How an Energy Healer Works
If you've never been to an energy healer, you may be wondering what exactly it is that we do. The truth is each healer works differently, even if we are trained in the same basic method or school. Each energy healer's work becomes a highly personal and individualized expression of who we are--perhaps not at first, but if we practice for any length of time, this will happen. But in my experience, there are usually commonalities among all of us. I'll try to describe some of them below. (The picture, by the way, is me, doing energy work with my hands in the energy field of my client. My own work usually is a combination of hands on the physical body (with client consent) and hands off the physical body, in the energy field.)
Photo by Dane Gregory Meyer
An Energy Healer Will Work in a Unique Way, But There Are Commonalities
Perhaps the most common thread--and probably the most obvious too!-- is that all of us use energy (called various things in various cultures, including life force, chi, ki, prana) to affect energy. The source of the energy being used can vary (or anyway how we refer to/talk about that energy), but in many systems it is seen as “universal energy” or “universal life force.”
Another of the most common commonalities is that most healers work to return the human energy-field to wholeness, harmony, stability, balance, and flow.
Some healers work within the medical model, aiming to cure or fix physical problems, while others place themselves outside the aims of the conventional medical model, placing more emphasis on personal or spiritual development. (An ethical energy healer will never discourage you from seeking or following conventional medical advice, though.)
Most of us use our hands, with which we can sense the field. We
may work with our hands resting on the body, or may work only in the
field. Many work with the chakra system, performing chakra healing and
chakra clearing. (An energy healer should never touch you in any way that you are uncomfortable with or do not consent to.)
Some healers can also "see" energy, or feel it elsewhere in their body
than their hands. (I feel "truth" or "rightness as a strong shiver or chill in my body, and I've met other healers who feel something similar.) More rarely, healers may experience energy as sound, or even
smell or taste. Some may also have visual images or words arise during a session. Those who do distance healing may use imagination/envisioning--their "inner eye."
Some energy healers work with tools such as crystals, pendulums, aromatherapy, divination tools, or sound. Some also work with spirit guides, calling silently on them for guidance and help. Others just work with the energy.
Some of us will talk to you as we work. Others will be silent, unless you speak to them.
Some energy workers integrate energy healing with other types of therapy, such as hypnosis, massage, or talk therapy. To do so, a healer is usually required to be licensed to perform that type of therapy.
As you can see, there many types of healers. My guess is that no two work exactly alike. However, it’s not the method that’s important -- clear ethics and a compassionate intention to support your wholeness, health, and growth are the most powerful tools of all.
A good energy healer will try to keep his or her own ego out of the process, believing that we only support and perhaps amplify or accelerate our client's own marvelous natural processes. An ethical healer will never tell you that something is terribly wrong with your energy and only they can fix it; will never discourage you from seeking or following medical advice; will never tell you that you need to return to them for more visits; will never tell you that they can cure you of a serious disease or save you from dying. As a side-note, you should be particularly careful in evaluating healers who work at a distance. While there are many reputable people who do this, there are also many scammers.
It's
also important to note that if anything a healer does anything that
makes you uncomfortable, you should speak up, and they should stop
immediately. (This can happen, for example, if an energetic process
feels too intense for you, or affects you in an uncomfortable way.) You
should feel free to question them, before, during, and after a session.
You should never feel pressured to return for subsequent visits.
Though there are many commonalities, a particular type of healer may appeal to you more than others. You can find out about some of the more well-known kinds of energy work here.
You may also enjoy a detailed case study of one of my own sessions as an energy healer. It's just one session and one healer, and they're all different, but it does give an idea of the scope of what can happen, which can go far beyond physical healing.
And you can find some tips on finding a reputable energy healer here.
Return to About Energy Healing main page.
Interested in learning more about energy, energy healing, and the chakras? Try my book, Chakra Care: Do-It-Yourself Energy Healing for a More Joyful, Loving, Fruitful Life. You'll learn
to clear, nurture and support your chakras with 500 fun, down-to-earth
activities. A user-friendly, practical guide, available as a paperback
or Kindle. Learn more or buy it here.