Ether

Somatic Energy Therapies

Polarity Therapy Training

Johnny Henderson, Ph.D., Board Certified Polarity Practitioner, RPE

Tom Langan, RCST®, Board Certified Polarity Practitioner, RPE

Polarity Therapy

Polarity Therapy is a healing science that blends energetic touch bodywork, communication, diet and exercise to support and empower each individual. Dr. Randolph Stone, the developer, named it such because it refers to the way in which energy flows in the human body, as in all matter, from a positive to a negative pole, through a neutral state. Energy touch bodywork forms the core of a Polarity Therapy treatment. Polarity Therapy bodywork ranges from gentle, non-invasive, to firm, deep contact working, with the body in a rhythmic and intuitive manner, without strain or force. The Board Certified Practitioner learns the skill of “listening” to each client’s individual wellness needs.

Polarity Therapy draws from the influence of many ancient wellness disciplines. One of the main influences is the Ayurvedic system of India in which all matter and energy is classified as consisting of the five elements: Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Each element is present in us and has a unique, distinctive chakra, or energy center, and various associated physiological functions. The focus of this article is the Ether element and its connection with the experience of grief.

The Ether Element

Ether, or space, is the most elusive of the elements. It is the void out of which everything is made manifest. Because of its all-pervasive presence, it can be considered the mother of the other four elements. It can also be understood as the container for all the elements. Ether is latent in all things, it is omniscient and omnipresent. We rarely consider it, yet it is fundamental to our existence. Ether is a subtle yet powerful element as the unmanifested potential of all things.

The Ether element connects us with the unchanging part of ourselves, that which is beyond form. Ether when in balance imbues us with real presence, a spiritual connection that permeates every aspect of our lives. When we are unable to connect with Ether, we may have a sense of meaninglessness, as though something is missing, or that we are somehow disconnected.

In the body, Ether is associated with the various networks that pervade the entire system, e.g. nerves, veins, arteries etc. It is also represented in the joints; it is the space between the bones that give flexibility. It is the contraction/expansion of the colon, lungs and all other organs that need “space” in which to function.

The energy center for Ether is found in the throat. We express our thoughts, feelings and emotions through the throat. An energetic blockage of the Ether element can lead to difficulty expressing ourselves, a constricted voice, or problems such as laryngitis, tonsillitis, sore throats, earaches, “ringing in the ears“ and Minears disease to name a few.

Each of the elements is associated with and governs one of the body’s senses. The sense of hearing is governed by the Ether element. In our mythology we feel that we are connected to and “hear” The universal ‘ Om’ sound which is the original vibration of the universe, the creation of matter in space. This “hearing” keeps us connected to the Universe and to our Truth.

In Polarity Therapy, the emotion associated with Ether is grief. Grieving, therefore, brings us into relationship with Ether. Understanding this element can help and empower us greatly as we deal with the emotion of grief.

Grief

Grief is one of the most profound of human experiences and can pierce us to our very core. We grieve when we lose someone or something very dear to us, whether it is the loss of a partner, parent, child or someone else close to us. We may also grieve a lost relationship, loss of a dream, a job loss if we were strongly identified with the role, and so on. Loss is all around us, but how we cope with it identifies the balanced state of the Ether Chakra.

A Polarity Therapy treatment may focus on any of the Ether areas in the body to help bring balance to all emotions, especially grief. An Ether session can also be a good general ‘opener’, creating space in the system for the energy to begin flowing. As the treatments progress, the focus may shift to working with the other elements as the myriad of emotions that can be triggered by grief, such as anger, guilt, frustration, regret, anguish, fear, etc may begin to express themselves.

Space and Stillness

The energy of the Ether element can be most easily accessed through meditation, stillness and quiet, as well as gentle touch from a trained practitioner. Regular practice of meditation and mindfulness develops our connection to the stillness within, as well as regular Polarity Therapy treatments. We may choose sitting meditation, or a form of moving mediation such as Qigong or Yoga. In order to grieve fully, we must allow our feelings to be. When we bring quietness the mind it becomes like still water, reflecting our experience clearly. The practice of watching the flow of thoughts and feelings from a still place helps us to feel our grief while remaining anchored in our timeless selves. During a Polarity Therapy treatment the ultimate goal is for all patients to discover that place of Sattva, neutral quietness where all healing is manifested.

Ether is limitless and infinite; as such it connects us to that which is limitless and infinite internally. It is for this reason that grief can open us to the spiritual dimension within. Hermes said, “…as within, so without; as without so within. This is the ‘clear water from which we drink’ that David Whyte refers to in his poem ‘The Well of Grief’. This spiritual connection can be a source of solace and comfort during the grieving process. It can give us a sense of perspective and can help to balance the very human tendency to grasp after that which is lost. In stillness, we honor our connection with the infinite and we take our seat at its banquet table. We are reminded that no-one is ever truly lost to us as we are each an inseparable part of the divine and formless source of all things.

