Shiatsu practitioner Specialising in the energy of food in Traditional Chinese Medicine
We are currently in transition from Winter (Bladder/Kidney energy) to Spring (Liver/Gallbladder energy). It’s time for Spring Clean, for a detox, for a fast and, because I live in Ireland, it is almost the time of Lent, where giving up something becomes part of the collective consciousness. All this denial is good for the liver which can become congested with the overindulgence of Christmas. When we eat, drink and are merry there are consequences; January comes and we can feel low in energy, dark in mood, sometimes poor in spirit and pocket.
The positive emotion of the Liver/Gallbladder in Chinese Medicine is creativity and flexibility but the flip side is anger, depression, and frustration. Having a big cry will help the liver. Physically and emotionally it will help clear out the Liver Channel. The Liver opens out into the eyes, think of when a person has jaundice, the whites of the eyes turn yellow or if the liver is congested you can often see fatty lumps or stringy deposits in the eyes. To hold the tears and suppress our emotions means our body will become tense. On a long-term basis in Chinese Medicine, this can lead to disorders of wind-heat which manifest as depression, stroke, and severe nervous-muscular disorders such as MS and Parkinsons. Sometimes emotions feel so overwhelming that if we let them out they will never stop, they will break us or leave us destroyed and weak. I have found that this is not the case. Breaking down and expressing how we feel does leave us vulnerable but this is healthy for the body. It allows the body to release, let go and become flexible to possible avenues that before were unseen. So just as important as giving up chocolate, alcohol or coffee is to connect with how we are feeling. To tap into and touch some of the buried feelings we have parked or put aside so that we can function on a day to day basis. This process sometimes requires support so find a group, use your journal, go dancing, take a walk, set aside time to explore how you feel – make your emotional health a priority in your day.
If you want to learn further what supports, clears and cleanses the Liver/Gallbladder in a safe, supportive, all women environment; join us for the
Teaching, experiencing, nurturing and encouraging the feminine energy within us.
The Cooking Classes and Tai Chi/ QiGong sessions effortlessly improve health, bringing a balance between passionate fire and flowing water.
Within this retreat we will address symptom such as insomnia, palpitations, loss of libido, painful heavy breasts and periods, weight gain around the middle, hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings without medication, just using the food you eat, gentle exercise, breathing exercises and potent acupressure points.
Take time to develop and nurture a loving connection with your body and mind – Click here for info
or you could……………… Make like a new spring shoot and practice yoga, Makka-ho stretches or Qigong to help the liver move stagnant energy. Also eating sour foods such as lemon, lime, and green leafy vegetables will stimulate the gallbladder into producing bile which will help clear a congested liver. This meridian channel is related to vision and decisions. So for clear, flexible thinking you can visit my online course site and receive the free lesson covering the Makka-Ho stretches
Meike completed the three-year Diploma course with the Shiatsu College Dublin in 2012 with distinction, is a member of The Shiatsu Society of Ireland (SSI) and holds clinics both in New Ross, Co. Wexford and Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny.
From 2001 till 2007 she studied Mindfulness and Compassion Meditation under the guidance of Tibetan Buddhist Teacher Lama Tschaglung Tulku Ngawang Gelek in Berlin.
Meike has a background in Biology and received a Master of Science from Osnabruck University in Germany. She has a keen interest in unifying scientific research and eastern philosophy and applying this knowledge into body work. For her, practising and teaching Shiatsu gives her the opportunity to further explore and develop this.
Shiatsu practitioner Specialising in the energy of food in Traditional Chinese Medicine
We are currently in transition from Winter (Bladder/Kidney energy) to Spring (Liver/Gallbladder energy). It’s time for Spring Clean, for a detox, for a fast and, because I live in Ireland, it is almost the time of Lent, where giving up something becomes part of the collective consciousness. All this denial is good for the liver which can become congested with the overindulgence of Christmas. When we eat, drink and are merry there are consequences; January comes and we can feel low in energy, dark in mood, sometimes poor in spirit and pocket.
