As spiritual practitioners, we understand that energy flows through all things. The practice of energy healing allows us to tap into these currents, redirecting and balancing energies to support wellbeing in ourselves and others. While many outside our community might view energy healing with scepticism, we recognise it as an important part of spiritual practice.

What’s fascinating is how modern scientific research continues to catch up with what we’ve known intuitively for centuries. Quantum physics shows us that everything is energy at its most basic level, and that the observer can influence the observed. Research into biofields suggests our bodies generate measurable electromagnetic fields that interact with our surroundings. Even neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to reorganise itself and form new neural connections—supports our understanding that focused intention can create real change.

In this guide, we’ll explore practical approaches to energy healing that you can incorporate into your practice straightaway. Whether you’re just beginning to work with energy or you’ve been practising for years, these techniques will help you refine your abilities and expand your healing repertoire.

As we work through these methods together, remember that your unique perspective brings valuable insight to this work. Trust your instincts and adapt these techniques to complement your personal beliefs and practice.

If you are new to energy healing, begin your practice by working on healing yourself. Once you have more experience, you can begin to work on healing others, with their permission.

Understanding Energy Fields

Our bodies consist of multiple energy layers extending beyond our physical form. These subtle energy fields—sometimes called auras—reflect our physical, emotional and spiritual states. These different layers of energy include the following:

• The physical energy layer, closest to the body
• The emotional energy field, carrying our feelings and moods
• The mental energy layer, where our thoughts and beliefs reside
• The spiritual energy field, connecting us to higher consciousness

Each layer influences the others, which is why a holistic approach to healing works best. By addressing imbalances across all fields, we can create lasting change.

Understanding Energy Centres

Understanding the major energy centres of the body can be a helpful way to begin healing practice. These ideas create a framework for our healing practice. One of the most well known systems is the chakra system. This is an Indian Vedic system but there are similar concepts across traditions and cultures. You can use whatever energy system aligns with your practice.

Energy Centers Across World Traditions

Energy healing concepts appear across many spiritual traditions, each with their own framework for understanding these energy points.

Celtic shamanic traditions recognised energy centres along the body, and their healing practices often focused on balancing these points. The Celtic wheel reflects the seven directions (four cardinal points plus above, below, and centre) and parallels some aspects of chakra symbolism.

In Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition, the Tree of Life with its ten Sephiroth represents divine attributes flowing from spirit to matter, corresponding to the chakra system from Malkuth (grounding) to Kether (higher consciousness).

Christianity contains symbolic references through Jacob’s Ladder, described as connecting earth to heaven, which some esoteric interpreters view as representing spiritual centres along the spine. The seven seals in Revelation have been similarly interpreted by mystics as correlating to energy points in the body.

Traditional Chinese Medicine utilises meridians and acupoints where chi (life force) flows, with three primary dantians (energy centers) in the lower abdomen, heart and forehead being seen as important energy reservoirs.

Indigenous traditions worldwide recognise similar concepts—Native American teachings speak of seven directions associated with bodily energy centres, Hawaiian Huna identifies three energy bodies, and many African spiritual systems work with energy points connected to ancestors and nature spirits.

These diverse approaches across cultures suggest a shared understanding of the body’s subtle anatomy, described through different belief systems, while pointing to the same fundamental energy principles.

The Chakra System

The chakra system originates from ancient Indian Vedic texts, particularly the Upanishads, dating back over 2,500 years. The Sanskrit word “chakra” means “wheel” or “disc,” describing the spinning vortices of energy positioned along the central channel of the body.

The Seven Major Energy Centres

The seven primary energy centres in the chakra system are as follows:

1. Root Chakra (Muladhara) – Located at the base of the spine, this centre relates to security, survival and grounding. When balanced, we feel stable and secure.
2. Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana) – Found in the lower abdomen, this centre governs creativity, pleasure and emotional fluidity. Balance here supports our ability to enjoy life and adapt to change.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura) – Positioned in the upper abdomen, this centre relates to personal power, confidence and self-esteem. Its balance helps us take effective action in the world.
4. Heart Chakra (Anahata) – At the centre of the chest, this governs love, compassion and connection. When balanced, we can give and receive love freely.
5. Throat Chakra (Vishuddha) – Located in the throat region, this centre relates to communication, self-expression and truth. Its balance helps us speak and listen with clarity.
6. Third Eye Chakra (Ajna) – Found between the eyebrows, this centre governs intuition, imagination and clear thinking. When balanced, our perception extends beyond the physical.
7. Crown Chakra (Sahasrara) – At the top of the head, this centre connects us to higher consciousness and spiritual understanding. Its balance brings a sense of unity and purpose.

