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Development
of the Healer Stories...
A big thank you to Elizabeth
Lusby for sharing her insights on sailing and balance this month
as we focus on the 2nd chakra. In Wheels of Life, Anodea Judith
says this "chakra corresponds to bodily functions having
to do with liquid: circulation, urinary elimination, sexuality
& reproduction" as well as being a centre of "emotions,
sensation, pleasure, movement & nurturance."
Angela Mattos,
CHTP
Wholeness
from the Deck of Madcap - Elizabeth Lusby, Halifax, NS (HT Level 3 student)
(click here for printer friendly version of E-connections
#15, June 2011)
I've spent the
last few winters sailing on "Madcap", the Bayfield
36 my husband and I own, and I am becoming more and more aware
of the similarities between getting a boat sailing just right,
and getting me operating just right. It truly is all about balance,
having everything in good working order, being connected to the
larger universe, and then moving forward. 
On a sailboat,
the balance shows up in whether it lists to one side or the other,
or tips forward or back - perhaps because of uneven stowage of
the heavy and the light. The forestay and backstay and the shrouds
keep the mast upright - if they are well tuned, it is strong
but if they aren't, it gets wobbly. Balance doesn't matter quite
so much when the sea is calm, but it sure counts when things
get rough! It is much the same for me. If I'm not centered
and balanced, I can get knocked over (literally and figuratively).
I am at risk when storms arise. I don't move along as well
and lose my ability to respond well to my environment.
Having everything
in good working order is much like staying as healthy as I can,
getting exercise, eating well, and sleeping enough to restore
my body. We do intentional provisioning on the boat - having
on board the food and supplies we might need over the winter,
and discarding or giving away unneeded or outdated items. I'm
getting better at provisioning well for me too - practicing yoga
and healing self care, attending to my to-do list, and surrounding
myself with experiences, people and "things" that allow
me to be the best I can be. I try not to hold on to what I don't
need or what isn't helpful.
Sailboats vary
just like people do and so the "good working order"
is highly subjective. Some are new/young, some are older. Some
are racers while others are cruisers. Some come with "defects"
right from the start, and some develop problems that might be
serious or merely annoying as they go along (and some of those
are fixable and some are not). Regular upkeep is the key:
Take care of the sails.
Don't let the stainless steel
rust & weaken.
Keep the sheets & halyards,
docking lines & life lines in good condition.
Empty the bilge & the
holding tank to stay afloat & not get stinky!
Put some wax on the hull
& topsides to keep them looking good & protected from
the sun.
Apply antifouling paint to
the bottom to keep those annoying barnacles & algae away.
(Hmmm - I just can't think
of a parallel for that last one!)
 On
the sea, the sailboat must work together with the wind, the water
and my skill as skipper. When everything is in sync and connected
with the larger universe (I can't say when the boat is grounded,
because that has a whole different meaning for boats) the boat
performs to the best of its ability. I am at one with it and
everything feels just right. In my own life, that comes when
I am well grounded - connected to the earth, to the Divine, chakras
open, and my best self on watch. It shows up in a feeling of
being in the right place at the right time, of being successful,
having confidence that whatever comes, I (with a little help
from Spirit and my friends) can handle it. It means that more
moments of joyfulness and clarity and purpose appear.
And lastly,
there is the moving forward part. A sailboat is meant to move
forward, sometimes leisurely, sometimes with gusto - and sometimes
painfully slowly or exhilaratingly (and maybe even frighteningly)
fast! The wind might be strong, but if there is not enough
sail, the boat will be sluggish. If the sails aren't set properly
to take advantage of that wind, they will flap and rattle and
the boat will lose momentum. If there is too much sail out,
it gets dangerous and unstable. On the other hand, if there
is very little wind, a proper set of the sail determines whether
the boat will move along with each little breath of air, or drift,
or sit still.
Depending on
conditions, "Madcap" can fly along, heeled over on
just the right angle - with the waves parting on the bow and
the wind filling the sails. When necessary, it can plow through
huge waves, banging and pounding until it reaches safe harbour.
Or it can poke slowly along when there is no wind or the current
is against it, or when I am pointing it in the wrong direction.
It is the same for me. I must put my sails up and commit to
what I am doing. If my body is balanced, and I feel connected
to the universe, and take care of my health, I'm able to move
forward. If any of those things are off kilter (or if I am pointing
in the wrong direction) my progress won't be as significant or
as comfortable. I may find myself in smooth waters where mostly
everything is going well or I may be travelling through a stormy
time, but if I pay attention to the principles I have learned
in Healing Touch, and the skills I learned on the boat, I can
stay afloat and even go somewhere I have never been before.
I'm staying
balanced, putting up my sails, connecting with the universe!
See you out there!
Belly
Breathing to Take Care of Strong Emotions
from Creating True Peace, Thich Nhat Hanh
"When
we are caught in a strong emotion, such as fear or anger, we
should bring our attention down to our abdomen. At times like
this, to remain at the level of the intellect is dangerous.
Strong emotions are like a storm, and it is not wise to stand
in the open during a storm. Yet our normal reaction is to stay
in our head and let our feelings overwhelm us. Instead, we should
get rooted in our breathing, focusing on the rise and fall of
our abdomen, bringing our attention down to our center."
"Once we calm our emotions using practices like belly breathing,
we can look into the causes of our distress. Often we are trapped
by many wrong perceptions and prejudices."
(return to
list)
 What
are our tribal beliefs and how do they serve us now? - April
29, 2011 - Angela Mattos, CHTP
(click here for printer friendly version of E-connections
#15, May 2011)
red stairway photo © Angela Mattos & Field of Tulips
photo © Karen Stewart
With spring
just recently breaking through in many parts of our wonderful
country it is a time for awakenings and new growth. It's so refreshing
for me to hear the birds again as the green returns and buds
begin to open.
As I think of
planting seeds, in order to have home grown vegetables this summer
& fall, I'm aware that it will take decent soil, water, warmth
and sunlight for the seeds to take root and grow strong enough
to survive. This is also true of people. When we develop strong
roots and feel supported in life it is easier to be present and
thrive.
In Anatomy of
the Spirit, Carolyn Myss writes the following related to the
Root Chakra:"Tribal power, and all the issues related to
it, are energetically connected to the health of our immune system,
as well as to our legs, bones, feet and rectum. Symbolically,
the immune system does for the physical body exactly what tribal
power does for the group: it protects the entire body from potentially
damaging external influences. Immune-related disorders, chronic
pain, and other difficulties with the skeleton are energetically
activated by weaknesses in personal tribal issues. Difficult
tribal challenges cause us to lose power primarily from our first
chakra making us susceptible - should a challenge become an extreme
stress - to immune-related diseases, from the common cold to
lupus."
The body's immune
system usually works as an ally but there are times when it attacks
its own tissue as foreign matter or overreacts in response to
an antigen. Metaphorically this can relate to energetic imbalances
that we have developed from our early tribal patterning.
A number of
years ago, Alexandra Jonsson, BScN, CHTP/I and I attended a five-day
training with Carolyn Myss. Part of our homework was to identify
superstitions or beliefs that we still carried from our families/tribes.
We decided to help each other out and share what we were coming
up with. I must say it was an interesting process. At first we
didn't think there were many but as we began to speak them to
each other the lists began to grow. Some seemed so insignificant
as thoughts and we laughed about them until we felt the impact
in the body, especially when we considered something other than
going along with the "tribe."
One that was
of particular interest to me was that certain clothes or items
were only for "best." As I sat with that it was evident
to me that as a child I had unconsciously programmed in that
if I was not allowed to wear or use something for the sheer joy
of it or because it had great meaning to me then perhaps I was
not as valued as others. Some may say this is absurd but think
about it from a child's mind. Wonderful things were left hidden
in drawers until guests came to visit and then we could use them
for a brief time. It appeared as though the guests deserved something
special that I didn't.