The positive emotion of the Liver/Gallbladder in Chinese Medicine is creativity and flexibility but the flip side is anger, depression, and frustration. Having a big cry will help the liver. Physically and emotionally it will help clear out the Liver Channel. The Liver opens out into the eyes, think of when a person has jaundice, the whites of the eyes turn yellow or if the liver is congested you can often see fatty lumps or stringy deposits in the eyes. To hold the tears and suppress our emotions means our body will become tense. On a long-term basis in Chinese Medicine, this can lead to disorders of wind-heat which manifest as depression, stroke, and severe nervous-muscular disorders such as MS and Parkinsons. Sometimes emotions feel so overwhelming that if we let them out they will never stop, they will break us or leave us destroyed and weak. I have found that this is not the case. Breaking down and expressing how we feel does leave us vulnerable but this is healthy for the body. It allows the body to release, let go and become flexible to possible avenues that before were unseen. So just as important as giving up chocolate, alcohol or coffee is to connect with how we are feeling. To tap into and touch some of the buried feelings we have parked or put aside so that we can function on a day to day basis. This process sometimes requires support so find a group, use your journal, go dancing, take a walk, set aside time to explore how you feel – make your emotional health a priority in your day.
If you want to learn further what supports, clears and cleanses the Liver/Gallbladder in a safe, supportive, all women environment; join us for the
Teaching, experiencing, nurturing and encouraging the feminine energy within us.
The Cooking Classes and Tai Chi/ QiGong sessions effortlessly improve health, bringing a balance between passionate fire and flowing water.
Within this retreat we will address symptom such as insomnia, palpitations, loss of libido, painful heavy breasts and periods, weight gain around the middle, hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings without medication, just using the food you eat, gentle exercise, breathing exercises and potent acupressure points.
Take time to develop and nurture a loving connection with your body and mind – Click here for info
or you could……………… Make like a new spring shoot and practice yoga, Makka-ho stretches or Qigong to help the liver move stagnant energy. Also eating sour foods such as lemon, lime, and green leafy vegetables will stimulate the gallbladder into producing bile which will help clear a congested liver. This meridian channel is related to vision and decisions. So for clear, flexible thinking you can visit my online course site and receive the free lesson covering the Makka-Ho stretches
Meike completed the three-year Diploma course with the Shiatsu College Dublin in 2012 with distinction, is a member of The Shiatsu Society of Ireland (SSI) and holds clinics both in New Ross, Co. Wexford and Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny.
From 2001 till 2007 she studied Mindfulness and Compassion Meditation under the guidance of Tibetan Buddhist Teacher Lama Tschaglung Tulku Ngawang Gelek in Berlin.
Meike has a background in Biology and received a Master of Science from Osnabruck University in Germany. She has a keen interest in unifying scientific research and eastern philosophy and applying this knowledge into body work. For her, practising and teaching Shiatsu gives her the opportunity to further explore and develop this.
The chairperson welcomed attendees and gave a brief update on the progress of the current committee from their formation in April 2017. The new updated Shiatsu Society website has now been completed and members/new members can now renew electronically. The new Facebook page has been launched and our first ‘Practitioner of the Month’ has been named. and her blog posted. Adverts can be set once the budget is approved. The Newsletter is a helpful addition as you don’t have to be a member of the SSI to receive it and it’s free, simply add email to Website. In that way, we foster a Shiatsu Community.
Minutes of the Previous AGM in April 2017 were reviewed and signed off.
Reports of Officers:
Chairperson’s report as above.
Secretary’s report in the February newsletter.
Treasurer reports the account has little activity with the main expenses for the year being the new website which came to €700, and the ESF membership which came to €400.
She also reports problems with Permanent TSB’s service in that any changes need to be made in person and cannot be done via phone/email. She is currently trying to get a debit/credit card attached to the account to make necessary purchases for the society simplified, as since currently, the committee has to pay out of their own pockets and then claim it back later. It was discussed whether it would be better to just move to a more efficient bank but it was noted that this would be a big undertaking/there is a lot involved in opening an account for a society/non-profit organization.
Questions of Officers:
What are the ‘hits’ on the SSI website and Facebook? We haven’t set up analytics just yet so we are unable to determine this. It was suggested that we register the SSI website with ‘my google business’ so that it appears immediately at the top of any Google searches and it was agreed we would look into this.
What is the ESF doing? (Please see attached report from our ESF representative, Mary McHugh). Any queries members would like brought forward to ESF can be done through Mary.
