Healing

Have you ever felt sluggish and not quite altogether. This moment in my life is usually accompanied by those typical bad days we all know and dislike immensely. This includes a myriad of bad timing happenstances like locking your keys in your car, tripping over the doorstop, losing documents, overreacting with your joking friends, and more. During this time my thoughts drift towards my body’s energy field or my aura, and what might be happening in that mostly invisible aspect of me. Will aura cleansing help to clear away blockages in my path? How does one remove negative energy from your aura? Find out how chakra balancing and energy healing can help you let go and begin purifying your aura for self-care and positive energy!

What is aura cleansing?

Before we can decipher what aura cleansing is we first have to understand what your aura is. An aura can also be referred to as your spiritual skin. It is the electromagnetic field that surrounds our physical bodies and all living things. Each difference in aura color can explain a lot about your spiritual or emotional wellbeing. The aura acts like an antenna that is constantly sending and receiving information to and from other people and the world around you. Everyone is an empath to some degree and your aura is what grants you this ability. It is not surprising that your personal auric field might become energetically drained by the negative emotions of others or cluttered psychic debris you receive every day, especially in this current day ruled by Covid. This is why aura cleansing is essential to maintain your wellness. Essentially it is the removing of external forces or negative vibrations of others from your auric field and strengthening your boundaries.

How to cleanse your aura at home (7 exercises & cleansing rituals)

There are a number of holistic methods to clear your energy field.

Aura cleansing with meditation

An amazing method of keeping your auric field clear and flowing is to keep your chakras aligned and in balance. One can do this through meditation. First, make sure you are sitting in a tranquil setting and take in three deep breaths, making sure to fill your belly. Imagine a white light surrounding your body. Turn your attention to each of your chakras from root to crown and make sure there aren’t any blockages. Once they’re all clear and in place you can move on to your auric field. With each deep breath in imagine clean, fresh air filling your body. Then with each exhale, imagine all negative energies leaving with your breath. Repeat this until you feel rejuvenated.

How to cleanse aura with mantras

Much like when you start a meditation, clearing your aura with mantras, or chants, begins with sitting in a quiet and comfortable place. Invision yourself surrounded by a white light which flows freely. With your eyes closed, start to chant your favorite mantra that you find uplifting and leaves you feeling positive. The vowel sounds are good vibrations to chant for healing and you can focus the attention on any part of your auric field which feels blocked.

How to clean your aura with music

Music should be a staple method to cleanse your aura, practiced every day. Calm, tranquil and uplifting music is the best option as the frequencies of the music’s wavelengths resonate with our bodies’ energies and they start to interact with each other. Just take a moment when you feel negative thoughts building up to calm yourself with some beautiful melodies.

How to remove negative energy from your aura with breath work

There are a number of different breath-work exercises you can perform to cleanse your aura. On example is the Kundalini breath-work of Fire. To begin the exercise you take in three deep breaths through your nose. On Exhale, you release the air in short, quick breaths (like staccato music notes) whilst working your belly. Continue like this for a few rounds.

Aura cleansing ritual with crystals

Crystals have spiritual healing properties and are a brilliant tool for cleansing your aura. Some great crystals to use are amethyst, moonstone, blue lace agate and, my personal favorite, selenite. The power behind selenite is the way it absorbs and purifies light. Imagine as if the crystal is a sponge, sucking up any negative thoughts or blockages and making them pure, or like a knife which can cut any spiritual cords attaching you to toxic situations or people.

Aura cleansing ritual with Smudging

Smudging is one of my favorite methods to cleanse my personal auric field. My preferred medium is palo santo (which directly translates to holy wood and is native to a few northern South American Countries). To begin, you must light up your smudge stick of sage, lavender, sweet grass or palo santo and start to circle your head with the smoke they omit. Move to outline your body – front and back – as well as under your feet. 

Aura cleansing with sound therapy.