If you were
to ask my parents I am certain they would have said that was
ridiculous. They had perfectly legitimate reasons for the "good
clothes" and "best dishes," etc. that were used
only for special occasions yet what I recollected high on a mountaintop
in Montana with Alexandra that day certainly didn't reflect that
or feel like that in my body. It was a powerful experience that
showed me how I had carried the tribal ritual of doing things
differently for guests than I would for myself!By reconnecting
with these beliefs and experiences I was able to be present to
the old, unconscious programs with a new perspective.
Do you have
any of these programs lingering from your past that keep you
locked into beliefs that prevent you from experiencing life fully?
Use the energy
of the root chakra to strengthen your foundation and move freely
from there.
It's
not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
Henry
David Thoreau
I
am a lover of what is, not because I'm a spiritual person, but
because it hurts when I argue with reality. We can know that
reality is good just as it is, because when we argue with it,
we experience tension and frustration. We don't feel natural
or balanced. When we stop opposing reality, action becomes simple, fluid, kind,
and fearless.
Byron Katie
A
thought is harmless unless we believe it. It is not our thoughts,
but the attachment to our thoughts, that causes suffering. Attaching
to a thought means believing that it's true, without inquiring.
A belief is a thought that we've been attaching to, often for
years.
Byron Katie
(return to
list)
 Going Beyond the Personal
- Mar 25, 2011 -
Angela Mattos, CHTP
(click here for printer friendly version of E-connections
#14, April 2011)
Candle photo © Karen Stewart
Coloured Orbs photo © Angela Mattos
Let the
beauty of what you love be what you do.
Rumi
Whether you
are new to energy work or a seasoned veteran, it seems that we
are all being called into service on a grander scale. Given the
ongoing reminders of both the vulnerability and miracle of life
what do we focus on?
When we experience
life as spiritual beings expressing through physical bodies it
allows for a larger perspective. Patterns and metaphors begin
to surface and we don't take everything so personally.
People often
speak about their purpose in life and what they are "supposed"
to be doing. What if it were as simple as being present to our
experiences as life breathes through us and events unfold?
For instance,
can we use the tumultuous events in our lives as catalysts to
propel us to move beyond what we already know and believe so
we can respond to life instead of reacting to it?
Is our energy
field balanced and strong? If not, let's start small and begin
to reformat our thoughts, energetic patterns and habits.
Focus on
what you appreciate and notice what happens. For example, pick a
colour you love and work with it a couple of times each day.
Breathe it in and notice how it feels in your body when you connect
with that colour. From there get creative and see where it takes
you. (This may seem insignificant but it could be the beginning
of a wave of change from the microcosm to the macrocosm.)
In Hands of
Light, Barbara Ann Brennan speaks of how the crown (7th chakra)
is related to one's connection to spirituality and the integration
of their whole being - physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
"If this center is open, the person probably often experiences
his spirituality in a very personal form, unique to that individual.
This spirituality is not one defined by dogma or easily related
with words. It is rather a state of being, a state of transcendence
of the mundane reality into the infinite. It goes beyond the
physical world and creates in the individual a sense of wholeness,
peace and faith, giving him a sense of purpose to his existence."
Everyone
has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that
work has been put in every heart.
Rumi
(return to
list)
Celebrating
Healing Touch - Mar
1, 2011 - Angela Mattos, CHTP
(click here for printer friendly version of E-connections
#13, March 2011)
Photo of Cactus at Sonora Desert Museum,
Tucson, AZ © Karen Stewart
The bright sunny days of winter
with their cool, crisp air bring a vibrant freshness and clarity
that increases my awareness of the brow chakra. How can I see
with clarity while remaining grounded and heart centred? Healing
Touch offers an ongoing focus for developing and deepening these
attributes.
March 6, 2011 marks the 15th
anniversary of HT International. Each year many communities around
the world celebrate Healing Touch Day at this time. (The event
name was changed in 2008 from HTI Day to Healing Touch Day to
give it a broader appeal.)
This past weekend a Level 1
class in Peterborough, ON, that included 3 Instructors- in-Training,
celebrated by being present to what HT offered during time together
in community. It was an opportunity to learn and share both in
the classroom and during social time afterwards with new students
as well as some 'old timers'!
During the Level 1 class I was
aware of the heightening of intuition as participants described
their new experiences. The importance of working from a strong
foundation while engaging the energies of the upper chakras was
brought forward. It's easy to get pulled off into the higher
energies and forget the importance of the physical body.
There is so much information
readily available to us in this age of the internet yet we must
go beyond ideas, information and concepts to experience the 6th
chakra and open to new possibilities.
In the Level 1 class we experienced
first hand how both giving and receiving a Mind Clearing is one
way to support new ways of 'seeing.' The change in the group
was palpable as everyone commented on how quiet their minds were.
We had moved from thinking and talking about into experiencing
and being. Meditation is another way of supporting this.
In Eastern Body, Western Mind,
Anodea Judith says characteristics of a balanced 6th chakra "include
intuitive perceptive abilities that enhance one's functioning
and the ability to be imaginative and creative. A balanced 6th
chakra is able to calm the mind and see clearly, without having
personal issues or lower identities in the way. It can think
symbolically, imagine different outcomes, and find a guiding
vision that gives meaning to life."
Level 1 Peterborough,
ON Feb 2011
(l-r) Shelley, Sandy, Alexandra, Lorelee, Angela, John, Helen
& Ava. (missing are Wendy & Jane)
photo © Wendy Joscelyn
Whether or not you are taking
part in HT Day activities in your community, on March 6th, celebrate
by linking in energetically with the global HT community in ways
that are appropriate for you.
I believe that imagination
is stronger than knowledge -- myth is more potent than history
-- dreams are more powerful than facts -- hope always triumphs
over experience -- laughter is the cure for grief -- love is
stronger than death.
Robert Fulghum
(return to
list)
Aligning with the Foundational Truths of Healing
Touch
- Jan 2011 - Angela Mattos, CHTP (click
here for printer friendly version of E-connections #12, January
2011)
Frozen puddle photo © Linda Riesterer.
Last month we
put forward the question, What is Healing?
Mary-Cathrine
Campbell, BA, RN, HTI-P, of Oshawa, ON shares her thoughts:
"When I think of healing, I think of it as the optimum response/outcome
to some type of "dis-ease" within an individual. Early
on in my nursing career, this concept centred around physical
illness and its causes... infection, accidents, congenital problems
to name a few. Over the years, I have come to believe that "dis-ease"
encompasses emotional, intellectual and spiritual, AS WELL AS
physical components of our beings. So, for me, healing now must
encompass these four aspects of our nature.
It is no longer just a matter of setting a broken bone, for example,
or of having surgery. The person affected by the disease process
will experience a deeper level of healing by taking responsibility
for his/her health; making changes that will affect these aspects
of our nature in positive ways. The obvious one to me, is having
a cancer patient coming in for chemotherapy who is still smoking!
We often will gently explore the various health problems smoking
is directly related to: cancer, cardiovascular disease and other
lung diseases such as emphysema and how reducing/quitting the
amount of smoking will have a positive effect on their treatment/health.
From our Healing Touch we have learned about the emotional impact
of negative feelings such as anger and fear. Choosing to "Do
the Work" of releasing these negative energies from our
lives only enhances our daily experiences and deepens our healing
on the physical plane. We become more able to live fully in the
moment, radiant and joyful."
For many, attending an HT class, receiving or giving a treatment
can open doors that are life changing. Everyone's experience
is different yet on some level there is a recognition of the
profound level of connection that occurs. Being an active co-creator
of a local or larger community of individuals who have walked
this path can assist in the awareness and experiencing of what
those connections offer.
