What is energy work?

Energy work is a holistic or alternative medicine treatment in which energy or life force from the universe is used to increase personal energy and energetic balance. Adjustments are made to the human energy field, which restore, maintain and improve health and well-being. Energy work systems exist in most cultures and have been around since the beginning of recorded history.

What are the different types of energy work?

Energy work methods include Polarity, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Chi gong, Tai chi, Reiki, Therapeutic touch, Huna, and many "laying on of hands" practices. Also included are other energy-based treatments such as crystal healing, Homeopathy and flower essences.

What is the difference between traditional medicine and holistic practices?

In medicine, there are two primary views of health and wellness. The allopathic theory is that disease and health problems are caused by germs or injury and can be treated entirely with measures such as antibiotics, antiseptics, other medicines, and surgery. This view has been the dominant theory in the last century. The Holistic theory points out that humans are not separate from their environment and that disease and wellness derive from the total life condition of the individual.

What is Polarity Therapy?

Polarity Therapy, created by Dr. Randolph Stone, is a holistic system that allows you to rediscover your inner beauty in a gentle way. Polarity promotes deep relaxation and revitalization by balancing the body’s energy. Once you are relaxed, your own natural intelligence will automatically correct any temporary imbalance of energy, and good health will be restored.

Polarity works because it is designed to help the whole person, not just the part that hurts. Through love energy, positive thoughts and attitudes, gentle manipulation, mild exercise, and proper dietary habits, a true feeling of wellness can be achieved.

Polarity Therapy seeks harmonization with your environment and nature. A healthy body is dependent on its ability to maintain free-flowing energy circuits. Any obstruction results in pain and eventually illness.

Dr. Stone believed that the only true disease is a disturbance or blockage to the flow of life energy. Energy imbalances manifest as pain and illness. An uninterrupted and abundant flow of life energy results in good health.

The name Polarity relates to a fundamental law of nature: the attraction and union of opposites through a balanced mid-point. The human body is an energy system, just like a battery or magnet (positive, negative and neutral poles with currents of energy flowing through them). To maintain good health, the life energy must flow freely and easily through all the body’s energy systems

Life energy is the link between the mind and body. As Dr. Stone frequently remarked, "As we think, so we are". Negative thought patterns effect us physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. A healthy body is the reflection of a healthy mind. Polarity promotes greater self-awareness, understanding and self-acceptance, encouraging a more positive attitude in you and in life.

Are there any contra-indications for Polarity Therapy?

There are very few contra-indications for Polarity Therapy. It can be used to treat a full spectrum of conditions from those related to physical trauma to those problems associated with mental and emotional stress. Back pain, digestive disturbances, menstrual and reproductive problems, headaches, arthritis, sinus conditions, Fibromyalgia, and physical injuries are only some of the specific conditions that can be helped with Polarity.

What is the difference between energy work and spiritual healing?

Energy work is separate from and different than spiritual healing. Spiritual healing is based on spiritual or religious traditions and methods such as prayer and invoking God(s) or faith healing. Most kinds of energy work such as Polarity, Acupressure, Tai chi, and Reiki do not require any faith or adherence to any particular religion or philosophy. They will work with or without a spiritual or religious component. Holistic treatment usually considers spiritual health an essential element of complete wellness.

What is a Holistic Massage?

Holistic massage combines traditional massage techniques with a variety of energy healing work. The work is usually experienced on a deeper, more profound level than a simple massage. The goal of a holistic session is to more fully integrate the mind, body, and spirit into a unified system.

Must I disrobe during my session?

It depends entirely on the type of session you are having. Energy work is usually conducted with the client fully clothed. For a massage session, the client is asked to disrobe to his or her level of comfort. During the session, the client is always fully draped, exposing only the portion of the body that is being massaged. Generally speaking, the more clothing, the more limited my options to treat effectively. In special situations, massage can be performed on a fully dressed client.

Are there contra-indications for Holistic Massage?

Certain conditions might limit or prohibit massage. Varicose veins, blood clots, cardiac conditions, diabetes, high-risk pregnancies, local or systemic infections, infectious skin diseases and inflammatory conditions causing heat, redness, swelling or pain must all be reviewed and considered individually. Always check with your doctor if there is any doubt. Even if massage is not recommended, most conditions can still be effectively treated through energy work.

Are holistic practices just "New Age Voodoo"?

No. Holistic theory is gaining acceptance by mainstream medicine as more evidence that supports this theory is discovered. Psychologists and traditional medical doctors are seeing the relationship between happiness and health. Traditional Asian medicine techniques, which use holistic methods for diagnosis and treatment, are becoming recognized in the West as effective for many conditions including pain relief and stress.

Should I see a doctor if I am sick or not feeling well?

