A technique to assist with headaches, minor aches and pains, and some emotional distress.
I do not discount any type of medicine or healer. I believe it’s good to be informed before taking any medication, knowing the pros and cons. I believe in a holistic approach to ailment relief; to let yourself be moved intuitively towards what feels right. I have no medical training of any kind, my medium is one of intuition, spirit, and connection.
I wanted to write that disclaimer above, not only as to not mislead people, but also because all healing is self-healing. There is immense value in getting to know yourself, your own energy landscape. I believe in moving towards treatment that feels like it could help. And trusting your inner guidance. One’s own belief in whether something will work or not, trumps all else.
I used to say things like: “Whatever, I don’t think it’ll work but I’ll try it”. Underneath those words, I felt hopeful that it would work, but I didn’t want to be attached to the outcome. There is a bit of alchemy to that, feeling positive but detached. Though sometimes it’s better to be direct, “I seek relief and know that relief will come to me”.
It’s most important to feel out where you are, on the inside. How much are you ready to accept relief? We all follow that path from doubt to deep knowing. Relax into the deep knowing as much as you can, and adjust your words accordingly. Update them often.
Get to know yourself through meditation. It doesn’t have to be formal, strict meditation. Anything that helps you relax and calm your mind. Ideally, your eyes are closed. Spend time cultivating your meditation practice.
After some time, you’ll be able to do ‘work’ in that meditative space. Below is one type of such ‘work’. This comes once you’ve gotten to know your inner landscape. Then you can start to consciously move your energy.
Come into a meditative space. Keep your eyes closed. Now, move your attention to different parts of your body and feel how that part of your body responds. Notice temperature changes, tension or release, any sensations. Do this often, soon the movement and response will become extremely clear and discerned.
As you become accustomed to and practiced in this, bring your attention to a part of your body and feel an emotion. For example, sadness. Feel how your body responds to that feeling as it’s focused in that area. (Do not spend more than a couple seconds at most in the negative emotions.)
Now try a different emotion, feel as happy as possible-still directing your attention to that part of your body. Can you notice a difference? Did you feel your body respond differently depending on the emotion?
If not, try to spend a little longer focusing that emotion on that specific part of the body. Try positive emotions for longer stints of focus. See the variation between simple joy and passion, for example. The fun of chatting with a neighbor in comparison to swooning over someone who makes you feel tingly.
Negative emotion causes the body to constrict, to feel less clear and more confused. Positive emotion causes a release, a relaxing, a sense of flow and order. The intensity of the response depends on the intensity of emotion.
If one is currently experiencing discomfort, it can be difficult to send attention to that part of the body and practice positive emotion. The physical pain can be too distracting.
But here’s a very easy practice to move through the physical discomfort. (Depending on the severity of the pain, the pain will dissipate all together or at least be reduced.) Acknowledge the pain, state it aloud if you like. With your eyes still closed, focus into your attention. Which means, focus into the part of you that is able to shift your attention.
If you can’t tune in, try to practice moving your attention first. Think of your arm and move your attention there. Your elbow, now your knee, your right pinky toe. Feel how something seems to be moving along with you. Attention + Energy Flow.
Now, take that awareness (that focusing into your attention) and move it into the area of discomfort. Flow into the discomfort. Do not avoid the discomfort, but seep into it. Go inside of it as though it is fog on a country road. Drive into that fog with your awareness. Breathe here, stay here, Aware. You will feel the discomfort begin to fade.
Let it happen. Do not be attached to the discomfort. Don’t take ownership of it. Do not identify with the discomfort. Let it pass away like a morning fog. Like a drifting cloud overhead.
As the pain dissipates, stay focused. Focus on your awareness hovering in that area. Just observe softly, with out judgement. Be with yourself.
Slowly let your focus soften and disperse. Relax into your body. Breathe. Allow joyful images come to you. Recall something that made you smile. I often think of my cats sleeping or my sister laughing. Something simple.
Think of as many of these images as you can. Allowing them to flutter through like a roladex. Smile.
When you’re ready, softly bring yourself out of meditation. No need to think about the pain you felt before. No need to even think about the relief you now feel, just go about your day.
I’ve found this also helps with emotional “haze” or mild distress. Once you’ve practiced this, you can do it “on the go”. If you’re in the middle of your day and feel off in some way, go into the ‘offness’. Swim into it with your awareness. It will dissipate. Cap off the experience with some appreciative thoughts, noticing something positive around you and smiling.
If you continue to think the thoughts that brought pain in the first place, it may return. But if the source of the disturbance is gone, so is this residual discomfort. You can do this exercise as many times as you like, especially for recurring pain in the same area. It will dissipate completely over time or the true source of it will become known to you.
This has worked for me every time. Sometimes it’s so easy that I am reluctant to do it! (Humans are so strange.) Do not avoid your own relief. There is no need to suffer. Just ask, what did I want to tell myself? Often times, you already got the message, but forgot to let go of the pain.
In cases of severe physical or emotional pain, this will help too. Often, several approaches may be helpful. It depends on willingness, beliefs, and how ‘used to’ the pain one has gotten. (Please seek the help of a medical professional first for severe physical or emotional distress.)
I am a very big advocate for using all resources available. Trust your instincts. Do not let yourself suffer any longer than necessary. Use tools that aid in your relief, but do not cause future problems for you.
If you feel the need to take a headache relief pill, go ahead and take it. But also try this technique. Combine mainstream western medicine with this practice of meditative healing if you feel called to. The point is greater understanding, deeper connection, having more resources to use. One day you’ll feel called to just try the meditative healing and it will work. And a profound joy and satisfaction will come from that.
This type of healing is one of many. As this is just a tiny bit of knowledge about this technique. Many have written about it extensively and used exaggerated versions to heal all stages and severity of disease.
It is not my calling to go into such detail, but I do encourage you to do some research if you’re intrigued. There are amazing studies on meditation, hypnosis, and self healing.
It was my intention to give you something to try, something gentle and effective to help you live a happier life. The practices I’ve outlined here are some of my most favorite. If you have any questions, let me know!
With love,
Heba
Love: 