 Alexandra Jonsson, RN, BScN, CHTP/I
has taught and practiced HT for over 20 years because of the
foundation it is built on. She believes that the HTI Code of
Ethics/Standards of Practice for Healing Touch Practitioners
are good basic principles for governing our lives if we look
at them from a generic perspective.
In a recent conversation with Bev Worbets, RN, BA, CHTP/I we
discussed what keeps people coming back to HT. Bev mentioned
hearing a CHTP quoting her mentor who said "I am the best
person I will ever be when I am doing HT." It still touches
Bev deeply when she recalls this and resonates with its truth.
When we align
with the foundational truths of Healing Touch we are called to
be the best that we can be as we radiate that for others. What
an amazing gift that is!
Please join
us in celebrating the 20th anniversary of HT in BC as we honour
the passionate pioneers who contributed by planting seeds, nourishing
the soil and shining their light so the roots of HT could be
established in Canada.
Over the next
year we would like to encourage a conscious uplifting of the
vibrations on this planet. One way to activate and share this
is through images and words that are healing and bring a sense
of community and wholeness. We'd like to make a collage of some
sort to incorporate how this is represented and fostered across
our vast Canadian HT community.
Please send
in any photos, artwork or written words that reflect this for
you. These will need to be original pieces that are your own
or you have the rights to reproduce. With your permission we
will include some of these in the monthly E-Connections and on
the HT Canada website.
(return
to list)
What
is Healing? (click here for printer friendly version of E-connections
#11, December 2010)
Angela Mattos, CHTP December 28,
2010
With the new year just around the corner we have been reviewing
the past twelve months and are setting a new focus for 2011.
For many this is an exceptionally busy time of year and self-care
is even more important.
 The way we relate to the events
of our lives determines their meaning to us. Have you noticed
that after some time has passed and you look back on events that
different perspectives are possible? Often we already have the
tools of change available to us yet we are unable to recognize
them until something shifts within. Imagine 2011 as a year of
discovering new ways to respond to life using the tools you have.
Have you ever questioned deeply what it is that you are seeking
or think is needed in order for your healing and that of others
to take place? This may show up as what you feel compelled to
give to others or what you believe you are lacking. I'd like
to offer a simple question with the suggestion that you have
an intention to notice and reflect on it for the next few weeks.
Journal or at least pay attention to whatever presents when you
use it as a regular focus. The question is, What is Healing?
It would be great to be able to share some of your experiences
so please let me know what happens for you! (Include whether
or not it is okay to use your name or, if you prefer, it can
be anonymous.)
Thank you to Sandra Pickrell-Baker, CRR, CJSJP, CHTP/I, MA, Abd
- Bedford, NS. for her response to the question.
"Healing requires active engagement on a conscious journey
to a place where all is seen as providential. Stepping on this
road begins with a change of focus, from the internal self to
the eternal self, a place where all is learning. In the words
of Alice Bailey (Esoteric Healing, 1953) A healer must have the
ability to stretch the human mind, to record, discover and formulate
truth. I feel true healing takes place when I am able to be as
compassionate with myself as I am with others I meet on my road
of discovery."
What is healing to you?
May 2011 be filled with inspiration, awareness, and compassion
for self and others,
Angela Mattos, CHTP
Anodea Judith in Wheels of Life
says, "Healing is a restoration of balance to an organism
or situation. The word heal means to 'make whole,' and it is
believed that all disease, whether caused by germ, injury or
stress, is the result of 'imbalance' that then fragments the
organism and destroys its natural resonant affinity."
"Many people forget the lesson of balance in their healing
efforts. You might call them meddlers. To properly heal someone
it is necessary that they come into balance with their own energy,
which may not comply with the healer's concept of 'correct.'
A true healer must tune into her subject, remaining grounded
in her own energy, and allowing the subject to create his own
sense of balance. The healer is merely a catalyst in the subjects'
own healing experience.
(return to
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What
is that Image Reflected by the Mirror? (3rd Chakra) -
Angela Mattos, CHTP November 30,
2010
As I sat at my computer weeks
ago to begin this issue, Man in the Mirror sung by Michael Jackson
started to play in the background. Since then I've been on a
roller coaster ride struggling to write this piece. How appropriate
as it's about the energy of the third chakra, this month's theme.
Is there a better time of year to focus on this chakra as things
all around us are gearing up for the holiday season?
Two lines of the song kept jumping
out at me. "No message could have been any clearer. If
you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself
and then make the change." (Written and composed by
Siedah Garrett and Glen Ballard) <please pause here and then
read the lines from the song again letting them sink in deeper>
While discussing with Karen
Stewart what I had come up with so far I kept hearing the words
'reflection', 'mirrors', and 'focusing on self'. Suddenly I remembered
the Hall of Mirrors in the Fun House from my childhood and was
transported back to that time when each mirror revealed a different
me – tall, thin, short, wide, wavy, etc. I wondered if it
was possible that as we interact with others, we act as mirrors
for each other in similar ways.
It can be so much easier to
look outside ourselves at external influences rather than connect
internally and be with what is. With Fun House mirrors, the reflected
images are determined by the mirrors and us. I remember laughing,
feeling intrigued, confused, shocked and a little fearful as
I tried to make sense of the various reflections. In the end
I was relieved to see my familiar image again. (I can see now
how this was all based on the perceptions I had that related
to my sense of self.)
There are times when this "others
are mirrors for us" concept is really a stretch for me.
It's especially difficult when I'm lost in the confines of my
mind trying to make sense of what, for me, is a distorted reflection.
If I can ask, 'what am I resonating with?' then by keeping the
focus on what I am experiencing, eventually there is an ah-ha
moment. It becomes apparent that my reactions have originated
within me and there is a recognition of the thoughts or old conditioning
I've been operating under that I wasn't aware of.
 I'm
sure you have all noticed that no matter how much you clean your
living space there are always new opportunities coming along
which need your attention. The same holds true for our physical
nourishment. We eat and then a short time later our bodies require
more. There are very few things that are ever truly completed
so why is it we fool ourselves into thinking that our egos are
balanced and self-care through reflection and other practices
isn't necessary? Perhaps finding and actually using supportive
practices will help keep us grounded while we walk through the
Fun House of life.
In Wheels of Life, Anodea Judith
says the purpose of the 3rd chakra is transformation and that
its task "is to overcome inertia." It's easy to read,
listen to or think about making changes but until we take action
nothing changes. Experiment with different practices and find
something that fits for you!
Here are a few exercises to
develop the 3rd chakra (abbreviated from Wheels of Life):
Breaking Inertia – Do something different. If you
are sluggish, get moving. If you are hyperactive, be still.
Attention – Attention is focused energy.
Give it to yourself. Give and accept it from others. Notice where
it goes.
Grounding – Grounding brings us into the
present, into the power within our bodies, and consolidates and
focuses our energy.
Effort and resistance – If you are in constant resistance
to some force, stop. Ask yourself why this force is manifesting
in your life at this time. Resistance is often fear, the opposite
of power. What is it you are afraid of? Imagine what would happen
if you stopped resisting? How can your will protect you with
less effort or resistance?
Janet Mentgen used to speak
about the importance of taking care of ourselves in order to
be of service to others. Part of that was encouraging regular
treatments for all students/practitioners. As Janet would say,
"Have you been on the table recently?"
We would like to take this opportunity
to wish everyone a holiday season with time for reflection and
self-care in order to more fully experience the gift of coming
together and sharing love and laughter from the heart.
The ego isn't wrong;
it's just unconscious. When you observe the ego in yourself,
you are beginning to go beyond it. Don't take the ego too seriously.
When you detect egoic behaviour in yourself, smile. At times
you may even laugh. How could humanity have been taken in by
this for so long? Above all, know that the ego isn't personal.
It isn't who you are. If you consider the ego to be your personal
problem, that's just more ego.
