energy work

Reiki attunement, about the risks

astrologerbydefault

I read a post on fb, where an expecting lady wrote that she got a Reiki attunement done during her pregnancy. Most of the responses were congratulating her, saying that its super that the child will be born psychic! One response was from someone, writing that she got her 6yr old initiated into Reiki and saying that the child is beautifully attuned to seeing emotions.

So utterly clueless.

I am a Reiki teacher so are 3 of my brothers/cousins. So I know quite well what it is and how the initiation process happens.

This is what happens during a Reiki initiation, very briefly. The teacher first cleans out his own aura and stills his mind. Then he clears the room/space by whichever cleansing method he prefers. He calls on the Reiki teachers of the past and requests help from his own source of faith also. Next is to clean out the aura of the student. Then the energy level of the student is brought to the level of the teacher. The aura of the student is ‘opened’ using specific Reiki symbols. The Reiki symbols give access to the energy system of the student. The chakras are accessed and the symbols to be given in the initiation are inserted inside them. The energy body of the student now changes, the flow of vital energy changes its ‘flavour’. The chakras of the hands are opened so that the symbols get connected here too. The entire thing is now sealed. Then the aura is closed and the initiation is done.

After initiation, the energy flow in the body alters significantly and this change is permanent. Even if there is some problem with the teacher, the space or the student, the symbols always work. The initiation will be successful but the overall experience will become uneasy and this will have a subtle impact on the student’s energy self. And then after the initiation is complete, the teacher gives his blessings to the student. During initiation the teacher generally gets a message from the Universe/Reiki which he tells the student. This message is very important and brings about a deep change in the mind-set of the student. This is generally linked to some significant event/issue from the student’s past lives.

The Gayatri mantra

There are a few important points which have to be understood here. It is assumed that the teacher knows these things. But the problem is with such a proliferation of energy-teachers and healers you cannot be sure if the teacher really knows what he is doing. And it is important that the student understands these things.

First of all the teacher.

The teacher should be someone who is doing his own spiritual practice and is able to still his mind. He should be of a higher energy level that the student. If your personal energy is higher than that of the teacher it will be quite an uneasy experience for you.(Long ago, one of my Dad’s friends was insisting he learn Reiki from him. Dad was not interested but as I was sitting in the room, he casually asked me if he should learn energy-healing from him. I was in school and didn’t know what ‘learning Reiki’ meant. But it was obvious that Dad was huge on the energy levels and his friend was nothing. I said no! so strongly that I still remember that incident till now.)

Then getting a really knowledgeable teacher who understands what he is doing can be quite difficult. I would never do initiation for someone who is not 18yrs of age. During initiation, I am manipulating someone’s aura in a very deep way. Actually inserting intentions ie the symbols inside the chakras! The aura is protection, its job is to filter everything from the physical universe before letting it within. Opening someone’s aura is making him so deeply vulnerable, I cannot describe it in words. The direct access to the chakras is another extremely sensitive step. So the student should be an adult, he should understand what is being done and then he should agree. The mental state of the teacher is very important. If he is personally upset, the process will be affected, eg if he is unwell or has had an argument with someone etc. Also if by ill-luck you meet an unscrupulous teacher, he can implant suggestions inside your aura in your chakras. So do a through check on the Reiki teacher first.

Second is the space.

Initiation is to be avoided when the atmosphere is heavy with energy. Eg a rainy day with thunder and lightning. Or on full-moon or no-moon nights or the dark fortnight of the Bhadrapad month (pitru-paksh) when the spirits are more active. Or twilights and eclipses. Avoid such days of dense energies. This is the teacher’s duty to check if the environment is conducive.

Third is you, the student.

This is attunement, you are getting a new type of energy to resonate in your energy body, so you should prepare your body, mind and soul for this new energy modality. This means asking the teacher all that you want to know, in addition to what the teacher is teaching. Ask questions. Learn about the process and how you can use this energy later. At least for a week before you have your initiation scheduled, do some mediation, deep breathing exercises, eat light food, avoid alcohol and stimulants. This will ensure that you will be able to make the most of the initiation process.

