Why do these approaches work on so many issues?

When I talk about the approaches I use to healing and awakening, I am often aware that it sometimes can sound too good to be true. They seem to work on a wide range of issues and work pretty well – at least if used with skill and over some time.

So why do they work on such a wide range of issues? The simple answer is that they tend to address underlying issues and dynamics. They go below the surface, so they work on a wide range of surface manifestations.

And are they too good to be true? Yes and no. As mentioned above, they tend to work well if used with skill and over time. But it does take work. And if an issue is entrenched, it can take time to clear it.

Here are some examples:

TRE – Tension & Trauma Release Exercises. Therapeutic trembling releases tension out of the body and mind, and that has a wide range of effects. It tends to reduce anxiety, depression, and compulsions. It improves sleep. It can give us a different and more healthy experience of ourselves and the world, and improve our relationship to ourselves, others, and the world.

Inquiry. In inquiry, we examine our beliefs and identifications. Since we often have a layer of beliefs and identifications on top of how we perceive ourselves, others, and life, we can address just about any issue with inquiry. Inquiry can help us release whatever charge is there in our experience of anything. And that means that this too can reduce anxiety, depression, compulsions, and more, especially in relation to something specific.

Vortex Healing. Any issue has a consciousness and energy side. Inquiry tends to approach something from the consciousness side and has an effect on the energy side. Vortex Healing approaches it from the energy side and has an effect on the consciousness side. Vortex Healing can work on emotional or physical issues, relationships, and situations. The deeper reason is that Vortex Healing is divine energy guided by divine consciousness, and since everything is already the divine, only the divine can allow for a deep and thorough healing and clearing of something.

Heart approaches. Ho’oponopono, tonglen, heart prayer, and all-inclusive gratitude practices tend to change our relationship with ourselves, others, and the world. This can be deeply healing and also aligns us with awakening.

My inclination is to seek out approaches that are effective and multi-purpose. Approaches that can be used to work on a wide range of issues, and also invite in healing, awakening, and embodiment. The ones I have mentioned above are among the most powerful I have found so far. (TRE tends to work mostly on healing, although it’s an excellent way to support embodiment of whatever awakening is here.)

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Initial notes….

• why do these approaches work on so many issues and areas of life?
  • can seem like a panacea, too good to be true
  • two responses
    • (a) they work on underlying issues, underlying dynamics, and patterns
      • these are the ones I have decided to focus on after sifting through a large number of approaches, trying them out, finding the ones that seem most efficient + able to work on a broad range of issues
      • inquiry – any belief, any charge – at the basic levels of how the mind works (images, words, sensations etc.)
      • vh – energy component of any issue (psychological, physical, relationships, situations, spaces) – OR the divine has created / is all of it so can also undo/change it
      • tre – release the chronic/stored tension fueling anxiety, depression, compulsions etc.
    • (b) they are panaceas, in some ways, but it still takes work
      • intention, patience, effort, time etc. – especially if deep-seated issues, complex issues
  • …..

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Initial ending….

The approaches mentioned above are often used in the context of a session, with the guidance of a facilitator. Although if we learn them well, they are excellent for using on ourselves.

In terms of what we can use for ourselves, I should mention natural rest (Shikantaza, “just sitting”) and training a more stable attention (bringing attention to the breath etc.). Both of these tend to support our well being and activities in the world in a profound way, and they can also support awakening and embodiment.

I have left out a great deal here. There is the importance of diet (eating mostly whole, organic, local foods), sleep, and physical activity. And there is a large number of other approaches such as body-mind practices (yoga, tai chi, chi gong, Breema), parts work (sub-personalitites), perspective work (Big Mind process), and relationship work.

A note of caution: Each of the main practices mentioned above are powerful. That means they can bring up unprocessed psychological material which may feel overwhelming. It’s good to explore these practices with the guidance of someone who is experienced and skilled with the practices, in reducing the chances of triggering overwhelming experiences, and in dealing with these experiences should they happen (which they may).