The term "energy healing" conjures different images for different people. We often think of energy healing as something deliberate; we may envision a person laying their hands on another, or placing crystals on their body, or playing singing bowls that are aligned with specific chakras. We may also assume that anyone who practices energy healing must have undertaken intensive training, and is probably actively involved in healing circles, reiki shares, and other healing practices.

Energy healing is a vast topic, which can make it difficult to know where to start. There are many books, websites, guides, and healers, that the whole thing can feel overwhelming. Not to mention that there are so many different types of energy healing. Maybe we want to be a reiki healer and study our way through the three levels until we have attained the rank of Master. Even if we decide that reiki is the path we want to follow, there are so many different types of reiki, such as Usu reiki, Angel reiki, and even Unicorn reiki! How do we decide which one to dedicate ourselves?

I had been a practicing pagan who was interested in energy healing for quite some before I finally threw myself into it its study. I remember the exact reasons I told myself I wasn't ready to study energy healing: I thought I didn't have the time to dedicate myself to such a serious subject as I was sure was required. I was worried that I didn't have the necessary skills to be able to heal others, or the trust in my own abilities, and I was concerned that if I didn't know what I was doing I might inadvertently end up hurting someone rather than healing them. I put it off, and put it off, until finally I felt ready to immerse myself in the world of energy healing. Imagine my surprise when, finally getting into it, I realised I had actually been practicing energy healing all along without even knowing it! Chances are that you are already engaging in some forms of energy healing, whether or not you realise it. Intentional practices (such as reiki or EFT tapping) are real and valid practices, but they aren't the only way in which energy is healed.

At its most basic level, energy healing involves three aspects:

1. Recognising when something feels wrong
2. Actively responding to that feeling and seeking to remove it/yourself
3. Restoring balance following this experience

Have you ever been in a situation where you have noticed that something felt off? For example, perhaps you can remember a time where you've felt uncomfortable in the presence of another person. In these scenarios, we usually react in one of two ways: we either grin and bear it, or we find a way to remove ourselves from the situation. If that experience has left us feeling particularly uneasy, we will probably do something to make us feel better, perhaps going for a walk or eating some ice cream. If you have found yourself in that situation and responded as such, then congratulations—you've already practiced energy healing! You recognised when something felt "wrong" to you, responded to what was happening, and, most importantly, you sought to restore that balance within yourself (by taking action to help you feel better).

Even smaller actions, such as having a nap when you're feeling tired rather than forcing yourself to work, are examples of working with and taking steps to heal,your energy. In fact, simply allowing ourselves to rest is one of the best ways we can allow our energy to recover. Rest is often framed as laziness, indulgence, or even something we need to "earn" after hard work. But it is not just our physical and mental selves that benefit from rest; our energetic selves also gain from it. It allows our energy to settle back into the body and regulate itself; there is no need for strenuous visualisation or breaking out the crystals—your energy will know exactly what it needs to do when it is allowed to stop.

There are many other examples as to how you may already be engaging with energy healing in your everyday life without even realising it. Take a look at the below and see if any of these resonate with you. If they do, then you are already well on your way to becoming a seasoned energy healer!

Music: Sound is often used in energy healing. Energy works at a vibrational level, which means that other things with vibration can affect our energy. Sound creates vibration, and specific pitches and sounds can be used in energy healing. Therefore, listening to music can be a form of energy healing. I'm sure many of us have certain songs we play when we're happy, others when sad, etc. If not, maybe create a playlist of songs for different themes—such as when you need to relax, or when you need to feel more energetic—and use these when you need some healing.

Enjoying Nature: Nature is a powerful healer, and connecting with the natural world can do wonders for our energy. It may not even need to be strenuous, such as going for a walk, but rather something simple like sitting in the sun and allowing it to rejuvenate or relax you, or spending time repotting your houseplants.