Eckhart Tolle – A New Earth
If you can be absolutely
comfortable with not knowing who you are, then what's left is
who you are - the Being behind the human, a field of pure potentiality
rather than something that is already defined.
Eckhart Tolle - A New Earth
Happiness is not
something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
Dalai Lama
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Reflections on the 2nd Chakra - Angela Mattos, CHTP
As the beautiful array of coloured leaves fall from the trees
in this area I am reminded how wonderful a time this is to be
outdoors and take in the colours, sounds, textures and smells.
A walk in the forest yesterday has me using trees as a reflection
for the chakra/energetic system this month.
Starting at
the base, I am aware of a strong foundation created by the extension
of a solid trunk flowing into an underground root system that
both stabilizes the tree and provides a way of receiving nourishment.
This nourishment moves upwards through the trunk and into the
branches moving outwards to the leaves. The tree grows both up
towards the sun and down into the earth.
Within our own
energy systems it is beneficial to be aware of the connections
between the various chakras. While this month’s focus is
on the second or sacral chakra, let’s also acknowledge how
the centres above and below support it.
In Energy Medicine,
Donna Eden says “Your navel is at the top of your second
chakra, and just as it was once the physical cord that connected
you to your mother, it is the energetic cord that still connects
you to the pure creative energies that nourish your being.”
As we work with
the energy of the second chakra let us be reminded of this and
acknowledge it in others.
Donna Eden goes
on to say “The second chakra is governed by faith and trust
in the larger picture. It is artistic in its logic rather than
linear, childlike rather than sophisticated, organic rather than
doctrinaire, flowing rather than time-bound, innocent rather
than cunning, trusting rather that suspicious, and free rather
than responsible.”
Imagine how
different our experiences with others could be when initiated
from a balanced sacral chakra. Cultivate your connections with
those types of energy and see what happens in your relationships
with others.
Imagine yourself
as a tree and bring your awareness from the sacral chakra down
to the root. Be aware of the earth energy coming upward and connect
with the earth. Now move your awareness upwards, connecting with
the energy of the heart and bringing it back down through the
solar plexus to the sacral chakra. What do you notice?
Thank you to
Bev Worbets, RN, BA, CHTP/I, Comox, BC for the following:
Reflections on the Sept 2010 HTI Conference, St.
Louis, Missouri -
Bev Worbets, RN, BA, CHTP/I, Comox, BC
First, I would
like to report that Healing Touch International (HTI) is thriving.
HTI staff and all the various committees have been working diligently
to reshape HTI these past couple of years, and their results
are impressive. We now have the long awaited new student and
instructor workbooks and guidelines in final draft form. The
education committee has also created clear new guidelines for
all the levels of instructor requirements with mentorships. Their
commitment to being as “green” as possible is evident
in the instructors being able to download the various workbooks.
Our hats are off to these very hard working Healing Toucher’s
who are helping HTI move forward in a very positive, heart-felt
way!
 I
particularly enjoyed our instructor’s day. Anne Day &
Myra Tovey, two of Janet’s right hand instructors, who were
with her from the very beginning of the creation of HT, started
the day with a heart-filled message. They encouraged us to see
with our eyes the Divine essence in each other and to practice
unconditional love and co-operation. They encouraged all to see
our connection and oneness, rather than separation, in all aspects
of our lives. Myra Tovey discussed the attributes of the heart,
and principles of heart-centered living. She reminded us of the
importance of Brugh Joy’s advice to meditate just 5 minutes
a day on our heart center. As we work more and live more in our
heart, we will manifest our intents more quickly. Anne Day told
us that she begins each day by attuning to the song of her day
in the vibration of love. How good is that!
Dave Ebenhoh,
BA, MA led us through the remainder of the day in sharing his
gifts of deep listening, teaching, discernment and skills working
with individuals and groups. He had a heart-centered, honest,
innovative and powerful teaching style which truly was inspiring.
He reminded us that global transformational change is really
about personal transformational change. It was a welcome message
during this time of global environmental uncertainty.
The theme of
the conference was “Healing, Transforming & Expanding
Through the Gateway of Light” and I feel that those who
attended did just that at many different levels – we healed,
we transformed and we expanded as we eagerly listened to the
many stimulating presentations by internationally renowned &
respected keynote speakers and took part in the various workshops.
I left feeling renewed, refreshed and re-inspired!
As Brian Luke
Seaward, PhD said, “I’ve been to many healing conferences
but this one is unique. Real healing is occurring at this conference.
We are not just talking about it.” I urge you all to start
planning for next year’s HTI conference in Hawaii, October,
2011. HTI conferences are well worth your time and effort. I
hope to see you there! In Gratitude, Bev Worbets
We
must learn not to disassociate the airy flower from the earthy
root, for the flower that is cut off from its root fades, and
its seeds are barren, whereas the root, secure in mother earth,
can produce flower after flower and bring their fruit to maturity.
The
Kabbalah
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This month Karen Stewart, HTI-PA shares with us
some of her experiences at the recent HTI Conference. It was
a time of re-union for many in the HT "tribe." Participants
were inspired by the gathering of common passions and the energetic
dynamic that was created. What a wonderful foundation for all
of us to connect with, build on and share through "the work."
Grounding
is a process of dynamic contact with the Earth, with its edges,
boundaries and limitations. Through a combination of relaxation
and energizing we allow our subtle energy to condense and solidify.
We become solidly real - present in the here and now, and dynamically
alive with the vitality that comes from the substance of the
lower charkas.
Anodea Judith - Wheels of Life pg.68
Reflections
on the Sept 2010 HTI Conference, St. Louis, Missouri - Karen Stewart, HTI-PA
What an amazing experience the HTI Conference was this month.
Five days immersed in a warm, welcoming community of heart-focused
practitioners. Lots of fun, fresh insights, connecting with old
friends and meeting new ones. The hotel itself was built around
the historic Union Station and the ballroom and breakout areas
were a 'walk away' from our accommodation. It was a beautiful
setting and provided everyone with the opportunity to exercise
our physical bodies as well as our minds. The opening ceremony
whipped up a lot of energy (some of us practiced our chelation
technique) with a percussion band leading everyone into the main
ballroom. As part of the opening ritual, a lit candle was passed
from Past Presidents of HTI to our new President, Mary O'Neill.
It brought back memories of when Janet Mentgen did a similar
passing of the light of a special candle at a previous conference.
After conferences,
there is so much information to process, it seems almost overwhelming.
In reflection, one of the teachings I took away from that amazing
weekend was from Thursday night's keynote address when Anodea
Judith challenged us to 'stand for love in everything we do'.
She continued by saying "every time we heal, we are restoring
the field of the heart and the fabric of the web heals a little
more".
 The
second piece of wisdom, Brian Luke Seward in his address "Good
Vibrations: Keys To Reaching Your Highest Human Potential"
reminded us how important humour is in the healing process. In
his book "Stand like Mountain Flow Like Water", he
says "Laughter not only contributes to our mental, emotional
and spiritual health, it plays an important role in our physiological
health as well." Brian encouraged us all to create our own
"Tickler Notebooks". A book filled with everything
(jokes, artwork, writings) that make us laugh out loud and feel
uplifted. If we start working on the book now, it will be ready
when we need to bring a smile to our faces and warmth to our
hearts. Not only is this a worthwhile practice for ourselves
but could also be part of the 'homework' for the people we treat.
This year, 365
participants had a chance to enjoy being at this annual event.
At the HTI AGM, Lisa Anselme shared the good news that HTI is
on solid financial ground. Since "service is their driving
force and passion is their fuel", the Board and some of
the staff of HTI are in the process of looking at various support
packages for the members which they hope to announce soon. Lisa
asked us to remember that this process is slower than they would
like since much of the work of Healing Touch International is
done by volunteers.
