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The Origins of Issues

8th June 2018 by Christine Sutton

Phoenix Notes 2:

In the early days of EFT there was very little knowledge about how it worked. All that Gary Craig and other practitioners had was empirical evidence which supported the fact that EFT really did work and could help people struggling with an extremely wide range of issues.

Thankfully there is now ample evidence from credible scientific studies which supports the fact that EFT can be extremely effective if applied correctly and consistently. It is this growing body of scientific research that will take EFT closer to mainstream acceptance. Some of the research deals with the possible ways that EFT might interact with the emotional processing and cognitive centres of the brain, with physical systems of the body and even with the expression of DNA/RNA. It is great to have this evidence and these ideas under development but it does not fundamentally change the EFT process or what EFT practitioners actually “do”.

Gary Craig`s Foundation or Discovery statement about EFT was:
“The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body`s energy system”.

Many people have a problem with the concept of the existence of “the body`s energy system” and that has been one of the major sources of scepticism about EFT and indeed all of the energy based modalities. However, from a practical point of view the statement has validity.

We can represent the origin and development of most, if not all, issues in this spectrum:

Most people now accept that unresolved traumatic events can be at the root of mental-emotional issues and that the manifestation of those issues is often delayed in time.

Most people now accept that mental-emotional conflicts, held long enough and not resolved, can eventually generate changes in the function of the cells, organs and systems of the physical body.

That just leaves the step labelled “disruption of normal energy flow”. This is the theoretical bridge between the traumatic event(s) and the mental-emotional manifestation. It is interesting that some of the research studies show that EFT (using tapping on meridian points as well as verbal processing) is more effective and the effects are longer lasting than techniques which do not work with the energy system.

In EFT practice we are always working somewhere along the spectrum.

Physical symptoms can often provide easy entry points which lead to access to the emotional-mental levels of an issue.
Sometimes the current emotional-mental state is an obvious entry point.
Sometimes the client already knows what the trauma is and is ready to work with it so we can begin there.

By tapping and asking the right questions practitioners can help the client to move along the spectrum in either direction and come up with something that is relevant. If we tap on enough relevant “somethings” (aspects) the problem will begin to unravel and resolve, often more easily than the client expected.

Whether you believe in it or not, whatever that “energy system” is, working with it intentionally seems to make a huge difference to how a person feels!
Don’t let the sceptics distract you!
Happy Tapping!

References:
Research Papers: https://eftinternational.org/discover-eft-tapping/eft-science-research/

A Clean Channel for Reiki Practice

8th June 2018 by Christine Sutton

Phoenix Notes 1

The aim of giving Reiki to self or to other people is to act as a channel for the Universal Energy (the Rei-Ki).

To give Reiki effectively that channel has to be “clean”– the practitioner`s thoughts, emotions and ego-based intentions need to be kept out of the experience as far as possible so that energy can flow freely from the higher levels of being (Higher Self level), like water flowing freely through a hosepipe.

If the practitioner`s channel is cluttered by a jumble of mental and emotional clutter it is as if a “kink” has been put into the hosepipe. It is no accident that the initials of “Mental” and “Emotional” are “ME”, i.e. all ego based concerns.

If the channel is “kinked” by the presence of mental-emotional clutter then the energy channelled will be restricted in both frequency and strength. The practitioner will not receive as much energy as it flows through them to the client. The quality of their experience will be reduced and they will not receive the normal “recharge” of self that happens when channelling for other people.

The person receiving the Reiki may be aware of the reduced flow and quality of the energy received, but they will still take what they need – it is not a conscious choice. With the practitioner no longer connecting with unlimited energy it is as if they have been unplugged from mains electric. However they still transmit whatever is required by the recipient so there is potential for the practitioner to begin to transmit their own essential reserve of energy. It is as if they are now running on batteries. If this continues the result will be an energy drain for the practitioner – they will feel tired and depleted by the end of the session rather than energised and peaceful.

The solution is clear – take time to identify and clear whatever mental-emotional clutter is impeding the energetic flow. This can be done immediately before beginning a Reiki session as part of the normal preparation for channelling (Hatsurei-Ho) as well as ongoing longer term self-work with Reiki to clear any issues that may be present.

That is why the key to good Reiki practice is continuing self-work. At Level 1 of training it is the major focus so that the Reiki can come cleanly through the practitioner and not be drawn from them. This sets a really good foundation for the higher levels of practice which come later….