It was also agreed that we should include an ESF section on the SSI website since there is no reference to it on there at the moment.
The question was raised why new graduate practitioners should need to be examined in order to become RPSSI since a lot of existing alternative therapies don’t hold the same standards of practice. There followed an open discussion about Shiatsu in different countries and their standards of practice compared to Ireland.
A suggestion was posed, ‘Should we raise the membership fee?’ The conclusion among those present was that maybe in the future when we have gained more members and we are offering more benefits, it would be worth considering but at the moment we need to attract more members and increasing the fee might put people off.
Election of Officers:
It was proposed for the current committee to be re-elected. This was seconded by Julien Joly and all present were in agreement. Elected.
Mary McHugh agreed to remain as ESF representative. She was proposed and seconded. Elected.
Substantive Motions
Proposed Projects & Budget for the year (click here for details)
Changes to the constitution specifically Shiatsu Society Practitioner Certification for Qualified Members: Clarification was needed to allow new practitioners to be assessed for RPSSI immediately after college qualifications rather than waiting the year as stated in the constitution. This was allowed in 2016 but the constitution was never officially amended to reflect the new rule. All present in agreement that the constitution is to be changed to reflect this.
The question was also posed to the panel members present, can we arrange to have panel member(s) present at college practitioner assessments so that they can obtain their registered status while completing their college diploma assessment? It was pointed out that it can be complicated to have panel members available but also agreed that it made practical sense to do this.
Any other Business
It was asked what the marketing plan is and Joanne suggested setting the budget at €1500 for the year while using an online marketing site like Fiverr or Upwork. However, it was suggested by Helena that we could employ a marketing person for about €2,000 a year and they could maintain the website/Facebook while saving the committee a lot of extra work. Helena said that the marketing person she employs for the college takes all of the heavy work off her shoulders and she is efficient/knows what works at getting noticed and promoting your business. Joanne asked Helena if her marketing person might be interested in taking on the SSI and Helena will contact her to inquire.
There followed clarification who is on the current panel: Julien Joly, Fionnuala O’Hare, and Sheena Woods.
Shiatsu as a recognized practice by health insurers: Siobhan Kirk spoke briefly about renewing members enquiring about Shiatsu as a recognized alternative therapy. Several members present stated they already give receipts to clients and their clients have been reimbursed since some insurances will cover ‘massage’ under their schemes.
It was discussed that some TD’s are against the use of alternative therapies as opposed to western medicine with one in particular campaigning against and that we should try to make contact with a TD to befriend/who might be able to help us should we face opposition.
Our membership with FICTA was questioned and if they might be of assistance in the health insurance recognition but we aren’t sure if FICTA is still together as an organization, Anna Rutkowska agreed to contact them to find out their status and our own current status with them.
Support for Members/supervision/ counseling/avoiding burnout.
Julien Joly proposed for discussion ‘How do practitioners support themselves to avoid burnout?’
Where are the practitioners now who were previously members and why have they dropped out?
How do we work with our own mental health while supporting our clients?
Many of our clients are coming to us with problems of depression/anxiety/emotional disturbances and really how are we supporting ourselves while treating them? He suggested that practitioners should be receiving support for themselves after 4/5 treatments.
There was a loose discussion following this about the society offering supervision/ counselling services for members as or when needed for up to 1-2 sessions per annum. A possible idea would be to find a Shiatsu therapist accredited to help with supervision and with the agreement of our members, pay/contribute towards the selected therapist. Everyone agreed that therapists should have an ongoing ‘practice’ for looking after themselves and maintaining a level of support for their own wellbeing and that this should be noted in the Code of Ethics. This issue will be discussed further in our regular skype meetings.
Paying Committee Members
It was suggested by Julien Joly that members of the committee should be paid for their time. Discussion followed with some suggestions for waiving membership fees for committee members and most present agreed that paying committee members might be feasible in the future when we have gained more members and have the funds available.
Funding Assistance for Members
Joanne asked that committee members who receive a contribution from the SSI towards workshops or conferences such as the recent Shiatsu Congress in Vienna might contribute a blog or article/pictures to the society for use in our marketing newsletters, Facebook, and website. Also, what is our contribution towards a member’s attendance at an event such as the Congress?