Taking a sound bath is just as brilliant as it sounds. Among many other instruments to use, a singing bowl is my preferred choice by far. The vibrations of its frequencies help to shake loose any energies which do not serve us. Before you start to play, sit quietly and meditate for a few minutes and set an intention for the singing bowl. As you play maintain a steady breath and make sure your shoulders are relaxed.  

What are the best way to cleanse your aura? Our Key takeaways

Aura cleansing seems to be an essential part of our daily lives. Clearing away foreign negative energies will help us feel more optimistic which ultimately makes people more comfortable around you. A clear aura means you are clear of mental blocks and have the ability to see your potential. Each of us are entirely different human beings therefore there is no “best” way but just the method that works best for you. In the busy lifestyles most of us are living, The easiest method would be with music because you can easily download a peaceful melody onto your phone and listen to it with earbuds at any time during the day.

Written by:
Jade Small

I recently lost a good friend to leukemia. Mercifully it was a relatively short illness. A terminal diagnosis at his age meant a probable life expectancy of only six months to a year and, as it happened, he endured for eight months before finally succumbing. Even though it was not an unexpected loss, knowing and priming one’s self for such an inevitability does not mitigate the shock of the actual event. The death of a loved one, whether, through terminal illness, old age or accident is highly traumatic, regardless of the circumstances.

In the months leading up to his death, I often wondered how I would react when I finally received the news of my friends passing. My experience of his memorial service only served to raise more questions, not least of all because I found that my reactions to this personal trauma differed from those around me. Witnessing that intimate gathering of family members and friends, and their contrasting grief reactions to the loss of a beloved man, got me wondering about various types of grief and individual responses to loss.

Different types of grief and loss

Grief is defined as the emotion felt when experiencing the loss of a person or thing that is important to us. As human beings, we form emotional attachments to a wide range of people and things and, consequently, there are more than one documented types of grief.

Furthermore, types of grief should not be confused with the grieving process. Many people are familiar with the Kubler-Ross model that describes five stages of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. These are simply the stages an individual may go through when dealing with grief typically associated with the death of a loved one. It does not describe different types of grief, nor does it necessarily apply to grieving over other types of loss.

So, let us examine some of the various types of grief in more detail. In doing so bear in mind that you can substitute death of a loved one for any type of loss, be it a job, home, relationship or even substance abuse.

1. Normal grief

Definition

Don’t confuse the meaning of the word ‘normal’ with ‘typical’ or ‘standard’. The length and severity of the grieving process will differ greatly from person to person. Normal grief refers to a fairly predictable grieving process whereby the griever is able to continue with their usual daily routine whilst moving through the grieving process towards an acceptance of their loss. 

Responses & reactions

Outwardly it may appear that the griever is living life as normal, but it is common for severe symptoms and feelings of grief to be experienced in periodic, unpredictable bursts. However, the intensity of these emotions will gradually lessen over a period of time until a ‘new normal’ is realized. Because the mourner seems to be carrying on with their normal routine, the grief process may not be obvious to all but those closest to the griever.

Reactions to normal grief are both physical and psychological, so along with the usual fluctuations in emotions, sufferers may also experience physical symptoms such as loss of appetite or weight gain, insomnia and fatigue, headaches and general aches and pains.

2. Anticipatory grief 

Definition

As the meaning of the word ‘anticipate’ suggests, anticipatory grief involves the mourning of a loss yet to occur. This is particularly relevant to family caregivers of terminally diagnosed patients or relatives and friends of people suffering serious substance abuse issues or mental illness such as Alzheimer’s disease. The outcome is almost guaranteed and so the grieving process begins long before the actual death or loss.

Responses & reactions

Anticipatory grief can elicit complex reactions and responses in grievers. On the one hand forewarning of loss prepares one for the actual event and can lessen the impact or severity of grief. On the other, anticipatory grief can lead to feelings of guilt at grieving for someone who is still alive and the relief felt when they finally succumb to their illness. It is also difficult to speak to one’s personal support system about your grief when the person you care for is still alive. As such, anticipatory grief is often associated with feelings of helplessness, anger, confusion and hopelessness.