Reiki and the Seeker`s Journey

29th May 2018 by Christine Sutton

Phoenix EFT Reiki It seems to be a fact that people are drawn to Reiki as and when the time and circumstances are right for them. As a Reiki student I saw this fact written in many texts and articles about Reiki and I took it at face value. It was certainly true in my own life but I did not fully understand it until I began to teach students myself and went searching for more information.

One of the first questions that I ask every new group of students is:

“Why are you here?”

On the surface the answers that they give may be different but the underlying theme is always the same: “I am looking for something. There has to be more to life than I am experiencing.”

As I have learned more about Reiki from my own experiences and those of the students that I have been privileged to meet it has become very apparent that this underlying quest for “more” is universal-everyone feels the pull of it at some time in their life. We all become Seekers of some sort of destination. How far that quest may be fulfilled in a lifetime is variable but it is the same quest and more and more people are being drawn to it.

Of course this is nothing new-humans have been aware of the quest for many centuries and it has been written into the scriptures of every religion we have ever embraced and into the archetypal stories and folklore of every civilisation we have ever formed. For example, Tarot cards which date from at least the 15^th century embody the quest as the “Seekers Journey” through the pictures and symbolism of the Major Arcana.

The “Quest” to navigate and complete the journey is also found in simple board games (e.g. Snakes and Ladders and Ludo). In more complex game structures the object of the game may appear to be anything from defeating a dark lord to rescuing the princess to simple survival. It is also at the heart of all the great stories ever told. Whenever we play one of these games, become enthralled in a great story or are beginning to embark on the Quest for real we become Seekers of something.

That something beckons us on. We may not have a clear idea of the destination we are seeking, but there is often an eerie but exciting knowledge that it is there, hidden just out of view. We may pause for a while many times on the journey but rarely, if ever, does anyone want to go back to the start point and completely abandon the Quest.

It is an interesting fact that there are more people currently alive who are aware of this pull and who are actively doing something about it than at any point in human history before. This is why there has been such a huge worldwide interest in spiritual development literature and practices such as Mindfulness, Yoga, Meditation and Reiki over the last few decades. The Reiki journey is just one way of fulfilling the quest. It gives a very accessible and easy route into personal and spiritual development.

On an individual scale being somewhere on the Seeker`s pathway really does seem to make a difference. People who are already moving along this pathway using Reiki or other disciplines can often answer “yes” to at least some of these questions:

Are you happier than you were?
Are you more fulfilled?
Is your mind quieter, at least some of the time?
Are you less inclined to judge others quickly and harshly?
Has your work changed for the better?
Have your relationships changed for the better?
Have you let go of old, stuck situations, thoughts and behaviour patterns?
Are you more forgiving of yourself and others?
Are you experiencing more abundance in your life?
Has your physical health improved?
Are you seeing beauty everywhere you go?
Are people responding more positively to you?
Is there “magic” happening in your life?
(i.e. things that cannot be explained by any normal, rational or scientific route)

If the answer to one or more of these questions is “Yes” then you have definitely moved along your personal and spiritual pathway and are now experiencing life at a higher level of vibration.

On a grander scale the journey of each individual contributes to the greater journey of human society. As more people become awake and aware of our unfulfilled potential the level of conscious awareness is (hopefully) rising steadily in the worldwide population. Old, long accepted patterns of thought and behaviour, old institutions and power bases are being challenged in many areas. The result may seem like chaos while the shifts are happening.

How it all works out (the final destination) we don’t yet know – we are still only partway through the journey and cannot yet see the end. En-Joy the Journey!

We are indeed living in “interesting times”!

Christine Sutton
Reiki Master Teacher
Phoenix EFT Therapies and Training

May 2018

Use of EFT during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

9th May 2018 by Christine Sutton

Introduction

Becoming pregnant, carrying a baby to term, giving birth and then becoming a parent with responsibility for the life of an infant is one of the bravest, most exciting, most adventurous and deeply exhilarating things that a human being can ever do.

However, even if the conception, pregnancy and birth are relatively “normal” they can also be scary and uncomfortable in many ways. When things go “wrong” the effects on the well-being of parents and baby can be significant and will extend into the future.