Sharing of Skills Days (inter-practitioner)
Siobhan proposed a sharing of skills days and intimated that renewing members have requested via application forms, the desire to share their experiences and skills working with clients with specific pathologies amongst their shiatsu peers. Suggestions of workshops, one-day events, and a residential were discussed with one-day events seemingly most preferred by those present. A date for such a day will be discussed with October/November 2018 as a possibility. Helena O’Loughlin kindly offered to hold such an event at Shiatsu College Dublin.
Regulation of People advertising as Shiatsu Practitioners
The committee has been contacted by several members regarding therapists advertising as Shiatsu practitioners without applicable qualifications. One such therapist has already been contacted by Helena and asked to remove false qualifications from her website. The question was posed Can we have some regulation regarding this issue?’ It was discussed that part of the problem with this happening, is that insurances are not imposing strict enough standards. If their insured parties had to be a member of the society, for example, it would ensure that they had the relevant qualifications. An agreement was made amongst those present to contact Joanne Faulkner or Helena O’Loughlin if we come across therapists with questionable Shiatsu credentials.
Leaflet
Joanne posed the question Should we have more leaflets designed to promote Shiatsu? We have also received a request from a member regarding the design of a new leaflet. Discussion followed that there were previous leaflets and examples of these were passed around. Those present agreed that the most recent leaflet only needed some text updating but still looked up to date and relevant as regards layout and media. Helena was Chairperson on the committee that organized the original designing of this leaflet and she was able to provide Joanne with details of the creator. Joanne will contact her to get the template and enquire re pricing and updating.
The AGM was closed with an invitation for members to join us via skype for future meetings should they wish to become more involved in the society.
For centuries the ancient wisdom keepers and healers in several traditions had a keen understanding of the energetic body. The healing traditions from China, India, Japan and Tibet, as well as other countries all spoke of energy channels, meridians or nadis along which the vital energy flowed.
Life was considered to be a bio-electrical and vibrational energy phenomenon and so health revolved around balancing energy through various means. Life existed because of life force and energy running through and animating the body, ensuring we can move, breathe, digest food, think and even feel.
Healing traditions all spoke of energy channels, sen, meridians or nadis.
Energy channels
This vital life force or chi, is composed of two kinds of forces, yin and yang, and flows along a sophisticated network of energy pathways, or highways, circuiting the body. Over 2000 years ago ancient cultures knew of the existence of these energy channels. They were called ‘sen’ in Thailand, ‘nadis’ in India, ‘meridians’, ‘channels’ or ‘vessels’ in China and Japan, and ‘channels’ in Tibet. In India, where many eastern healing arts developed, there were said to be 72 000 nadis or energy pathways. Disease is believed to be a blockage in the energy flow of these channels. A range of healing traditions, including acupuncture, acupressure, massage and yoga, are founded on the principle of the existence of energy channels or pathways, known as meridians, or nadis, running around the body in an expansive network.
While it may seem a little airy fairy to some to consider the energy body while we have flesh and bone, at source we are an energy field, embedded into another energy field. Our bodies are electromagnetic in nature and science has measured these frequencies with advanced machines, like EKG’s and MRI scanning, for many years. Numerous studies demonstrate these energy pathways and points conduct electricity even when needles aren’t used. And the massage technique of Shiatsu have been found to stimulate the same energetic effects. Similarly, Qigong,Tai Chi and the postures of yoga, have been found to increase electrical conductance at acupoints, yet science never believed in the existence of meridians until now.
Scientific research
Recently scientists at Seoul National University confirmed the existence of meridians, which they refer to as the “primo-vascular system.” They say that this system is a crucial part of the cardiovascular system.
Previously, North Korean scientist Kim Bong-Han proposed that he had found meridians in the early 1960’s. Dr Kim Bong-Han showed over 50 years ago that new tubular structures exist inside and outside of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, as well as on the surface of internal organs and under the dermis. He believed they were the traditional meridian lines. The meridians were called Bonghan ducts or channels, after his research, but now the existence of this system in various organs has been corroborated by further research.
The current Korean researchers now believe the primo-vascular system is in fact the physical component of the Acupuncture Meridian System. And it has also been suggested that this system is involved in channelling the flow of energy and information relayed by biophotons (electromagnetic waves of light) and DNA.
