Can energy manipulation be harmful?
Because energy manipulation can be very powerful, it can sometimes do more harm than good.
First, anyone who convinces us that he is a healer, rather than a facilitator, creates a potentially dangerous situation. When we believe that a person has the power to heal or is an instrument of a higher power (i.e. ‘does God’s work’), we tend to trust him unquestioningly and give him complete responsibility for our well-being. Once we have done this, we may neglect to take care of our bodies, or we may ignore medical advice, the result being that we end up in a worse condition than before the ‘healing.’ In addition, when someone who views himself as a ‘healer’ abdicates responsibility to a higher power, he may refuse to be held accountable for his actions. If his energy work has a negative effect, he may claim that he was only an instrument, or that it was ‘God’s will.’
Second, because the ‘healer,’ particularly in a religious setting, receives so much respect and even reverence, the position may be sought after by those who are in need of self-validation. These people are especially likely to view themselves as healers rather than facilitators and, because of their own feelings of inadequacy, they may behave competitively. Even when their own energies are depleted and they are in need of healing, they may be reluctant to relinquish their position as ‘healer.’ As a result, they will continue to practise healing work even when they are in a negative state of mind, often doing more harm than good. Such people are likely to encourage dependence or ‘psychic slavery’ because their own needs will always come first.
Third, because the human psyche is incredibly complex, energy manipulation can affect many different aspects of it, including the mind. For this reason, the facilitator must take it upon himself to become a student of the mind, not least of all his own. If he does not know himself — his limitations, his mental tendencies, and so on — he may inadvertently harm his patient. For example, he may not be equipped to deal with the psychological response of a needy patient who looks to him as the parent-nurturer and, as a result, becomes dependent upon him. It may even be the case that the patient has come not so much to be healed as to get attention. This type of patient seeks out a facilitator who will give him the attention he wants — most likely someone who needs to be needed, in other words, a ‘caretaker.’ In cases such as these, the needs of both patient and facilitator are being met, but usually at the expense of any real healing. Because the patient’s ‘illness’ sustains the relationship, no attempt is made to treat it. When treatment is sought for an apparently physical illness that is actually caused by a needy ego, the true need may be overlooked. If this is the case, the healing, if successful at all, will be short-lived.
Fourth, the facilitator’s own emotional conflicts may impact upon the patient during the energy work, especially if the facilitator is unaware of them. If, for example, he is angry or under a lot of stress, he will transfer some of that negative energy to the patient, who may then be left with feelings which he is unable to identify or deal with.
A fifth potential cause of harm arises if the facilitator does not have a good understanding of the energies he is manipulating, or of the proper way to manipulate them. He may claim that he has removed negative energies from the body when they have merely been moved around within the body. This may give relief in one area, but create problems elsewhere.
Whether he is simply manipulating or transferring energy, or acting as an instrument of a ‘higher’ power (in other words, drawing on energies outside himself), the facilitator must remain accountable for his actions and any guidance he offers. After undergoing treatment, a person may temporarily feel better and, as a result, he may neglect important medical instructions. It is essential that a facilitator advise the patient to heed any advice his doctor has given him. Although the outcome of a healing is not ultimately within the facilitator’s control, that doesn’t mean that he can give the responsibility for the patient’s health to someone else.
As with modern medical practice, traditional methods of healing, such as energy manipulation, acupuncture, herbal medicine and rituals for psychic and spiritual purification, require many years of study to master. Yet today, many of us think we can become healers after attending a few courses or participating in a weekend workshop. This is not to say that we can’t be facilitators of healing in the early stages of our training. Since time immemorial, people with little or no training have practised the ‘laying on of hands,’ frequently with very good results. If, however, we start believing that we are ‘healers’ and neglect to consider the effects of our interventions on the whole of the psyche being, then we enter dangerous territory. As facilitators, we must always be accountable, even when we practise within a religious setting.
