What Happened When I Tried Energy Healing For Burnout

I stepped out of my car and took my first few steps toward the large, brown, and unassuming commercial building off the expressway. As I walked to the building, I said a little prayer. I didn't know what I was getting myself into, but I was desperate to find a tool to help me feel better and more like myself.

Before starting my journey towards healing, I dealt with quite a bit: low energy, lack of clarity, resentment, and I couldn't seem to tap into my intuition. There were many culprits at that point: the current state of the States, the life comparisons none of us want to admit we make on social media, and the overall exhaustion of trying to balance work, passion projects, and volunteering.

I was burnt out.

I was moody, forgetting things, and had an overall pessimistic view of my future. The pressures were mounting and I couldn't seem to get any relief. I started to research different healing modalities like EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique also known as tapping), grounding exercises, and meditation. I also researched energy healing and ultimately decided to try it.

Energy healing was used in ancient cultures throughout the world to stimulate the body's natural ability to heal. It's not specifically tied to a religion or any spiritual practice. Of course, energy is in everything, so it can be beneficial to anyone.

Walking up the stairs to the suite, I noticed a shift. The once-sterile building entrance turned into a bright and buzzing office space. There was a welcoming staff, yogis preparing for class, and mindfulness flyers on the wall. I tiptoed to my seat in the waiting area. (In my mind, if I tiptoed and kept quiet, I wouldn't throw off the positive energy that was oozing through the walls, carpet, and the people all around me.) Not too long after, my practitioner came out to greet me. Have you ever met someone and in an instant you knew they were good people? Yeah, that was my immediate reaction to her. Her vibe was compassionate and earnest.

Before the session began, I chatted for about ten minutes with my practitioner. We talked about how I was referred to her (by a friend), some of the things I was struggling with, what I wanted to work on, and what would actually happen during the session. This mini therapy-like conversation really helped ease my apprehension. First off, it's always nice to talk to a caring individual about what you are going through. Their objectiveness and active listening are healing in itself. Secondly, she described to me exactly what was going to happen, which helped a scary-ish person like me to relax even more.

It's safe to assume no one energy healer is the same. But, generally, you can expect to have a conversation about some of your challenges and your intentions. My facilitator had a very well-lit room that was filled with the aroma of essential oils. Meditation music was playing and I laid face up on a massage table. I just took off my shoes. From my research, this is what typically happens with any healer.

As she started the work, I thought about my intention, which was to receive clarity. Listen, I have to be honest, I kept my eyes closed the entire session because it was so relaxing. The best way to describe it is when someone is washing or styling your hair. You know that feeling when you start nodding off in the salon chair? You're so relaxed, it's almost impossible to keep your eyes open. That is how I felt at times, but I never went to sleep, and I was totally aware of my surroundings.

My energy healer started at my feet and she held them lightly. It seemed like she worked on my feet for a while. There were times that I saw bright colors like orange and yellow, giant redwood trees, and felt tingly sensations throughout my body. But, I can't stress enough how peaceful and relaxing the process was.

Seeing the colors or feeling the sensations weren't scary at all.

From there, she touched my knee area. Then, she continued up my body (my stomach area, my neck, and the center of my forehead). This may sound a bit woo-woo, but as she worked each energy center, I sensed affirmative phrases like, "You are safe," "It's working out."

When it was done, she had to nudge me. I wasn't sleep, but more in a meditative state. When I sat up, I felt so much lighter. I was shocked at the immediate difference I felt. We talked about my experience and I told her about the huge trees I saw when she worked on my feet. She said that she was grounding and rooting me, and it was amazing that I saw the trees. I also told her the words that came to me. She shared some insights to help me continue to work on my healing and gave me ideas for affirmations to use and some self-care tips.

Here are some of the self-care tips my practitioner suggested:

• Start the day with intention. I was so busy and exhausted that I would rush out of bed, get dressed, and go straight to work. My energy healer suggested that I think of a word, phrase, or feeling that I wanted to commit to for that day. Intentions help you become more mindful of how you move through your day. Some of my past intentions are:
  • I intend to be gentle with myself today.
  • I intend to find beauty all around me today.
  • I intended to laugh a lot today.
• Say "no". This is a pretty simple tip, but always a good reminder. She encouraged me to begin to decline invites, opportunities, or anything that didn't excite me.
• Tell the story you want to live. Often we think and talk about the things we don't want to happen and of course, those things tend to happen. My practitioner reminded me the power of my words and that I should make a habit to think about what I really wanted. Not only does it put me in a better mood, but it often manifests.

A few of the affirmations she gave me were:

• Everything is working out for my highest good.
• I am Divinely guided.
• I let go and flow with life.

Needless to say, after that session, I felt clearer and was more confident in the decisions I made. I've had a few more sessions since then where I focused more on forgiveness, and I've found them to be just as beneficial. Energy healing can be a powerful tool to use if you are feeling stuck.

After all, energy doesn't lie.

Featured image by Shutterstock

Originally published June 12, 2019