The next HTI
Conference will be held on the Big Island in Hawaii October 20
- 23, 2011. The theme is "Creating Wholeness on Earth".
I encourage you to consider combining this conference with a
vacation.
I've come home
from this year's conference feeling inspired to continue treating
and co-ordinating classes in my neighbourhood. The work we do
is special and deserves our continued efforts to grow as practitioners.
Let the experience of being part of a large international community
nourish us all.
If you have
built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is
where they should be. Now put foundations under them. Henry David Thoreau
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Cosmic Consciousness - Angela Mattos, CHTP Aug 23, 2010
As we give some
time to cosmic consciousness this month I ask you to consider
the following by Anodea Judith:
"Through our experiences, each one of us builds a personal
matrix of information within our minds. From the first glimpse
of our mother's face to our doctoral dissertations and beyond,
we spend our lives trying to piece together some sense of order
from what we see around us. Each bit of information we receive
gets incorporated into that matrix, making it ever more complex.
As it grows more complex it tends to periodically 'reorganize'
itself, finding higher levels of order which simplify its system.
The bottom falls out, restructuring occurs, and with it a more
efficient use of the energy. This is the familiar 'aha' reflex-the
little enlightenments that come when some piece falls into place,
allowing a new 'wholeness' to be perceived." (Wheels of
Life, pages 372-3)
What are we connecting with and restructuring each time we "do
the work"?
The Universal
Force is a universal Consciousness. This is what the seeker discovers.
When he has contacted this current of consciousness in himself,
he can switch on to any plane whatsoever of the universal reality,
to any point, and perceive, understand the consciousness there,
or even act upon it, because everywhere it is the same current
of consciousness with different vibratory modalities.
Satprem, on Sri Aurobindo.
Thank you to Kathy Clay, a Level 1 Instructor living in Hazelton,
BC for sharing some of her thoughts and experiences with us this
month.
About that Seventh Chakra - Kathy Clay, BA, PID,
MEd, CHTP/I
Rosalyn Bruyere states in Wheels of Light (pg 67) that "it
would not matter what chakra centre a healer focused on; the
problem would be solved if the healer treated any one chakra
long enough because all the others would bounce into alignment".
What I take this to mean is that there is so much more information,
out there, that we cannot possibly fathom all the potential ways
that we will effect healing. So, we just have to do the work
and know that we are limited by our own imagination or lack of.
Now it would seem to me that this awareness might be part of
the Aha, the knowingness that we strive for? Maybe this is what
it means to let go and let God, or the guides? Maybe this is
part of the meaning of the seventh chakra?
The crown, the third of the upper centers, the diamond Sutra,
the thousand-petal lotus, the Sahasrara, all are referencing
the seventh chakra located at the top of the head. The pineal
gland is often associated with this centre (others say the pituitary).
When the pineal is functioning, one is better able to receive
the answers and when it clears we are better able to see ourselves
and achieve our goals. The activated pineal gland is thought
to be a direct connection to the One, our star gate to raising
our unconsciousness. This centre gives us our sense of knowing,
our guidance or wisdom, creates harmony, and instils oneness.
In Dorothea Hover-Kramer's book Healing Touch, A Guidebook for
Practitioners, 2nd edition (pg 83) it is stated that "The
words that capture the essence of the crown chakra are I am
whole, I am one with the universe, and We are all
interconnected."
 The best kind of therapies
for activation of the crown centre have been meditation practices,
guided imagery and energy work. When I am doing the work I have
learned that I have to just trust my guidance and know that the
answers will be forthcoming. I have often gone into a meditative
mode to try to hurry the process along but have generally found
that waiting, taking the time to listen to the inner voices,
my guides, and asking the right, open ended questions, works
best for me. Often, I will just focus on the pineal gland to
activate it.
During a recent illness I had many questions to ask, guilt to
work past, and pain to overcome and always there were answers.
Some were a little slower coming than others. I was slowed down
during my illness, and I learned to listen even more carefully
for the answers. Subsequent to my illness, I find I am different,
both physically and spiritually. Part of what I have learned
is that I am still whole, I am so infinitely connected with the
universe and that my main focus is to always remain open and
available for what is coming down the tube. I know that there
is an interconnectedness with all that happens and I work towards
this awareness with the understanding that, as someone said somewhere
"the more I know the more I know nothing."
Imagination
is more important than knowledge. For while knowledge defines
all we currently know and understand, imagination points to all
we might yet discover and create. Albert Einstein
The teacher
who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his
wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind. Kahlil Gibran
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Seeing beyond attitudes and beliefs - Angela Mattos, CHTP
July 23, 2010
Have you ever
suddenly had clarity around a situation or circumstance and raised
your hand up to bump your brow as if to say why didn’t I
see that before? Well that’s your 6th or Ajna chakra, a
place of insight, vision and intuition.
 In
Wheels of Life, Anodea Judith writes “In our culture, there
is a deep prejudice in favor of light and against darkness, dating
back to antiquity when darkness was a time of fear and helplessness.
Yet it is only through light and darkness both that we see beyond
their polarities to the incredible rainbow spectrum of choices
available to us at each moment. To accept the darkness as well
as the light, enabling us to perceive without prejudice the vast
realm of visual information, is the essence and function of chakra
six. When we lose our prejudice over what things ‘should’
be, we begin to see them as they are.” (Anodea will be a
keynote speaker at the HT International Conference in St Louis
in September)
In Sacred Contracts,
Carolyn Myss writes the following about the sixth chakra. “This
is also the energy center that empowers our attitudes, beliefs,
memories and the overall character of our rational mind. Whether
we are fair- and open-minded or judgmental and limited in our
capacity to consider new ideas is a manifestation of how we direct
the power of this chakra.”
Thank you to
Jes Markoff for her contribution this month. The awareness she
speaks of can be applied to any experience we have. How much
of what we perceive both with our physical eyes and intuitively
with the third eye is experienced without adding a layer of interpretation
based on past experiences?
Yoga for the Ajna (6th, brow) Chakra
Jes Markoff, RMT, Contemporary Acupuncture, HTP, Reiki Master,
Yoga Therapy
Yoga stimulates
the chakra system but some postures, due to the shape our bodies
make, will hone in on and stimulate one or more chakras. There
are several ways to connect with the wisdom, clarity and intuition
of the ajna chakra during yoga practice.
The brow centre
is the physical location of the pituitary gland, which is considered
as a master gland of the endocrine system, secreting hormones
that regulate homeostasis. The sixth chakra’s relationship
to mental and emotional health manifests in our feelings of adequacy,
intellectual ability, self-evaluation and our ability to be open
to the ideas of others.
During practice
one could look at the belief patterns that surface repeatedly,
for example, labelling certain postures as difficult or  easy, good or bad, painful or
pleasurable. Developing this awareness allows the practitioner
to acknowledge the label and self-judgement and begin to move
beyond the projection to see that the posture is empty. There
is often an expectation placed on the body as to which postures
it can and cannot express. By being conscious of these expectations
and using the breath to practice fully in the present moment
one can allow the body to express itself without restriction
(regardless of physical limitations).
Balancing poses
such as tree pose (vrksasana) and dancer’s pose (natarajasana)
and inversions such as the headstand (shirshasana) and shoulder
stand (salamba sarvangasana) stimulate this chakra. Balancing
postures can quiet the mind and concentrate the body’s energies
into the central line (sushumna nadi), which connects the chakras.
A relaxing Child’s pose (balasana) with the forehead on
the floor will also stimulate the 6th chakra.
Mechanical stimulation
to the brow area is a great way to work with this centre too.
China gel, hot or cool stones, and crystals can be placed on
the brow during corpse pose (savasana) to help relax the area,
release tension and aid in concentration.
