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Category: Healing

Tapping Tree

Tapping Tree

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What is a Tapping Tree? Tapping can be used for almost everything that is causing you a problem.  That may be physical pain, an intrusive memory or past trauma, current anxiety, weight loss the list goes on!

We can also tap on the different levels of the issue and the Tapping Tree as explained by Nick Ortner  in The Tapping Solution demonstrates  the different aspects of an issue.

The Tapping Tree or any other kind of tree is made up of four parts – the leaves, branches, trunk and roots and each of these can correspond to what we can tap upon and I have put together a video to explain each part.

The Leaves

These represent the symptoms that we feel from our issue or problem.  It may be physical pain that we are experiencing or symptoms of anxiety such as tension in shoulders, busy thoughts, upset stomach.  By tapping on these symptoms we can alleviate them or eliminate them.

The Branches

The branches are our emotions or feelings.  Every issue or problem will bring with it an emotion about the situation whether it is sadness, grief, anger, stress, frustration or fear.  This is where tapping can really help to reduce the intensity of these emotions thus making us feel more in control or a sense that we can cope with the situation better.

The Trunk

The trunk is an actual event or situation.  It may be a situation that has yet to happen or a current event that we are involved with but by tapping on what is or has happened will help clear the impact that it may be having on us.

The Roots

The roots hold the tree together and they represent our underlying beliefs about ourselves.  We know that beliefs can both be empowering and limiting and can be formed from a very early age and are taken into our adulthood.  Beliefs are the fixed rules that we live our lives by and very rarely question whether they are still helpful to us.  We have beliefs about ourselves who we are, what we do, what we don’t do and are an integral part of our identity.  However these beliefs can keep us stuck and hold us back in our lives.  Tapping on these can produce the biggest shift in our progress to change.

We can tap on any of these parts but we know that the tree will continue to grow and live if the leaves are taken away, or the branches are cut off or if it is felled at the trunk.  It is only when we take the roots away do we totally clear out the issue for it not to return.

To get right to the underlying cause of the issue we need to tap on the beliefs and you can do this for yourself or have 1:1 sessions with an EFT practitioner.

Dramas and energy

Managing Dramas!

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Dramas!  I expect we all have enough of them in our lives but it is the insidious, perpetual ones that can exhaust us and alter our own behaviour.  I recently re-read The Celestine Prophecy by James Refield , the sixth insight struck home about the control dramas that each of us have developed since childhood.

According to the book there are four types of control dramas and they all have a way of taking away energy from others.

Intimidator – aggressive behaviour, threatening physically or verbally, and the other person is forced to pay attention to them and so give energy.

Interrogator – asking questions and probing into the other person’s world in order to find fault or criticize.  The other person can then feel more wary or self-conscious thus giving their energy away to the “interrogator”.

Aloof – this is when the person creates a mystery or silence around them in order to get others to guess or search out how they are feeling.  The more they remain vague or non-communicative the more others are drawn into their energy to seek out what is going on.

Poor Me – when that person constantly focuses on everything that is horrible  happening to them, when nothing right happens for them.  This can have the effect of others somehow feeling responsible for this, feeling guilty thus once again giving away energy to them.

These behaviours have been described in many different ways such as assertive/aggressive/ passive or in parent/adult/child terms.

How we develop our own control dramas is often a result of our parents control dramas so an “Intimidator” can result in a “Poor Me” and an “Interrogator” in someone being aloof.

Equally aloof dramas can create an interrogator behaviour and a poor me approach can also result in an explosion into intimidator.

So how do we deal with these control dramas? As with most things, first of all be aware that it is happening and then, if appropriate reflect back to them what is happening.   For example:  “Rather than me guessing about X why don’t you tell me?” (Aloof)  “I realise that X has happened to you but I’m not responsible for it” (Poor Me).

The key approach after this is to send or treat the person, from your own place of energy and strength, with kindness and compassion, understand where they are coming from.  I realise that is not necessarily an easy thing to do but by changing the energy between the two parties you manage to retain your own energy and sense of self-worth whilst, hopefully, affecting the others person’s energy state into one of calmness, peace and compassion.

“We humans have always sought to increase our personal energy in the only manner we have known, by seeking to psychologically steal it from the others–an unconscious competition that underlies all human conflict in the world.” ― James Redfield, The Celestine Prophecy

Storytelling

Storytelling – do we still need it?

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Listen with Mother and Jackanory are just two examples of storytelling from childhood memories.  Snuggling down alongside my Mum to listen to the radio or that quiet time listening and watching  the latest story on Jackanory before tea time still resonates today.  Both forms of storytelling held me enraptured and captivated by the words being spoken and the images created in my young mind.  The story allowed me as a young child to go into another world, to come away from the present and lose myself in the narrative of the theme.  For a child, storytelling whether through books, television or radio brought comfort, soothing, excitement and a tinge of fear and unknowingly an understanding of our world and a part within it.

