Making Eden Energy Medicine Our Own

Instinctual Energy Medicine

"Energy is the living, vibrating ground of your being, and it is your body's natural self-healing elixir, its natural medicine. This medicine, this energy medicine feeds body and soul and attending to it restores your natural vitality. Energy Medicine is the science and the art of optimizing your energies to help your body and mind to function better." 

~ Donna Eden, Energy Medicine for Women

Whenever I talk about energy medicine and I get that “deer in the headlight” look, I will ask people some of these questions. Trying to explain what energy medicine is can sometimes be a challenge – but helping them see they already “Practice Energy Medicine” makes sense to them.

How many times have you had something happen you and say, “Oh my god!” while putting your hands on your forehead or heart?

How many of you cross your arms under your breasts or across your rib cage?

Do you sit with your knees or ankles crossed?

Do you kiss, hold hands, hug, make eye contact with others?

Do you engage in sexual activities?

If you have an upset stomach, do you rub your stomach in a circular motion?

Do you doodle? Draw figure 8’s, spirals, hearts, etc?

Do you smooth your hair behind your ears?

Did you as a child (or even now) lie on your stomach and “scissor” your legs?
Or observe children doing that?

Do you practice deep breathing exercises?

Do you massage your neck, shoulders, or muscles when they hurt?

If you answered any of these with a "Yes," you already practice Energy Medicine.


All of these, and many more, are your body’s instinctual way of seeking its energetic balance – with a little bit of knowledge you can learn to support and help your body find and maintain its equilibrium.

Theda Foster, EEM - CP

Top and Bottom Gaits

My partner underwent chemotherapy and radiation nearly 2 years ago and the side effects of that lead to neuropathy (a disorder of the peripheral nerves—the motor, sensory, and autonomic nerves that connect the spinal cord to muscles, skin, and internal organs. It usually affects the hands and feet, causing weakness, numbness, tingling, and pain) in his feet and thighs. I’ve been gently working with his feet (and other energy systems) for over a year now, and the neuropathy is significantly lessened.

 His feet are numb, yet hypersensitive, so I have to begin with very light touching. We discovered that using a stainless steel spoon on the top and bottom of his feet before any other energy techniques has a huge effect on releasing some of the tension, swelling, and hypersensitivity. Using the back of a stainless steel spoon, we rub the foot in circular motions and then from the heel to off the toes. Because our energy is electromagnetic, the energy is attracted to the stainless steel, allowing ti to easily be moved. We actually make sure we always have a stainless steel spoon with us whenever we travel.

I, most times, close my eyes when working with his energy and just let my hands and fingers lead me. One night the gaits (the depressions between the small bones of the feet) were so tight and tender I could barely make contact. I began working them from the bottom of his foot then the top, which lead to working the gaits from the top and the bottom at the same time, in a “see saw” kind of motion.

By gently engaging with the congested energy between the tendons of his feet, the energy releases without causing discomfort. Then, I am able to slowly deepen my connection with the gaits and he can lie back without tensing up. He tells me that feels better, is less tender, seems to him to be more effective at releasing the congested energy, and the results last longer. This has become one of our rituals at night as we’re preparing for bed.

Theda Foster, EEM-CP

Connecting Heaven and Earth

Connecting Heaven and Earth is truly one of my favorite energy techniques.

In the mornings, I walk out to the back yard, step into the grass and just let my bare feet really savor the feel of the grass and the earth. Watching the trees murmur in the wind, the insects dance with the winds,and feeling the sun’s nourishing energy, connecting with the rhythm of the earth’s heartbeat. Then I stretch my hands high to the sky and press deeply into the earth.

At night, I always search for the moon and really absorb the gentle energy of it – I’ve always loved the many phases of the moon so I turn my face toward it and softly stretch my body toward it with one hand embracing the silvery soft enegy while the other hand caresses the earth's energy.

I’ve noticed that during the mornings and throughout the day with the sun shining on me when I’m connecting heaven and earth it’s a much stronger, forceful, deeper stretch. In the moonlight it’s a soft, slow, nearly flowing dance between heaven and earth.

Anytime I’m outside I connect with heaven and earth. And as often as not I'm barefooted. Afterwards I bring my hands to my heart, close my eyes, smile, and softly hum as the energy settles within me.

~ Theda Foster, EEM-CP

photography by Barbara Ann O'Leary

Here Comes The Rain

As a migraineur, spring is a particular challenge for me as is “hurricane season.”  One of my many triggers for a migraine is storms. When the barometric pressure fluctuates significantly I often find myself in the throes of a migraine. We hadn't had any measurable rain in nearly 100 days, so the rain on June 22, 2011 was very welcome. I’m thrilled it’s raining but the effect on me isn’t as welcomed.

Energy Medicine was a literal life saver for me. I was, at one time, taking 14 prescriptions a day in an unsuccessful attempt to “manage” the debilitating migraine that so deeply affected me and those around me. As I learned more about the energy system and it’s innate wisdom, I also learned how I could take care of my particular energy sensitivities.

There are certain techniques I can do to mitigate the effects of rain storms on me personally.

Weaving my energy with loving intention and attention allows me to breathe easier.

Slowly tracing my meridians and really paying attention to the gall bladder meridian, deeply connecting with the energy and gently coaxing it to flow helps me to feel more balanced.

Focusing on consciously breathing with deep inhalations and exhalations gives me enough oxygen flowing through my body to help reduce the pain or lessen it if I haven’t managed to stop the onset of a migraine.

Connecting Heaven and Earth is one of my favorite techniques that I seem to instinctively do.

Because I tend to get anxious when a storm approaches I gently work with Triple Warmer, reassuring myself and my energy system that everything is fine and remaining in a place of calm. Figure 8’s, rubbing small circles along the meridian, patting, caressing, soothing Triple Warmer as I would an anxious baby. I have always viewed Triple Warmer as a colicky baby rather than a “demanding general.”

~ Theda Foster, EEM-CP

Love affair with Figure 8's

I love Figure 8’s. I often find myself drawing them, tracing them with my eyes, “dancing the 8’s,” and tracing 8’s on my steering wheel when driving, when stirring anything that I’m cooking or drinking. One of my favorite things to do is “draw” figure 8’s all over my face and neck when I put my moisturizer or make-up on or cleansing my face. It feels so good and it seems to me that my make-up looks better when I do.

I’ve also begun “weaving” figure 8’s when I trace my meridians – especially when working with the gall bladder meridian when I’m in the throes of a migraine. Flushing the gall bladder meridian with 8’s seems to gently move the energy and to make me feel more connected to myself, lessens the intensity, and if I catch it early enough there are times I’ve been able to stop a migraine.

Another interesting thing I do - a few years ago I had my gall bladder removed. 3 of the 4 surgical scars healed up really well - one developed a keloid - it was ropy, red, and always irritated by my bra. I began tracing tiny figure 8's over and around it - it's taken a couple of years but it's mostly flattened and smoothed out and has faded to a wide white scar - I'm still tracing 8's over both ends of the scar so that it will continue to heal.

I have have also been using various items to trace figure 8's with. My partner enjoys throwing whips and in watching him practice I noticed that he created a lot of figure 8 patterns. The more I watched the more entranced I became by it and asked him to teach me. When he's "throwing the fire whips" I can feel the 8's weaving within my aura. Also, fire whips and fire poi- adds an incredibly strong energy - the elements of air and fire, the sound as the fire "swishes" through the air, the intensity of the heat all combine to create strong figure eights in my aura and it feels incredible as they sink into my energy. (I'm still practicing without the fire - but I will eventually learn to use it).

~ Theda Foster, EEM-CP