Shamanism for the Age of Science: Awakening the Energy Body - Kenneth Smith 2018

Physical-Body Energy Systems
Anatomy of the Energy Body

An overriding consideration is that there is already an established framework for understanding human perception and behavior as described and measured in terms of energy. There is acceptance of and scientific research on energetic aspects of human anatomy, consisting of the nervous system, brain waves, and acupuncture meridians, for example. The elements mentioned here by no means represent a complete list of what researchers around the world are tackling. But a brief review helps make the point about the viability of an energy-based model of humans. Awareness of the components of the energy body and of the energy body itself may then be regarded as an extension of what is already known.

The Nervous System

The human nervous system principally divides into central and peripheral parts. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. It performs an array of functions, from processing information to generating reflexes to higher cognitive functioning. The peripheral system connects the central nervous system with both outer and inner environments; it is further divided into sensory and motor functions. Sensory functions, including taste, touch, sight, and so on, regulate the various forms of environmental energies that affect the body, while motor functions pertain to body movements such as intentionally turning the pages of a book.³

Another aspect is the autonomic system, which is the watchdog of all internal neural functions. This divides further into the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. These work together; for example, the sympathetic system tightens the gastrointestinal sphincters and the parasympathetic system loosens them.

Figure 3.1. Nervous System

(Illustration courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Communication within the nervous system is performed by cells called neurons. This communication is studied in terms of electrical energy—“action potential” and “states of excitation,” for instance—that describe the movement of electrical signals and information along the same neural pathways that also convey chemical substances.

Brain Waves

Measuring the electrical activity of the brain provides one way to discern behavior. The electroencephalograph (EEG) provides an indication of states of consciousness by registering activity associated with several bands of brain wave frequencies measured in hertz (Hz) or cycles per second. Different studies may list different frequencies; however, they usually vary only within a range of .5-1Hz. One schematic of brain wave frequencies consists of delta (.5—4Hz), theta (4—8Hz), alpha (8—13Hz), beta (13—30Hz), and gamma (30+Hz). Dominance of any band often indicates a certain state of awareness, such as relaxation, mental activity, agitation, reverie, various stages of sleep, and even peak athletic performance. An EEG pattern provides a map, or at least a sense of what a subject is experiencing.⁴

Other Physical Systems

Stemming from the work of physician Robert Becker, author of The Body Electric, Oschman has described a perineural system consisting of the connective tissue surrounding the nervous system.⁵ Controlling the repair of injury, it acts in a more wide-reaching capacity with expansive nonlinear properties where communication and effects proceed rapidly throughout the whole of the body, while the nervous system is linear with information and activity directed along specific pathways.

In addition, biophysicists, engineers, medical doctors, educators, and other professionals with common interests formed an alliance to study biologic closed electrical circuits. Members focus on the use of a variety of energy-based therapies—electrical, magnetic, and thermal, for instance—to treat an array of diseases. Their work centers on circulating, self-regulating loops of energy within the body that use a number of physiologic pathways for healing.⁶

Meridians and Acupuncture

Referring to acupuncture as a medical science, the World Health Organization recognizes fourteen meridians with 361 classical acupuncture points.⁷ Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), of which acupuncture is a part, deals with recognizing and treating disharmony among the various elements of the body that have been singled out over thousands of years of research.

Fundamental textures of qi, blood, essence, spirit, and fluids—along with their individual and collective effect on homeodynamics—are all taken into account. Each texture has several aspects. Qi has positive and negative functions relating to nutrition, protection, deficiencies, and stagnation. Blood is the yin-yang opposite of qi. Whereas qi energizes, blood relaxes. Essence deals with the intrinsic nature separating animate and inanimate worlds, and spirit is the defining quality of humanness. The fluids of the body moisten and nourish.⁸

Figure 3.2a Meridians

Acupuncture involves the manipulation of meridians—the channels of qi—to help restore harmony throughout the body. Charts like the one above serve to guide the placement of acupuncture needles. (This illustration is used with the kind permission of Devatara J. Holman, Marin Oriental Medicine, Sausalito, California, www.marinorientalmedicine.com.)

Figure 3.2b. Acupuncture chart from Hua Shou

(fl. 1340s, Ming Dynasty)

This image from Shi si jing fa hui (Expression of the Fourteen Meridians). Tokyo, Suharaya Heisuke kanko, Kyoho gan, 1716. (Illustration courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

A refinement of this practice occurs when viewing textures in relation to organs, another principal part of TCM. The liver, for instance, connects with blood as well as tempers qi. The kidneys provide the foundation upon which water or fluids may work with the rest of the body.⁹ It is also interesting that scientific studies have revealed that the body’s communication along the meridians occur at least 1,000 times faster than known signaling processes of the nervous system, perhaps conducting energy approaching the speed of light.¹⁰ Simply on the face of it, this research supports metaphysical considerations of a “light” body.

Chakras

Chakras are energy generators, each associated with a specific function. Traditionally, seven centers comprise the chakra system. Located in proximity to the spinal column and ascending from the bottom of the spine to the crown of the head, some research presents the chakra system as a nonphysical loop of energy entering the bottoms of the feet, traversing upward, leaving the top of the head, and flowing outward and back down. Some investigations portray the chakras as having physical correlates with specific organs, often those of the endocrine glandular system, while other investigations relegate them to general locations not necessarily associated with physical organs. Invariably, though, chakras are seen as affecting the physical body as well as connecting the physical body to physical and nonphysical environments inside and outside the energy body.

