Find Physical, Mental and Emotional Balance Through Five Element Based Guided Imagery

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Find Physical, Mental and Emotional Balance

Through Five Element Based Guided Imagery

 

 

By: Robert Miller ND, CT, Cht.

 

To address these five major emotional imbalances,

 

 Gilead Enterprises of Ephrata, PA is pleased to present

Tranquilities, a unique stress reduction program based on the five

elements of Traditional . The five CD series, featuring a

blend of guided imagery, traditional Chinese medical wisdom,

environmental sounds, music therapy and aromatherapy, is designed to

teach new methods for effectively coping with life’s challenges. There

are several other series of healing CDs currently available from Gilead

Enterprises, and others are being developed.

 

As this magazine teaches, the three major components of health are

nourishment, detoxification, and regeneration. Our digestive system

provides us with nourishment when foods are properly broken down and

assimilated. Our liver, kidneys, large intestine and lymphatic system

allow for the proper removal of wastes. If the body is nutritionally

depleted or toxic from waste build-up, our cells cannot create energy and

restore themselves.

 

Although many things can disrupt the delicate balance of the digestive

system, stress is a primary factor in derailing the process. We present

an innovative new way to help relieve stress and aid individuals in

regaining control of their lives.

 

The ancient wisdom of Traditional (TCM) teaches that

chi (energy) flows evenly through twelve main acupuncture

meridians. An imbalance of chi is the precursor to illness. Most

interestingly, “our thoughts control chi”. In other words,

when our thoughts are out of control, chi becomes out of balance

as well, and this eventually leads to illness.

 

In TCM, there is a concordance of the Five Elements, the Twelve Meridians

and the Five Emotions:

 

ELEMENTS                MERIDIANS                       EMOTIONS

Earth

                  Spleen

Stomach                worry

Metal                   Lung

Large Intestines grief and loss

Water           .Kidney

Bladder               fear

Wood                    Liver

Gallbladder             anger

Fire                    Heart,

Pericardium,

            joy

 

 

        Small

Intestine and         Triple

Heater   

 

 

 

All of these organs and emotions are associated with assimilation,

creation and elimination. If any one is under stress or weakened, it will

have a negative effect on the entire body.

 

Let us examine how emotions influence the underlying meridians and

organs. We all know that when we worry, we feel it in our stomach and

this affects our digestion. We are literally “worried sick,” and lose our

appetite. If we do eat at this time, the food just sits undigested in the

stomach. Clearly, continual worry will impact our ability to assimilate

nutrients.

 

News of the loss of a loved one causes us to grieve and shed tears; the

expression of grief, which is connected to the metal element, helps us to

resolve the loss. Unresolved loss leaves us feeling incomplete and can

have a negative impact on us physically and emotionally. Since the metal

element includes the lungs and large intestines, unresolved grief may

impact our ability to take in much needed oxygen, remove carbon dioxide,

and remove waste through the intestines.

 

When we face a frightening situation, we may turn white, lose our ability

to speak and experience involuntary urination (kidneys are linked to

water). This is referred to as kidney chi falling. Continuous

experience of fear impacts our kidneys; it keeps us from reaching out to

new opportunities and fulfilling our potential. Physically, lack of

kidney function will create a toxic/acidic cellular environment.

 

Anger is at times an appropriate emotion. However, holding on to past

anger, negatively influences physical and emotional health. Our reaction

to anger is opposite that of fear. When Liver chi rises, our face

may get red, our pulse and blood pressure may rise and we may begin to

raise our voice or shout.

 

Joy is here defined as our self-esteem and sense of personal value. Many

life experiences deflate our sense of self-worth. Our childhood

perceptions of various events also impact our sense of self. Has a life

challenge ever left you feeling broken-hearted? We have all heard the

expression that someone died of “a broken heart.”

 

If we can find a way to balance the five emotions: reduce or eliminate

needless worry, feel complete despite life’s losses, find the courage to

move past fear, release anger and build our self-esteem, our chi

will be balanced. Physical improvements, such as in nutritional

assimilation, better elimination and regeneration, will follow. Can you

imagine how this would allow you to accomplish more, feel better about

yourself and improve your relationships?

 

 

The Tranquilities Stress Series, based on the five elements, is designed

to teach individuals techniques to take control of their lives through

balancing the five above-mentioned emotions. The Hospital Series is

designed for in-hospital use to help patients begin the healing process,

cope with pain, sleep better, deal with fears, and ease worries.

Additional series, which are in the planning and development stage,

include one for children, one for cancer patients and one for hospice

patients.

 

The Tranquilities Series can be used by individuals at home or in a

clinical setting. Each of the CDs utilizes a soothing pair of voicesmale

and femalerepresenting a balance of the yin and yang energies, to set the

stage for the healing process to begin. The voices are those of the pair

who developed the Tranquilities concept: Robert Miller, ND, a

Naturopathic Health Consultant and the Rev. Donna Shenk, a hospital

chaplain. The soothing sounds of choirs, strings, flutes, harps and

cellos support the reassuring voices. The tempo of the music -- based on

many traditional hymns -- assists the mind in slowing down, leading the

listener to a deep state of relaxation and receptivity to the guided

imagery.

