Constance Grauds, R.Ph., is an assistant professor of clinical pharmacy, University of California at San Francisco. A nationally known lecturer on natural medicine and indigenous healing practices, Grauds is the only experienced pharmacist to have undergone a decade of shamanic training in the Amazon. She is president of the Association of Natural Medicine Pharmacists, which provides education on natural medicine to thousands of health-care professionals nationwide; director of the Center for Spirited Medicine; and the author of Kava and Anxiety and Jungle Medicine. Doug Childers is a freelance book doctor, ghostwriter, editor, writing coach, and novelist. He has published on East-West spirituality, psychology, shamanism, political history, and mind-body health. He coauthored the critically acclaimed memoir The White-Haired Girl, and Divine Interventions, a nonfiction work on the miraculous. He lives in San Rafael, California.Are You Suffering from a Personal Energy Crisis? In this groundbreaking book, renowned educator, natural medicine pharmacist, and initiated shamana Connie Grauds helps you tap into the wellsprings of vital positive energy that lie within you-but are often blocked by the dispiriting negative energy of fear. Combining cutting-edge Western science with the ancient healing principles of shamanism, Grauds explains how fear and its side effects are at the root of a variety of ailments, from lethargy, depression, and insomnia to the most serious illnesses-and provides a practical program that will revitalize every area of your life. From restoring physical and emotional health to gaining harmony in work and personal relationships, here are exercises that will teach you how to: * Identify your energy "leaks" * Restore the dynamic flow of energy through the eight primary entradas, or gateways: mind/soul, breath, water, food, exercise, nature, relationships, and altruism * Release stress and tension through a deeper somatic awareness * Look beyond visible physical symptoms to achieve genuine healing Now you can begin on a path of balance, wisdom, sanity, and self-knowledge that will support even the most demanding lifestyle and help you achieve the optimum health that is naturally yours.Section One Personal Energy Crisis: Old Paradigm Problem, New Paradigm Solution 1 The Quest for More Energy: Are You Winning or Losing the Energy Game? The search for energy is the American Dream that never sleeps. Everyone wants more of it, and most people feel like they can’t get enough of it. In our pursuit of energy we may take up—for a while—demanding diets, exercise programs, and expensive vitamin and supplement regimes. But the path to abundant energy is not product related. It is not achieved through extreme efforts or eccentric programs that prey on your fears or promote obsessive concerns about fitness, diet, and health. It is a path of balance, sanity, and intelligent self-effort that supports the most complex and demanding life and leads you into simple and direct relationship with your self and the Source of life. Health and vitality require proper energy management and are a by-product of it. In nature, the basic life processes occur without confusion or dilemma. For most life-forms, managing energy is as simple as breathing fresh air, absorbing sunlight, foraging for food, resting, reproducing, living, and dying within an interdependent web of life. Ancient shamans observed these natural processes and extracted simple principles that allowed them to acquire and conduct far greater amounts of energy than the average person. By understanding and managing the simple life processes and natural forces to which all creatures are subject and using their own bodies and minds as laboratories, they achieved personal energy mastery. And they shared their knowledge, or “medicine,” with their village or tribe. But in our modern world, with its stressful pace and complexity, the basic life processes have become complicated, confusing, and riddled with dilemma. The body operates 24/7, waking and sleeping, without our effort. Disconnected from nature and alienated from our natural or “indigenous self’ that intuitively knows what it needs, simple functions like diet, exercise, sex, and breathing may seem like near-impenetrable mysteries. So we turn to experts to understand, and hopefully meet, our most basic human needs. We’ve acquired remarkable scientific knowledge about diet, exercise, sex, the brain, meditation and prayer, and more. But what are the fundamentals of human energy that, if applied, allow us to become revitalized energy beings? Here traditional shamanic wisdom is still relevant to modern life. The shamanic energy principles presented in this book confirm insights in modern psychology, modern physics, and modern scientific research. And no matter how complex the world becomes, our bodies, our minds, our relationships, and our vital energy systems will always operate on the same timeless principles. The