Our Energetic World

Energy is the currency of life and the world around us.  We can feel the radiant energy of the sun on a bright sunny day.  We can feel the power and kinetic energy of the waves as they crash upon a shore where we walk in the shallow.  We can watch the endless cycle of waves that roll into the shore. 

Manifestations of energy are all around us.  Indeed, we are manifestations of that energy ourselves, and we are affected by and in turn influence the energy around us.  Although we may think that our brains are the source of the most impactful energy, it’s actually the energy of our heart than is most significant in its measurable impact.   The heart is the most powerful source of electromagnetic energy in the human body, producing the largest rhythmic electromagnetic field of any of the body’s organs. The heart’s electrical field is about 60 times greater in amplitude than the electrical activity generated by the brain. (1) Furthermore, the magnetic field produced by the heart is more than 100 times greater in strength than the field generated by the brain and can be detected up to 3 feet away from the body, in all directions  (1)

With that kind of actual power, it makes sense that there is a growing body of research that examines harnessing some of this power to improve an individual’s well-being.  The Heart Math Institute is doing some amazing work looking at the psychopathology of stress, resilience, and the interactions between the heart and brain.  The practical aim of this work is using the practice of heart coherence, to reduce stress, increase focus and create positive changes in overall health.    I’ve been a student of this process to manage stress, increase resilience, and see how I could use my own personal energetic power to improve my health and well-being.  The technical term for this work is called achieving heart-coherence, which is when the energies of the heart are tied with the breath and the mind.  The truly cool thing is that all of this science ties in with a statement from His Holiness the Dalai Llama that has had a place of prominence on my desk for over 20 years.  I’ve had it so long that I don’t remember where I got it, but the words continue to inspire me, as does my up close and personal experience with the powerful energy of personal presence, and my work on heart-coherence.  My pivotal experience with the power of presence and a chance encounter with The Dalai Llama started my journey and exploration of tapping into personal energy and how this energy can impact individuals, our immediate environment , and  the world. 

This story began years ago in on operating room at Washington University in St. Lous, where I was doing my fellowship in neuroanesthesiology.  We had a special request to view an upcoming seizure surgery from none other than His Holiness, The Dalai Llama, who was in town for a series of lectures and the main university campus.  I was the anesthesiologist who was supervising the case and was both curious and totally unsure of what to expect the next day.  The surgery was to be in the OR with the observation bay, where people could observe the surgery in an elevated, glassed in room without being scrubbed in.  I did my usually prep and setup, as I was supervising the case with a resident in training.  Although we had a vague idea of when The Dalai Llama would be present, the time frame was flexible.  It was my first experience with someone who had presence. 

During the beginning stages of the case, but without receiving a notification of his arrival, I knew something was different by the wave of peaceful, happy energy that I could feel through the room. Without announcement, the large impactful personal energy field of the Dalai Llama travelled before him.  I enjoyed the feeling of the positive, uplifted energy, and in retrospect, everything about the case at the same time began proceeding much more smoothly.  It was a few minutes later that I looked in the observation bay, and saw a diminutive, bespectacled, smiling man in robes of saffron and red, surrounded by some enormous guards in black suits.  He observed the surgery for less than an hour, and through a translator spoke with the attending surgeon, asking questions about both the procedure and patient. After less than an hour, and without ceremony or announcement, he left, his for his scheduled events at the main campus of the university.  The impact of his presence and energy was felt by all in the room the rest of the day.  The surgery not only went well, but that feeling of well-being lasted for our whole team for the rest of the day.  The energy and impact of his presence changed my life and introduced me to the world of energy, showed me experientially how a person with positive impactful energy could affect those around her/him significantly and positively.

All of us have felt the effect of entering a room after an argument or a violent confrontation. We have also likely experienced the effect of being in a sporting event, when a favorite team was winning.  The happy energy of fans can fill and overflow the stadium or venue, and spill into the area surrounding the arena.  Our personal energy can absolutely affect not only our surroundings but also people around us. This powerful energetic input can linger in a space or building long after the inciting event or encounter.  Rather than being something saved for the famous, we all have the ability to impact others, and events with our personal energy.  It can be as simple as setting an intention to achieve a specific goal, and projecting feelings and emotions of positivity and joy around this goal, which then has a large impact on us and increases the chances of our achieving that goal.  Our challenge is to be aware of our personal energy, and how it impacts us and the people around us.  That’s where meditation comes in.  Meditation and a contemplative practice have the potential to effect change in individuals and the world around them.  It’s not about the brain, it’s about the heart, and the energy generated when we have our heart, brain, and emotions acting in concert or achieve heart coherence.  What I had experienced as an anesthesia fellow years ago, before I knew anything about the study and practice of heart coherence, was a practical demonstration of the effect of heart coherence by one of the most powerfully positive, and impactful people in the world.  Through his studies, and I believe intuitively His Holiness practiced and demonstrated the power of leading with the heart, resulting in and affecting those around him in a positive and impactful fashion just by being in the area with them.  

I count myself as fortunate to have gotten such a powerful introduction to the power of the heart and energy of the heart and compassion.  I am trying through my business, Oshun Energy Medicine to introduce my clients to the techniques and practice of connecting with our personal intuitive energy, then using that energetic connection to impact and change our experience of life and potentially those around us around us. While individuals like the Dalai Llama are rare in their powerful ability to impact the world, we can each shine the light of our heart and energy to create a bit more compassion, happiness and love around us and our little corner of the world. That impact can in turn impact others and potentially spread over miles and continents.  We do indeed have the power within us to affect and change the world.    

1.  https://www.heartmath.org/research/science-of-the-heart/energetic-communication/

Chapter 6

NEVER GIVE UP

No matter what is going on

Never give up

Develop the heart

Too much energy in your country

is spent developing the mind

instead of the heart

Develop the heart

Be compassionate

Not just to your friends

but to everyone

Be compassionate

Work for peace

in your heart ad un the world

Work for peace

and I say again

Never give up

No matter what is happening

No matter what is going on around you

Never give up

HH The XIVth Dalai Llama