Common Sources of stress and trauma during pregnancy and the post-partum period:

Difficulty in conceiving, with or without the physical and emotional effects of various IVF procedures
Various forms of physical stress during pregnancy – ranging from illness, to accidents, to medical problems with the developing foetus, placenta or mother
Emotional stress during pregnancy – mood swings due to hormonal changes plus whatever else is going on in the emotional life of the mother including concerns about impending motherhood.
Remember that the developing foetus is intimately connected to the mother`s energy fields, emotions and biochemistry. If the mother is stressed the baby experiences that stress at all levels of being. He/she has no way of filtering the experience, no way of knowing “this feeling is not mine” and so takes everything in.
Changes to stability of pre-existing mental health conditions. This may include the development or exacerbation of eating disorders, OCDs (Obsessive-Compulsive patterns) or other challenges to mental health. Some of these may become acute and require mental health support or interventions.
Tocophobia – fear of giving birth. A degree of anxiety is fairly normal, particularly for first time mums but Tocophobia is more than normal anxiety. It is a strong phobic response which may be due to a previous traumatic experience of giving birth or a result of hearing too many “horror” stories about birth from other people. There may also be deeper factors at work if the prospective mother has been traumatised in other ways at earlier times of her life.
Traumatic birth process. Even if a birth proceeds normally it is often the most intense experience a woman has ever had in her life and is not easily forgotten. Add in a few hitches, a medical intervention or two, overstretched staff who may not have the time to nurture and support the mother as much as they might like to and the stage can be set for a very traumatic experience.The effect of this trauma on the mother can be overlooked in the process of bringing the child safely into the world and then the business of coping with an infant`s needs. Often unresolved trauma remains with the woman. It may affect the parent-child bond, develop into a pattern of peri-natal OCD or even full blown PTSD and may contribute towards the development of post-natal depression.
Separation of baby and mother. Sometimes either the mother or baby needs medical care so one or both are placed in intensive care units at the time when the vital mother-child bond should be forming. This can have huge implications for the subsequent attachment patterns and emotional status of the child as he/she develops.
Pregnancy bereavement –all types e.g. termination, in utero death, still birth, neonatal death.
Development or continuance of complex family or social situations which act as stressors. g. financial problems, various forms of abuse, relationship difficulties, addictive behaviours.

All forms of unresolved trauma and stress tend to accumulate in the body-mind system of both parent and child as disruptions to normal energy flow patterns.

These disruptions always surface at some later point in life and create turbulence in emotions and then effects upon mental and/or physical health, developmental patterns, behavioural patterns, coping strategies and the general sense of well-being of the individual. Patterns of stress that are set up very early in life are highly significant and tend to echo through the rest of that life unless resolution can be found.

Wouldn`t it be great if there was a method for helping parents affected by these and similar stressors to work through them effectively and safely?

Wouldn`t it be wonderful if it was simple enough for parents to be able to use regularly as a self-help method for themselves?

Wouldn`t it be amazing if the same method could be applied to help babies and children of all ages to overcome the effects of early stress and trauma before their well-being and development become adversely affected?

There is! Welcome to the amazing world of EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique or Tapping!

EFT is an energy therapy. It does not replace normal medical or psychological treatments but works beautifully alongside them to complement and amplify their healing effects by dealing with sources of underlying stress and trauma. It is now in worldwide use for handling many forms of emotional and physical upset and is slowly moving towards mainstream acceptance as a valid therapy modality.

There are still many sceptics out there but anyone who has used or received EFT that has been done correctly knows that it works. There are also now some scientifically based studies which are backing up the very common observation that
“It may seem a bit weird but hey, it really works!”

EFT is a combination of rhythmic tapping on acupressure points coupled with targeted affirmations. The words are tailored to target the problem while the tapping smoothes out energy flow through the meridian network of the body. The results can be rapid, surprisingly good and cumulative. Each issue addressed helps to reduce overall stress levels. Life becomes easier and freer with every EFT session as old fears, losses, anxieties and traumas are worked through and resolved. Results can include improvements in general well-being, in emotional and mental stability, loss of limiting patterns of belief and behaviour, improvements in relationships and sometimes improvement in physical symptoms.