During a Polarity Therapy treatment, the practitioner holds a sacred space to allow the client’s energy merely to be. Much like a meditation practice, energy in the form of thoughts, feelings and physical sensations may arise and the practitioner can aid in establishing safe space. Within the safe space, the patient is able to functionally and emotionally come into balance and harmonization with a healthy emotional release.

Truth and Trust

Grief can trigger very powerful emotions, which may be manifested internally and externally by expression. This expression may result in hitting, screaming, sulking, random sexual acts, over indulgence of drugs and alcohol or a myriad of other expressions.

To express our thoughts and feelings is to tell the truth about our experience. It is important to not create judgment regarding the manner in which an emotion is expressed. Our ultimate goal is to experience balanced and healthy expressions of our emotions. When we express our truth through the throat center, either by verbal, or another form of communication, we take a step into owning our power. Remember, screaming is a verbal communication expression, but is it a balanced and healthy expression if it it the only way of verbal communication that we know?

When verbal communication is expressed in a balanced, harmonious manner, the expression ignites the healing process by dividing heart and mind energies. Our head tells us what we “should” be feeling, thinking, saying, doing. Whereas our heart desires for us healing and harmony through the expression of our Truth.

Telling the truth about how we feel as we grieve frees us and allows all blocked energy to flow, come into expression and manifest at a higher consciousness. We may have the urge to cry out, speak to someone we trust, write a poem or story, journal our feelings, sing, or dance. There are many modes of expression, but what matters is to find the expressions via the heart energy and not that of the mind (head). The expression of the heart is a neutral, Sattvic, expression that does not block emotional energy in our bodies. It opens the expression of “Freedom”! As our consciousness of expression develops, we begin to learn a new paradigm of being and expression: to think with the heart and feel with the mind.

Unexpressed grief can block the throat (Ether) center, disconnect us from our truth, inner knowing and power, causing us to find fault in ourselves. By telling the truth, we develop trust in our own knowing and power. The result is that we begin to trust ourselves more and secondarily others begin to trust us more deeply as well.

An innate, internal “lie-detector” recognizes truth when we hears it, speak it or sense it. Non-truths damage trust. Children who are told non-truths suffer great internal conflict as their inner knowing senses something which conflicts with the message coming from an external source of power in the form of a parent, teacher, or guardian. The result is a lack of trust in themselves which may require many hours of therapy to repair during adulthood.

Expressing ourselves truthfully can seem frightening, especially when we are in a lot of pain. Learning to trust our own strength at this time is very potent lesson. Being truthful with ourselves and others about what we are feeling helps us to move through any stuck feelings and opens the lines of communication throughout the entire physical system.

Listening

When we make space for grief to flow, honoring our truth, it implies that we are listening. Holding a compassionate space in which to listen is fundamental to the healing process, be it ourselves or someone else to whom we are listening.

Meditation has been described as inner listening, and it is during our quiet moments of solitude that we can tune in and listen to the heart.

Author and spiritual teacher, Ekhart Tolle, suggests that when listening to someone, we listen with the whole body. To do this we place attention on our inner selves, our breathing or the aliveness of the body. What does this mean? It means that we listen with the deepest part of ourselves, taking attention away from mental chatter, habitual thoughts, attitudes and judgments. It is from this place that compassion arises. Listening while staying connected to your inner presence deepens the quality of your encounters. If you are supporting someone who is grieving, try this: tune in to your breathing or the subtle aliveness of your body as you listen, and see what happens. This quality of listening holds a space for the other to simply be. It is non-solution focused, listening for the sake of hearing the other, which helps them to feel validated.

This is a gift you can offer yourself or another who is grieving; it also applies to everyone no matter what their circumstance. Everyone you know needs to be heard. This quality of listening creates a clear reflection in which to honor the experience and view it with some degree of detachment. The other person is more likely to sense their own inner dimension in your still presence, which will help them far more than anything you could say or do. This is what is truly meant by just ‘being there’. This quality of listening envelops you both in unconditional love.

Listening is fundamental to Polarity Therapy. The Polarity Therapist listens through verbal communication and energy touch (bodywork). Time is devoted to listening in every session allowing the patient to talk about their experiences as they wish. The treatment is then geared towards helping them with whatever difficulties they may have. During the treatment, the therapist listens with their hands to the subtle language of the client’s energy as they are guided to stimulate, activate, mobilize, hold and facilitate in clearing the energy, helping to restore balance and harmony.

In Summary

Ether is a powerful element that holds the energetic blueprint of all other elements, physical and emotional, of the human body. We desire to be connected with our Source from which we originated. Being separated from Source is the origin of the emotion grief.

Grieving can be such a painful experience. However, if we can bear to embrace it, it has the power to transform us. It can help us to grow, and reveal the depth of our innermost being and potential. It can forge us as whole and compassionate human beings. We need to learn to embrace this emotion to assist in bringing balance and harmonization into the very core of our existence.

Learn to listen to your Truth and express it in a manner that opens your heart to awaken to the connection that you have with your Source.

Johnny Henderson, Ph.D., RPE & Tom Langan, RCST(R), RPE