Now that we have a basic understanding of energy fields and energy centres we can begin working on energy healing practices.

Beginning Energy Healing

I like to do a short grounding and centering practice before beginning healing work as this connects us to the earth’s energy and aligns our energy systems.

Setting Intention

I also like to take a moment to set an intention for my energy healing session. Your intention might include any or all of the following:

• Balance energy centres
• Remove energetic blockages
• Enhance natural healing processes
• Provide comfort and peace

If you are healing someone else, remember that energy healing supports the recipient’s own healing process rather than imposing your will. Frame your intentions with respect for their autonomy and highest good.

Protection and Boundaries

Creating an energetic shield before beginning your work helps prevent energy depletion and unwanted energy exchange. Visualise a bubble of light surrounding you that allows healing energy to flow through but blocks any harmful energies.

After each healing session, cleanse your energy field in one of the following ways:

• Washing your hands in cold water
• Brushing down your aura with sweeping hand movements
• Using cleansing herbs like sage or rosemary
• Visualising any residual energy returning to the earth

These foundations provide the structure for all energy healing work. With these principles in place, we can explore more specific techniques and applications.

Sensing Your Energy Fields and Centres

Before we can heal energy, we must learn to sense it. We can perceive energy in various ways:

• Through physical sensations such as warmth, coolness, tingling, or pressure
• Through visualisation such as seeing colours, shapes, or movement
• Through emotional resonance: experiencing certain feelings and emotions
• Through physical sensations in our own bodies

Begin by holding your hands a few inches above your body, moving slowly from head to toe. Notice any sensations in your palms. With practice, these sensations will become more distinct and informative.

To begin working with your chakras:

• Sit comfortably with your spine straight
• Place your attention on each centre, moving from root to crown
• Notice any sensations, colours, or impressions that arise
• Observe which centres feel open and flowing versus restricted or overactive
• Note your experience without judgment

Each person experiences these energy centres uniquely so trust your own intuition and perception as you complete this process.

Sensing and Identifying Energy Imbalances Within Yourself

We can develop our ability to detect subtle disruptions in our own energy flow. Recognising these imbalances is the first step toward effective healing work.

Common Signs of Personal Energy Imbalance

Pay attention to these indicators of disrupted energy flow within yourself:

• Areas that feel unusually hot or cold
• Sensations of energy congestion or depletion
• Recurring tension or discomfort that doesn’t have an obvious physical cause
• Emotional states that feel “stuck” or disproportionate
• Energy centres that feel overstimulated or sluggish
• Unusual fatigue or hyperactivity in specific body regions

Trust your instincts—your intuition often perceives imbalances before your conscious mind catalogues them.

Connecting Your Physical and Energetic Symptoms

Energy imbalances often correspond with physical or emotional challenges.

• Back pain is often associated with the root chakra and feelings of security
• Recurring headaches may relate to crown or third eye energy congestion
• Menstrual, fertility or sexual problems are associated with the sacral chakra
• Digestive sensitivity often appears alongside solar plexus energy disruptions
• Emotional heaviness frequently manifests in the heart energy centre
• Communication difficulties, throat or thyroid problems may coincide with throat energy blockages

By addressing the energetic component alongside appropriate self-care or medical attention, we support our comprehensive wellbeing.

Techniques for Energy Cleansing and Balancing

When practicing energy healing, we have several effective techniques at our disposal. Let’s explore the most practical methods for clearing blockages and restoring balance to your energy system.

Energy Sweeping and Clearing

Begin with energy sweeping—using your hands to move 2-3 inches above your body from head to toe, visualising stagnant energy being brushed away. Pay special attention to areas that feel congested or heavy. Imagine your hands collecting the stagnant energy, then shake them off toward the earth for grounding. This simple practice can be done daily to maintain energetic hygiene.