modern rush-hour lifestyle leaves millions too depleted to get sufficient exercise, relaxation, play, or even spend quality time with their families. This energy-depleting lifestyle can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, fatigue, high blood pressure, depression, insomnia, a weakened immune system, and a host of serious physical and psychological ailments. Energy depletion is an inevitable result of unresolved life stress combined with common neglect. In our often anxious efforts to keep up the pace, we fail to do many simple, basic things that maintain our vital connection to the source of abundant energy that sustains us. And this matter of stress and anxiety is key. The Wages of Fear Today, frequent “orange alerts” and scare reports send anxiety rippling through our culture, increasing our stress, depleting our energy, and undermining our health and well-being. But even before the shocking events of 9/11 inaugurated an “era of terror,” nearly two-thirds of Americans were chroSection One Personal Energy Crisis: Old Paradigm Problem, New Paradigm Solution 1 The Quest for More Energy: Are You Winning or Losing the Energy Game? The search for energy is the American Dream that never sleeps. Everyone wants more of it, and most people feel like they can't get enough of it. In our pursuit of energy we may take upfor a whiledemanding diets, exercise programs, and expensive vitamin and supplement regimes. But the path to abundant energy is not product related. It is not achieved through extreme efforts or eccentric programs that prey on your fears or promote obsessive concerns about fitness, diet, and health. It is a path of balance, sanity, and intelligent self-effort that supports the most complex and demanding life and leads you into simple and direct relationship with your self and the Source of life. Health and vitality require proper energy management and are a by-product of it. In nature, the basic life processes occur without confusion or dilemma. For most life-forms, managing energy is as simple as breathing fresh air, absorbing sunlight, foraging for food, resting, reproducing, living, and dying within an interdependent web of life. Ancient shamans observed these natural processes and extracted simple principles that allowed them to acquire and conduct far greater amounts of energy than the average person. By understanding and managing the simple life processes and natural forces to which all creatures are subject and using their own bodies and minds as laboratories, they achieved personal energy mastery. And they shared their knowledge, or "medicine," with their village or tribe. But in our modern world, with its stressful pace and complexity, the basic life processes have become complicated, confusing, and riddled with dilemma. The body operates 24/7, waking and sleeping, without our effort. Disconnected from nature and alienated from our natural or "indigenous self' that intuitively knows what it needs, simple functions like diet, exercise, sex, and breathing may seem like near-impenetrable mysteries. So we turn to experts to understand, and hopefully meet, our most basic human needs. We've acquired remarkable scientific knowledge about diet, exercise, sex, the brain, meditation and prayer, and more. But what are the fundamentals of human energy that, if applied, allow us to become revitalized energy beings? Here traditional shamanic wisdom is still relevant to modern life. The shamanic energy principles presented in this book confirm insights in modern psychology, modern physics, and modern scientific research. And no matter how complex the world becomes, our bodies, our minds, our relationships, and our vital energy systems will always operate on the same timeless principles. The modern rush-hour lifestyle leaves millions too depleted to get sufficient exercise, relaxation, play, or even spend quality time with their families. This energy-depleting lifestyle can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, fatigue, high blood pressure, depression, insomnia, a weakened immune system, and a host of serious physical and psychological ailments. Energy depletion is an inevitable result of unresolved life stress combined with common neglect. In our often anxious efforts to keep up the pace, we fail to do many simple, basic things that maintain our vital connection to the source of abundant energy that sustains us. And this matter of stress and anxiety is key. The Wages of Fear Today, frequent "orange alerts" and scare reports send anxiety rippling through our culture, increasing our stress, depleting our energy, and undermining our health and well-being. But even before the shocking events of 9/11 inaugurated an "era of terror," nearly two-thirds of Americans were chroAre You Suffering from a Personal Energy Crisis? In this groundbreaking book, renowned educator, natural medicine pharmacist, and initiated shamana Connie Grauds helps you tap into the wellsprings of vital positive energy