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I’ve gotten some feedback from clients which has been both interesting and inspiring for this second blog. Using the Finger Holds exercise to go to sleep is an excellent way to use this technique, and  is very helpful for  working with one or more emotions or meridians. It really helps to soothe insomnia.

In my own practice, I find that doing this practice in the morning upon waking serves as my morning meditation. Especially if I take a minute for each finger and ground with the palm to palm, then do the other hand. This allows me to move the energy through each meridian, creating a smoother flow between the emotions or feelings. And the palm to palm allows me to center myself, creating a space between me and my emotions.

Yet there are times when I sense no emotion, just random thoughts or memories which if I allow to come and go, gives me a degree of separation so I can let go and see myself and my actions more clearly. Zen poets say it’s like watching the river, or the  ocean.

Some people wait for a pulsing sensation before moving to the next finger. And that can be a more traditional way of doing this technique. But if time is short, I believe this technique will work in the simpler version mentioned above.

Remembering to breathe during this exercise, no matter what thoughts or emotions arise, can break the habitual pattern of holding our breath during difficult times of crisis or stress. Holding our breath or continual shallow breathing during those waves of strong feelings around old injuries or losses, can lock those emotions or memories into the cells, tissues, and meridians of our bodies. These locked cells, tissues, muscles, often prevent the body from self-regulating, causing physical pain and illness.

Focusing on the breath and allowing our thoughts and feelings to come and go as we move from finger to finger, helps to unlock old patterns and rewires the brain as well as the connections [meridians] of our bodies, minds, emotional landscape, and self-awareness; creating and cultivating peace and health.

Feel free to let me know how this practice is going for you.

Peace

Elen