For deeper clearing, incorporate elements like smoke cleansing with herbs such as rosemary or mugwort, or use sound by ringing a bell or striking a singing bowl near areas of stagnation. The vibrations help break apart congealed energy patterns, whilst your intention directs the clearing process.

Focused Breathing Techniques

Breath serves as both diagnostic tool and healing mechanism in energy work. To balance a specific centre, place your hands near that area and breathe deeply, imagining your breath flowing directly into that chakra. For overactive centres, visualise excess energy flowing out with your exhale. For underactive areas, envision revitalising energy entering with your inhale.

Try the alternating nostril breath to balance your entire energy system. Close your right nostril with your thumb and inhale through your left nostril, then close the left with your ring finger and exhale through the right. Continue alternating for several minutes, feeling the energy equalising between the left and right sides of your body.

Colour Visualisation

With colour visualisation we envision specific coloured light flowing into imbalanced centres. Use cool blues and greens for overactive areas, and warm reds and oranges for sluggish centres. The colour serves as a conduit for healing intention, helping to restore natural energy flow.

For a full-body practice, lie comfortably and systematically visualise each chakra glowing with its traditional colour—root in red, sacral in orange, solar plexus in yellow, heart in green, throat in blue, third eye in indigo and crown in violet or white. Spend about a minute on each centre, imagining the colour becoming brighter and clearer as energy balance is restored.

Crystal Healing Applications

Crystals offer concentrated energy forms that can help restore balance. Place appropriate stones directly on or near the energy centres—clear quartz acts as an all-purpose amplifier, while specific stones like carnelian (sacral), citrine (solar plexus), or amethyst (third eye) target particular centres.

Create a crystal grid on your body by lying down and placing stones on each chakra. Remain in this position for 10-20 minutes, allowing the crystal energies to interact with your own energy field. This practice is particularly effective when combined with relaxed breathing and meditation.

Sound Healing

Sound healing is another effective practice for energy work. Humming or chanting specific tones whilst focusing on each energy centre creates vibrations that help break up blockages. Lower tones resonate with lower chakras, whilst higher pitches activate the upper centres. Even five minutes of sound work can shift stubborn energy patterns.

You can use singing bowls to create the sounds for each chakra or use a chakra healing sound meditation online such as the ALL 7 CHAKRAS HEALING SOUND BATH by Meditative Mind

Hands-on Self-Healing

Your hands naturally channel healing energy. For direct work, place your palms on or slightly above an imbalanced area. Imagine energy flowing from your hands into the area in need. If an area feels depleted, visualise golden light flowing in; if it feels congested, imagine the excess being drawn into your hands and released.

Create small circular movements with your hands over chakras that feel blocked. Clockwise circles are generally energising, while counterclockwise movements help release excess energy. Let your intuition guide the direction, speed and duration of these movements as you respond to what your body needs.

Through regular practice of these energy healing techniques, we gradually become more adept at maintaining our energetic balance, addressing imbalances before they manifest as physical discomfort or emotional challenges.

Self-Care for Energy Healers

Energy healing requires attention to our own wellbeing. Incorporate protective practices like regular cleansing baths with sea salt and herbs, as unresolved energy can accumulate over time. Setting clear intentions before and after healing work creates energetic boundaries that prevent energy depletion.

Physical nourishment directly impacts our energy field. Focus on fresh foods, proper hydration and adequate rest. Notice how different foods affect your energy centres—some may feel enlivening to specific chakras whilst others might feel depleting.

Honour your sensitivity as strength rather than weakness. Energy workers often experience the world more intensely, requiring deliberate time in nature, away from electronic devices and others’ energy fields. Regular grounding through gardening, walking barefoot, or simply sitting against a tree helps maintain your energetic resilience and clarity.

Energy healing offers a powerful approach to maintaining balance and wellbeing. By understanding our energy centres, developing our sensitivity, and applying targeted techniques, we can address imbalances before they manifest as physical or emotional challenges.

The scientific understanding of biofields and quantum physics continues to validate what spiritual practitioners have known for centuries—that energy is fundamental to existence and can be directed with intention. As we practice energy healing, we participate in an ancient tradition whilst remaining open to modern insights that expand our understanding.

As you continue your journey with energy healing, trust your intuition above all else. Your unique connection to energy will guide your practice in ways no book or guide can replicate. May your path of energy healing bring balance, clarity and power to your path.

Blessed be

Eva x