For women.

There is a constraint, no initiation on the 5 days of the monthly cycle. The chakras are moving in the anti-clockwise direction at this time. No initiation when expecting. A pregnant lady should not do anything to her energy body while she is expecting and at least for 3 months after the baby is born. She should not be sitting on her Asan, no Dhyan, no manipulation of pran, no attunements of any healing modality or anything that causes any change to her energy body. During pregnancy the baby-soul moves into the astral body of the mother and is aware of everything that is happening to the mother on every level, physical, astral, psychic, energy etc. Being made in the womb is a rather painful process, the body of the baby is being formed/ broken/ re-formed and it causes pain. However the baby-soul links itself to the mother and draws support from her in every way. The mother should not give the baby-soul any energy shocks. When her aura, her chakras and her energies are get manipulated the unborn child is also affected.

The Gayatri mantra

Then children.

A child should never be exposed to any sort of energy surges or any intentional modification in his energy channels/chakras. A child is still in the process of development. Till the age of 14 – 16yrs, ie till the child attains physical maturity he/she is still being formed, the energy channels are still delicate and fragile. (18yrs onwards is best, full growth is done with and he is an adult now). Anything out of the ordinary in the childhood will cause energy fluctuations in his body which will have effects on his pran-mai-kosh/ subtle body and can carry on to the next life too. A child till the age of 7yrs is on the border-line, he has not yet completely forgotten his past life and neither has he begun to fully identify himself with his present personality. He still retains the ability to sense the psychic, the astral realms. If in this unformed state you push an attunement on his energy body it can cause very deep seated problems.

Children can see auras, energy, spirits and ‘other’ things, but as a non-intentional ability, mainly for self protection. (eg I have a pleasant, high energy aura, random babies look at me, smile at me and come to me without a murmur. One of my past driver had a grey-streaked aura, my son never could sit in the car when he was driving.) This ability to sense the astral dimensions disappears naturally at 3-6yrs of age. Now if you make the child aware about these things, he can start using it consciously and eventually attract predatory entities etc.

Children give their energy very easily. If you initiate your child into any energy healing modality, he can give without being aware of it. This can be very dangerous.

Then we, in our cities, are surrounded by negative energies, sick depressed people, unsavoury thoughts in the mind, in addition to the regular spirits, ghosts etc. Why make your child see these things consciously? The child cannot stop seeing now. he will see it all the time! There is a reason why this ability to see the psychic is lost at age 3-6yrs, it is not for everyone. If you work with energy realise that you are required by karma to do so. It is nothing very exciting or special. It is just work, like anything else. Sometimes it is quite helpful, but sometimes it becomes a burden. Intentionally modifying the energy channels of a child and an unborn baby when he has no say in the matter and does not understand what is happening is a crime. 

The pregnant lady went and got herself attuned and so did the 6yr old child, presumably they did not really understand the process. And the teacher too allowed and participated in this highly unethical Reiki initiation.

Working with energy is not for everyone. It does sound very exciting but it is quite serious. There are several healing modalities like Reiki, magnified healing etc. So if you do choose to take up energy work and get initiated into something do think twice about why you are doing it. What is your objective. Then do research about the credentials of the teacher. And then prepare yourself so that you can make the most of the experience.

‘Cleaning up’ after energy work

astrologerbydefault6 Comments

In several of my posts I have written about things that I sometimes do, the so-called ‘energy-work’. Here is a bit on the precautions that we take while doing these things. Have written about these earlier but here is a consolidated list.

'Cleaning up' after energy work

Peacock feathers bunch – There is a peacock feather bunch in my bedroom as well as in my sitting room, protects me as I sleep and also looks pretty in my house. I use it to brush out the aura of my house once a week and for my family members if they want me to.

Smudging – I use Loban/frankincense. Saturday evenings I light up a piece and take it around my house, reciting the Navavarna mantra, also ring a small bell as I go around. It works well enough for the house, but not so well for removing negative energies from people.

