michaelsharrington (Hridayam)

In 1994 I began to study massage therapy. My primary focus was deep tissue and sports massage, in preparation for working with skiers coming to the Park City and Deer Valley Mountain Resorts of Utah where I lived at the time. As part of my training, I received a good amount of bodywork in physically demanding massage styles.

Learn by receiving: one of the best ways to take in and begin to master any healing art.

Over the next few years, I also received some energy healing sessions as well. Any kind of touch therapy is technically “energy work” since the entire human body is a mass of vibrational energy appearing as a solid structure.

These subtle energy sessions, however, were distinct and different, of a gentle nature, not physically intrusive, with light or ultralight touch or even hands that did not actually make contact with the skin but instead hovered an inch or several inches away from the body.

Examples of energy work include: cranial sacral therapy, medical qi gong, acupuncture, and Reiki, among many others. (Even homeopathy is, to a certain degree, a kind of energy therapy using natural, oral-imbibed substances made ultra subtle- diluted to minuscule percentages).

With these subtle energy styles one is working with the prana or qi (chi) the life force, or electric-like vital energy at the foundational level. So subtle and delicate is this kind of healing, that the most gentle movement can create radical change in the physical, emotional, and mental structures of the body. Suddenly a huge breath arrives like a Spirit Wind, the spine adjusts, long held pain resolves, trauma heals or fear just vanishes.

The well known Indian Saint, Paramahansa Yogananda, spoke of this “energy body” during a satsang near the end of his life in 1950:

“If you could see your astral body, it could light up the city of Chicago for 2 days at least. It is nothing but condensed electricity.”

My Reiki teacher Moonhawk (Gary Butler) who passed away some years ago, was a hopi-trained shaman as well. He taught me a style wherein traditional Reiki (as taught by the founder Usui from Japan) was combined with shamanism. He would begin each session by drawing a healing symbol on the crown of the head and then chant a short Hopi-inspired mantra ending in Kopavi and then blow healing energy through the breath into the crown of the client’s head. (Moonhawk was a gifted healer; I spent two years studying with him).

This blowing open of the Kopavi– a Hopi word meaning the door at the top of the head– had a profound effect on most everyone. It is deeply relaxing, and spiritual attuning. Often one falls into a kind of deep meditative trance, right on the edge of sleep. If brain waves were being monitored, I would venture to say that one falls into bliss-oozing alpha-theta borderline, what they called in Vedanta (ancient spiritual philosophy) Jagrat sushupta- a wakeful-sleep and the doorway to liberation. It is the space between waking and sleep, or between two thoughts. It is very meditative, one-pointed focused-awareness or unity consciousness. Really, blowing up the Kopavi, gives one a taste of the natural state in which the spiritual masters live, where intuitive, creative energy flows unimpeded. This natural state is called samadhi in the yogic tradition. There are various samadhi’s and discussing them is beyond the scope of this blog though Sahaja Samadhi is the highest, known as the natural state which is the awareness available to all, only covered up by latent tendencies of mind known as vasanas. 

These masks are what the Indian Sage Ramana Maharshi called Vasanas (latent tendencies of mind or habit formation). Ramana has said: “These predispositions (thoughts) can be obliterated through concentration on the Source of them.” Adding,

“If one distraction is conquered the next is conquered and so on, until all are finally conquered.”

Anything that moves us away from one-pointed immersion and abidance in our Source, whether so called good or bad, must be disregarded and let go. Then, Ramana assures us, what is left:

“The primal state and eternal state of purity.”

To show how powerful this trance-like state is, Moonhawk told me a story about how he was very tired on one particular evening and had a client coming in. He said:

“I blew open the Kopavi and set the energies and then laid down on the nearby couch and took a long 45 minute nap. After the nap, I got up and began sweeping and clearing the energy field of the client to end the session. When she got up from the table, she started discussing incredible healing insights and talked about how great the session was, all the while thinking that I had been ‘working on her’ the entire time.”

At about the same time I was apprenticing with Moonhawk, I was in the California State Tutorial Program for Acupuncture. It was the fall of 1997, and my preceptor, Doctor Burton, would allow me sit in, and not only observe sessions but be an active participant, right from day-1. That’s not something that happened in regular acupuncture colleges in California in the 90’s. (Most of the time, and this is probably true today, students of acupuncture do not get to see patients until the 2nd or even 3rd year).

I had already been practicing massage therapy over the previous 3 years but was now entering into and immersing myself more deeply into the rich subtle-energy traditions of the East and West.

In those days, Doctor Burton saw homeless people, those that were HIV positive, some with full blow AIDS and other serious, debilitating chronic conditions, as well as patients coming in for seasonal balancing, emotional traumas, physical injuries, particularly pain syndromes.

My preceptor would see 20 or even 30 patients a day and use 2 (sometimes 3) treatment rooms at the same time. I always felt we were working together. It wasn’t healer and apprentice but two beings joining their energy-fields with focused compassion and healing gifts, opening the space for healing. Attuning with the pulse was an ongoing stillness practice for both client and practitioners. **add pulse diagnosis section

Over the last 23 years of immersion in the Energetic Healing Arts, I have used various types of energy practices. Currently I begin each morning with Yin Yoga, Chi Nei Tsang (internal organ-abdominal- Chi Massage ) and meditative inquiry or silent immersion. All of which I credit with keeping this body-mind system in the “still functioning” category.

