. When it is in balance we are more likely to have an intuitive understanding of events and the flow of life.

 Causal body – the seat of willpower, it facilitates interaction with other people and events, allowing us to fulfil our personal destinies. The gateway to higher consciousness.

 Celestial or Soul body – houses our spiritual essence and is, in a sense, the higher self which allows the soul to move freely through us.

 Spiritual or Illuminated body – a fusion of the whole subtle anatomy with the physical body. Our basic energetic blueprint resides here.

 Etheric envelope – forms a protective outer coating around the subtle bodies.

 Immunofluidum – contains and transports qi.

Like other energy systems, the subtle bodies can become congested with inappropriate energetic vibrations. In the mental body, congestion usually takes the form of half-formed, unclear thoughts which mount up like piles of rubbish and prevent clear thinking. Similarly, unexpressed desires and emotions cloud the emotional body. Lack of exercise and sunshine, or an excess of junk food can muddy the etheric body. Each body can also become over-stimulated and this can lead to a variety of health problems.

Finally, a condition known as lack of coordination can occur between the mental and emotional bodies, between the emotional and etheric or more commonly between the etheric and the physical bodies. When the etheric body is not properly linked to the physical you are likely to experience chronic fatigue and in extreme cases frailty.

THE MERIDIANS

Traditional Chinese Medicine sees subtle energy (qi or chi) as taking the form of vibrational waves. The qi flows along a system of channels known as meridians. The first reference to this energy network is found in the Nei Ching or Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine which is around 4,500 years old.

The subtle anatomy of mankind

These channels form an intricate web through the body, like a second nervous system. It connects the physical body to the subtle energy bodies surrounding it.

There are 12 pairs of meridians, and each pair is associated with a different organ system or function, such as the heart, lungs or liver. There are also a further eight energy channels known as the extraordinary meridians which hover in between the etheric and physical bodies. They act as an energy reservoir and are closely connected with our vitality and state of mind. Their prime function is to feed the main meridians with qi. Traditional Chinese Medicine maintains that good health and peace of mind are inextricably linked to the smooth and even flow of qi through the body.

THE CHAKRAS

Eastern medical and mystical traditions share the notion that special energy centres known as chakras play a vital role in moving energy around the body. There are seven major chakras which are inextricably linked to the meridian system.

The chakras act as energy transformers, simultaneously receiving, assimilating and transmitting various types of energy. They can be imagined as many-petaled, vibrantly coloured flowers which are attached by invisible threads to the spine. The ‘petals’, known as nadis, are woven into the nervous system, which runs through the spine. They distribute the energy of each chakra into the physical body. The chakras are continuously opening to receive information about the state of the subtle bodies, and closing again, rather like anemones.

There are seven chakras which govern major glands in the endocrine system and influence physical and psychological health. Each chakra has its own ‘pulse rate’ and can alter its vibration so its energy can be used for different purposes. Some vibrate very quickly, others more slowly, depending largely on the ways in which we use and regard our bodies. Each chakra also has its own note (see here).

If one chakra is not functioning properly it affects those above and below it. Ideally the top chakras should vibrate faster and more subtly than the lower ones, but this is not always the case and heavy vibrations can appear in all the centres.

CHAKRAS AND THEIR PROPERTIES

HOW THE ENERGY SYSTEMS INTERACT

The energy systems described above are all interlinked (see illustration here). There is a constant interplay between them, so they effectively function as an energetic whole. They can be visualized as translucent layers held in place with thin membranes which separate yet allow the energies to diffuse into one another.

All seven subtle bodies enter and leave the body through chakras, which tie in with the meridian system. The meridians pass through the organs of the body. The extraordinary meridians link up with the subtle bodies and the aura, interfacing with the whole subtle anatomy system.

The entire energy system is in a continuous state of motion – the different energies are like swirling mists of colour and light interacting and receiving information from each other. They are constantly inter-changing, redistributing and rebalancing themselves.

DISTURBING THE ENERGY BALANCE

In a perfect world we would all have abundant energy and our energy systems would function smoothly. This state of energetic harmony and balance is associated with health, vitality, emotional stability, mental clarity, contentment, fulfilment and a sense of being on the right path in life. The energy systems usually function smoothly in newborn babies, but as we proceed on our journey through life the systems are thrown off balance for numerous reasons.

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