that lie within you——but are often blocked by the dispiriting negative energy of fear. Combining cutting-edge Western science with the ancient healing principles of shamanism, Grauds explains how fear and its side effects are at the root of a variety of ailments, from lethargy, depression, and insomnia to the most serious illnesses——and provides a practical program that will revitalize every area of your life. From restoring physical and emotional health to gaining harmony in work and personal relationships, here are exercises that will teach you how to: Eliminate energy-depleting habits and create new, energy-generating behaviors, identify your energy “leaks”, release stress and tension through a deeper somatic awareness and to restore the dynamic flow of energy through the eight primary entradas, or gateways: mind/soul, breath, water, food, exercise, nature, relationships, and altruism. In addition, Grauds shares personal experiences from her fascinating ten-year apprenticeship in the Amazon with a master healer. Now you can begin on a path of balance, wisdom, sanity, and self-knowledge that will support even the most demanding lifestyle and help you achieve the optimum health that is naturally yours.“The Energy Prescription integrates the best of Alternative Medicine with the mind-body traditions of indigenous wisdom. A practical manual for anyone who knows that our energy connection must be monitored and nurtured consciously.”--James Redfield, author of The Celestine Prophecy “In The Energy Prescription, Connie Grauds shows how to get back on track to live a vital and fulfilling life. Taking wisdom from ancient shamanistic approaches, she shows how to heal such common and persistent problems as chronic fatigue, depression and anxiety by helping us connect to the deepest parts of ourselves.” — Carol Adrienne, Ph.D., author of When Life Changes, Or You Wish it Would "Connie Grauds has a most intriguing perspective on health and healing: trained as a pharmacist, she has spent years studying with a shaman in the Peruvian Amazon. As such, she offers interesting insights into treatments for problems like depression and insomnia, ailments that she terms "energy leaks." I recommend this book for anyone interested in holistic healing."–Mark Plotkiin, President, Amazon Conservation Team and author of Tales of a Shaman’s Apprentice"The Energy Prescriptionintegrates the best of Alternative Medicine with the mind-body traditions of indigenous wisdom. A practical manual for anyone who knows that our energy connection must be monitored and nurtured consciously."--James Redfield, author ofThe Celestine Prophecy "InThe Energy Prescription,Connie Grauds shows how to get back on track to live a vital and fulfilling life. Taking wisdom from ancient shamanistic approaches, she shows how to heal such common and persistent problems as chronic fatigue, depression and anxiety by helping us connect to the deepest parts of ourselves." Carol Adrienne, Ph.D., author ofWhen Life Changes, Or You Wish it Would "Connie Grauds has a most intriguing perspective on health and healing: trained as a pharmacist, she has spent years studying with a shaman in the Peruvian Amazon. As such, she offers interesting insights into treatments for problems like depression and insomnia, ailments that she terms "energy leaks." I recommend this book for anyone interested in holistic healing."Mark Plotkiin, President, Amazon Conservation Team and author ofTales of a Shaman's ApprenticeAre You Suffering from a Personal Energy Crisis? BRIn this groundbreaking book, renowned educator, natural medicine pharmacist, and initiated shamana Connie Grauds helps you tap into the wellsprings of vital positive energy that lie within you----but are often blocked by the dispiriting negative energy of fear. Combining cutting-edge Western science with the ancient healing principles of shamanism, Grauds explains how fear and its side effects are at the root of a variety of ailments, from lethargy, depression, and insomnia to the most serious illnesses----and provides a practical program that will revitalize every area of your life. From restoring physical and emotional health to gaining harmony in work and personal relationships, here are exercises that will teach you how to: Eliminate energy-depleting habits and create new, energy-generating behaviors, identify your energy "leaks," release stress and tension through a deeper somatic awareness and to restore the dynamic flow of energy throughthe eight primary entradas, or gateways: mind/soul, breath, water, food, exercise, nature, relationships, and altruism. BRIn addition, Grauds shares personal experiences from her fascinating ten-year apprenticeship in the Amazon with a master healer. Now you can begin on a path of balance, wisdom, sanity, and self-knowledge that will support even the most demanding lifestyle and help you achieve the optimum health that is naturally yours.
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