When I first learned energy medicine, it was from a book. I was invited in to a group of about 24 people to learn from Barbara Brennen’s new “Hand’s of Light” book. It was more than a book it was a workbook. We studied it for a year, meeting weekly for two hours and combing through each bit of information delicately. Through discussion and practice on each other and deep analysis we learned energy medicine. Each chapter took us deeper in to self analysis and dissection for it challenged us to see ourselves much differently.

Many point in her book helped me to understand the former dramas I had been through. Learning the dynamics of energy fields and the energy centers (chakras) gave me a background I still use today. Her book had many pictures of energy fields and interactions between two people that are priceless. It helped me to piece together what I felt so often as an empath.

When our study group stopped, I went to learn about channeling from a wonderful healing center. I was invited to create a healing time on Tuesday evening where people could come and receive this energy medicine and where many of us could practice our new found skills. Each client filled out a card with their needs, and each practitioner filled out a card on their findings. We wanted to learn from this subtle work.

I was invited to go visit some friends with Sherry. Sherry was a great conversationalist and I enjoyed being around her, so I went. Her friends were Dave and Betty with a tiny daughter named Marta. Marta was maybe 4 years old and had a disease that promised her not to live past 7 years old. Looking at her you could not tell she was sick at all. She was spry and happy.

It was a wonderful fall day, cool and shinny, about 4 pm, as we sat on their porch and Dave started making mixed drinks, coke and whiskey for all but me. I declined and settled for ice water and lemon. We chatted and laughed about our lives while Marta would weave in and out of us with her toys, and then run back in to the house for some other surprise. Dave and Betty were one of those couples that worked out well. They complimented each other and yet could give each other some sarcasm that would set us all to laughing. They told us a bit about their daughter’s illness when she was in the house. They were hopeful and yet you could see that to them every moment was not precious and limited.

Dave made two more rounds of drinks and the conversation was picking up it’s pace. Marta came in and exclaimed, “Its getting weird out here” as she reviewed our energy fields. Then she ran in to the house. I took note! Wow! So I looked around to see that there was a slip in to intoxication and even the style of talk had changed, shifting gears.

Marta came out and showed me her purse. It was a pink plastic purse and had a few coins in it. She took out a nickel and placed in on my thigh. Then spurted in to the house again. Betty laughed, and told us that Marta was the banker of their family. When they could come home and empty their pockets of coins, Marta would collect them all and put them away. Dave chimed in that he would have to go ask her for some change to buy cigarettes. Sherry thought that was so cute and smart.

But another thought hit me, that why would she leave the nickel on my leg. Marta came back out to the porch and then sat on my feet. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks; she was paying for my energy medicine. I thought for a minute how I could do this, and settled to just place my two hands above her crown energy center without touching. I did not want the parents to be alarmed. Marta sat there for ten minutes and then got up and walked in to the house and put herself to bed.

I sat there totally in awe with what just happened. I then realized why I had settled for water. One can never do energy medicine having had any alcohol or drugs. Somehow I was ready for this session but not consciously aware. And she paid me in advanced. She could “see” what most people cannot. I was now in a world of thought and the company I was in was unaware. I was “on-call” so to speak. I could never know when or where or who my next client could be. I would never know about this child either, as after we left, I never went back and my friend Sherry moved a few states away.

This deepened my interest in energy medicine. There were so many questions and yet with trust I just moved forward. I still have the nickel; it is the most precious thing I own. It is a reminder that I am always on call.

~ Carolyn