AGING IS A CHOICE – Part 4 – Complementary Practices
There are many complementary practices that work with energy and the subconscious mind to direct the way we age. For this segment, I will focus on a few that work for me. They are moving life force energy, hypnosis, and Ho’oponopono. You might ask, how do these complement the way we age? The answer is simple. The healthier the practices we choose to add into our daily lives, the better we feel and the more positive our perspective is about getting older. With that in mind, let’s take a dive into a few more effective ways to get younger as we age.
REIKI
When we learn how to remove blockages and allow our life force energy to flow more easily, it helps prevent stagnation that can lead to dis-ease. My go-to practice for this is Reiki.
Reiki has its origin in ancient India and was rediscovered by Master Usui in Japan following a period when this healing art had disappeared. The word Reiki means the higher power or spirit that guides the life force energy. It is based on the premise that when our vital energies are low, we become prone to illness. When our energies are high, we are more vibrant, cheerful, and healthy.
The art of Reiki works by intending energy into the crown of the head, then through the body and out of the hands of the practitioner to break up energetic blockages. This clearing allows energy to flow freely throughout the body’s meridians. To help understand how this works, imagine your body is like a stream choked by many stones. Now think of Reiki energy moving the stones aside that are preventing the water from flowing freely down the stream. With the obstacles cleared, the stream moves along peacefully and full of life.
Whenever I feel energetically blocked or stuck, I lay on my back and give myself a Reiki session using my hands to flow life force energy to various places across my body. I am a certified Reiki Master/Teacher, so I use the traditional methods to give myself a session. These days, Reiki is available in many places for people to receive a session or to become certified practitioners themselves.
If you are not able to connect to a Reiki practitioner to get a session and want to start a safe practice of moving the life force energy through your body at home, here is a simple and safe practice you can try on your own. Begin by bringing yourself into a meditative space. Sit or lie down comfortably and relax your body by breathing deep, full, gentle breaths. Then imagine as you inhale that healing life force energy enters through the top of your head, through your body, and moves down to the toes. With your exhale, imagine the same energy flow up the toes, through your body and then out through the top of your head. Just a few minutes of flowing the life force energy through your body will make a difference in how you feel.
HYPNOSIS
When people think of hypnosis, the first thought that comes to mind is of a hypnotist on-stage making a person or group of individuals cluck like a chicken or bark like a dog while under a hypnotic spell. This is called stage hypnosis, and although the same tenants are used as traditional hypnosis, stage hypnosis is geared for entertainment, while traditional hypnosis helps people resolve deep-seated issues rooted in their subconscious.
Hypnosis by a trained hypnotist helps an individual directly access their subconscious mind to identify an issue and the solution required to address it. A hypnotist does not heal you. They will help you find the cause and the solution. Then, you do the work to heal yourself.
I was introduced to hypnosis when I wanted to stop smoking. I went to a psychotherapist who was also a trained hypnotist to help me uncover the reasons why I wanted to make this change. After an induced “meditation” my therapist tapped into my subconscious and helped me realize the benefits of becoming a non-smoker versus remaining a smoker. I was delighted to learn that after the first session, I became a non-smoker for two months. At the time, I thought the hypnotist had done the work and I did nothing. I quickly learned that this was not the case. Although the hypnotist helped me to speak directly to my subconscious, I was the one doing the actual work of reprogramming my subconscious mind. It was a great lesson and upon that realization, I returned for another session and have remained a non-smoker for the past thirty years.
If you do not have access to a clinical hypnotist yet want to work with the power of our subconscious mind to handle life’s challenges and become healthier by dropping self-defeating habits and adopting life-affirming ones, there are many books on the subject that teach you how to do so. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy is one of the classics in this field. However, there are many out there, just do a little research and you’ll find the one right for you.
HO’OPONOPONO
Ho’oponopono is a Hawaiian practice and prayer that cleanses us of all negative thoughts. By directing the following phrases to the cause of your discomfort, you can “clean” yourself and transform the experience and your relationships with people. The four phrases are simple and can be said in any order.
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.”
The concept behind Ho’oponopono is that everything comes from within us individually, even the sources of our pain. It’s never about the other person or situation. We are responsible and accountable for the problems we experience. By repeating the four phrases, we “clean” those subconscious programs running in the background. These words cause a transformative, healing process. I learned about Ho’ponopono from Dr. Joe Vitale, and I practice all day, every day. I am always “cleaning”, and it works in ways I don’t understand.
For example, if I am having trouble getting my car fixed at the garage, I Ho’oponopono my car, the mechanics, the coordinators, the garage, and office space. It sounds a bit crazy, but by doing it, I feel better, I interact with everyone better, and somehow things move along more smoothly. What’s this got to do with aging? When I choose to meet difficulty by clearing the negativity of the situation by using a strategy like Ho’oponopono, I feel less stress physically, emotionally, and mentally. By releasing and clearing away toxic experiences that drain me, I’m left with more life-affirming energy and positivity for the things I want to focus on and accomplish in my life.
This practice can also help clean and transform your relationship with your own body. Just Ho’oponopono any area where you feel blocked or harbor any negative thoughts. When you have a positive relationship with your own body, it’s much easier to have a brighter outlook on your health. When in doubt, simply say or intend the words, “I love you” and feel the magic as you clean.
You can reap great benefits from each of the above practices by remaining openminded, committed, and relatively consistent in your practices. In closing, I am not promising these complementary practices will make you younger overnight, but I believe they will help make you feel more positive, energized, and vital. I hope you will give them a try.