Jin Shin Jyutsu: The Main Central Vertical Flow

Recently I added a new energy practice to my morning routine. This practice, takes but 10-30 minutes, and comes from the energy healing art known as Jin Shin Jyutsu. This healing routine balances energy and is called: ‘The Main Central Vertical Flow’.

Originating from Japan, the name Jin Shin Jyutsu literally translates to “The Art of the Creator Through the Person of Knowing and Compassion.” Jin Shin Jyutsu uses light touch over specific areas on the body to balance and restore the energy flow to a more harmonious state. Some say the “practice predates that of the Buddha and was rediscovered in the early 1900’s by Master Jiro Murai, who, after recovery from a “terminal” illness, devoted himself to the revival of the Art for future generations.”

It is a physio-philosophy and emotional healing art, using one’s hands or that of another to subtly balance chi or life force by light pressure or laying of hands without strong manual manipulation of the musculature or body tissues.

This is said to bring about deeper awakening to one’s true Self.

Jin Shin, like most subtle energy work is not about “doing” but assisting the body’s innate ability to harmonize while helping to unblock congested energy pathways, letting the infinite universal energy flow unrestricted.

When I was apprenticing in acupuncture in the late 90’s, the first time I witnessed my preceptor, Doctor Burton, insert an acupuncture needle into Conception Vessel Meridian (which is essentially the same as the Main Central Vertical Flow used in Jin Shin Jyutsu) it was on the point CV-4, called the Gate of Origin, which is 1.5 Cun (inches) above the pubic bone directly on the midline.

This point is very powerful and useful in chronic debilitating diseases as well as playing a major role in Chi circulation (movement of the life force). This point is at the confluence of 3 other main acupuncture channels, the Spleen, Kidney and Liver. (You can use a heated smooth stone on this area as a profound treatment as well).

The conception vessel (or channel/meridian) has access points along its length, which runs from the base of the perineum (CV-1) to the spot between the chin and the lower lip at the midline (CV-24). That said, though these are the primary access points, anywhere along the vessel line potent points can be found, all based on the energetic condition of each person.

Jin Shin Jyutsu is combined with full, rhythmic, even diaphragmatic breathing, while specific points are touched with the fingertips until pulse synchronization is established.

This is not an expert practice. Anyone can be come adept at feeling these subtle energy pulsations. Stillness is the prerequisite.

The main points of the Main Central Vertical Flow correspond to the 7 main chakras or (energy wheels) of Indian Yoga. Deficiencies or excesses in energy at these points can be corrected through the Vertical Flow routine of Jin Shin Jyutsu.

Jin Shin Jyutsu’s Main Central Vertical Flow combines together three upper points of Chinese Acupuncture’s Governing Meridian (GV-20, yintang & GV-25) with 4 primary points of the Conception Meridian (CV-17, CV-15, CV-2, & CV-1).

To begin the practice, the fingertips of the right hand are placed on the point GV-20- which acupuncture theory and ample therapeutic evidence shows to be effective for: headache of various types, overthinking, to enhance memory, and resolve depression. The right fingertips remain throughout the entire self-healing session at this point which happens to correlate with the (7th chakra)- being fully connected at the spiritual level; or in the natural state of unity consciousness:

So the right hand works as a conductor of spiritual energy during the session, distributing it to the left hand, through the fingertips, to other key points as follows: .

As the session begins, the left fingertips are placed between the eyebrows at a point known as Yintang (Hall of Impression). This is the famous “3rd eye” point and correlates with the 6th chakra, the point of awareness. In acupuncture practice this point is used often to calm the mind, as well as treat: insomnia, anxiety and agitation.

Now with the right fingertips placed on GV-20 at the top of the head and the left fingertips on Yintang, between the eyebrows, you get still, attune with the breath. Find the full, deep, diaphragmatic breathing rhythm.

You will begin to feel pulsation from each of the points through your fingertips. With stillness and breath as guideposts, bring awareness to these points until you feel the pulsations synchronize, like feeling miniature heartbeats happening at both points as the same time. This synchronization can take from 30 seconds to 5 minutes or more depending on various factors.

So at each holding point, you will move to the next energy center (point) after the harmonization takes place.

Next the left fingertips move to the tip of the nose, close to the 5th chakra (expression center) correlating with the the acupoint GV-25 known to restore consciousness from shock, or revival from drowning among other things. After harmonization takes place, you move the left fingertips move to the next point.

CV-17, this correlates with the 4th chakra, or love center. In acupuncture practice this is the meeting point of Qi (life force) and used for lung issues, cough, asthma, breast and throat issue. After synchronization-left fingertips move to:

CV-15, the 3rd chakra center, about service and power, effective for abdominal issues, heart concerns, nausea, and breathing difficulties. Then your left fingertips move to:

CV-2, the 2nd chakra–sexuality and creativity center, located at the top of the pubic bone. For urinary and genital issues. And lastly the left fingertips moves to juncture point:

CV-1/GV-1 at the tailbone, where the never ending microcosmic orbit flow begins and the yin meets yang in the body, for: menstrual issues, hemorroids, coma, manic-depression—-anal issues, prostate, epilepsy, impotence.

As the session ends, you feel deeply relaxed or energized depending upon what your highest needs are: Rest or Activity.

We must each find our own healing pathway. All elements of our humanity must become holistic and return to their natural state, unimpeded by latent tendencies and habits, physical traumas and blocked emotions, etc.

Starting each day with a harmonizing energy practice can help us remain one-pointed in our spiritual practice, while bringing about body-mind healing and restoration, allowing one to abide in the natural state of peace.