Ganga water – I live near the river Ganga, its water has perfect energy. I spritz this water in my house if I feel its energy levels going down and on myself if I have dabbled in energy work and need cleansing.

Camphor – Burning real natural camphor works well for removal of negativity. And I also keep small Camphor sachets in the rooms and in my car. Camphor sublimes so I replace these sachets once a month. Charging these sachets with Reiki symbols makes them even more effective.

Lemons – I use them to ‘remove’ the evil eye or spirits roaming around in my house or around my family members. Once a month on the no-moon night or during an eclipse.

Sea salt – Have written about this in detail in a previous post. This is one essential thing in your energy kit you can use it in several ways for protection, cleansing and disconnection.

Rice – Raw uncooked rice is also an option. Hold a fistful of rice for a minute in your hand with the intention that it picks up all the negative stuff which has attached to you and wave it around your head thrice in the clockwise direction. Then go out of your house, turn around so that you are facing your house and throw this rice over your shoulder and without looking back, directly come back inside.

Hair – A lot can be done using hair! I cannot bear anyone touching my head or hair even if for a hair cut. For the past several years I have been cutting my hair myself. One of the best ways of removing negative energy cords is snipping off just one strand of hair with the intention on a no-moon (amavasya) day.

Pendulums – Use your pendulum with the intention of disconnection and cleansing. You hold it in your right hand and keep your left palm an inch below it as it moves. As it moves within your aura field it will remove the negative stuff that you have picked up.

Chi-balls – Everyone can make them, they start forming a soon as your cupped hands are near each other. If you focus and intend they can be made stronger and more powerful. Now you make your chi-ball and visualise it as a shell around you, pearly silvery golden in color. You can see out of this but no one can see you within this shell. This is the best protective energy shield you can make for yourself. It will also cut negative cords around you if any.

Gold and silver – I wear gold bangles and silver anklets which I charge with my mantras and intention for protection. They then work like ‘energy gloves’ and ‘socks’ protecting me from anything negative that I might get involved with. The center of the earlobe corresponds with the pineal gland so wearing gold earrings charged with mantras acts as a very good energy battery for the entire body.

Trimetal bangle made of Copper, silver and gold adds the Martian fiery energy of aggression and confidence to take on anything. So this is an all in one tool which helps when taking on beings from other dimensions.

Amulets – I use mantras to do homa with the intention of protection and the ash which remains is packed inside a talisman which I wear. Once its job is done it falls off on its own. The ash from such a homa can be used in several ways, I blow it over myself as I am about to leave home and again when I come back to rid myself of negative cords and stuff.

'Cleaning up' after energy work

Reiki –

  • First, I do not do healings on others, I teach them instead to heal themselves. Sorry to say this, but the people who come are so overwhelmed with negative energies that their higher self requests more and above the Reiki and then it becomes difficult.
  • Reiki, the original principles that Mikao Usui taught, was supposed to be taught to all without charging them for it and everyone was supposed to do their own healing. So if our clients are interested we initiate them into Reiki rather than doing their healing ourselves.
  • If they are too ill, we use crystals or water rather than direct connection. Charging crystals and telling them to keep it in their pockets or charging their drinking water works beautifully. Hon sha zhe sho nen is used to sandwich all the other symbols and intentions, and the whole package is ‘put’ into the crystal or water bottle. This acts as an energy battery for a fortnight easily.
  • If direct healing is unavoidable then only for 5 mins, no more. (Modern Reiki practitioners claim that reiki is channelising the universal energy, which is true. But we have observed that more than 5 minutes and your higher self starts giving out your personal energy.)
  • Disconnection is using the cho ku re. Visualising cho ku re as a ‘sword’ which cleanly separates the energy link to the client. This ‘sword’ is quite useful and you can use it separate yourself from anything, energy cords and emotional hangovers from unpleasant situations.

Active psychic protection – using the intention to create weapons and shields which can be used in astral ‘war’. I have written three separate posts here.