Complex issues are best handled by EFT professionals but the most basic form of EFT can be easily learned and used as a self-help tool to handle issues in a simple but effective way. A free introductory EFT self-help manual is available as a download here: www.aamet.org

Summary of the Basic EFT process:

1. What are you feeling? Identify a problem: e.g. “I am worried I won`t be a good parent”

2. Where are you feeling it? Notice where you are registering that feeling: e.g. “In my belly”

3. What does it feel like? Find some descriptive words: e.g. “Like a hot twisting ache

4. How strong is that feeling right now, 0-10? e.g. “6”

5. Set Up – Create your affirmation, write it down, and then tap on the side of hand (Karate Chop) point while you say the affirmation 3 times:
e.g. “Even though I have this hot twisting achy worry in my belly I deeply and completely accept myself”

Note: EFT affirmations are always stated in the negative sense and present tense – you are describing your problem NOW and setting it up to be dealt with. Trying to tap in “happy-clappy” wishful thoughts just does not work.

6. Tap through all of the tapping points in sequence, a few light taps on each one while you repeat words drawn from your affirmation e.g.Top of head: “I am worried I won`t be a good parent”
Eyebrow point: “Hot twisty ache in my belly”
Side of Eye Point: “Worry about being a good parent”
Under Eye Point: “Twisty achy worry”
Under Nose Point: “All this worry”
Chin Point: “Hot ache in my belly”
Collar Bone Point: “Worry in my belly”
Underarm Point: “All this worry”
Side of hand Point: “Worried I won`t be a good parent”

Check in with yourself: How strong is that feeling NOW, 0-10? e.g. “4”

If the numbers are dropping you are making progress.
If the location of the sensation has changed you are making progress.
If the qualities of the sensation have changed you are making progress.

If nothing has changed you probably need words that are more specific. Find some new words!

8. Create your next affirmation with the new score, location and qualities and go again
Summary

EFT has been used very successfully through all stages of pregnancy, labour, delivery and the neo-natal period. Some typical Set Up affirmations that have been used as start points by my clients have been:

“Even though……
..I am angry that I can`t get pregnant yet…
..I am jealous that my sister got pregnant so easily..
..I can`t bear to be around my pregnant friend..
..I feel so sick right now…
..I am so tired of being pregnant..
..I am angry at what the hospital said..
..I dread going for appointments..
..I feel so sad that my twin was lost..
..I feel guilty about losing control..
..I am afraid of going into labour on my own..
..I`m upset the baby wont sleep..
..I have nightmares about the birth……….. I deeply and completely accept myself.

Every one of these clients gained benefit from the EFT work and went on to clear related issues as they gained confidence in tapping for themselves. You can as well. There are no side effects and, provided the basic process is followed, you cannot get it wrong.

Maybe try it out on something simple, see how well it works and notice how your life becomes lighter and brighter.
Maybe learn how to use EFT with infants, toddlers and children and see them begin to feel better as well.

What have you got to lose except your unhappiness?

Remember to contact a professional EFT practitioner if you know or suspect that you need to work with issues that might carry a strong emotional charge. Even very intense memories and emotional upsets can be handled gently and gradually until they resolve into a calm acceptance.

Please get in touch if you would like to know more!

Christine Sutton

Bio. Christine Sutton

Christine is a complementary therapist and therapy trainer based in Solihull, UK. She has 15 years experience working with EFT, Reiki and Reflexology to help deal with emotional issues and increase well-being for her clients. Her client base is very wide but she has particular interest in supporting people who are dealing with cancer and also, more recently, those who are struggling to either become pregnant or who are having problems during pregnancy or the peri-natal period.

Christine and her husband Philip Davis teach EFT and Reiki for self-help purposes and they also train therapists to professional standards. Working together they have developed a pictorial version of EFT called Picture Tapping Technique. https://phoenixeft.co.uk

References and Resources:

EFT therapy and training in the West Midlands, UK: https://phoenixeft.co.uk

Free Basic EFT Manual download and an international directory of professional EFT Practitioners and trainers: www.aametinternational.org

The Science behind EFT:
https://eftinternational.org/discover-eft-tapping/eft-science-research/

www.thetappingsolution.com/science-and-research/

www.efttappingtraining.com/eft-research/

EFT and Pregnancy:

https://aametinternational.org/eft-for-pregnancy/
Google to see many relevant articles

Stress-related hormone cortisol lowers significantly after just 45 minutes of art creation

1st March 2018 by Philip Davis

This is an interesting article – taken from Psypost.org

“Whether you’re Van Gogh or a stick-figure sketcher, a new Drexel University study found that making art can significantly reduce stress-related hormones in your body.

