Energy Healing 101: Pranic, Tantric, and
Reiki
You have probably come across
exotic-sounding
terms such as “chakra”, “prana”,
“aura”,
and “tantra” in your course of
reading books
on spirituality, sex, and healing
in the
New Age literature section of
the bookstore.
But what’s the real scoop behind
these exotic
vocabularies?
Are All Energy Healings the Same?
Chakra or energy center is a
term used in
Pranic healing, an ancient Hindu
system of
energy healing. “Prana” means
life energy.
“Aura” is another terminology
traced to Pranic
healing. Aura is a non-physical
body that
consists of energy, which exists
along with
our physical body. The aura that
covers our
body is said to have seven layers
pertaining
to the physical, emotional, mental,
and spiritual
aspects of an individual as manifested
by
energy. Studying the color and
thickness
of auras give ideas on the state
of health
of individuals. Six colors are
associated
with aura and interpreted into
six personalities.
These colors are all present
in an individual
but one or two are more pronounced.
Green – ambitious achiever
Blue – spiritual peacemaker
White – unconventional chameleon
Red – activist
Orange – creative communicator
Violet - psychic
Although Tantra is popularly
associated with
the peculiar practice of sex
and spirituality,
it is another method of energy
healing. It
comes from the word “tan” which
means to
spread or expand. The concept
of connectedness
is a recurring theme in Tantric
writings
on sex and spirituality. As a
method of healing,
spirituality and sex figure prominently.
It is presupposed that the union
of man and
woman can reach spiritual levels
during orgasm,
which removes the body and mind
off collected
impurities. These impurities
being negative
energies can in turn manifest
as physical
illnesses.
Unlike Pranic and Tantric healings,
which
have Hindu origins, Reiki originated
from
Japan. It is relatively younger
than Pranic
and Tantric healings having been
rediscovered
in the early 1900’s. Reiki stands
for universal
energy, an energy brought forth
by higher
intelligence. Students of Reiki
are taught
how to tap this energy to heal
physical,
emotional, and mental illnesses.
Although Pranic, Tantra, and
Reiki are all
systems of energy healing, they
differ in
the type of energy tapped for
healing: life
energy, sexual energy, and universal
energy
respectively.
The concepts of the connectedness
of mind,
body, and spirit; the connection
of individuals
to all living and nonliving things
around
them and to the universe; and
how energy
impacts physical, emotional,
and spiritual
well-being are some of the salient
similarities
of these three healing methods.
Why Do People Turn to Energy
Healing?
Pranic, Tantric, and Reiki are
considered
alternative methods of healing.
In spite
of the availability and relative
accessibility
of modern medicine, how come
more and more
people are being drawned to them?
Here are
some possible reasons:
· Energy healing worked where
modern medicine
failed.
For several reasons both explainable
and
unexplainable, modern medical
treatment failed
to heal ailments and conditions
in several
if not many persons. Research
or data may
not be able to support this statement.
But
for the families of the dying
as well as
for the dying patient, they would
take the
risk of using alternative methods
ranging
from herbals and organics, faith
healers,
witch doctors, and New Age healing
techniques
just to be get well.
· People perceive modern medicine
to be isolating.
Medical treatments are oftentimes
focused
on the disease and its causative
agent, which
can make a patient feel isolated
and treated
like a mere host of the disease.
Although
recent developments in hospital
practice
are gradually promoting the holistic
treatment
of a patient, the perception
still persists.
Unlike in energy healing, since
energy and
spirituality are intimately linked,
the patient
feels that all aspects of his
health are
being attended to.
· Energy healing is non-obtrusive
and natural
thus it is safer.
Repeated surgical procedures
are physically
and emotionally traumatic for
most patients.
It is but a logical and attractive
option
to both patient and families
to look for
less stressful health interventions.
Moreover,
with the rising popularity of
New Age religions,
going natural is the way to go.
· Energy healing is a good way
of relieving
stress.
Meditation is part and parcel
of energy healing
methods and this is an added
come-on for
highly stressed people. Moreover,
sophisticated
equipment is not required thus
it becomes
all the more convenient for students
and
future students of energy healing.
The battle between alternative
healing and
mainstream medicine continues
as both present
the benefits of their approach.
But in the
final analysis, what matters
is the restoration
of good health.
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