Emotional energy transference

Chad, while I appreciate your reply, I must admit I don't understand it fully. You seemed to be addressing the terminology I used more than my question.

First of all, I am not a practitioner. I just give acupressure to family, friends, and colleagues. I stopped doing it for many years because I was afraid of what seemed like energy movement with emotions attached to it. I didn't tell anyone (it would have seemed like telling someone I talked to a ghost). I'm using lay terms because I don't know the buzz words.

It is usually rather easy for me to "sense" or "feel" what pressure points need to be pressed. The person's headache usually goes away, or significantly diminishes, in a matter of seconds or minutes.

The feelings don't usually last long after I stop physical contact. On a few occasions, I had become completely drained of energy (again, I'm using a term to describe how I felt-- I hope you can get past the semantics).

"...some of the phenomena exists, but it is not worthy of strong terminology." I used terminology to describe the emotions and sensations I felt. Yes, the grief was overwhelming. By this, I mean that I could barely hold back tears and the emotion was definitely not my own. I was having an especially great day and not the least bit sad.

I am only trying to understand this phenomenon. Of course I know I cannot "get someone's condition." It's like empathy with a physical response. If their stomach qi is rebelling (which I don't know until I touch them), it gives me the sensation of needing to vomit.

It's not just a matter of feeling a "bit strange." Please don't respond to my word choice, I'm no expert. I just want to know if anyone else has experienced this sensation and can tell me what it is or why it happens.

All I am really saying is the more you focus on reactions like that to patients the more they are likely to happen. And while some people have varying degrees of reactions like this the vast majority of practitioners will learn to stop this effect. In reality you have to to practice successfully for years. This doesn't neglect the fact that the phenomena exist, but as I stated previously - "To me it comes down to having a stronger energy than your patients - enough to direct their energy instead of being a sponge for it. This is part techniques, perhaps, but mostly a development on the part of the practitioner that needs to be cultivated."

Some people have heightened sensitivity, naturally, and this makes training all the more important. I can only recommend that you must stabilize your energy and learn how to direct it better. This, in my opinion, only comes from the practice of Tai Chi (ideally from a skilled master, preferably someone who also practices Chinese Medicine).

From the Tam Healing System, we use acupressure on the GV 19 area to help regulate this sensitivity as well.

My strong wording isn't meant to pick apart your terminology in any way - your phrasing was just fine and to the point. It is only to emphasize the importance of getting past these reactions to continue practicing and helping others. It is important for people to not get caught in this way of thinking and realize also that this is why people train for years before doing this kind of work - not just in theory and medicine but in themselves and their skills and their qi.

I am less reacting to your specific phrasing or your specific issues than I am to the concepts generally as many acupuncturists, healers, etc. have the same experiences and often get consumned by them. As this is a public forum I try to generalize some of my answers as I know others are facing the same issues. So it's not meant to call you out in any way - just to make the discussion more valuable to everyone who might stumble across it.

Thank you, both, for your insightful answers. I have a much better understanding now. It was quite frightening at times, and yes, Chad, it did keep me from wanting to help others at times. I know a little about the meridians, some things about specific types of points, and some basic terminiology regarding Traditional Oriental Medicine Theory. Clearly, this is just the peel of the onion! However, I no longer have the opportunity to study OM, as I now live in a remote rural area.

Your answers make so much sense! I can picture them in my head as light or electromagnetic waves. It makes sense to me in the same way as electricity grounding through the path of least resistance. I didn't realize before, but now it seems so obvious (after you graciously explained it), that it is important to be able to direct one's own qi to protect both practitioner and patient.

I see what you mean about helping the person redirect proper flow of their own qi, rather than allowing it to disseminate through me (one way or another). I also do not like having access to someone else's emotional turmoil. It feels as if I am invading their privacy in the same was as inadvertantly overhearing a private conversation.

Thank you both, very much!

I believe I've said just about all I can on the subject. Basically I strongly recommend Tai Chi for people that work in the energetic arts (from a good teacher, ideally), and then you have to have strong theories for what you are doing otherwise you are likely to be more effected than necessary when treating others. And, of course, the downside of this is that your brain learns to expect it and that greatly increases the possibility of the reactions and their intensity.

The Tai Chi will make you stronger energetically so you are not as easily effected and it will increase your sensitivity so you better know (with sound theories as a backdrop) how best to help people. Intuition and natural gifts are very valuable in this field, but they are not all their is to it and they are of little value if they are not properly honed and utilized.

I believe our systems (Tam Healing, and Tong Ren specifically) are some of the best and most useful for practitioners of varying levels of experience including lay people all the way to licensed professionals. But there are others... The main point is that you have to do this work within a system that allows you to get repeated results and not be weakened or effected yourself. And, ideally, your development is guided by someone who gets reproducible results with a broad range of cases.

Hi,

Thanks a lot, i will follow your advice. i am sure that i may have some more questions in the future, it's nice to know that i can come back here and find the anwers.

This is all new to me, and just never had shared it in fear that people will think that i am full of shit:-) But i know that there must a way to protect myself from unwillingly taking on someone elses physical pain. I can't wait for your books to arrive, and i will immediately begin learning and practicing Tai Chi / Chi Gong ASAP!

Thanks!

Steve O

Serpentene Power

Slfroedge wrote "I also do not like having access to someone else's emotional turmoil. It feels as if I am invading their privacy in the same was as inadvertantly overhearing a private conversation."

I feel like I have been on the opposite side of this a few years ago when I was receiving acupuncture treatment. Has anyone else had an experience similar to this? I have heard that sometimes (in some ways) a practitioner (in this case an acupuncturist) can be aware of things that a client is going through (on an emotional level or what not) even if the patient himself is not consciously aware of what the underlying issue may be behind the illness or issue. I saw an acupuncturist for a short while (less than 4 months) and only received a few treatments myself (we were mostly there for some help for my child). Nevertheless, sometime in the middle of those months I dreamt that this practitioner was able to see into my soul (through my eyes and into my soul). I dreamt that this person knew what the trouble/issue was that I needed help with (the underlying issue, i suppose) and this person wanted to help, but could not at that time.