Each chakra has a vibration, perhaps a composite of several resonant frequencies. The higher along the spine a chakra is located, the higher its frequency range. Thus chakras extend from the base level of red through the physical light spectrum to violet. Accordingly, within your body you have a rainbow, the shade of which varies according to the person. These centers, combined with additional vertical channels of opposite polarity, are often referred to as the kundalini system or tract.¹¹ They may also be thought of as discrete dimensions, or planes of awareness. Working with these dimensions helps you achieve a more powerful relationship with your entire energy body and your life.

Figure 3.3. Chakras

This is one representation of chakra locations. The “V” represents environmental influences.

Some systems present as many as thirteen chakras, with additional chakras located at the knees, ankles, the top and bottom of the energy body, as well as between the top of the head and top of the energy body and between the bottoms of the feet and the bottom of the energy body. Combined, they are the bandwidth of human perception. Different systems also ascribe different meanings for each chakra. The following model is fairly generic. The idea behind it is not to provide a detailed map, but a simple schematic to offer a sense of the different aspects of our being.

To further elaborate:

Red, at the base of the spine. This is raw power, the baseline for physical-body and physical-world manifestations. Life as we know it extends from this primal world. Some energy exercises focus on this chakra to explosively release energy through the entire kundalini system, pushing awareness deep into unrealized territory.

The first chakra is often considered the densest of energies. It may be the densest within the ordinary human experience, but there are denser energies in the cosmos. Arcane and scientific literature detail regions of immense density, far outstripping the normal physical world we experience.

Orange, at the abdomen. This chakra ties in with emotions. As the energy of emotion, it directly relates to dreaming or imagination. Where red is the wellspring of the physical world, orange is the wellspring of the dreaming, creative world.

Yellow, at the solar plexus. This is the energy of classifying. As the chakras represent dimensions of awareness, the first, second, and third chakras build a three-dimensional world. Wanting to control your environment is the downside of the third chakra. You have such a sense of control, it’s hard to let go in order to experience more . . . such as the fourth dimensional energies of the heart.

Green, at the heart. This energy enhances feeling. By developing it, you directly perceive subtleties, nuances, refinements. The trick is to get out of yourself long enough to sense them. The fourth chakra opens you to worlds beyond yourself. And yet these worlds are also you.

The first three chakras represent the personal self: the physical, emotional, and mental parts of individual awareness. These energies have to be groomed in order to find your conscious sense of self. From this point, you may enter worlds beyond your immediate personal dimensions. Therefore the fourth chakra takes you into, and connects you with, your environment. The more you activate the fourth chakra, the more you balance with and feel part of the world, not a three-dimensional object separate from it.

Light blue, at the base of the throat. This is a curious energy, which deals with verbal communication. Charismatic people tend to have good control of this energy, and their voices are often mesmerizing. Whereas the fourth chakra opens you to your environment, this energy begins to connect you with an out-of-this world environment. Elevating your perception of the environment, you begin to step outside of the physical world and into nonphysical dimensions. For this reason, it is sometimes considered the entrance into God realization.

Dark blue, at the forehead. Tapping this energy gives you entrance into psychic functioning as is why it is often referred to as the third eye. You may experience visions, telepathy, or precognition. Becoming psychic means you have greater ability to work with nonphysical energies. However, this often results in getting stuck. You have power, and don’t want to let it go. To become actualized, you must manage the energies of the entire spectrum.

Violet, at the crown of the head. Whereas the first three chakras represent the personal self and the second set of three represent your environment, the seventh chakra is your entrance into worlds beyond the normal human domain. You may enter heavenly dimensions of bliss, or have mystical experiences. Since the energy is of a higher vibration, it translates to the physical body as ecstasy. It is for this reason that it is often considered the spiritual chakra.

Some schematics localize additional chakras at different areas of the physical body. For example, the palms of the hands as well as other areas of the body are often viewed as having chakras. As light is seen emanating from the hands, the interpretation is that there must be a chakra. Remember, however, your entire being is energy, which may be perceived as light. While the palms have openings to allow the movement of energy, they don’t produce energy in the same manner as do chakras; rather, they are conduits of energy. Laying-on-of-hands healing utilizes this capacity to direct the flow energy, and perhaps the perception of this stream is interpreted as energy emanating directly from a chakra. Confusion regarding what is or is not a chakra might originate from defining points of the nadi schematic as being chakras.

Nadis

Nadis—energy pathways throughout the body—were detailed thousands of years ago as part of traditional Indian medicine. Nadis transport prana, the energy equivalent of qi. These channels emanate from the chakras and gradually become thinner the further they extend outward.¹² This configuration is similar to the nervous system in that the chakras correlate to the central nervous system and the nadi pathways correspond to the peripheral nervous system. Although comparable to meridians, nadi pathways are more numerous than meridians and there are also thought to be over 72,000 points of stimulation along these routes compared with the 361 acupuncture points listed by WHO. On the other hand, there are three primary nadis whereas there are fourteen principal meridians.

Figure 3.4. Nadis

An ancient depiction of the nadi energy pathways.

(Illustration courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)