Natural Medicine

When it comes to healing circles, I've seen both the good and the bad. The really fascinating thing about energy work groups is how they seem to magnify energy - not only the intentional, beautiful energies that the group leaders talk about, but also the crazy, the self-destructive, the manipulative, and the energies of those who would use or drain other people if they are given their way. Sometimes, the source of the problem is obvious, but sometimes it is the most erudite, calm-seeming person who is the unstable factor harming others in the circle.

Healing circles offer the potential for us to connect with other human beings and work in synergy to create great energy, and often an experience of the divine that is greater than ourselves.

But they also afford an opportunity to unscrupulous people, or to those who simply don't know themselves well enough to control their own energy and how it affects others.

One of my teachers, Donna Eden, spoke at an Energy Medicine training several years ago about how detrimental healing circles can be to someone who is too weak, open or vulnerable to protect themselves from other people's energy. All the toxic energy of everyone in the circle, she says, can fly to one weakened or sick individual - so be very careful who you share your energy with!

I suppose it all comes down to this: If you leave your coven every week feeling cheerful, uplifted and energized, then you've done well.

If you find, however, that you consistently feel drained, tired, grumpy, sad, doubtful or angry after leaving a meditation group, I would seriously recommend you ignore whatever your head might be telling you about how wonderful these people seem, and find another place to shine.

Read the article: Healing Circles: Good or Bad?