In the movie “Star Wars” Obi-wan Kenobi says: “The Force is what gives a Jedi his power.” He goes on to say: “It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.”

This book is an account of my exploration of subtle energy known the world over, referred to by many names, that can be used to heal people, and animals. Like “The Force” in the Star Wars movies it does seem to be present everywhere, though it seems more abundant in some areas than others. And though there are materials that tend to inhibit the flow of the subtle energy, it does seem to permeate most other materials to one degree or another. 

Another parallel to The Force in the Star Wars movies is the fact that the vast majority of people seem to be completely unaware of it. 

It seems crazy that it’s all around us and interpenetrates us and yet most of us aren’t aware of it. I was vaguely aware of it in my youth but didn’t give it much attention. I recall feeling the energy between the palms of my hands, sometimes while watching television, or sitting quietly in my bedroom, or outside in nature. Whenever someone saw me moving my hands  a few inches away from each other, sort of swirling something that felt to me like a weak magnetic field, I would become self-conscious and stop. The onlooker might purse their lips, roll their eyes and shake their head with disdain, shaming me for being weird. I let it go and tried to be normal.

In my late forties, I became aware of subtle energy again, this time in more profound ways, and soon I would get an idea of how strong it can be at times, and some of what could be done with the subtle energy.

As an adult, once I began cultivating and working with it, my awareness of subtle energy became pervasive in my life, and I wanted to know all about it. I wondered if there were laws it followed that were parallel to the commonly accepted laws of physics. Had anyone documented the laws of nature surrounding it, the rules, or self-evident truths about it? If so, where could I find them? I wanted to find teachers that could guide me in the ways of this energy. Before long I found myself venturing into a mysterious world that was often confusing, frequently wondrous, and sometimes quite humbling.

After being given a remarkable demonstration of healing energy I began getting reacquainted with the energy by going back to what I had done in my youth. I’d hold my palms quite close together without touching them and move them around in a small circle relative to one another. The energy was subtle but obviously present.  I didn’t know what more to do at that time, so I just played with it, swirling it between my palms and stretching it by moving my palms farther apart. I would do it while watching television, or waiting at a traffic light, and other times when my full attention wasn’t required for other things. I quickly found that just playing with the subtle energy increased the amount or strength of it between my hands.

This was in 2004, the internet was still young, information about these things wasn’t as available as it is now. Using different search engines as was the norm back then, I was able to find a few sources of information on subtle energy. I took what I could find and learned what I could.

Over time, I cultivated a playful yet respectful relationship with the energy, and it would respond to me. I would reach for it, and in time it seemed to reach for me. 

Over the course of several years, it became clear to me that the subtle energy had intelligence about it and it wasn’t to be dominated or controlled by anyone, certainly not by me. However, it would respond cooperatively or harmoniously in what seemed to be a relationship formed by me, the subtle energy, and an even greater mystery, a presence or a stillness that’s always there, here, everywhere.  

For me, this realm of subtle energy became a gateway to a larger mystery and in time I began to see how getting caught up in working with subtle energy, or “The Force” can also be a hindrance, a distraction from developing a deeper relationship with the larger mystery. 

When we work in harmony with the subtle energy, it works with us. And when we’re in harmony with the larger mystery even more can be done, not by us, but with us and through us. 

Venturing deeper into the realm of subtle energy was the beginning of a quest to understand what I sometimes characterize as another octave of reality, which comprises subtle energy and more. What I was beginning to understand was this energy interpenetrates and interacts with people, plants, animals, even minerals, and the universe as a whole, and we can learn to do some interesting things with it.

Despite my drive to understand subtle energy and all that could be done with it, I would eventually have to relinquish my need for understanding, to expand beyond the limiting constructs of my mind.

Oddly enough, it is in relinquishing the need for understanding and in letting go of our limited understanding that deeper understanding can emerge. We plow ahead learning all we can about a new subject, or a problem or a puzzle then fall back and relax our efforts and a deeper, more integrated understanding comes together.

My awareness of this miracle of deeper understanding came to me through doing difficult crossword puzzles. I took up doing Sunday Times crossword puzzles and found that I could only answer so many clues, and then I’d have to put it down. When I’d return to it the next day and review the clues again, I’d somehow have answers that I didn’t know the day before. I could do this day after day and before many days the puzzle would be finished. Allowing the answers to come is much more satisfying than trying to force them.

~ S