Shamanic Energy Work:  Blending Techniques

Shamanic Energy work is much like non-shamanic energy work. 

Only when it isn't. 

The free and natural flow of energy in the human energy field is essential to good health; many traditional systems of healing such as Auyurveda and Acupuncture are based on the tenet an energetic block or an energetic misdirection is the precursor to physical illness, that is, dis-ease shows up in a person's energy field first.  Sensing and repairing the energy block and helping to induce a free flow of energy once more can help balance the body and set it back on a track of health rather than on a path to dis-ease.

Shamanic healing is all about moving and transmuting energy, either removing inappropriate energy from a client's field, returning appropriate energies that have been missing, or changing the client's relationship to energies in relationships.

I received extensive training in energy work before coming to shamanic practice.  I've been initiated into third level Reiki, which makes me a "Reiki Master" in the parlance.  I also do Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch, Barbara Brennan-style energy work involving the "energy bodies", chakra balancing and repair work, acupressure (using Qi, the Universal Energy), and also Awakening work as taught by the late Ron Hall.  Each of these systems of energy work is quite subtle with the exception of the Illumination process; it can be quite profound.  Several of the energetic practices either overlap or bear resemblance to each other at some level along the way.


Illumination
Finding the practice of the Illumination Process while studying Andean shamanism has changed my life and my practice.  Illumination treats the entire energy body:  the chakras, nadis, energy bodies (layers) and meridians, and cleans it and repairs it removing traumatic imprints in it which block us and perpetually propel us down unwanted paths.  I've not encountered anything else like it.   It's effective, deep, and it works.   It's a wonderful blending of energetic and bodymind methods that is life-changing.


Reiki
Reiki, Universal Life Energy, is a powerful and deeply relaxing modality in and of itself.  For me as a practitioner of Reiki, the Reiki session has always felt much like a shamanic healing session.  Combining Reiki with shamanism is a natural and makes both modalities more powerful and flexible still.  Energetic blocks are removed more easily and much more quickly when combining Reiki and Shamanic methods, and difficult blocks that may have taken a long time dissolve and dissipate faster and more completely.  Now when doing Reiki, I routinely involve my guides and allies and the guides and allies of my client in the process.  It's a lot more enjoyable when you have friends to help  :-)

If you are a Reiki practitioner who also also practices shamanism, I invite you to take a look at two books on combining the two:  Reiki Shamanism by
Jim Pathfinder Ewing, and Shamanic Reiki by Llyn Roberts


Awakening
A few years ago I had the good fortune to stumble into a group of practitioners who practice a method of healing called "Awakenings".   The Awakening method is a very gentle and relaxing energy medicine technique that bears a closer resemblance to the shamanic journey, and also involves much more specific energy work on the client's field in ways that Reiki does not; it bears closer resemblance to Healing Touch methods, yet also involves guides and allies, and is done within a more intentional sacred space, purposely inviting healing beings to be present for the client's highest good during the session.

Both Reiki and Awakening work feels very shamanic in nature as it is practiced.  As I was learning Reiki, and especially Reiki II, which contains methods for remote healing, I started to notice that I entered an altered, meditative state.  When I began doing shamanic work, the shamanic state of consciousness felt very familiar:  it was similar to that state attained by doing Reiki.  Awakening work produces a state of consciousness
similar to a Reiki session and to the shamanic journey.


Pal Dan Gum
Pal Dan Gum is a Korean form of Qi Gong, or energy medicine for the self.  I do this regularly as a part of my acupressure practice, and can teach the Eight Silken Movements that make up this particular system of Qi Gong.


In my own experience, energy work combined with shamanic techniques is a powerful combination!  Try it today :-)

click here to make an on-line appointment for shamanic work now


Jeffrey Rich