Finally spiritual practice – Doing your regular spiritual practice, Dhyan or a mantra jaap helps in more ways than one. The body’s energy gets more intense, you get a armour of positive energies, every action you do gets powered up. If you have managed to make your mantra siddha, then it is a permanent weapon and shield in your hands. Another effect is that you are not scared of anything as you have the strength and the will to use that strength too.

And then as a last resort. If you have gone in more than you could handle and the negative energy of the situation has touched you more deeply that you anticipated, its best to fall a little bit sick. Allow the negative energy to express itself in a controlled way, a minor cold, throwing up or loose motions will remove the negative energy from your system completely, as a last resort.

Most importantly learn to see auras, it is very easy and if you practice you should be able to see the overall aura, the individual auras of each body parts, the aura of food/water that you are going to eat, the aura of your house etc. In fact you will be able to see the aura of speech, the words that someone is speaking. If you sense negative energy, immediately visualise a shield around you and charge this shield with the mantra/reiki/intention etc. You will also be able to sense the other dimensional beings with time. Learn to sense auras it will be a big asset in your energy work and add to your confidence.

'Cleaning up' after energy work

(There was a mail from the contact page on disconnection and energy work, “Hey great blog there. …….. keep writing!” I hope this post has been of some help)

Myths and things in ‘energy work’

astrologerbydefault2 Comments

In India, if someone does ‘energy work’, he/she is generally called a tantrik/shaman, and others respect him but are also a bit wary of him. He is a part of the society but still apart. People will go to him only as a last option and most think of ‘energy’ as superstition. But from what I see on social media is that in the west, people are eager to get into all this. It is nice, everyone should be aware of their energy and be able to work with it.

I will divide ‘energy work’ into 2 categories. There is a heaven and earth type of difference between the two.

  1. Working with your own energy for your personal spiritual development – Here you are following Shri Krishna’s advice, ‘Focus on your immediate action’. This dissolves karma.
  2. Using your experience with manipulation of energy to do stuff. Here you do not follow what Shri Krishna said because you are focussing more on the ‘reason why you are doing this action’! This can create new karma.

Myths and things in 'energy work'

Working with your own energy is the most natural thing that you can do. In India, we are taught from our childhood onwards to recite prayers, mantras, to do small pujas, homa, gayatri mantra jaap and stuff. Most houses will have a copy of a spiritual book, mostly Bhagwat Gita or perhaps Devi Mahatmya, but rarely even Vignyan Bhairav Tantra. In some families, children are taught how to do Dhyan. My family also taught me Jyotish.

If you follow your family traditions you are well on your way to being aware of your own energy. But for those who have missed out on having such a family background, the easiest thing is to start the Gayatri mantra jaap. Get a Asan and fix it in your mind that you will do 108 times jaap of Gayatri mantra once/twice/thrice a day, (morning/evening twilight and midday are the three appropriate timings), or anytime as per your convenience. Gayatri is the light which will take you on your internal journey, put your faith in it and allow it to transform you. (Or you can start with Dhyan, but as small children are first taught Gayatri jaap during their thread ceremony/Upanayan, this mantra is the foundation, it helps put you in the habit of sitting on one place and focussing.)

As you progress, you will feel a change in yourself and also in the people around you. As you become more aware of your own self you become ‘lighter’. You also become more aware of other people deeply. You pick up stuff from their auras, from the sub-conscious. You can sense the energies of stuff, houses and places you visit. If you go and pray in our ancient temples, you can sense the Deity looking back at you (often your hair will stand up in waves on your body, or you will sense a refreshing coolness). You will be able to repay your karmic accounts on the level of energy directly. Life becomes more multidimensional and very very beautiful. These are all indications that things are on right track.

As you progress even more you will be made to do specific activities which will manipulate the pran directly within your own body. You might be made to do specific Dhyan, Pranayams or Anushthans etc. You will be told by your own higher self. But you can listen to yourself only when you recite the Gayatri. It is the foundation of every Sadhana.

In this ‘energy work’, there is no danger and nothing to be scared of. You are trusting the ‘Vedmata’, Gayatri Herself. She will take you along the best possible route. Your only job is to recite the Gayatri mantra, again and again and again, it is this easy!