There may be a link between the meridians and energy and information relayed by DNA.
The Korean scientists studying oriental medicine with biophysical methods injected a special staining dye which coloured the meridians. By injecting the dye onto acupuncture points, they were able to see thin lines. These did not show up at non-acupuncture point sites where there are no meridians. The researchers discovered that the meridian lines are not confined to the skin, but are in fact a concrete duct system through which liquid flows, and that this liquid aggregates to form stem cells.
Previously, scientists used a combination of imaging techniques and CT scans to observe concentrated points of microvascular structures that clearly correspond to the map of acupuncture points created by Chinese energy practitioners in ancient times. In a studypublished in the Journal of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena, researchers used contrast CT imaging with radiation on both non-acupuncture points and acupuncture points. The CT scans revealed clear distinctions between the non-acupuncture point and acupuncture point anatomical structures.
Scientists injected a special staining dye which coloured the meridians.
The meridian system
There are 12 primary paired meridians and two single mid meridians, six yang and six yin. The yang meridians run down the body and the yin meridians flow up the body. Each meridian is also related to an element. Each meridian is most active at a certain time of the day or night and each meridian is influenced by an element or season.
The nature of meridians, in their elemental structure, and as vessels for the life force, show the intricacy and profound connection of our body at a cellular level, to the universe. We are intimately connected by the elements, energetic structure and flow of energy, to all life, at a cellular, physical level. Our earth is also said to have energetic pathways or ley lines, akin to meridians.
The map was created by Chinese healing practitioners nearly 2000 years ago.
How are meridians related to health?
Our bodies need balance. A balanced flow or energy, not too much or too little, is conducive to good health. This is the same in the way we live our lives. Balance is paramount. Just enough food, water and a healthy balanced lifestyle. As the Buddha said: “middle way” or moderation in all things.
We can see this harmony and balance in life, as the balance between the energies of yin and yang – or more simplistically, masculine and feminine – the two opposing and catalyzing energies of the universe.
In our bodies we need balance, not too much or too little.
Our health is vibrant if there is harmony and balance between these two forces in the body. If the balance is disturbed, and the flow of one of these forces becomes greater than the other then illness arises. These forces or energies flow through very definite channels in the body, or meridians, and these are the body’s healing energy pathways.
In traditional Indian medicine, the meridians are expanded upon.There are nadis found within the physical body and these nadis make up the nervous system, the circulatory system, the digestive system, the respiratory system, the lymphatic systems, etc. Any blockages in these nadis can result in physical health conditions. Nadis can also be found in the subtle body where they carry thoughts, feelings, and nerve impulses. When these nadis are blocked, we lose our ability to feel, and connect deeply with others, the environment and ourselves. In the same way that veins and arteries are important for the body to function, nadis weave through our physical nerves and the matrix of consciousness that circuits the mind and self, supporting our physical expression from the otherworldly dimensions of existence.
Chi is made up of two kinds of forces, yin and yang.
When the flow of energy is blocked, it causes low energy and illness. Practices like yoga and meditation work on these subtle energy channels, supporting the flow of energy through the body. According to some ancient indian texts there are 350 000 nadis or energy pathways in the body. In traditional Indian medicine and spiritual science, the energies of the physical body, the subtle body and the causal body are said to flow through the nadis. Within this framework, the nadis are said to connect at special points of intensity called nadichakras.
The three most important nadis are those running along the spine: ida, pingala and sushumna. The Sushumna is the central channel of energy in the human body and it runs from the base of the spine to the crown of the head and carries kundalini energy, which is the primal evolutionary force. Kundalini is awakened through yoga and meditation and is said to lie dormant at the base of the spine. Activation of the kundalini leads to higher consciousness states. The aim of yoga is to broaden the sushumna and to unite the pathways. Purifying all three nadis leads to overall health, and wellness of body and mind, as well as spiritual growth. Various Pranayama techniques aid in helping to keep these nadi channels open.
The three most important nadis are those running along the spine: ida, pingala and sushunma.
If you are sensitive to energy and have had energy treatments, such as acupuncture, you may have felt streams of energy or a flow of cold or heat, for example, up the legs or arms. This is a freeing up of energy in the meridians and the flow of energy that is released when a blockage is removed.