 

Guided imagery, one of the more powerful healing tools used by Gilead

Enterprises in the series, is refined and further enhanced by the

skillful readings, sophisticated binaural recordings of environmental

sounds such as rolling waves and rain drops, gentle music and

aromatherapy. These features are combined to actively engage the

listener.

 

Each CD in the Tranquilities Series begins with deep breathing and

progressive muscle relaxation so that the listeners’subconscious mind is

most able to accept the suggestions. Next,  metaphors are presented

to teach the listener how to restructure or change their perceptions of a

stressful situation. Our mind works with pictures; imagining an emotion

as a physical object and then manipulating the image of that object, may

have profound effects.

 

For letting go of worry and moving towards a sense of serenity, the

image of a knotted rope is very effective. The tightened coils of the

rope symbolize the stress being experienced by the listener. Slowly, the

individual is instructed to loosen the rope. As birds softly chirp by a

tranquil woodland stream, the listener successfully releases the worry,

and the worry-induced knots in their stomach, as well.

 

Grief and loss are symbolized by an energy-sapping hole in the lung.

The individual recognizes that they do not feel whole because of

changes in their life, such as the loss of a loved one, a soured

relationship, or a business failure. Chimes blowing in the wind assist

them as they repeatedly imagine the hole being repaired and feel

themselves slowly being restored.

 

A key image for moving past fear and building courage, is a wall.

While listening to the sound of ocean waves breaking on a beach, the

individual visualizes a wall that symbolizes everything holding him back.

He then “watches” the wall, along with his fears and lack of

self-confidence, get washed away by the powerful ocean currents.

 

Anger, appropriately enough, is symbolized by a hot burning ember.

The individual learns to let the ember die out as he regains control

of his emotions, and his life as well. Using the guided imagery for

release, and the sound of a gentle forest rain, the individual can feel

his anger melt away, and begin to forgive himself as well as those he

believed wronged him.

 

Self-esteem and self-worth are represented by the image of a heavy

weight on the chest.

That uncomfortable weight prevents an individual from achieving their

potential. The reassuring and soothing sounds of a campfire lead them to

shake off the weight (the past that is holding them back) and thereby

improve their self-esteem and self-worth.

 

“Guided imagery, of course, is used by skilled practitioners daily. The

Tranquilities series is one of the first to bring the tool to the

individual’s living room, den, bedroom or office--their own special,

private place. Helping increase the individual’s comfort level

undoubtedly increases the effectiveness of the guided imagery and all

that it entails,” says Chaplain Donna Shenk who further explains that,

“In every life trauma, all five emotionsworry, loss, fear, anger, and

self-esteemcome into play. Through the use of these CDs, individuals may

be restored, renewed and strengthened…Many people feel uncomfortable

opening up or expressing their fears or feelings to others. The

Tranquilities series is a private, easy-to-use, low-cost healing

tool.”

 

But the Tranquilities CD series is more than just guided imagery. Words

are woven together with aromatherapy scents. There are specific aromas

associated with each element in TCM. The Stress Series includes five

small vials containing unique custom-blended aromatic oils, which match

the scents of the five elements. Individuals are instructed to smell the

aromas at specific points in the recording. The aroma of the oils

actually assists them in their transformation.

 

“As they associate the aroma with a particular goal, they can keep the

oil with them and use it whenever needed to provide additional

reinforcement,” says Miller.  “When an individual learns to

associate the aroma with the desired effect, in time, merely smelling the

aroma or recalling the imagery may subconsciously empower the individual

to overcome their negative feelings or help them summon the positive

emotions necessary to tackle a critical situation. Simply breathing the

aromatic oil blend can help them overcome their fears and face one of

life’s challenges head-on.”

 

Environmental sounds, such as that of a crackling fire and the ocean

waves, are matched to their corresponding elements of fire and

water.

 

Many of the components usedguided imagery, aromatherapy and music therapy

have been scientifically proven to be helpful in the healing process.

This is the first program to marshal all three therapies together.

 

Now, individuals and practitioners have a valuable tool to significantly

reduce stress. As a result, the processes of digestion, elimination and

regeneration will reach their optimal levels, so that the user will be

balanced in body, mind and spirit. The Tranquilities Series uses modern

methods to bring the ancient wisdom of TCM to the fore, to help ease the

stresses of today’s world.

 

For more information about the Tranquilities Series, and to listen to

samples of the music and environmental sounds, please visit us on the web

at

www.tranquilities.com

or e-mail at info

Bulk discounts are available for resale to patients/clients. Gilead Enterprises offers two day training sessions to help healthcare professionals more effectively use the Tranquilities Series.

 

*Stress series is 10% off retail when ordering with coupon #MM9889, http://www.tranquilities.com