Now I don't know if that was simply my subconscience letting me know that I had this belief about this person (that I believed that he/she could see something about me) or maybe it was some other phenomena.

It is interesting, though. I feel that that person was a very compentent professional/acupuncturist, as I noticed a world of difference after each treatment. Sure enough, however, it did turn out that we were unable to continue working together (and I have since moved on to seeing a different practitioner).

Has anyone else had a remotely similar experience (either as a patient or practitoner)? I wish I could ask this person about that experience and see if he/she noticed anything on their side. But that is not possible.

Any thoughts?

Thank you ;-)

- SCannon

Its only normal for a person, that you feel weak after giving an acupressure treatment to somebody. I think the important you can do is to relax yourself and stretched your arm to avoid some energy transferred. Drink glass of water to feel refresh.

I hope this little advice can help you. Thank you so much.

Many who are kinesthetic pick up others' energies more easily than the 'norm' (whatever normal is. That sensitivity, which also gives one access to information which, when it can be modulated, is often useful, can also be overwhelming.

Grounding is very useful, for if one is not grounded that excess energy has no where to go. Likewise, anxiety can result when one is not grounded.

This happens to be an area in which I have been decidedly challenged. And my sensitivity has only increased the longer I have practiced subtle energy disciplines including qigong and t'ai chi. The kinesthetic experience is definitely more yin.

There are many things one can do to strengthen one's energetic boundaries. This happens to be the subject of a book I first published in 1999, which was the result of my own investigations in self-preservation. It includes about 150 activities that one can use to develop a strong aura, and to recognize when an emotion you are expeiencing has an external source.

The volume is More Than Meets the Eye: Energy. It's available from the store at along with other books and products.Here's a link to a youtube snippet of me talking about the book in an interview with Laurel McGregor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Good evening Steve,

As a Reiki Master, I&#39m aware of your dilemma. I agree with Chad that you must be sure to strengthen your own Qi, via, exercise, proper diet, and lots of water. When I became a Reiki level one, I was a Hospice patient. During one of my 3 week stays, I walked around praying and giving energy to the other patients (with permission of course...we must always get permission). One early morning(2-3am) during my stay, I began feeling extremely nauseated which was a new symptom for me. The next morning I was told that one of the patients had passed away. As the weeks went by, I experienced the same situation, only to find that someone else had always passed away the night before. As I became aware of what was happening I called and talked with a healer that I&#39d recently met. She explained that I&#39d been forgetting to break the ties between us, therefore, I was experiencing these ill sensations as they were dying. She, as well as other healers, and my Reiki Instructor, explained that as healers we should visualize ourselves in a bubble, or wrap ourselves in loving light while working on other individuals, which will keep our two auras from intertwining. It may seem odd, but you can actually feel when you&#39ve become too emotionally involved, and have let your bubble down. You&#39ll begin to feel those foreign emotions.

I&#39ve found these technique helpful.....and believe me after everything I experienced duing that 3 week period, I always break my ties now :-), by snapping my fingers, knowing (and/or visualizing the ties between us are being broken)

The spirit world, can be overwhelming but we still have control as long as we keep God&#39s love in our hearts and maintain good intentions.

Blessings to you.

~Namaste&#39

Darlene C.

Hi,

I am fascinated to read so many differing ideas and tools to deal with energy transference. It is clear to me that even among healers, we differ greatly regarding our tendency to absorb outside vibes.

I have always had this tendency, whether doing healing or not. And have spent my lifetime learning about it. Today, this is what I say and do about it:

I "treat" my own emotional and energetic field daily as needed to keep myself clear and bright as possible. Whenever I feel that which I do not want to feel, I no longer spend time or effort trying to figure out where or who it came from. If I am feeling it, then I immediately transmute and/or clear it.

For me personally, taking on others&#39 energy on occasion is the equivalent of being in a room where someone else was heavily smoking ... Of COURSE some of that clings to me, but there is no point obsessing over it. Just go back to a clear space, breathe some fresh air and shake or wash it off.

As mentioned by several people here in this forum there are MANY techniques to process and clear unwanted energy in your system and your field.

My basic ritual is this:

Before working with a client, I visualize myself and the client being refreshed and happy at the end of the session.

Usually that is enough!

Occasionally I will feel guided to add some greater protective or healing measure (like to use aroma oils, or stronger energy work and visions). Setting this intention though, to be clear and o.k. ... is usually enough along with professional safety measure already in place as a practitioner.

From my perspective, having my hands on people full time for the past 15 years: It sounds exactly like you are moving the energy for the client through your own body. It&#39s as simple as that. I do it a lot myself. And as an empath, I feel the qualities / thoughts / emotions of the client that go along with that. For someone who is not an empathic healer, they might not understand this experience. Unfortunately, if you hold onto the "stuff", because it resonates with your own karma, it will leave you feeling drained or in pain. The real mastery here involves developing a witnessing mind that does not tend to identify with the passing thoughts & emotions & physical sensations. In other words, we can have these experiences and feel these things, but we don&#39t need to give them "density" or think it is who we are. It is easier to let go of our own, or client&#39s energy if we can simply witness. My advice for getting good at this is: Meditation, meditation, meditation. Practice it every day.

( just parenthetically to send Respectfulll Appreciation .,.,. For
The extensively thoughtful considerations generously given and shared by thee within these communications , are profoundly moving )

Matt , thanks especially for your note / reminder / elaboration re Lung Pulse !