3. Complicated grief 

Definition

In a small percentage of people, normal grief becomes so severe in terms of the length and intensity of the grieving process develops into what’s termed complicated grief. Feelings of loss are so relentless and debilitating that it becomes difficult for the griever to engage in a normal daily routine.

Responses & reactions

Complicated grief sufferers often feel trapped in an endless circle of pain with no end in sight which leads to isolation and avoidance behavior, low self-esteem, violent outbursts and guilt. Prolonged complicated grief can lead to self-destructive behavior such as substance abuse and self-harm, suicidal thoughts and mental illness.

4. Chronic grief 

Definition

Chronic grief refers to an intense feeling of sorrow and despair that last for an extended period and get worse progressively worse over time.

Responses & reactions

Responses to chronic grief are similar to complicated grief, with feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, with no progress towards acceptance of loss. Suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, self-harm and major depression can occur if left untreated.

5. Disenfranchised grief 

Definition

In contrast to other forms of grief, people suffering disenfranchised grief get limited support from people around them because socially or culturally the loss is deemed as insignificant. This is often associated with the loss of a pet, non-family member, an ex-spouse or other losses not linked to death. Gay partners will fall into this category if your support group is against same-sex relationships. 

Responses & reactions

Disenfranchised grievers will often feel helpless, isolated and misunderstood, further exacerbating the grief-related stress they are already under due to their loss. 

6. Absent grief 

Definition

When a bereaved person carries on as though nothing has happened and exhibits no sign of grief, they are probably suffering from absent grief. This happens most often in the case of a sudden loss or unexpected death.

Responses & reactions

Absent grief is characterized by avoidance, and complete shock and denial. It is imperative that any griever stuck in this stage of grief for an extended period seeks treatment as a prolonged period of absent grief can lead to mental and physical health issues.

7. Delayed grief 

Definition

As the name suggests, delayed grief is characterized by grief symptoms and emotions that are experienced long after the initial loss.  

Responses & reactions

Initial denial, avoidance and suppression of emotions and grief symptoms, sometimes followed by an overreaction to an unrelated incident a significant period of time after the loss was first suffered. Often the griever does not realize that they are reacting to the delayed grief and not the current situation.

8. Distorted grief 

Definition

Distorted grief is experienced by bereaved persons stuck in the anger stage of grief. 

Responses & reactions

Responses to distorted grief are intense and include extreme reactions to the loss; atypical and self-destructive behavior; acute feelings of guilt and anger at oneself; as well as hostility to others, often directed at a particular individual.

9. Cumulative grief 

Definition

Cumulate grief can present when multiple losses are experienced either simultaneously or within a short period of time.

Responses & reactions

Reactions to cumulative death can include any or all of the normal grieving reactions but are amplified because of the accumulation of grief, or because the griever has not properly processed the first loss before another occurs. Unchecked, cumulative grief can become complicated and prolonged.

10. Traumatic grief 

Definition

Falling under the umbrella of complicated grief, traumatic grief can manifest itself when the loss was caused by a traumatic, unexpected event such as death by violence, natural disaster or terrorist attack. 

Responses & reactions

Responses to traumatic grief are similar to those of complicated grief in that sufferers are incapable of going about their normal daily life and are constantly in a state of emotional distress. Self-harm and mental illness can occur 

Common reactions to different types of loss and grief

Reactions to grief can be as diverse as the types of grief documented above and are not limited to emotional expressions of distress. Grief is often also expressed in physical, cognitive and behavioral ways and can adversely affect both mental health and physical health.