Consciousness
is the ability to release the old and embrace the new with the
awareness that all things end at the appropriate time and that
all things begin at the appropriate time. This truth is difficult
to learn to live with because human beings seek stability - the
absence of change. Therefore becoming conscious means living
fully in the present moment, knowing that no situation or person
will be exactly the same tomorrow.– Carolyn Myss, Anatomy of the Spirit
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Communication & Creativity - Angela Mattos, CHTP
If you haven't noticed by now, we are gradually working through
the chakra system using it as the monthly focus. This month we're
at the throat or 5th chakra. Communication and creativity happen
here.
 Each
month as I "put myself out there" by sharing through
the written word I embark on a journey, reflecting on just what
it is I am wanting to convey. Some months are much easier than
others.
Once I connect
with what I am wanting to bring forward my intent is to be clear
and concise. Since words are symbols and can represent different
things to different people, as well as trigger memories and activate
thought patterns, they add a dimension that is beyond the original
symbols. Having experienced repeated throat chakra issues since
childhood, as I mature I am noticing that it's getting somewhat
easier to recognize what is potentially contributing to my ability
or lack of ability to freely express or listen with a united
mind and heart .
Have you ever
considered what influences the way individuals express or don't
express and how that creates consequences?
In Wheels
of Life, Anodea Judith writes "Communication is the
means whereby consciousness extends itself from one place to
another. Invisible, sometimes even inaudible, communication is
the connecting principle that makes life possible. From the DNA
encoded messages of living cells to the spoken or written word,
from the nerve impulses connecting mind and body to the broadcast
waves connecting continent to continent, communication is the
heart of coordination among all living things." She
goes on to discuss the principle of rhythm entrainment (in the
case of similar vibrations) and interference patterns (in the
case of diverse vibrations). (Anodea will be a keynote speaker
at the HT International Conference in St Louis in September)
Since all matter
is influenced by sound, rhythm and vibration we are constantly
effected by not only what is going on inside of us but also by
our environment. Consider how you respond when you hear different
styles of music. Does this change
depending on the mood you might be in? Perhaps the music actually
evokes a different mood. Often we use slow, calm, soothing music
to help support a state of relaxation during a Healing Touch
session. Toning or working with tuning forks, bells or bowls
are other ways of supporting the chakras with sound.
Our communication
is a reflection of our inner experiences. When we are able to
know our truths and speak from a place of integrity and alignment
there is an awareness of unity in honouring creation as it unfolds.
At
the heart of each of us, whatever our imperfections, there exists
a silent pulse of perfect rhythm, a complex of wave forms and
resonances, which is absolutely individual and unique and yet
which connects us to everything in the universe. The act of getting
in touch with this pulse can transform our personal experience
and in some way alter the world around us.
George Leonard, The Silent Pulse
May we each
remember and experience the resonance that exists between us
when we share our life/light with others.
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Each time I go outdoors I am grateful that I live
in the countryside. My senses are stimulated by everything that
spring has contributed to bringing forward and my heart opens.
How appropriate that this month we are focusing on heart-centredness.
Something that is easy to think and talk about but more difficult
to actually be! How often do we 'think' we are coming from our
hearts only to realize some time later that we were actually
attached to an outcome? Connecting with the compassion and innate
harmony of the heart can change our relationship with our experiences
and foster a gentler approach to how things are.
Your
task is not to seek love,
but merely to seek & find all the barriers within yourself
that you have built against it.
Rumi
Many thanks
to Rochelle Graham, a former senior Certified Healing Touch Instructor,
for sharing some of her heartfelt experiences with all of us. (Angela Mattos, CHTP)
Noticing
with the Heart - Rochelle Graham, RPT
Sitting at my computer, getting ready to write about the heart,
I feel humbled. The more I learn about the heart, the more I
realize how little I know. The heart is a Universe unto itself
and just as I gaze at the stars and acknowledge their beauty
and mystery, so I reflect on the heart chakra. I know that I
will be learning about the heart for eons.
I do remember
when my heart chakra opened to a new level. I was on Salt Spring
Island, sitting on a bluff overlooking the ocean. I felt what
seemed like an atomic bomb going off in my chest and was sure
that the whole world had felt it. Later, in describing this to
Janet Mentgen, she affirmed that indeed that is the experience
of the heart opening to a whole new level.
Not long after
that I had an experience of profound Divine love, which was beyond
words, beyond knowledge. The experience was so powerful that
it changed my life and gave me a new passion for my life's work.
This is also the power of the heart; people are changed with
new gifts for the world.
When I am in
the mode of 'healer' I am aware of the heart at work. I notice
that my head is not in charge, I notice that I am simply allowing
a greater wisdom to work and I notice that there is such joy
spilling through my field that my only response is gratitude.
I notice that
clients instantly recognize the heart energy in a healer. The
client knows they are safe and their unconscious mind is willing
to reveal stories that are hidden. The body memories will surface
and grace moves in to fill the space, restoring wholeness.
My friends,
who are heart friends, are never far away, even though over time
and distance, we have not seen each other for many years. When
the heart is the bond, we are one!
The physical
heart mirrors the energy heart centre. It receives and releases,
with no fear of not having enough. Just prior to releasing, the
heart receives enough to be nourished. The heart's goal is to
provide the whole (body, world) with light, nourishment and what
is needed to thrive. The heart does not collect, store or hoard.
In giving, the heart receives.
What I know
for sure is that when my heart is connected to the Divine Heart,
however you name that greatness, and I am totally present to
another, then the Divine communes with itself using two human
beings as instruments and we are forever changed.
(Rochelle is
currently living on a sailboat near Victoria, BC, loving the
great mother, the ocean. She works as a physiotherapist, serving
elders and doing healing work when her heart calls her to it.)
Eventually
you will come to understand that love heals everything,
and love is all there is.
Gary Zukav
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Knowing
the self and self-care are
key components of developing as a healer and deepening our practice.
As we focus on the various aspects of living in balance we find
that rest, reflection/introspection, nourishment & exercise
all play a role in our well-being. While it may seem that physical,
emotional, mental and spiritual experiences are separate, I invite
you to look more deeply at how they are intricately woven together.
When I started with energy work
I was concerned that my lack of experience was a handicap until
I noticed the expansion and intrigue that was available when
I questioned things (beginner's mind) and listened to the energy.
Twenty plus years later, I continue to appreciate the opportunities
provided by beginner's mind and the freedom from having to "know"
what is taking place. Being present to an experience allows for
an opening into what is unfolding and the inter-connectedness
with life around us (on this planet and beyond) becomes clearer.
For example, consider when it rains. The water goes into the
ground and feeds the vegetation (which we eat), goes into the
rivers and lakes (which provide our drinking water) and waters
the trees (which soak up the carbon dioxide we breathe out and
produce oxygen which we require when we breathe in.) Without
the components that come together to create and sustain the rain
and the trees, and there are a lot of them, we would not be able
to live! So, while it may seem to us that events happen in isolation
- they really don't. SO much has come together to create the
present moment! Can I really expect to figure out what those
events were and why?
When reflecting on the ways
I care for myself it's important that I am aware of my thoughts
and belief systems. Am I moving from a place of recognition that
my ability to be a caring, compassionate presence is directly
related to how I care for myself? How am I expressing compassion
and caring for myself?
Suggestions for self-care:
· Look at what brings you joy and how you incorporate
that into your life
· Are there ways you can better support how you nourish
yourself? (e.g. Quality & type of nourishment)
· Book a Healing Touch or other energy modality treatment
monthly (if only for maintenance). Perhaps exchange with friends.
· When setting goals, set attainable ones.
· Be honest, respectful and keep your word with yourself.
· Practice compassion with yourself - later it will flow
out to others.
· Participate in some form of physical exercise regularly
(yoga, walking, dance, etc.) If done with care your body/whole
being will thank you!
