BASIC CONCEPTS GUIDINGALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

BASIC COCNEPTS GUIDING ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

1. Energy2. Breath3. Balance4. Spirituality

Quote to BeginFishes, asking what

water was, went to a wise fish. He told them that it was all around them, yet they still thought that they were thirsty.

(Sufi teaching )

ENERGY

ENERGYChinese Taoist

“Energy, not matter was the basic building material of the Universe.”

Albert EinsteinMatter and energy are the same.Energy is like a glue that holds the universe

together.

Holistic practitioners“ Life force” of subtle energy. The source that connects body, mind, and

spirit together.

ENERGYJapanese Ki

Tibetans Lung (Loong)

Polynesians Mana

Native Americans Oki, orenda, ton

AmericanSubtle energy, breath, vital force

Chinese Qi (chee)

Yin (-)Yang (+)

Energy in Chinese character Source: http://www.doshinokai.com/

CHAKRAS

• Hindu concept• “Spinning wheel”• Seven major chakras• Many minor chakras

AURA• Human energy field surrounding the body• Seeing colors around the body• Generally, it appears as a light blue color,

which it is brighter close to the body and fades away from the body.

AURA

• The color will change with person’s state of mind and health.

• They are also related to each chakra.

AURA

• A practitioner needs to learn how to read an individual's Aura.

• To read Aura, a person needs to have special education and practice.

• In this book, you will learn more about Aura: Barbara Ann Brennan, (1987) Hands of light, A guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field, Bantam Book: New York, NY.

MERIDIANS

• “Network of energy circuits or lines of force that run vertically though the body connecting all parts.”

• Acupuncture points

ENERGY CONCENTRATION

• Will power • Solar Plexus Chakra

•The seat of prana

GROUNDING AND CENTERING

Grounding:Connecting with groundContact with reality

StabilityIndependenceSolid foundationLiving in the present moment

Centering:Bringing self to center or midlineConcentration of solar plexusStillness

BREATH

• Sanskrit• Prana

• Hebrew• Ruach

• Greek• Pneuma

• Latin• Spiritus

• Christianity• Holy Spirit or “the breath of life”

BALANCE

“ WALKING IN BALANCE” Native American culture

BALANCE

• Components of balance:• Mental• Physical• Emotional• Spiritual• Environmental

MENTAL

• Feeling of self-worth• Positive identity• A sense of accomplishment• The ability to appreciate• The ability to create

PHYSICAL

•Optimal functioning of all body systems

EMOTIONAL

•Ability to feel and express the entire range of emotions

SPIRITUAL

• Moral values• Meaningful purpose in life• Feeling of connectedness to

others • Feeling of connectedness to

divine source

ENVIRONMENTAL

• Physical• Biologic• Economic• Social• Political conditions

CYCLIC RHYTHMS• Circadian rhythms

• 24-hour temperature• Sleep patterns• Hormonal level:

• Adrenal• Thyroid• Growth hormone-secreting patterns

• Temperature• Appetite• Energy level• Motor activity pattern

CYCLIC RHYTHMS

Ultradian rhythms•Shorter than 24 hours•Repeat more than once a day

CYCLIC RHYTHMS

Infradian rhythms• Regular fluctuations • Longer than 24 hours

MUSICAL RHYTHMS

Music therapy for:• Mental disorders• Autism• Dementia• Cancer• Cognition disorders• Neurological problems

SPIRITUALITY

• Relationship with:•Oneself•Others•Higher power

• Meaning and purpose in lives• Feeling of wholeness

SPIRITUALITY

Spiritual healing practices:•Prayer•Contemplation•Meditation•Drumming•Storytelling

SPIRITUALITYSpirituality

Broader conceptSearch for wholenessNo dogmaMay use religion’s sacred prayer

ReligionSearch for SacredGroup identitySense of belongingDogmaPoliticsCultural influences

SPIRITUALITY

• Spiritual guides• Guardian angels• Being of Light• Buddhists: Devas• Cherokees: Adawees• Hebrew & Persian: Malakh or

messenger• Zoroaster/Persian: Vohu Manah

SPIRITUALITY

• Four great archangels:•Uriel•Raphael•Michael•Gabriel

SPIRITUALITY

Grief as a Blessing:

I saw grief drinking a cup of sorrow and called out, “it tastes sweet, does it not?”

“You’ve caught me,” grief answered, “and you’ve ruined my business, how can I sell sorrow when you know it’s blessing?”

Jalaludding Rumi, Persian Sufi Poet (1207-1273)(Quoted in Wisdom of the Ages, 1998, p.47)