There are many wonderful healing modalities based on the meridian system that support radiant health. By enhancing the flow of energy through the body, balance and health is achieved and we come in touch with our true selves. Acupuncture is a therapeutic modality used in China as early as the late stone age. It was used to treat all ailments affecting people. Acupuncture did not enter modern Western consciousness until the 1970’s when China ended a period of isolation and resumed foreign political and cultural contacts.
The range of applications for acupuncture and acupressure has grown slowly in the West, possibly because of the belief that it has no scientific basis. Perhaps now with the scientific proof of meridians, acupuncture will become more widespread for all ailments, along with other great healing modalities based on the energetics of the body, supporting more people to have vibrant health and wellbeing.
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“the massage technique of Shiatsu have been found to stimulate the same energetic effects. Similarly, Qigong,Tai Chi and the postures of yoga, have been found to increase electrical conductance at acupoints, yet science never believed in the existence of meridians until now.”
Who doesn’t know the feeling of not wanting to get out of bed, of feeling sad, empty, dull or frustrated? These negative states of mind come to us all but the question is how can we deal with them? What can we do?
We often try to cope with negative or bad feelings and days by plunging ourselves into “happiness” and denying that we’re feeling that way. We might attempt to counteract them with physical activity, meeting friends for a chat, shopping, positive affirmations and/or visualizations. This is, as such, not a bad thing. Sometimes we need certain tools to bring our state of mind back to some sort of balance and those tools are very helpful. But we should use them with caution. I like to think of them as life-buoys that save us from drowning. Or a ladder that allows us to climb out of the dark hole we have fallen into
Meike completed the three-year Diploma course with the Shiatsu College Dublin in 2012 with distinction, is a member of The Shiatsu Society of Ireland (SSI) and holds clinics both in New Ross, Co. Wexford and Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny.
From 2001 till 2007 she studied Mindfulness and Compassion Meditation under the guidance of Tibetan Buddhist Teacher Lama Tschaglung Tulku Ngawang Gelek in Berlin.
Meike has a background in Biology and received a Master of Science from Osnabruck University in Germany. She has a keen interest in unifying scientific research and eastern philosophy and applying this knowledge into body work. For her, practising and teaching Shiatsu gives her the opportunity to further explore and develop this.
Non-judgmental awareness – A key to personal growth and integrity
by Meike Donohue SSI MScBiol
Shiatsu practitioner and teacher, Meditation Instructor
Who doesn’t know the feeling of not wanting to get out of bed, of feeling sad, empty, dull or frustrated? These negative states of mind come to us all but the question is how can we deal with them? What can we do?
We often try to cope with negative or bad feelings and days by plunging ourselves into “happiness” and denying that we’re feeling that way. We might attempt to counteract them with physical activity, meeting friends for a chat, shopping, positive affirmations and/or visualizations. This is, as such, not a bad thing. Sometimes we need certain tools to bring our state of mind back to some sort of balance and those tools are very helpful. But we should use them with caution. I like to think of them as life-buoys that save us from drowning. Or a ladder that allows us to climb out of the dark hole we have fallen into.
But after the emergency is dealt with, it would be a good idea to drop these tools. We don’t do ourselves any favours with keeping these behaviours up. The problem is that we’re not really dealing with our feelings at all. We are still running away from something that wants to be seen and released, but we are suppressing and masking our feelings instead.
So how can we deal with strong negative feelings? It hurts badly – and strong, unsettling emotions arise along with hurt. In this situation we can bring our non-judgemental awareness into play.
Non-judgemental awareness is a technique of becoming aware of our feelings, thoughts and emotions without analysing and criticizing them or going into their story/drama. It is taking our time to sit with these feelings quietly and not identifying with them. These are old feelings which need to surface in order to be released. Staying aware and trying not to act out, breathing gently into our belly and letting them pass. Trying not to judge them, not to give them adjectives or personal colour.
This is far from easy to do but by breathing deeply and relaxed into the lower belly we allow ourselves to feel afraid, ashamed, angry, sad, exhausted, helpless – without acting them out.
