Working with Energy, Part 2
Last article I described how there were two major forms of energy, active and passive, and how there were two subforms inherent or learned. Being complicated life forms, we as humans have all four energy forms. We have the active-inherent which keeps our hearts beating and out thoughts thinking, we have the active-learned which is the skills we learn as we grow such as what is used in walking, typing, making faces, etc. We have the passive-inherent which is the energy stored within fat and muscle tissue to draw upon in times of stress and illness, and we also have the passive learned energy such as that which is the energy held in reserve such as that which runners build up in their legs, hearts and lungs for the pressures of the race. As humans we also have one thing more which is not actually and energy on it's own, but a way of accessing nearly all stored energies, regardless of type, and using them in one colossal surge. This is what is seen when a car accident injures a child and the mother single-handedly lifts the car off her child, this is the energy that is seen when someone stays underwater longer than is normally possible to save someone else from drowning, this is what is seen when any one pushes far beyond their normal limits to accomplish a great feat. This 'energy' seems to stem from the mind and the mind alone. The mind is greatest tool, weapon and gift which we as humans possess.
Our minds are what differentiates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. Without our abilities to think, utilize, deduct and mentally manipulate, we are no different than the rest of the animals. There are animals which have serviceable hands (apes, monkeys, raccoons, etc.) and there are animals which are much better than we are as hunters. There are animals whose defensive tactics are much better than ours and animals who are much stronger.
What sets us aside as human is the mind. Our minds have created better weapons than those with which we were naturally endowed. Our minds are what figured a way for humans to survive in extreme climates. Our minds are what came up with a way to shelter us from marauding predators without having to climb trees or outrun them. Our minds are what devised ways to keep us fed throughout the long winter months when other animals must either hibernate or continue to hunt and forage.
This wonderful tool, the mind, is what we use to direct all the energies which we use. Some of the directions are conscious and some are 'automatic' or unconscious, but they are ALL directed by the mind. Without life in the brain, no single part of our bodies are able to function as a living, viable, being.
Our minds direct our bodies in actions such as running, swimming and jumping. Our minds direct the muscles of the heart to beat and the muscles of our lungs to contract and expand. Our minds direct the energies in many forms and several forms at one and the same time. Our minds can be trained to manipulate the energies outside our bodies as well as within.
As an exercise, close your eyes and begin to 'think yourself' sick at your stomach. If you have to, picture yourself accidentally swallowing something really nasty and foul. Queasy? Hehehehe. You have just exercised the power of your mind. Now, 'think yourself' well, picturing if necessary eating crackers or something that settles your stomach. Think of yourself as strong and brimming with energy. Feel better now?
This is just a small sample of what your mind is capable of doing. With practice, your mind can manipulate energies which are without as well as those which reside within.
As you learn the things I am going to try and teach you here, you can do away with the 'picturing' and just 'do it'.
The first thing we are going to deal with is using our internal energies to combat stress and that 'tired feeling'. The example I am going to use here is tired feet. Here is the background, you've worked all day long, standing on your feet and walking on hard floors. Your feet are so tired they're almost if not actually sore. Now for the mind work. Sit down in a comfortable position. Picture yourself standing ankle deep in a cool running stream, the sand soft and giving under your feet. Now sit down on the rock you picture behind yourself. It's exactly the right height for your feet to rest gently on the stream floor. In your mind, picture a painless hole in the heel and toes on each foot. Out these holes pours the tiredness and aches, into the stream bottom. Now mentally close off these holes and picture a channel opening up from the chest area all the way down to your feet. Once the channel is complete, 'see' the energy begin trickling down it to your feet and gradually increasing to a steady flow. If you want to add color, make the color a green for it's healing properties. 'See' the energy level in your feet begin building up by first puddling in the lower parts like the heel, the ball of the foot and the toe pads. 'See' the level slowly rise until all the puddles meet and keep 'watching' as the level rises up until the toes are filled, then the rest of your foot all the way to the ankle. At this point, your feet should be refreshed and ready to go again.
This same technique can be used to refresh, energize, and yes, even heal yourself. Just pick the portion of yourself and begin 'work'. By 'opening' and 'seeing' channels to other beings and things, you can also energize, help and heal others.
This energy which you are using is your own internal energy. It comes from within yourself.
A variant of this same 'seeing' is used in candle spells and other magick. You 'see' the channel open between yourself and the object until you have filled it, then you set a direction upon it and a trigger to release it. In candle magic, the trigger is the flame burning and melting the wax down, releasing the stored energy as it goes. In this way you can work a spell which may take more time than you have time to sit and 'send'. You can spend days or even weeks, charging candles, storing and 'programming' the energy ahead for a task that you would otherwise have to sit and 'work' on for a full day or more. For instance, you are going to be job hunting Monday, spend the weekend charging a large pillar candle to help you get a job. Before you leave Monday morning, light the candle, put it in a SAFE place, and it will release energy to you and your purpose all day long. A crystal can be done in much the same way. 'Charge' the crystal with your energy and purpose, perhaps a calming effect, and set the trigger as rubbing it. Wear the crystal on a necklace and when the stress hits, rub it for a 'quick fix' to calm you down.