As you focus on the Mantra, your intense concentration wipes off every other thought from your mind, no past no future no parallels. You will ultimately experience the present Moment. Here you are stopping your mind from wasting its energy thinking frantically always and instead letting the Mantra power your soul on your true journey!

Myths and things in 'energy work'

Now to using your experience with energy manipulation. Spiritual progress is ultimate but rather ‘non-glamourous’. Most people are more fascinated by the physical visible wow! ways of using energy. This can get a bit problematic if you do not pay attention. There is also a reason to be wary of things which are not a part of the regular physical existence. So here are a few things which you should be aware of when you engage in ‘energy work’. It sounds very exciting! But it is hard work and requires you to be vigilant and take precautions.

First of all this is a subject of the astral not physical. You manifest using your thoughts and your astral potential. So be very clear about what you are doing, a back-lash will register in your astral self and will carry on through your next several lives.

Once you start thinking on these topics, you will attract others from the astral dimensions who will offer to work with you for a bargain. Again be very careful about what you are doing, things are never what they seem to be, they literally have other dimensions.

Always cleanse, ground and shield yourself. As long as you are aware of only the physical world, others from the other dimensions do not bother about you. But once you enter their other dimensions, they also become aware of you. So always shield even when you are sleeping or dreaming or in deep sleep. The only place where you will be truly safe will be your Asan on which you do your regular spiritual practice.

You will need to develop enough confidence in your own energy. The other energies you work with are not from this dimension so look, feel, even taste weird, misshapen and often fearful! If you feel scared and lower your guard, you will be in trouble.

You will have to do some regular spiritual practice, there is no alternative for this. The amount of energy that you need to dabble in ‘energy work’ is enormous. So start something and stick to it. If you do not replenish your energies regularly you will fall ill and will feel drained for no reason.

Next is to be careful of what you eat and drink. You cannot allow tamasic energies into yourself. These are very ‘heavy’ and your energy bodies get uncomfortable under their influence. Non-vegetarian food and intoxicants are the worst because they overload the body. Your body is the geometry (Mahameru) through which you focus and channelise your energy. This has to be in perfect shape for you to use it. If you overload it with tamasic energies it loses its perfect balance.

And ultimately do only the work you are required to by Karma. Do not get carried away with the sense of power you will develop. When you start sensing your energy in whatever way, you ‘feel’ more. You sense the difference between you and other ‘normal people’. If you let it go to your head and start doing stuff to show off or to assert your ego it will result in negative karma. Just remember that everyone is a fragment of the Ultimate and keep your ego grounded.

Myths and things in 'energy work'

Now there are gentler ways of using energy like Reiki. This is a good way of accessing the Universal energy, but the philosophy of Reiki being taught now is not what Mikao Usui initially taught. He was very clear that Reiki has to be taught to everyone and everyone should do self-healing. Doing healing on others was not advised except in extreme cases. There is a reason for this. When you do healing on others even for that brief 5mins and even if you are well shielded, your auras link up very deeply, there is always a chance of exchange at the deepest levels. Not good! And the second reason is that if you get emotional (most of us do feel compassion for the client), you can end up sharing your own personal energy sub-consciously.

And finally if you choose to use your energy actively for any sort of work, you will have to control your thoughts. Your thoughts are your tools. You cannot get randomly angry or swear or think of harm. The reason is that you will then subconsciously power such thoughts with your energy and the negativity will manifest. You will harm others with your thoughts and earn negative karma for yourself.

I know that every one who starts accessing their energies through spiritual practice will at some point ‘dabble’ in the second type of ‘energy work’. It is exciting, no doubt! But always remain aware of what you are doing and be careful. Ultimately it is between you and your conscience. Play with energy if you so wish, but be aware of Karma. And sooner or later you will decisively adopt the category 1 of ‘energy work’, of working with your own energy for your personal spiritual development, just like Shri Krishna said.

 

(Thank you to the kind soul who suggested this topic, I hope reading it triggers something good for you!)