Facing these feelings requires bravery and honesty but it is worthwhile. Suppressing negativity and placing a mask of happiness over our true feelings is just another way of escaping. And running away is never the answer. If we don’t face our fears, shame or anger we will still feel
afraid, ashamed or angry. On the other hand – opening ourselves to the hurt, the pain, our suffering without judging it, breathing gently into it, we get in contact with these feelings, with this hurt. And as long as we stay away from judging, ourselves or others as good, bad, fearful, frustrating, sad, shameful, tiring and/or stressing – we can let them surface and pass.
Non-judgemental awareness is allowing ourselves to feel anxious, afraid and guilty, without being ashamed of feeling that way.
By allowing ourselves to get in touch with our hidden negative thoughts and emotions we can release hidden holding patterns. And with this release we can develop, learn and mature. This is a key factor in achieving personal growth and integrity. A person with integrity is a person who feels all these things but has no recrimination against him/herself for feeling them.
Non-judgemental awareness is also a key factor for any therapist. If the therapist is judging their clients behaviour or actions even slightly, it will come through in their attitude and will affect their treatment.
In this lecture by C.G. Jung he talks to a group of clergy in Switzerland about the importance of non-judgemental awareness in a doctor/therapist. But it also applies to everyone of us. He says that we cannot have empathy with another person if we pass judgement. In fact we cannot have empathy towards ourselves if we judge and not accept ourselves.
“One forgets that even doctors have moral scruples and that certain peoples confessions are hard even for a doctor to swallow. Yet the patient does not feel self-accepted, unless the very worst in him is accepted too. No-one can bring this about by mere words, it comes only through reflection and through the doctors attitude towards himself and his own dark side. If the doctor wants to guide another or even accompanying him a part of the way he must feel with that persons psyche. He never feels it when he passes judgement. Whether he puts his judgements into words or keeps them to himself, makes not the slightest difference.
To take the opposite position and to agree with the patient on hand is also of no use. But the strangest thing, as much as condemnation, feeling comes only through unprejudiced objectivity. This sounds almost like a scientific precept and it could be confused with a purely intellectual abstract attitude of mind. But what I mean is something quite different. It is a human quality, a kind of deep
respect for the facts for the man who suffers from them. And for the riddle of such a man’s life. The truly religious person has this attitude. He knows that God has brought all sorts of strange and inconceivable things to pass and seeks in the most curious ways to enter a man’s heart. He therefore senses in everything the unseen presence of the divine will.
This is what I mean by unprejudiced objectivity. It is a moral achievement on the part of the doctor who ought not to let himself be repelled by sickness and corruption. We cannot change anything unless we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses. I am the oppressor of the person I condemn, not his friend and fellow sufferer.
I do not in the least mean to say that we must never pass judgement when we desire to help and improve, but if the doctor wishes to help a human being he must be able to accept him as he is. And he can do this in reality – only when he has already seen and accepted himself as he is. Perhaps this sounds very simple but simple things are always the most difficult. In actual life it requires the greatest art to be simple and so acceptance of oneself is the essence of the moral problem and the assets test on ones whole outlook on life.”
Meike completed the three-year Diploma course with the Shiatsu College Dublin in 2012 with distinction, is a member of The Shiatsu Society of Ireland (SSI) and holds clinics both in New Ross, Co. Wexford and Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny.
From 2001 till 2007 she studied Mindfulness and Compassion Meditation under the guidance of Tibetan Buddhist Teacher Lama Tschaglung Tulku Ngawang Gelek in Berlin.
Meike has a background in Biology and received a Master of Science from Osnabruck University in Germany. She has a keen interest in unifying scientific research and eastern philosophy and applying this knowledge into body work. For her, practising and teaching Shiatsu gives her the opportunity to further explore and develop this.
Healing traditions all spoke of energy channels, sen, meridians or nadis.
There may be a link between the meridians and energy and information relayed by DNA.
Scientists injected a special staining dye which coloured the meridians.
The map was created by Chinese healing practitioners nearly 2000 years ago.
In our bodies we need balance, not too much or too little.
Chi is made up of two kinds of forces, yin and yang.
The three most important nadis are those running along the spine: ida, pingala and sushunma.
But after the emergency is dealt with, it would be a good idea to drop these tools. We don’t do ourselves any favours with keeping these behaviours up. The problem is that we’re not really dealing with our feelings at all. We are still running away from something that wants to be seen and released, but we are suppressing and masking our feelings instead.