Yes! Neither energy work nor massage is a substitute for traditional allopathic medical treatment, but rather supports and enhances it. Energy work and massage have repeatedly been shown to be effective additions to conventional treatment of physical, mental, and emotional conditions. They are often helpful for pain relief, stress reduction and shortening recovery time.

Why do you use hot stones, crystals and essential oils in your sessions?

Hot stones, crystals and essential oils bring another dimension to the session. Each has its own unique healing properties, which can be very effective during a treatment session.

Harvested from the shores of Newport, RI, each stone was personally selected by me for a specific purpose. The stones have a denser, more nurturing quality. When I lay them along the chest, abdomen and pelvic area, my clients report that they feel protected, comforted, and loved.

Crystals are transmitters. They help me move the energy more quickly through the systems. When I do a full crystal layout on the body, clients frequently feel the energy moving through them. It can be a powerful sensation.

Essential oils, which I blend for the particular needs of my client, can help sooth and balance the body’s systems. Used during a holistic massage session, the pleasingly scented aromatic oils produce both psychological and physiological effects as they are rubbed into the skin and absorbed into the bloodstream.

How long should I allow for a session?

A typical session lasts approximately 2 hours and includes approximately 90 minutes table time, depending on the needs of the client. The healing work doesn’t occur just on the table. Energy counseling before and after the table work is equally important. I build into my sessions enough time to talk so that my clients have an adequate opportunity to go over issues and concerns. What I learn from my client at the beginning of the session guides me during the remainder of our time together.

How does Astrology fit into your work?

Counseling is a major component of my work and astrology is merely another tool at my disposal. The practice of astrology has two main purposes. 1) to gain understanding of present or past situations and 2) to help people adapt to the unexpected and prepare them to make better use of future opportunities. My work as an astrologer and energy counselor is not to predict the future, but to help my clients acquire insight and understanding into their lives.

What is required for an astrology reading?

Birth date, birth time and the place of birth are all required. For the best results, birth times must be as exact as possible. Birth certificates, family bibles, hospital or town records are all possible resources if mother’s memory is fuzzy.

Must I be present for a reading?

No. Readings can be done in person or over the telephone. A tape of the reading is provided at the end of the session.

What does Mercury Retrograde mean?

A planet is described as retrograde when it appears to be moving backwards through the zodiac. Retrograde periods are not particularly uncommon. Each planet retrogrades, except the Sun and Moon.

A retrograde period is best seen as a cycle, beginning when the planet begins to slow to a halt before traveling backwards through the zodiac and ending when the planet returns to the point where it first paused. However, during the cycle, the planet’s energy is most powerful when the planet makes a station, appearing motionless in the sky.

These stationary periods occur near the beginning of the cycle (when the planet first halts as it prepares to move backwards) and midway through the cycle when the retrograde planet slows to a stop before moving forward again. The "direct station" (when the planet halts before moving forward again) is the most powerful. The "Mercury Shadow" begins when Mercury slows significantly, a few days before the retro station and extends to the Return date, a few days after the direct station.

What does Mercury affect?

In general, Mercury rules thinking and perception, processing and disseminating information, and all means of communication, commerce and transportation. By extension, Mercury rules people who work in these areas, especially people who work with their minds or their wits: writers and orators, commentators and critics, gossips and spin doctors, tricksters and thieves.

Mercury retrograde fosters personal misunderstandings; flawed, disrupted, or delayed communications, negotiations and trade; glitches and breakdowns with phones, computers, cars, buses, and trains. And all of these problems usually arise because some crucial piece of information, or component, has gone astray, or awry.

Therefore, it is not wise to make important decisions while Mercury is retrograde, since it is very likely that these decisions will be clouded by misinformation, poor communication and careless thinking. Mercury is all about mental clarity and the power of the mind, so when Mercury is retrograde, these intellectual characteristics tend to be less acute than usual.

The key issue here is one of focus. Mercury’s retro phase tends to bring unforeseen changes and blockages, but the aggravation and frustration that many of us experience during these periods is often due to our own inability to roll with the punches. Mercury sets out to restructure our thinking processes and for many of us this is painful and frustrating. Moreover, these experiences reveal flaws in our internal organization as well as our external planning, which can make us feel foolish and inadequate.

Mercury retrograde, like any cosmic aspect, affects people differently, depending on where it hits their personal charts. Some people actually prosper under retro Mercury, especially if Mercury is retrograde but otherwise well aspected in their birth charts. It is also a time when matters begun under a previous retro period will come to fruition, or completion as the case may be. Firm decisions that have been previously made when Mercury is traveling normally through the zodiac may be implemented or finalized while Mercury is retrograde without too much worry, for experience shows that this can be done without undue problems arising.

