[FW] Energy Healing: on the Rise

[Guest guest]

Energy Healing: on the Rise

by Kylie Loynd

Based on an interview with Gloria Two-Feathers, founder and director of

EarthWalk School of Energy Healing

Newly relocated to Woodinville, WA, east of Seattle, is EarthWalk School of

Energy Healing, where students from across the nation come to study the art

and science of energy healing. In 2001, EarthWalk opened as the first

state-licensed energy healing school in Washington and the second in the nation.

EarthWalk's program is offered in a series of weeklong intensives over the course

of a year and a half. The curriculum covers the theory and techniques of

energy healing, related sciences such as anatomy and physiology and basic

business training. It also provides real world experience through student clinics,

and internship programs with health-care providers.

Do you remember when "alternative medicine" was an edgy subject? Now, taking

a centering breath before broaching the topic is rarely necessary. Many of

us already know the name of a good acupuncturist or craniosacral practitioner,

have a naturopath as a primary care physician or make regular visits to a

chiropractor or massage therapist. Better still, a health care plan is probably

footing part of the bill. These alternative medicines were the icebreakers,

readying the medical mainstream for the crest of the next alternative wave:

energy healing.

"Energy healing isn't about curing, but it is part of the cure; it's a part

of what is missing," says EarthWalk's director, Gloria Two-Feathers.

Conventional western medical science focuses on the cure: for example, wounds from a

car accident that need stitching to mend. Energy work focuses on deeper

healing, such as a resulting fear of driving that may linger after those physical

injuries have recovered. In addition, energy healing can help to develop a

strong mind-body connection to prevent future distress.

Energy healing is a broad term that includes any healing that restores or

balances the flow of energy in the body. The practice is based on the belief

that our health (physical, mental, spiritual) is directly tied to the

unobstructed flow of our energetic system and that blockages stress our well-being and

eventually lead to disease. Most commonly, energy healing is associated with

a range of techniques involving light, color, sound and hands-on practice,

which includes all work with the chakra* system. The term "energy healing"

seems to be a catchall phrase for the energy modalities that conventional

western medicine has yet to accept. Naturopathy, homeopathy and craniosacral

practice all involve energy work. In addition, many hospitals and hospices offer

energy healing through Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch and Reiki.

Practitioners of yoga, tai chi and qi gong work with life-force energy through postures

and movements. Hmmm... That crazy notion that life is energy seems to be

catching on...

As a practice that has yet to find an accepted scientific measurement, energy

work's "woo-woo" reputation has kept it from the official embrace of the

professional medical community. But some MDs are willing to speak out about its

effectiveness. Dr. Dean Chier of Seattle Healing Arts asked , his

EarthWalk intern, to extend the length of her internship at his office. He says,

"It's interesting to compare my allopathic sense of what is going on — and my

intuitive sense — with 's reviews." Dr. Chier refers his patients to energy

healers in cases where he notices that the need for emotional healing is

hindering their physical healing. When referring, he uses a combination of

personal interview and skill assessment to determine the legitimacy of the

practitioner's work. He says that you can "learn" Reiki in a three-day intensive,

so finds the idea of energy schools with higher standards encouraging. When I

observe that he sounds like an unusual M.D., Dr. Chier laughs. "I trained at

a very traditional medical school, and at the end of my schooling I found

that I had learned a lot about disease and pharmacology and very little about

health, healing and balance."

When Gloria opened EarthWalk, the only other state licensed school in the

nation was the Barbara Brennan School of Healing in Florida. Gloria recognized

that there was a need "to move energy healing out of the dark." She wanted to

help bring honor and respect to the profession by establishing a licensed

vocational school. Gloria points out that a student can obtain a certificate of

"graduation" from a program of any length or caliber. Accountability is the

name of the licensing game: the school's accountability to the public good and

the student's accountability to the course material. State licensing for a

school is an extensive process requiring submission of detailed lesson plans,

policies and procedures. The state evaluates the initial curriculum based on

its materials, its ability to meet course objectives and concrete measurement

of student progress through testing. They review course work and student

records annually. For all of these reasons, graduates of state licensed schools

find that their education garners a high level of professional and public

respect as well as better career opportunities.

An increasing sense of professionalism is developing throughout the energy

healing field. Gloria's 564-hour program includes instruction in business

management and ethics. EarthWalk students are required to carry liability

insurance. The fact that they've graduated from a state licensed school allows them

to upgrade to professional liability insurance. The school holds temporary

clinics in which students are able to practice their skills with volunteer

clients from the public. Internship programs introduce them to professionals in

the medical community. Additionally, Brennan's school recently established the

country's first Bachelor of Science degree in energy healing.

As a licensed practice itself, though, energy healing is not a likely

candidate. The state establishes professional licensing only for fields that carry

a risk of public endangerment. As a complementary therapy that involves no

physical manipulation, energy healing is considered a safe practice.

Increasingly, students with a traditional medical background are coming to

energy healing schools: doctors, nurses and veterinarians who desire to augment

their work with skills in energy healing. Billing for those skills — or even

mentioning that they are being used — is another issue altogether.

Alternative medical newsletters abound with anecdotal data obtained from MDs who

request to remain anonymous, lest they find themselves disbarred from or laughed

out of their professional circles. Public pressure has resulted in medical

insurance coverage of many alternative services, but not energy healing — yet.

Personal benefit drives demand — ultimately the market will follow suit.

Taking its measure: For purposes of study, energy healing is included under

the umbrella of complementary alternative medicine (CAM). In 2004, the

National Institute of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative

Medicine (NCCAM) released their latest study reporting that 62 percent of the

U.S. population uses some form of CAM in its broadest definition, up from 42

percent reported in 1997. In 1997, out-of-pocket expeditures for Americans were

more that $27 billion for CAM, compared to $29 billion for physician

services. The 2004 study did not track expenditures. Following the money is highly

relevant; what's up with that? However you measure it — as a complement to

western medicine or as a substitute — the practice of alternative medicine,

including energy healing, is on the rise.

* In Ayurvedic medicine, the belief is that the body's vital energy flows

from the feet to the top of the head, concentrating in seven major sites called

chakras. Blocked or misdirected chakra energy affects our overall

well-being.

EarthWalk School of Energy Healing at 866-533-0667 or

_www.earthwalkschool.com_ (http://www.earthwalkschool.com/)

For a listing of alternative medical programs:

Natural Healers at _www.naturalhealers.com_ (http://www.naturalhealers.com/)

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at

_www.nccam.nih.gov_ (http://www.nccam.nih.gov/)