Energy Healing History
Now
“As a wise person once said … Why do we call it “alternative medicine” when it is the “original medicine” that humans have used for thousands of years? “Modern medicine” was only discovered 100 years ago!”
Then
The principles of holistic therapy date back thousands of years. Sound therapy, for instance, has roots as far back as 4000 BCE, when it was used to align the body and promote good health. Studies suggest that ancient societies even built resonant structures to harness the therapeutic effects of sound. These auditory temples, as we might call them today, were used by healer-priests to treat patients in an early form of a hospital setting.
Sound healing was just one of the many energy-based therapies practiced by ancient cultures. Chinese healers, for example, discovered the meridian pathways thousands of years ago, establishing a foundational understanding of energy flow within the body. This discovery spurred a range of energy healing techniques, many of which are still in practice today. When considering holistic therapy through this broader lens, we can see its rich history spans various traditions, from indigenous beliefs and religious practices to modern spirituality and even quantum physics.
Ancient artifacts and architectural sites, as well as the ongoing use of certain symbols, continue to reflect the importance of these healing traditions. The roots of holistic therapy are still visible today in the emblems of medical organizations worldwide. The iconic image of one or two snakes coiled around a staff, for example, pays homage to the origins of medicine. This symbol dates back to ancient Greek and Egyptian civilizations, where snakes were revered for their ability to shed their skin—a potent symbol of renewal and rebirth. The icon was used by healer priests of the time, based on the belief that:
“Everything is energy & that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want & you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way”
Albert Einstein
Now…
The ability to access ancient healing practices without needing detailed knowledge of their origins or mechanics is a remarkable phenomenon. Take Reiki, for example: while formally developed in the early 1900s, its roots extend across various ancient cultures. Reiki, like many holistic therapies, channels energy to foster healing. Yet experiencing its effects doesn’t require prior knowledge or an understanding of how it works. Rather than asking us to transcend our consciousness or alter our lifestyle, holistic healing therapies simply invite us to open ourselves to possibility.
Reiki is Love, Love is wholeness, Wholeness is Balance, Balance is Well Being, Well Being is Freedom from Dis(ease)
Dr Mikao Usui – Founder of the Reiki Principle
If we examine the fundamental principles underlying nearly all forms of medicine and healing, the inextricable goal is often to achieve homeostasis, or balance. However, the approaches to attaining this balance can be convoluted and influenced by history, geography, and cultural norms. In the Western world, though, we are beginning to see a shift. New avenues are opening up, allowing for a broader range of medications and healing options to emerge. Even within the traditionally prescriptive framework of Western medicine, an increasing number of medical institutions and organizations are beginning to recommend holistic healing methods to complement conventional treatments.
If we examine the fundamental principles underlying nearly all forms of medicine and healing, the inextricable goal is often to achieve homeostasis, or balance. However, the approaches to attaining this balance can be convoluted and influenced by history, geography, and cultural norms. In the Western world, though, we are beginning to see a shift. New avenues are opening up, allowing for a broader range of medications and healing options to emerge. Even within the traditionally prescriptive framework of Western medicine, an increasing number of medical institutions and organizations are beginning to recommend holistic healing methods to complement conventional treatments.
Rather than growing up with this inherent knowledge, or being made aware of its synonymous importance. Many of us, in the Western world, could be excused for thinking of healing, within the realms of the pharmaceutical industry. Without having a background or previous knowledge into energy healing; we might also be forgiven for thinking, it is all a bit “new age”, “far fetched” or “woo woo”. There are, however, many countries around the world; including the East; that have a very different perspective of this.
If we delved into the fundamental principles, behind almost all forms of medicine & healing; the inextricable link would no doubt; be in aiming to bring about homeostasis (balance). Yet, the manner in which this is sought is often convoluted and far-reaching. Based upon the history; location & culture; or on what is perceived to be the “norm”. In the Western world, things may be starting to change. With avenues beginning to open up; allowing for a wider variety of medications and healing options to “breakthrough”. Even within the mainly prescriptive West, there has been an increase in the number of medical institutions & organisations; recommending holistic healing, to work alongside “traditional” medications.
Classified as either alternative or complementary, various forms of holistic and energy healing practices are experiencing a resurgence, with a wider array of therapies now more readily available.
Holistic practices are increasingly recognised for their safety and compatibility with conventional medical advice, making them more appealing to patients and healthcare providers alike. While the types of therapies recommended may vary by country or organization, there has been significant interest in techniques such as Reiki, acupuncture, homeopathy, meditation, reflexology, and acupressure, among others, in recent years.
In addition to this, many other forms of energetic work are also experiencing a resurgence, such as yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong. These practices for cultivating "life force energy" have become so mainstream in the West that they are now fully integrated into the daily lives of many. Other techniques, like crystal therapy and sound healing, are also gaining traction. A simple online search for terms like "study music" or "binaural beats" reveals a fascinating array of sound healing options, rooted in ancient practices. The renowned Pythagoras, often referred to as the "Father of Music," "Father of Mathematics," and "Father of Geometry," likened the process of sound healing to “soul adjustments.”
To further illustrate this trend, many tourist hotspots around the world have seen an explosion of crystal shops, reflecting their newfound popularity.
As we navigate this apparent revival of energy healing, with buzzwords like “wellness” and “well-being” thrown around everywhere, can we still be forgiven for viewing the “new age” principles of energy healing as “far-fetched”? If we want to explore these methods for ourselves or help our animal companions, how do we know where to start? Is this journey something we need to actively seek out, or is it more about addressing what already exists within us? As esteemed author and alternative medicine teacher Rachel Naomi Remen suggests:
“Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that isn’t you – all of the expectations, all of the beliefs – and becoming who you are”.
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