· Develop a centring practice, meditate and take time
for reflection.
· Find a spiritual friend(s).
The following are from an article
called "Path of Healership, The Importance of Self-Care
for the Healer" which was based on excerpts from the conclusion
of the keynote address given by Janet Mentgen at the 2nd National
Australian Holistic Nursing Conference in 1995. The Theme was
'Partnerships in Ancient Healing'.
1. Physical Clearing: take care
of your physical body, your physical existence.
2. Emotional Clearing: express
your hurts and pains, your joy and happiness.
3. Mental Clearing: create new
habits, new ways of doing things.
4. Sacred space: create your
sacred space at home, create sacred space when you are away.
5. Experience Silence: move
into quiet, meditation, Holy Silence.
6. Holy Leisure: bring balance
into your life, restore your self through leisure.
7. Holy Relationships: commit
to yourself and others.
"The universe is governed
by laws, yet those laws are governed in turn by the Divine. If
you can understand that system, you will grasp the essence of
healing. Pursue your own mysteries. Never run away from what
you do not understand about yourself; that part of you does not
evaporate just because you don't want to look at it…Use
the grace of Understanding to see yourself clearly so that you
can serve others with that same grace." Carolyn Myss - Defy
Gravity page 130
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Getting
To Know Your Chakra System From The Yin Side
Jes Markoff, RMT, Contemporary Acupuncture, HTP, Reiki Master
photo by Jes Markoff
Integrating energy modalities
with touch therapy, such as massage, is fairly straightforward
but the energy system and techniques used to work with the field
can be more difficult for clients to comprehend. As a new RMT,
clients often remarked that my hands felt "different"
and those who had previous experience with energy medicine would
ask if I worked with energy.
As my practice grows, I continue to find tools to engage clients
and aid them in the exploration of the energetic body. The Chakra
Connection is still the most common self-care exercise I give
to any client who wants to develop an understanding of the energetic
body.
 Yoga, more specifically asana,
is a great way to develop body awareness and sensitivity to the
microcosm within the macrocosm. Yang style yoga, like vinyasa,
can make sensations in the body more accessible to those who
spend most of their time in their head. Last October, I studied
Yin Yoga with a very talented and inspirational teacher in Toronto
and was amazed by the results this practice can yield. Yin yoga
targets the connective tissues of the body (ligaments, bone,
fascia), which are denser than muscle and require prolonged stretching
in order to make permanent changes. The practice focuses on the
hips and spine and each posture is held for three to five minutes
with care given to entering and exiting each shape. It is thought
that chi circulates through the body via connective tissue and
therefore a sequence of postures can be strung together to target
specific meridians or organs in the body based on illness, season
or biomechanical restriction. The chakra system also ties into
the practice as certain postures can invigorate or help to balance
one or more centres, as they are gateways between dimensions
(sensation in the body that corresponds to emotion).
For example, a low squat stimulates the Muladhara (1st) and Manipura
(3rd) chakras and the liver, kidney and urinary bladder meridians.
Being in this shape for three minutes allows the practitioner
to journey through physical and subtle energy sensations while
observing the mind and any emotions that surface. In a squat,
the practitioner can reflect on the qualities and abilities of
the Manipura chakra to receive, transmit and assimilate information,
such as experience of trust, sense of self and will.
It had been a tough year and I was struggling to balance my professional
and personal life, especially self-care and spirituality. I committed
to practicing yin every day and noted my sequences and experiences.
It wasn't long before patterns surfaced and within these patterns
I was able to identify where certain emotions, experiences, thoughts
and energies were living. With time and practice, I have been
able to improve my mental, physical and spiritual flexibility
and fluidity in an integrated and gentle way.
For more information about yin
yoga visit: http://www.yinyoga.com/
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Relationships
with Ourselves and Others - from March 2010 HT Canada E-Connections
Last month we touched on a few
of the reasons for coming together in community. This month let's
consider our relationship with ourselves and others by reflecting
on the following:
· What brought you to
Healing Touch and attracts you to energy work?
· Has this changed at
all since you took Level 1? If so, how?
· Is there any connection
between your initial or current motivation and how you engage
with the HT community?
· Are the activities
of your local or general HT community currently of value to you?
If yes, how ? If not, why not?
When the reasons for being involved
are ones that meet our needs in a supportive way, we feel nurtured,
empowered, joyful, etc. As awareness of what our needs might
actually be increases, we become more grounded and able to see
more clearly what is happening within. When we balance our energy
fields, we contribute to an environment of support not only for
ourselves but for others as well. Having a regular meditation
or centering practice helps to realign our energy and eventually
our awareness changes.
I remember Janet Mentgen saying
that when you are studying a discipline, stay with it for a while
before learning something new. She would often recommend in class
that students practice a technique 100 times to become familiar
with it. Please consider doing a self-balancing technique and
then journal what motivates your various responses and decision
making. Repeat this as often as possible over the next 30 days.
As you deepen your practice notice what happens.
Exercises such as this can lead
to building our capacity for compassion and the honouring of
self & others. When our own choices are clear, we can be
more available to support others in their decisions.
Angela Mattos, CHTP
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UPDATE
- 12 Reasons To Have A Practice Group - from conversations with Karen Stewart, HTI-PA
- January 22, 2010
After attending
the Practice Group on January 17th and speaking with others in
the community about their plans, Karen is pleased to report on
the way things are evolving. The group is enthusiastic about
the shared responsibility of offering an ongoing practice. The
opportunity to be part of a joyful, creative community while
deepening their healing experiences has led to the planning of
monthly meetings until June.
During the practice,
participants gave and received a treatment while reviewing techniques.
At the end, a group chakra connection was improvised and offered
a new experience for many.
Karen spoke
with various people in the larger HT community and, based on
their feedback, the "12 Reasons" have been slightly
modified to reflect the playful, nurturing environment that can
be offered within a practice group or community at large.
1. A review
of techniques in a light-hearted environment
2. As part of ongoing self-care
3. To learn something new with an emphasis on HT techniques,
principles and values
4. To deepen your practice with joy
5. To encourage one another
6. To share experiences
7. To be of service to the community of HTer's
8. To be of service to the people we are treating
9. To mentor others and provide spiritual companionship
10. To be reflective, in a gentle, supportive way
11. To move from "doing" to 'being' a vessel of love
12. To belong to an engaged, playful healing community
We hope that
you will consider this model and find others in your vicinity
to practice and build community with!
Think about
what first brought you to Healing Touch and why it is important
to you.
(return
to list)
12 Reasons To Have A Practice Group - from conversations
with Karen Stewart, HTI-PA - January 11, 2010
Local practice
groups can offer many blessings and develop in ways that are
unique to each community. Karen Stewart, HTPA in Surrey, BC began
coordinating classes in the Vancouver area last summer and when
participants asked about how they could continue to practice
between classes she suggested a practice group be started.
Knowing that
many individuals already have full lives and are not eager to
take on more responsibility, Karen reflected on what she could
contribute. Having been involved with HT in Ontario for a number
of years and volunteering a significant amount of time, Karen
asked herself what would motivate her to become involved and
how she could be of service. She quickly found she would be eager
to participate in a practice group if she focused on things that
are of value to her. Here are 12 things she came up with:
1. A review
of techniques
2. As part of ongoing self-care
3. To learn something new
4. To deepen your practice
5. To encourage one another
6. To share experiences
7. To be of service to the community of HTer's
8. To be of service to the people we are treating
9. To mentor others or provide spiritual friendship
10. To be reflective
11. To move from "doing" to 'being'
12. To belong to an engaged healing community
If they could
develop a tradition of shared, rotating leadership, no one person
would be over extended and no one person could 'take over' the
group. Participation could be viewed as part of their healing
practice and service to the community. With these intentions
as the foundation of a practice group, Karen has now been a part
of organizing a HTI Practice Group in Vancouver. They next meet
on Sunday, January 17, 2010 and will talk about setting up regular
monthly gatherings. If anyone would like more information, please
contact Karen directly at kasinbc@yahoo.ca
(return to list)
Autumn - What are the rhythms and qualities of
your energy field?
