Chapter 2: Stillness, wholeness and awakening

Stillness:

I see therefore, I am, I hear therefore, I am, I feel therefore I am, I speak, therefore, I am.  I think therefore, I create.  The cycles of life processes rotate around scientific laws and guidelines, but the true nature is at the root.  “Matter is made up of atoms and molecules (groupings of atoms) and energy causes the atoms and molecules to always be in motion - either bumping into each other or vibrating back and forth (NASA, 2015)”.  To understand the roots of matter, one must look at the more modern Quantum Mechanics known as Quantum Physics.  “Quantum physics is the study of the behavior of matter and energy at the molecular, atomic, nuclear, and even smaller microscopic levels” (Jones, 2015).  Neo- pagans and shamans have used these new fundamentals to understand a law called the law of vibration.  The law states that all things vibrate at a specific frequency.  Quantum Mechanics has broken down matter to the sub-atomic level, which is energy.  Therefore, all things in its smallest roots are energy and vibrate at a specific frequency.  In this workbook, we will be working with various types of energy.

Types of Energy:

• Personal Energy: Our personal energy, which maintains our mind and body, is limited, finite.  The body uses the energy to maintain conscious and unconscious functions. 
• Earth Energy: Unlimited reserves of energy, the earth can take our excess/negative energy and use it as fertilizer. This energy source is infinite.
• Sun Energy: Solar energy now powers homes, cars, etc. We can take in the energy and replenish our personal energy.
• Moon Energy: The moon has its own type of energy that can be used in night energy work. The moon's gravitational pull generates something called the tidal force. The tidal force causes Earth—and its water—to bulge out on the side closest to the moon and the side farthest from the moon (https://scijinks.gov/tides/, 2019).
• Divine Energy: Highly Powered unlimited source of energy used for greatest of need and often generated in ritual/circles.
• Sexual Energy: With more books out on the topic (Kink Magic, Tantra), energy between two partners during intercourse or individually through masturbation can raise a large amount of energy very quickly.  Sexual energy is more finite and limited if individual.   

Many spiritualist and scientist have worked to understand the workings of energy and matter.  When you place your hands close to each other, you feel a pressure that pushes between each other.  According to Andrew Jones and peers, “The Casimir Effect is a result of quantum physics that seems to defy the logic of the everyday world.  In this case, it results in energy from "empty space" actually exerting a force on physical objects”.  The theory of this is how two objects are close to another and by way of a vacuum/pressure exert a force.  The best way to explain the theory is the force between two magnets pushing away from each other.

As we know from science, heat is a warming up from one substance to another. “ Both the warming up and the cooling down of objects works in the same way - by heat transfer from the higher temperature object to the lower temperature object (Physics classroom, 2015).”  In Reiki, the individual lays his or her hands on an area on the body and the energy transferred is often a hot sensation.  A new theory that continues this thought process is the law of vibration.  This theory states that all things and all matter are energy, and all energy vibrates at a frequency.  Raise the vibration and an individual can change his or her molecular state thus inducing heat.  A common view on illness is that it resonates at a very low, cool vibration level.  Vibration healers believe that if they can raise the vibration of energy on a cellular level that will shift the illness and cause it to fade; or induce white blood cells to an area to fight the illness quickly.  All healers I have met still recommend seeking professional medical attention but do believe in the therapeutic values of Reiki and Vibration healing. 

Then what is stillness?  Are all things moving or at a frozen state?  When we meditate, we focus on breathing and taking a deeper level of oxygen thus raising our vibration.  Like the bellows of a forge, the increased air fuels the body and creates heat. A Wiccan belief is that higher levels of energetic ecstatic states of meditation can cause transcendental emotional, physical, and visual states (Campbell, 2007).  To become at a still state requires a balance of all levels, or according to a Wiccan priestess and medicine woman Cliona Nictavish, a balance of all worlds: the mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional world.  

Wholeness:

When you see the world change in season, how does it make you feel?  Many believe that the solar opposites are spring and fall which is only partially true.  The solar opposite season of balance is summer and winter.  Spring and fall are seasons of change and contain essence of both the opposite seasons of summer and winter.  The earth would not be whole without this balance of all seasons flourishing.  Winter is the cosmic reflection and death awaiting a solar rebirth.  Spring awakens creativity; and growth continues until the earth replants and awakens a new cycle.  Summer fills the land with solar fertilization and rains.  Fall is the great reaping and breaking down of the year’s growth only to flow back again into winter. 

When we are whole within, we can see the cycles of the year within our life and take part in the fruits and labors.  We start in deep reflection of what is the goal (the seed) and waiting for a time prepare for planting.  Then with careful planning, we plant the seeds and nurture them.  During the summer, using hard work we fertilize our goals and nurture their growth.  During the fall season, we reap our reward of achieving our goal thus creating a new phase of reflection in winter.  The cycle is complete but never ending as our internal world mirrors the outer world. 

Exercise:

1. What does it mean to you be whole? Think for a minute on this and journal a few sentences on what it means for you to be whole. 

Journal Notes:                                                                       Date:__________________

2. Which season do you feel the closest kinship? Why is this?  Write it down and in a paragraph what you like about this season.

Journal Notes:                                                                       Date:___________________

Awakening:

Our body is constantly moving and fluxing within, and with it, the energy currents.  To be awake is to be able to tap into these currents and learn to control the flow.  In martial arts and Taoist theory; it is called harnessing Chi.  In the case of this book, it is harnessing the energy for balance and well-being.  The easiest form of awakening is a simple feeling, an awareness of the sensations of feeling through touch.  We often sense through smell and hearing but in energy work, it is often a touch sensation. I do not necessarily mean physical touch, but also the sensation of hot and cold and frequency on and within the body.  The following exercises will offer the opportunity to experience the sensation of energy work and bring this potential into conscious reality.

1. The Energy Ball Exercise: Clasp your hands together in prayer fashion and begin rubbing your hands together. The friction creates a warm sensation. Now after, gently raise your hands from each other. Do you feel the energy still in between? Slowly put your hands together but not touching, do you feel pressure between your hands? If yes that is a form of polarity energy like a magnet. Hold one hand faced up and the other hovering over it. Visualize a small pebble in your hand. Slowly move your upper hand over it in rotation.  Can you feel the ball moving around between your hands?  Slowly lift your upper hand and visualize the ball getting larger.  Can you feel it between your hands?  When complete, clasp your hands together and relax. 

1. Group Ball exercise: In either a group or couple, each individual should have their left hand facing down and their right hand facing up. The partner  will have the opposite, the left hand facing up towards the partners and the right hand facing down towards the partner so that there is a space in between each hand. One individual will visualize the ball between their hands and send it to the individual on their right.  Each individua who is receiving the ball would move it through their body to the other hand.  Each should feel the ball moving through them and out their hands.  Have the ball move faster and faster and then stop.    If a male and female is present have them do it together, the energies will help bring inner balance. Each individual should ground after the exercise.

Write down in your journal notes on your experience from the exercises:

Journal Notes:

Date:_________________________