The good things to do when Mercury is Retrograde: meditate, contemplate, edit the book/poem/song/essay you’ve been writing, clean house, talk to your pet, listen to music, paint, catch up on sleep, go on vacation!

What is a Void-of-Course Moon?

Every 28.5 days, the Moon makes a complete circle through the twelve signs, spending approximately 2.5 days in each sign. During this cycle, there are times when the Moon is still traveling through a sign, but it has no more aspects to make before it moves into the next sign. This time is when the Moon is Void-of-course (VOC).

The Moon goes VOC every two days or so, and this can last anywhere from a couple of minutes, a couple of hours or a couple of days. There is a distinctive quality to the energy during a void-of-course Moon: stores and restaurants are unusually quiet, judgment is impaired, and many people have a hard time making decisions. Business meetings can take a strange turn, and people find it difficult to work together as a group.

How can I use the Void-of-Course Moon positively? *

  • Routine goes well, but take care when starting new projects.
  • Organize and throw out the clutter: This is an opportunity to get rid of the piles of papers and junk that have been accumulating. Files may be reorganized, desks and closets cleaned out; it is easy during a void-of-course Moon to see what is needed and what should be discarded. With blockages cleared, the natural flow of harmony and balance is restored. When the Moon enters into the next sign, there is a noticeable "sweetness" to the space that is created.
  • Spiritual disciplines like yoga or meditation take on a new dimension. Problems can be put on hold, and a state of inner peace is possible at these times. A luxurious timelessness pervades the senses. Music can be felt more deeply, and nuances of emotions are distinct.
  • Edit and correct: Writers use this time to revise their work. New ways of expressing ideas can be found during this time.
  • Take stock of your surroundings: Shortages, mistakes, and missing items are more noticeable during the void.
  • Sleep: Lazy morning and afternoon naps are especially tranquil when the Moon is void of course, and the line between sleeping and waking is deliciously blurred. Lucid dreaming can be encouraged by instructing the mind to find answers through dreams.
  • Relax and "hang loose": Take time off to restore and replenish your internal batteries.
  • Look ahead and be prepared: This can be a most productive time for making "to do" lists and reviewing the status of projects. It is easy to see what needs to be brought up to date during the void-of-course Moon. Much can be accomplished, and a profound sense of clarity and satisfaction is often experienced.
  • Social events with friends can be giddy and intoxicatingly fun. Do not serve food that takes too much preparation.
  • Travel: The void-of-course Moon can be a good time to take a trip, if someone else is doing the driving. A journey by air, train, boat, or bus can be relaxing, and the time will pass easily. This is because the trip is routine to the bus driver or pilot and airline attendants.
  • Try something you’ve never done before. It’s not sensible to try rock climbing for the first time or to make a demo tape to launch your singing career, but it can be liberating to try a new activity when the Moon is void of course. A pioneering attitude in artistic pursuits brings results that range from groundbreaking to bizarre; intellectual and philosophical brainstorming can yield innovative ideas.
  • The inner voice can be heard keenly now: Intuition is strong during this time. Inner reflection can be more profound, and inner conflicts can be resolved.

What shouldn’t I do during a Void-of-Course Moon? *

  • Do not start important or life-changing projects during the void-of-course Moon: The outcome will not be what you want or expect. We all have undertakings that remain unfinished; this is just one of the causes.
  • Try to avoid meeting new people: A first date or job interview should not be scheduled during the void. People you first meet while the Moon is VOC will not be who they appear to be; you tend to see them through rose-colored glasses, and this kind of euphoria doesn’t last. Disappointment and frustration result when they (or you) don’t live up to the image. If the other person suggests a time that is void for a first meeting, counter with a time of your choice, but if this person insists, then go ahead - just stay alert for setbacks and hindrances to a long-term relationship.
  • Do not start a new job when the Moon is void of course. If you must start during a VOC, be prepared: The job will either turn out to be something other than what you expect or you will leave in an unforeseen way.
  • Plans made during the void-of-course Moon do not turn out as expected: This can be used in a constructive way. Say, for example, that there is a luncheon you don’t want to attend, a relative you don’t want to meet, or a meeting you don’t want to take place. By making plans during a void-of-course Moon, it is sometimes possible to steer clear of these events.
  • Items bought during a void Moon do not fulfill their intended purpose. The void is a perfect time to go to the dollar store. Sometimes, the bargain-basement item proves indispensable, and the inexpensive gift intended for someone else is something you’ll want to keep and treasure forever.

What are your hours?

Monday - Friday: I typically book clients at 10:00am, 2:00pm, & 5:30pm
Saturdays: 10:00am & 2:00pm

All sessions are by appointment only.

* Void-of-Course do’s and don’ts excerpted from "Understanding the Void-of-Course Moon" by Jenni Stone, which appeared in The Mountain Astrologer, Oct/Nov 2003.

 

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