Storytelling is an art form that has been in existence since mankind first inhabited this earth.  It was a way to share learning, to pass on crucial information and to evoke a sense of belonging.   Whilst in Namibia and visiting the oldest desert in the world, storytelling was in evidence in the form of rock art which were over 5000 year old, telling the story to the next reader of the type of game that could be found, where water was located and how to reach it.

Every culture has it ways to recount stories from one generation to another.  Storytelling is a link to our ancestors and their past knowledge but each story, retold over generations, fits its own modern paradigm.  Fairy stories illustrated this beautifully as they are redesigned each time with its own unique meaning to connect with contemporary culture.  Little Red Riding Hood was recreated by the Brothers Grimm to highlight the dangers of straying away from the path, the norm or the conventional.  It was thought that this story originated in 17th Century and known as Red Cap, often ended with the wolf and girl ending up in bed together!

Telling stories needn’t just be verbal, they can be drawn, written, sung and danced.  They can be in the form of riddles, fables, ballads and sayings.  Whatever the form, the key to the power of stories is the connection between speaker and listener – a connection from soul to soul with the receiver being an equal part of the process.  Each individual listener will perceive their own unique understanding of the underlining message within the folds of the story.  The listener needs to be ready to receive with open ears and heart and allow meaning to resonate within themselves.  How they absorb and embrace the meaning will be relevant to them at that current moment in time.  Great story tellers have that connection to their audience that engenders a curiosity to seek further understanding.

Maybe the art of storytelling has become diluted in the Western World, we have lost the respect of our elders and are so bombarded with constant information that the power of a single saying, theme  or sentence gets lost before it can be heard and assimilated.  However, within Shamanic practice storytelling is crucial for the connection with our ancestors, our understanding of the past, present and future and integral to personal growth.  So let us revere the Shaman’s skills at imparting knowledge and understanding through the ancient art of storytelling.

Tapping or EFT

Tapping as a Self-Help Tool

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Tapping or Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a gentle, non-invasive and effective way to bring down intensity of emotions.  It has been used since the 1970s and more research is being done on this intervention indicating the effect it has on the brain and body.  As it is easy to learn and apply it can be an incredibly powerful technique that once learnt can be applied to almost anything and anywhere.

The basic theory behind EFT or Tapping is that all negative emotions are a result of disruption to the body’s energy system.  So by tapping on these energy systems, Meridians, the energy is re-adjusted and restored to bring about a different emotional state, reduced pain and a change of perspective on beliefs and thoughts.

EFT works on the emotional cause of such issues as:-

Pain, depression, anxiety, phobias, post traumatic stress disorder, panic, confidence issues, weight loss and cravings, stress, headaches, self-esteem to name just a few!

A part of the brain, the amygdala, is our alarm detector and any stressful, distressing emotion or thought triggers this alarm off to release such hormones as adrenaline and cortisol, keeping the body on fight/flight alert even with low grade persistent stress.  This can also link back into long term memories which continue to raise the intensity of emotion.

So by tapping on certain points the brain starts to relearn that although the thought/memory/emotion is distressing the alarm system starts to switch off as it is no longer feeling threatened.

A good example is post traumatic stress disorder where after Tapping is applied, the memory of the event remains but the emotion that was attached to it is no longer intense – it has reduced or completely disappeared.

Once you learn where and how to tap you can tap on symptoms such as pain, headaches, muscular tension.  You can tap on emotions such as anger, sadness, anxiety, fear, grief.  You can tap on an actually event such as going to the dentist, speaking to new people, public speaking and you can also tap on the limiting beliefs that underlie perceptions about ourselves and memories from childhood that have formed those beliefs.

There are many good examples of using Tapping on the internet such as The Tapping Solution and EFT Universe.

If you would like more information about how to use Tapping please feel free to contact me.

tuning into our bodies

Tuning in to our Bodies

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Our bodies are truly amazing and by tuning into our bodies it can help us in so many ways.  Our bodies are energy, parts of which regenerate continually so our body is not the same one we had a year ago.

According to Deepak Chopra how we live and relate to our bodies is based on our underlying beliefs about it.  Your body has unlimited potential and when you choose to consciously change your assumptions about it then change is manifested through our physical being.  Every day we can be exposed to a range of energy from others and the environment we inhabit.  Everything within our environment has an unseen energy that impacts upon our wellbeing and health.

By tuning into our bodies we are given a range of information that can support balance and harmony within.