A
burst of spectacular foliage has fallen and initiated for many
a time of cleaning things up and preparing for the cold temperatures
ahead. Daylight hours are reducing in this area and there is
a natural tendency towards slowing down and going inwards. Time
for introspection is something we must create for ourselves if
we are to honour this natural rhythm within the fast-paced world
we live.
Healing Touch
encourages self-care for both practitioners and clients, as it
is an essential aspect of healing. Being respectful of physical,
mental, emotional and spiritual states allows for different relationships
both with others and ourselves. We begin to experience life as
it unfolds when we are paying attention to its unfolding.
Have you connected
with the rhythms and qualities of your energy field lately? If
not, you might want to set aside time for some self-care or try
the following.
Sit in a comfortable
position and take a few deep breaths to connect with your body.
Slowly bring your awareness to the different components of your
being (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) and notice
how they each feel energetically?
Be open to all the senses and experience the energetic quality
of each component.
What draws your attention?
Are the various
components in alignment with each other?
Do you experience them as connected in some way or do they feel
separate?
Try doing a Chakra Connection or other technique and then investigate
the qualities of the various components again. Have they changed?
 There
are no right or wrong experiences with this. It's about bringing
awareness to your experiences. (What is the experience before
the mind evaluates the experience?)
Now try connecting with the rhythms of life where you live. Put
your attention on the environment around you. Are you in harmony
with it?
As you breathe
with awareness you will begin to feel or notice some resonance.
Things may come forward which are not comfortable. They will
show you how the mind takes you away from that which is at your
core, your essence.
Now focus on
the breath and connect with that place of balance within. Resonate
with the life force/light within. Become more and more familiar
with it, using the breath to connect with the life force/light
that radiates and connects with everything around you.
(If you happen
to be in a fast paced city or chaotic environment then you might
want to pay attention to that which you are experiencing as chaotic.
Connect from that place within which is connected to all and
experience the chaos from there. Notice what you experience in
the body.)
Take a few deep
breaths, be aware of the physical body, your connection with
the earth, maintaining an awareness of the life force within
that is connected to all.
As you pay more
attention to your energy you will begin to notice what takes
you away from balance and what brings you back. Experiment and
find ways to gently bring your awareness back.
I'd love to
hear feedback from anyone who tries this!
Angela. (return
to list)
Nature as Teacher, life as an expression...
 In April 2009 I was
in NL for the HTAC Conference and was thrilled to have had time
with fellow HT'ers as well as to tour around a little. To experience
magnificent coastlines, icebergs, and exceptionally friendly
people was a gift which offered a sense of wonder, awe, connection
& spaciousness...
Nature has been
my most profound lifetime teacher. There is always something
for me to get curious about when I take time outdoors (or indoors
for that matter). Experiencing the myriad of textures, colours,
patterns, sounds, and sensations enhances the opening of the
heart. As my curiousity awakens, preconceived ideas begin to
fall away and suddenly doorways open to new possibilities.
It's something like working with a client during a Healing Touch
session. The more present and centred I am, the easier it is
to follow the energy that is created by our coming together.
The mind moves out of the way and doorways open.
Next time you are outdoors take a few minutes (or longer) to
actually stop and look at something that is commonplace to you.
Become aware of creation expressing through the shape, colour,
texture, smell, sound, etc. Notice how your body feels. Does
your heart respond? How does this interaction affect your energy
field?
Of course this can apply to interactions with people as well.
When you are listening try to see/hear them as creation expressing.
What is it that they are bringing forward into physical form?
What is driving them? This is not analysis so pay attention to
your body instead of your mind. Experience what might be beneath
the outward expression and connect with that. Again, notice how
your body feels. Does your heart respond? How does this interaction
affect your energy field? Consider how your response might influence
those around you.
 As
Vicki Slater demonstrated in her keynote address at the HTAC
conference, we are influenced on an energetic level by what is
going on around us. By remembering our connection with source
or the divine we can have a different experience. (return to list)
Angela Mattos,
CHTP
Lighthouse at Cape
Bonavista, NL
(return to
list)
Developing as a Healer
If you have
completed Level 3 of the HT International Healing Touch Certificate
Program and would like to get to know more about yourself as
a healer, I highly recommend taking Level 4. The experiences
you have both at the class and in the following year might surprize
you as you complete the assignments from Level 4.
Level 4 is quite
different from Level 3 in that you will be strengthening your
skills working with one client. You will also receive treatments
from another student. (To see the actual curriculum see CURRICULUM
link above.)
Doing the Level
4 assignments can be of great value whether or not you are planning
to complete Level 5. They will give you insights and hopefully
take you to new places. The emphasis is on developing as a healer.
Returning for
Level 5 and successfully completing the Level 4 homework brings
a sense of completion and the title of Healing Touch Practitioner
(HTP). Level 5 is another level of refinement and a time for
celebration.
Angela Mattos,
CHTP
(return to
list)
A Journey with Healing Touch
I
was first drawn to Healing Touch in 1990 when a friend was looking
for a healing program that offered certification and credibility.
Being a layperson, the fact that HT was a nursing continuing
education program didn't have much value to me until I realized
that Janet Mentgen asked to take back the certification of HT
from AHNA when they were heading in the direction of closing
it off to only nurses. This was 1996 and HT International was
created so that HT certification could be transferred there.
I was grateful that Janet was able to stay true to her vision
of offering it to anyone who was willing to learn as I had been
certified as a Healing Touch Practitioner (CHTP) in 1995 and
was hoping to maintain my certification.
Having come
from the medical model and incorporating techniques that are
standardized lends a certain credibility to the program. While
many see it as a way of becoming "a healer" the "development
of the healer" is a major aspect as one moves through the
program. As Maggie Freel, RN, MEd, CHTP/I, HN-BC says "you
have been given the tools now it's up to you to grow into them."
Can we recognize
that we already are the spiritual and energetic principles that
we are taught? Healing Touch is an educational program that is
also a path of transformation.
As practitioners,
we can learn about ourselves through our clients. They reflect
back our beliefs and behaviours in regards to boundaries, responsibilities,
attachment, holism, respect, integrity, compassion and the list
goes on.
While there
are many paths that can be walked, immersing oneself in one for
extended periods can open doorways to a new awareness that does
not happen when we jump around from one thing to another. After
going through Level 1-5 of HT and then certification I was able
to look back and see the unfolding that was occurring within
me. I am very appreciative that Janet Mentgen was my instructor
from Level 1 to Level 5 and that I had numerous opportunities
to spend time with her outside of the classroom between 1990
and 2005. There continue to be times when I hear her voice and
remember things she offered ...
HT is a collection
of the work of Brugh Joy, Alice Bailey, Barbara Brennan, Janet
Mentgen and others. Janet used to say "if you can, go to
the source." To experience the sources of this work consider
reading (or re-reading) Joy's Way, Esoteric Healing,
Hands of Light, and the HT Guidebook for Health Care Professionals. While some things
may have changed since these books were first written, they give
insight into the paths walked by the authors and the principles
they were following. White Shadow is also an interesting read
which gives a perspective of one healer's journey while sharing
stories of Janet Mentgen.
 When the road gets bumpy,
remember, there are many others who have gone this way before
you. Slow down, breathe, be with yourself in a gentle way and
look to those that have gone before you for assistance. Share
in celebration with others.
May we walk
with lightheartedness, courage and compassion on our journeys! (return to list)
Angela Mattos,
CHTP
"Dive in and
experience the essence of life"
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