Capacitar: Trauma Healing

Here is something I felt might be of interest to many of us here... indulge me, if you will, okay.

This is about how FINGERHOLDS can be used to manage emotions.

Following is an easy, simple practice to work with emotions and to develop emotional literacy. Emotions are waves of energy moving through the body, mind and spirit of all of us.

Last night, when I was at Movement class, we did this exercise, and learned something in the process. I hope you will also.

Most times, we judge our emotions as 'good' or 'bad', instead of recognizing the emotions we experience as 'wise messages' from the body guiding us in our response to challenges or to our environment.

With overwhelming feelings, our energy can become blocked or repressed, resulting in pain or illness in the body.

Through each finger runs a channel or meridian of energy connected to an organ system and related emotions.

By holding each finger while breathing deeply, we can work with the flow of our emotional energy and feelings to bring physical release and healing.

Fingerholds are a useful tool to use in our daily lives.

In difficult situations when tears, anger, or anxiety arise, the fingers may be held to bring calmness and focus so that the appropriate response or action may be taken following.

The practice may also be done as a meditation with music, as we did last night in class, or used before going to sleep to release the problems of the day and bring about relaxation to the body, mind and spirit.

The practice can be done on oneself, or on another person.

The next post will explain the how-to of the practice.

I hope you will read it, and try it for yourself.

If you think about it, it lines up with body language also.

Peace....

xoxo

How to practice fingerholds....

Hold each finger with the opposite hand for 2-5 minutes.
You can work with either hand.

*Breathe in deeply;
recognize and acknowledge the strong or disturbing feelings or emotions you hold inside yourself.

*Breathe out slowly let go;
imagine the feelings draining out of your fingers and going into the earth.

*Breathe in deeply again;
with a sense of harmony, strength and healing.

*Breathe out slowly;
releasing past feelings and problems.

Our instructor said that very often, as we hold each finger, we will feel a pulsing sensation as the energy and feelings move, and we become balanced.

You can hold the fingers of somebody else who is angry or upset also.

The fingerholds are useful for young children who are crying or having a tantrum, or for people whom are feeling very fearful, anxious, sick, or dying.

These are the fingerholds to help manage emotions ~

THUMB
Grief, Tears, Emotional Pain

INDEX FINGER
Fear, Terror, Panic

MIDDLE FINGER
Anger, Rage, Resentment

RING FINGER
Worry, Anxiety, Nervousness

SMALL FINGER (PINKY)
Lack of Self-Esteem, Victimization

Rest in CENTER for PROTECTION
Fingers together, each touching the opposite hands finger, in lap, while crossing ankles during sitting or lying on floor.

Tips...

When holding your specific finger, it is best to hold the finger with all the fingers of the opposite hand wrapped around it, and with the thumb also, in a comfortable position, wrapped around also or over the tip of the finger being held... or if you are holding your finger in the opposite direction, you can rest your thumb in the palm of the hand of the finger you are holding.

As you practice this, you will see how things fall into place.

You might do a practice, as I did last night, sitting up on a pillow, in a comfortable position, while some others did the practice in a lying position, on their mats on the floor. This will work great while in bed also.

We went through the practice with each finger, holding it for a few minutes, (and I did experience pulsations in my fingers) and then moved on to the next finger.

When one hand was done, we went on to the next set of fingers on the other hand.

Hold your finger while your arms are relaxed (not raised up), rather lowered, around the peri-diem - between the tummy area and the upper pelvic region, whichever is more comfortable and feels natural.

Doing some practices while one is not under pressure of emotional pain is a good time to practice, so that when you need to step back, relax and reduce the pressure and stress during an emotional event, you are prepared.

Remember to deeply breathe in all that is light, healthy, and calming for you emotionally, and slowly breathe out, releasing all the hurtful, harmful, unhealthy feelings and emotions from within you.

I think this is another tool for our toolboxes and I want to say that I felt really good afterwards.

I hope, if you are interested, you might use a very soothing background music, something from Enigma in the Nine Worlds album, Enya, or any new-age soundtrack, or meditation tracks you play to relax and soothe your souls.

Listening to nature, waterfalls, rainy days, and walks in the woods are also great whenever trying to relax and engage ourselves in healing meditation.

All the best to each and every one of you ~

With Love
Your Friend,
Nightbird

xoxoxoxoxo

I will check the correct organ systems that the fingers are connected to, or meridians, as I want to be accurate, and right now, I'm a tad tired, so I might make a mistake.

We are talking about the intestines, the lungs, (all fluids) circulatory system, and the pelvic floor, and this is as ancient and important as reflexology involving the bottom of our feet.

xoxo

Thank you nightbird for sharing this even when your so tired,

energy does flow mightily into the hands. when I'm holding hands in the 12 step groups and we are saying our closing prayer I can watch the energy flow to my hands and they get very hot and pulsate . I met a person not long ago who could do the same thing and when we held each others hand we almost combusted. I belive that energy that emitts through the hands is love,


I could have used this last night. I did my own Patricia kind of movement . I was to uspet to go skate. I ended up at barnes and nobel and in the entrance foyer my eye landed on a Knot book . ( LOL)

All the various kinds of knots and holds and why they were invented. I took it to the knitting section and then sat and looked through my selection but could not make the feelings go away . I tought distraction looking at other fiber artists beautiful creations would help. it didn't I started to go to the art section.

The sadness woud not let go so in haste and tears I stuffed the knot book in the knitting section. ( LOL) and as I aproached the front door there was a police man who I saw catch my eyes but then he asked if there was a book I forgot about That I was intending to purchase.

I guess he saw me in the foyer as i first walked in and picked up the knot book.

Gosh i was being stopped as a possible theif! I think the only thing I was trying to hide at that moment was my pain. had no bag and hidding a book up a skating skirt is just impossibe to get away with really! Thats all I needed and after a trip to krogers staring at the baked goods isle and retruning to my car I was overcome in sadness, I just let go and let the tears fall.

im just at my bottom . the pain is just right there all the tie now and its okay and i know why at least what its about where one point of origin is , only it has a long list of followers and they keep on comming ,

I like the vision of the man on the cross. His our streached arms in total surrender .

That does it for me . Its a very strong immage. that comes to me in times when I am over whelmed with pain. and don't now why or I do know why.

I like the thought of placing all the different areas of emotion with each finger . and they make sence to me .

The middle finger for anger . for instance.. ((((( LOL LOL OLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!)))))

does it work that if a finger pulsates , thats the emotion you are feeling? And if it doesn't pulsate then try another finger ?

LOL! I wish ....

Now to remember it all .
hey .

write it down on each finger ..

im doing a quick sketch now.

Thank you,
Patricia

Oh the ring finger .. worry angziety and nervousness ... LOL!!!! what organ does that connect with. It must be the heart.
.

Thanks, night. This is similar to progressive relaxation and autogenic relaxation techniques. I have one I do called "Warm" and another called "Heavy". But I like the idea of holding the fingers, the warmth and the experience of the sense of touch as well as the deep breathing.