An exercise that I have used many times with students both within Reiki and Neuro-lingusitic programming (NLP), is to stand still and ask your body to show you what “yes” is.  Notice how your body moves and in which direction.  Then do the same and ask your body to show” no” and again notice how it moves.

Once you have established how your body reacts to these responses you can then ask it many things.  If you want to know whether a certain food is good for you, hold the food or a picture of it in your hand and ask your body “do I need this food today?” and be aware of the yes or no response.  This is your body’s answer to go with or ignore! I use it to ask which crystals I would benefit from that day.  You may notice that the body stays still and that can relate to a maybe or it doesn’t matter response.

For placing items, ornaments, pictures around the home hold the item and ask if it is best placed in the south, west, east or north direction.

Ideally ask the body a question that has a yes or no answer and then be guided by the response.

Our gut instinct, the energy within, the communication of our bodies is a wonderfully gift that we all have the ability to pay attention to and appreciate.

So why not make the most of our truly wonderfully physical being and engage in subtle communication to bring harmony and wellbeing into our lives.

Fresh energy

Bringing In Fresh Energy

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Energy is constantly around us – from our environment, from others and from ourselves.  We may be good at looking after ourselves through exercise, healthy food but how often we do think about the energy within our homes?  As the months get warmer we may do a bit of Spring cleaning which means cleaning and hovering, dusting and de-cluttering.  However, how often do we continue to “clean” our homes by cleansing the energy within them throughout the year?

Energy within rooms of the house can become stagnant and stale.  Have you ever had the experience  of walking into a house or room and it just feel uncomfortable although you may not know why? It can be because the air and atmosphere has become stuck, it is unable to circulate freely, so every now and then, in your own home, set the intention to bring in new, fresh healing energy.  We can do this in a variety of ways and here are some suggestions:-

  • Start with the intention in your mind of clearing away stale negative energy and replace with new, fresh healing energy
  • Clap your hands within each corner of a room
  • Use a singing bowl or chimes to create vibration
  • Positions crystals in strategies places, remembering to clean your crystals first
  • Smudge each room using Sage or Palo Santo
  • Hum or sing to increase vibration into the room
  • De-mist using water and a few drops of aromatherapy oils
  • Bring light into dark corners with lamps or candles
  • Rearrange your furniture so the energy can move freely
  • Create a through draught by opening windows and doors
  • Add flowers and houseplant
  • Play loud music and dance
  • Clean windows inside and out to attract light through them

Each season can be a great reminder to freshen up each room.  Do you have any other suggestions?

Inner self

Working with our Inner Self

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Working on our inner self can be difficult, uncomfortable and yet ultimately life changing.  As I do more and more holistic work on myself I am shedding past ways of doing and thinking and turning my focus to my inner self.  Over 30 years in the NHS led me to be more external in my approach in working with people.  My role was to listen and support them in making sometimes very practical changes that could enhance their life.  As an Occupational Therapist I was always aware of the many facets of our physical environment, interaction with others, self awareness and psychological health that made up our holistic wellbeing.  What I wasn’t so aware of was our spiritual health and the inner wisdom that we have to deeply heal ourselves.  This has come later into my life and I am still very much on this path.

What I have learnt recently is that answers to our problems and dilemmas, lie within us and we need to really explore these areas of loss, grief, anger and avoidance. There is a need to “go within” and converse with our bodies and our higher self to explore our missing parts and to discover what we need to do to replenish and fill it.

Amy B Scher has written bestsellers on how she helped herself heal from chronic illness and suggests that we ask of ourselves the following questions:-

“What are my symptoms keeping me from doing?” In other words what is your fear/avoidance.

“What am I feeling about my illness?” eg guilt, sadness, anger etc

“Therefore just before my illness what was I feel (sad, angry guilty) about?”

These powerful questions can uncover the true cause of illness and why it is manifesting itself physically.

Using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tap on the feelings that arise from these questions to help bring down any intensity and allow forgiveness and acceptance to come in.  The best place to tap for this is on the Thymus gland, just a couple of inches down from the notch on your sternum, below your throat.  Tap here saying “I now let go of these (feelings) as I start to accept and forgive myself”.

This is just one way of exploring your inner self and addressing the often unknown causes of what holds us back.

If you have any experience or thoughts about this blog please feel free to contact me.

Time to look after ourselves

A Little Time for Yourself

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How much time do you spend looking after yourself?

We can all do with a bit of “me” time to ensure that we are feeling at our best.  How much time do we need to get ourselves back on top form and how do we do that?

There are many ways to look after ourselves and we know that exercise and diet play a crucial part in this. However our minds and our spiritual wellbeing also need a boost to enhance wellbeing and there are a variety of ways that will help.

