http://movementsofmagic.org/forums/14/ShowForum.aspxDiscussions on the various healing practicesenCommunityServer 2.1 (Build: 60809.935)http://movementsofmagic.org/forums/thread/41.aspxWed, 13 Sep 2006 15:01:57 GMTa3f3e7b7-6e99-48cd-99c7-fc5d61a238f6:41Bob Klein0http://movementsofmagic.org/forums/thread/41.aspxhttp://movementsofmagic.org/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=14&PostID=41<p>There are three lines of training in any healing system.&nbsp; One is teaching the principles behind the healing.&nbsp; In Oriental healing (and most ancient healing systems) this is called,&nbsp; &quot;The Teaching of the Elements&quot;.&nbsp; The second line of training is the techniques.&nbsp; The third, and most neglected line is developing your feeling and awareness.&nbsp; In massage, for example, this would involve developing your sense of the flow of energy (&quot;chi&quot;)&nbsp;through the client&#39;s body.&nbsp; Awareness of energy is a sense that has degenerated in modern times, so much so that it is not even recognized as a legitimate sense.&nbsp; </p><p>This awareness tells you what you must do to unravel the knots&nbsp;and kinks in this flow of energy.&nbsp; The techniques you learn are only of value in relationship to being able to diagnose the problems.&nbsp; Developing the sense of energy is often not taught in a massage school and so massage becomes solely a question of applying a pre-set series of techniques.&nbsp; This obviates the need to be aware of your client and allows you to be oblivious to everything but the tension in the muscles.&nbsp; </p><p>I believe that this is a metaphor for the modern way of life.&nbsp; We become oblivious to what is going on inside of us and inside of other people so that we can see people more as objects to be used or discarded.&nbsp; The sense of chi requires a more intimate connection to your client and to other people in general.&nbsp; This sense shows you how each part of the body communicates (or fails to communicate) with the rest of the body.&nbsp; It shows us how each of us is connected to the natural environment.&nbsp; It is a sense of connection.&nbsp; </p><p>A culture based on building community feeling would emphasize this sense.&nbsp; Once the sense of chi is gone we feel isolated.&nbsp; It is a shame that even the schools of healing, such as massage, have abandoned this sense as part of their training.&nbsp; </p>