Emotional reactions to grief and loss

• sadness
• anger  
• anxiety
• guilt
• relief
• loneliness
• helplessness 
• hopelessness 
• yearning 
• shock
• numbness

Physical reactions to grief and loss

• headaches
• nausea
• dry mouth
• muscle tension
• shortness of breath
• chest pains
• stomach ache
• loss of appetite
• fatigue

Behavioral reactions to grief and loss

• social withdrawal/isolation
• abnormal behavior
• changes in activity level
• avoidance of places or reminders of the loss
• unusual focus on reminders of the loss
• self-harm

Cognitive reactions to grief and loss

• confusion
• disbelief
• dreams of lost person or thing
• preoccupation with loss
• suicidal thoughts

Treating grief

In the past, the treatment of grief followed a more psychiatric methodology with doctors prescribing medications often used to treat major depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, these medications are only effective in controlling grief symptoms and some doctors believe they interfere with a griever’s ability to process the various stages of grief necessary for recovery.

These days there is a move towards a predominantly psychological, therapy-based approach that is more effective in treating the cause of the grief, enabling bereaved persons to address the underlying issues and process their grief naturally and healthily. Fortunately, there are now many options for grief support available to from one on one grief counselling to physical or social media-based grief support groups

Conclusion about different types of loss 

Grief is still a very misunderstood emotion, the most common misconception of which is that it is purely related to the death of a loved one. Grief is much more complicated than that.

Just as there are many types of grief there is no one prescribed method for dealing with it. Everyone will experience grief in their own unique way and will process the trauma differently. Even Elizabeth Kubler-Ross notes that the five stages of grief she identified are neither linear nor all-encompassing. One person might experience all of them, whilst another may only experience a few of them in a different order. Her model simply describes the most common stages of grief observed in a grieving population.

So, the million-dollar question. What type of grief have I experienced? Given that my friend died of a diagnosed, terminal illness, that my grieving started before his death, that I spent a long period of meaningful time with him before he passed away, and that I have moved towards the acceptance of loss whilst maintaining my regular routine, the simple answer would be anticipatory grief followed by normal grief.

But, as discussed above, grief is not simple. It is a complicated and messy process and rarely follows a linear or logical path. So I guess the type of grief I’m experiencing could be called ‘my own grief’. Most importantly, I have come to realize that I should not feel guilty about experiencing grief on my own terms, as long as I am not indulging in self-destructive behavior and processing it in a healthy manner, with particular emphasis on my mental and physical well-being.

Written by:
Jade Small

What are positive healing affirmations and what role can they play in our society? Do they really make a difference to the subconscious mind and help create a new and better sense of self? Indeed they can and we shall delve into what it entails to achieve this goal and how to create that positive impact in ourselves. It doesn’t take much but a few short and easy steps and perseverance in keeping up the habit. Life is full of mishaps and mistakes and it can be all too easy to fall prey to these thoughts and emotions and allow negative thoughts to fully encompass our minds and create doubt, anger, sadness, feelings of worthlessness and keep us down. Instead of focusing on those emotions that will drag you down, rather pay special attention to your own self-worth and practice self-care which is a much more beneficial mindset to have if you want to progress in life.

47 Daily Positive Healing Affirmations for health

Healing affirmations might seem like a fairy tale to some but in reality, they have a major impact on mental health. Similar to the act of exercising for a healthy body one can also do repetitive healing affirmations for mental wellbeing. Practicing affirmative positive sayings enough can have profound effects on our wellness and self-esteem.  Often we cloud our minds with self-doubt which can affect our mood, perspective as well as self-efficacy. That is why it is important to practice daily affirmations to change your self-talk, promote self-worth and increase self-development through self-help. Research has shown that affirmations can help you perform better at work and have shown that it can mitigate the effects of stress.  It also enables us to maintain a positive narrative about ourselves in which we are flexible, ethical, and adaptive to different situations, decreases stress, increases physical activity, be less defensive towards contrary opinions, and responds positively to obstacles. Through this practice, one can encourage an optimistic mindset resulting in good self-care. The healing power of healing affirmations cannot be argued. Mindfulness about what you are repeating in your head and changing it to the positive is key to achieving inner peace and allows one to open new doors to personal growth for a healthy life.