Reiki self healing

If you practice Reiki then just a few minutes a day, connecting with energy, balancing chakras or giving yourself Reiki can set you up for the day ahead.  It may be 5 minutes or upto an hour – the key thing is to fit it into your lifestyle rather than not to do any at all.  Whilst sitting in a traffic jam or waiting outside the school gates can be a great opportunity to connect and intend Reiki to flow into you.  No need to set up the environment, just be – bring in an awareness of resonating  with energy within you and allow it to expand, be the energy and connect with healing light.

Mindfulness

You may wish to learn Mindfulness in a group setting or just apply the principles as a way to self-heal and look after yourself.  Mindfulness encourages you to be totally aware of your body and mind, to be in the present moment.  It is very easy to be in our thoughts and to almost live our lives in our heads rather than through the reality of the moment.  This website explains how you can start being mindful and improve your overall health.

Relaxation

How you relax can take many forms with the purpose of allowing the body and mind to switch off and to slow down.  You may wish to use a relaxation CD along with a guided relaxation which is a great way to switch your focus away from busy thoughts.  Relaxation may be having a bath rather than a shower or spending time reading or doing a crossword.  Whatever type of relaxation you do ensure that you are doing it on a regular basis, at least weekly if not daily.

Nature

There is a lot of research indicating that using nature can greatly enhance wellbeing both physically and mentally.  Just being outside for 5 minutes can lower blood pressure and if you combine it with using all your senses the overall effect is one of total immersion in the present moment.  Take your time to see colours and shapes, tune into background and foreground noise, sense what you can feel, be aware of smells and if you are feeling brave taste some of the foliage (please make sure you know it is safe to do so)!  Use the healing effect of Nature through gardening or walking.  If you don’t have a garden indoor houseplants or growing windowsill seeds will also be of benefit to you.  Nature is free and all around us so make the most of it to boost your health.

 

Whatever methods you employ don’t ever forget to look after yourself.  I know how easy it is to get caught up in everyday life and before you know it another week has passed by and you have forgotten to look after yourself.  Schedule in time that works for you and use whatever approaches bring about balance, peace and harmony within you.

What ways do you use to self heal?

Resilience

Feed your Soul

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Resilience can take a bit of a battering during this cold season.  Most of the time, through the winter months, it can be head down and focus on the busyness of life and although that is still enjoyable I can tend to forget about what is important to me, what “feeds my soul”.  For me it is often being outside walking, taking photographs and being in the beauty of nature.  When I’m surrounded by fantastic landscapes, quietness and stillness it makes my heart soar, it feeds my soul.

Having run workshops on Emotional resilience one of the many coping strategies we discussed was to make time to do the things that make us feel good – to have fun, to appreciate what we have in life.  Resilience isn’t just being able to cope in the “here and now” moment but it is a daily/weekly process of building up the resilience by what we put into our lives.

Positive attitude and Resilience

It’s about knowing what is really important to us in our lives and then maybe letting go of the other stuff that actually isn’t as important as we think it is.  To build our resilience and bring joy and contentment into our lives we need to make time and possibly let go of other activities/tasks.

I remember that 13 years ago whilst I was doing my life coaching training I was asked the question what will I give up in order to make my life how I want it.  Sometimes we can forget that we can’t always keep adding things into our lives so we need to say goodbye to old familiar activities and ways of being, and bring in new ways in order to be the most satisfied that we can be.

“Feeding my soul” and developing my resilience allows me to be relaxed/focussed and  content in what I currently have in my life.

There are Five key things that can boost and bolster your resilience and happiness  –

CONNECT – with others; develop relationships and good social supports

KEEP LEARNING – try something new, set yourself a challenge

BE ACTIVE – good physical health equals good mental health

TAKE NOTICE – be curious, be mindful, savour the moment

GIVE – giving in any small way enhances a sense of wellbeing

Improving mental health

So think about what is really important in your life, do things that make your heart and soul feel great, embrace change and boost your resilience! I hope you enjoy the poem below.

What is Life?

It is the flash of a firefly in the night

It is the breath of a buffalo in the winter time

It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset

Crowfoot, Blackfoot Indian Leader

Welcome to Golden Oak Therapies

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I hope to bring you thoughts, musings and ideas regarding energy work and healing.  My two areas of particular interest are Reiki and Emotional Freedom Technique or Tapping although I am currently doing a two year apprenticeship in Shamanic Healing.

I am by no means an expert and am constantly learning and gathering further understandings from many different places and sources.

I would be delighted if you feel able to join in and share your own knowledge and experience of energy healing so we can all learn from each other.