Washing/Bathing: Ritual bathing is a practice that has been used since ancient times. Water is a great cleanser and healer; have you ever craved a long, hot bath after a difficult day? If so, you're already in tune to the healing properties of water. You could even try adding herbs and essential oils to your bath, or using shower gels or soaps with ingredients and scents that correspond with peace (such as lavender) or healing for extra oomph.

Breathwork: Several cultures consider breath to be energy, and breathing exercises have a great power to influence our own energetic bodies. Simply breathing deeply when you're feeling stressed helps calm our energy and is itself an act of healing. Look into practices such as Pranayama to take your breathwork to the next level.

Creativity: Do you enjoy knitting, painting, or scrapbooking? Maybe you find creativity in cooking or landscaping. When we find something in which we can just lose ourselves, we are letting our energy flow freely, without restraint or limitations. This in itself can be a great way to help shift stagnant energy.

Emotional Release: Simple forms of emotional release, such as crying or laughing, are also great for shifting stagnant energy. Next time you feel the urge to cry or let out that deep belly laugh, don't resist it!

Cleaning/Changing Our Environment: In Feng Shui, we are taught that the energy of our external environment can have a direct impact on our internal energy. Cleaning, rearranging the furniture, or putting up some new artwork can be a great way of using our external environment to help shift stagnant or blocked energy within us.

Setting Boundaries: The word "boundaries" seems to have become a bit of a buzzword recently. Unfortunately, its popularity has led to it being misused, so let's quickly define what exactly a boundary is. A boundary is something we set to help regulate our behaviour. If we attempt to use a boundary to regulate the behavior of another, then that isn't a boundary—it's control. Saying, "You can't do that" isn't a boundary, as we are attempting to control someone else's behaviour. Saying, "I won't do that" is a boundary, as we are using it to manage our own actions and responses.

I'm sure that you would have heard the phrase, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Many energy healers will practice what is known as spiritual protection, which are activities that protect their energy from negativity, leaving it less likely to need any healing intervention. When we think of spiritual protection, we often think of casting circles or energetic shields, or carrying certain crystals or talismans. In fact, one of the strongest forms of energetic protection is one that doesn't require any tools: establishing boundaries. Every time you say, "I can't today," or, "I won't do that," you are practicing energy protection. Boundaries prevent our energy from overextending, or being exposed to situations that make us uncomfortable—which could lead to us feeling depleted or unhappy. So whilst it isn't technically energy healing in its most literal sense, it is still a very important part of what is known as energetic hygiene.

Tying Up Your Hair/Wearing A Hat: Many (but not all) energy healers work with the chakras. These are specific energy centres that can be found throughout the body. One of the main chakras is the crown chakra, which can be found at the top of the head. We often channel energy into the body through the crown chakra, whether intentionally unintentionally. Covering your crown chakra—such as by wearing a hat—can be a great way to protect your energy. Similarly, many believe that the hair can act as an energetic "antennae." Have you ever been in a difficult situation or struggling and felt the urge to tie your hair up? This is another form of energetic protection, as by tying up our hair we essentially cut off the flow of energy through that antennae.

Many of the abovec examples above, such as listening to music, are probably ones that you already take part in daily or weekly—and probably without thinking about their energetic impacts. But just because you aren't aware of it doesn't mean that it isn't having a positive impact on your energy! Everything is made of energy, and we are interacting with energy every second of every day. Once you become aware of it, it is much easier to take steps to manage, protect, and heal your energy.

If you are interested in becoming an energy healer, then one of the simplest ways to begin is to engage with the examples above, but with intention. If you love music, then take the time to create a playlist of songs that help relax you when you are feeling stressed, or look into the healing properties of different tones and frequencies. If you know that you feel overwhelmed in crowds, perhaps curate a collection of hats that you can wear in public to help protect your energy.

As I said at the beginning, I appreciate that energy healing can feel like an overwhelming topic. But it doesn't have to be. Trust your intuition, act with intention, and be open to learning and experimenting until you find those practices that resonate with you.