Affirmations for emotional healing

• I accept my imperfections and I am grateful for everything I have in life.
• My soul is filled with love and pure love.
• I do not hold a grudge against those who have hurt me. Instead, I prefer to be free and ease myself.
• I accept my imperfections, and I am grateful for all the blessings I have.
• I have a love for all those around me and myself.
• I shall strive to live a happy life filled with positivity
• I shall lessen the grip of all emotional blocks that prevent peace of mind.
• I am not a victim and do not fear anyone.
• I matter and no one can dissuade me.

Self healing affirmations for physical healing 

• I am at ease with my pain because I know soon the physical healing process will take place.
• My muscles shall give me the support I need.
• Pain is a teacher and I shall learn from it.
• I am in great shape.
• My body is my vessel and my vessel is perfect.
• I am getting stronger every day.
• My body heals itself every day and will not stop.
• I am the architect of my own body and can shape it how I see fit.
• My knee pain does not define me and I will prevail over it. 

Daily affirmations for depression

• I am letting go of all negative feelings and emotions
• Nothing lasts forever and all things pass with time.
• When I get knocked down I will get back up again.
• Nobody has the ability to sway my mind from the truth that I am beautiful.
• I can manifest joy and healing.
• I deserve to be happy each and every day.
• It’s alright to be sad sometimes but I must not let it take over.
• I visualize the best version of myself taking over.
• I am worth as much as everyone else.
• I can do any task as long as I apply myself and have a love for myself.
• I am grateful for being sad sometimes because it allows me to learn from it.

Affirmations for healing a broken heart

• I am allowing myself time to heal and that’s OK and necessary.
• I deserve the best and will strive to find it for myself.
• I am grateful for my past experience and shall use it as a learning curve.
• I shall give myself space to heal my broken heart and will let go of the past.
• No one but myself can define who I am and my worth.
• All the affection I need I can find within myself.
• Not everybody is a good match with me and that’s alright.
• I shall learn to love again.
• The most important affirmation I need is my own.
• I accept who I am and love myself for it.

Healing Affirmations for Anxiety and Stress

• No matter the obstacle I shall overcome it.
• I am doing the best I can and that’s perfect.
• Sometimes things can overwhelm but I just need to breathe and take the steps forward.
• Everything is just fine with me.
• I am positive and if things go backward I shall push them forwards.
• I am strong and capable.
• I trust within myself that I am fully capable 
• I accept relaxation and expel tensions.
• I am positive and if I stop being so I shall find myself stuck.

Key takeaways

Healing affirmations have a powerful and positive impact on the user’s life when a habit of it is created and is practiced frequently with a set goal in mind. Once this is achieved self-love will become a constant in your life allowing for perfect health of body and mind. As we can see it isn’t a difficult endeavor to pursue and make a constant in one’s life. All one needs to do is to write up positive daily affirmations and continue to use repeat them on a daily basis until a habit has been formed and the effects have made their way in everyday living. This is not exclusive for any one person and is there for any person who is seeking a positive change for the betterment of oneself. The research is out and healing affirmations are in!

FAQs

Do healing affirmations work?

They most certainly do, as research and MRI’s of practiced individuals has proven. They work to shift the mindset from that of a negative one to a positive one allowing one to further reach their goals. Through practice and repetition, the positive words will affect your wellbeing. 

How long does it take for positive affirmations to work?

According to Maxwell Maltz in Psycho-Cybernetics 1960, it takes about 21 days or 3 weeks for new habits to form but more recent research from University College London says that around 66 days or 2 months is how long it takes for the change to take place.

How long should you say affirmations?

To get the best results out of your affirmations you need to make a habit of saying them out loud to yourself for about 3-5 minutes twice a day and try to repeat each affirmation around 10 times.

Written by:
Jade Small