Although the researchers from Drexel’s College of Nursing and Health Professions believed that past experience in creating art might amplify the activity’s stress-reducing effects, their study found that everyone seems to benefit equally.”….

See the full article.

Fertility Issues and Complementary Therapies

6th February 2018 by Christine Sutton

Christine Sutton. December 2017

Many couples who are trying to conceive become pregnant quite easily with a little practice and persistence. However problems with fertility are now more common than most people know. Natural fertility seems to be steadily decreasing as our lives become more hectic and the effect of poor quality foods, environmental and lifestyle factors and emotional stress all take effect.

Statistics taken from various online resources including the NHS website suggest that as many as 1 in 6 couples who are trying to conceive find that they have an unexpected problem. This situation currently affects approximately 3.5 million people in the UK and it is very distressing for people who desperately want to start a family.

Infertility is typically diagnosed if a couple have not managed to conceive within 1 year. A GP`s advice should always be sought if this is the case so that the problem can be identified. Sometimes the cause is clear and a medical solution is required e.g. blocked Fallopian tubes, uterine deformity or damage. Frequently there is no obvious reason why conception cannot occur and one or more of these factors may be the cause:

1. Age
In both women and men fertility is thought to decline progressively after the age of 35-40. We cannot do much to slow the aging process but the factors given below usually contribute significantly to the decline and they can be addressed.

2. Lifestyle, Diet and Body Mass Index (BMI)
A healthy BMI is in the range 20-25.
In women a BMI which is significantly higher or lower can disrupt the normal female cycle and make it difficult to pinpoint fertile days in the month. In men the effect is seen in development and health of sperm.

Eating more healthily, coupled with more exercise and a reduction in alcohol intake or smoking can improve both BMI and also general health and wellbeing. All of these are easy to do at a practical level provided that any emotional blocks to change are addressed.

3. Stress
This stems from various factors e.g. work problems, family and relationship issues, financial problems, bereavement, ill health and chronic lack of sleep. It is a fact that most people are stressed to some degree most of the time.
When any potential threat is perceived the body only reacts in one way - the Sympathetic nervous system is activated to stimulate the body for the Fight, Flight or Freeze reaction. Once the danger has passed the “calm-down” process is mediated by the Parasympathetic nervous system and the body returns to normal. This is ancient programming which we share with all other animals and it has served us well for millennia.

The problem in modern life is that in most of us the Flight/Fight/Freeze reaction is triggered frequently by events which do not really pose a threat to life e.g. an argument or a social embarrassment. Many people live with the FFF reaction chronically activated. The body “forgets” how to turn it off and this state of constant stress becomes the new norm. This has serious consequences for all body systems including the reproductive system, the nervous system and the endocrine (Hormonal) system.

How can Complementary Therapies help?

Complementary therapies are intended to support and enhance the natural healing processes of body and mind and open new doorways to well-being and personal development.

Techniques for General Relaxation and rebalancing of energy– e.g. Mindfulness Meditation, Reiki, Reflexology, Acupuncture, Acupressure.
These can aid relaxation and restore ability to recognise what is and is not really a threat and then encourage a return to the normal, non-stressed state. They can work in a general way, using a whole body approach or the work can be more focused as in Reproductive Reflexology where specific protocols can be used to focus work onto the reproductive and endocrine systems.

Techniques for dealing with Emotional disturbances – e.g. Emotional Freedom Technique.
This works in a more focused way by identifying emotional issues related to a stressed lifestyle and dealing with them at source so that they no longer disrupt well-being. Eliminating emotional disruptions, including any resistance to making changes, automatically enhances ability to reconnect with the upper levels of the emotional scale where Love and Joy exist. When that connection is re-established the phenomenal healing mechanisms of the body can swing into action without interference and correct whatever imbalances are present in the physical systems.

Typical results of working with dietary, lifestyle and emotional factors are:

Establishment of a regular menstrual cycle in women.
An increase in sperm production and health in men.
Elimination of emotional conflicts and emotional blocks to conception
An increase in general well-being
An improvement in the health of relationships with partners
An increased ability to deal with stress factors effectively

For some couples adjusting diet and lifestyle and working with complementary therapies while trying to conceive has made the difference between failure and success.
It may work for you!