Literature review: Application of Creative design in Energy Healing

Literature review: Application of Creative design in Energy Healing

Introduction

Energy healing also referred to as spiritual healing, vibrational medicine, or psychic healing, is one of the five subdivisions of complementary and alternative medicine, as was defined by the National Institute of Health of the United States of America in the late 1990s (Srinivasan, 2010). Spiritually, energy refers to a widespread non-physical interpersonal force or essence, and this definition is quite different from that perceived in the scientific fields, hence the classification of this practice as a complementary/alternative form of medicine. Energy healing is a quite complicated intervention method based on a pseudo-science formed on the premise that all things are made up of energy, thus human beings as well, and it can be manipulated for the desired wellness of the person. The practice has its roots dated back to the ancient world and is well known in Christianity as well as other Eastern and Western religious practices. Despite the lack of its establishment as a scientifically accepted medical intervention, the method is quite famous and well adopted globally.  This report aims to analyze various literature written on the topic to conclude how creative design is applied in the field of energy healing.

Definition, forms, history & creative design

Warber et al. (2015) provide a look at the description and forms of energy healing known and practiced today in their research. Through an extensive review of quality literature, research views and commentaries by practitioners, they defined healing as a process of becoming whole/ transcending from pain and suffering or that of assisting one to achieve this state of wholeness or increased order and balance. They note the significant difference between ‘healing’ and ‘curing,’ highlighting how the latter focuses on eliminating signs and symptoms of a disease. They also defined a healer and accorded as the catalysts in the process of one achieving an integrated balance, a role they play, and make through an intentional influence on the persons without any known physical intervention methods. These definitions pave the way for them to reveal the various spectrums of energies on which the Energy healing is based hence justifying their lack of a definite one for all definitions for it, instead highlighting how the diversity of practices challenges the traditional medical research processes of giving well defined, specific, and uniform interventions.  Other researchers as well refrain from defining the term Energy Healing, instead generally identifying it as a ‘branch’ of alternative, medicine through which ‘intentional influence’ is utilized upon another living thing without physical interventions (Ross, 2019; Mason, 2010; Jonas & Crawford, 2003). This definition has implications in creative design as the healing power manifested in the environment becomes a critical factor to consider in the design of that specific environment, hence the responsibility of the original designer to maximize on it to draw these healing benefits.

Maret (2009) traced the history of energy medicine in the US from the 19^th century when scientists developed an interest in electrotherapy devices. A widespread national interest though peaked after 1971 when President Nixon visited China with his journalist, James Reston. Reston suffered appendicitis for which he was treated with acupuncture after a surgery. He was impressed by the results, and soon after his trip, he wrote about it, sparking a frenzy on Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine is one of the practices of energy medicine, and it works on the principle of Chi or Qi, proposing the existence of ‘meridians’ in the body through which cosmic and micro-cosmic cycles flow (Jian & Zou, 2013; Meer, 2017; Gan et al., 2018). Based on the specific type of energy work involved, it can be divided into two broad categories of hands-on approach as in acupuncture or hands-off as in Reiki.  Generally, though, there are various forms of its practice, such as Reiki drawn from Japan, Yoga, Chakra balancing, polarity therapy, among other types.

Various interventions can be used in the manifestation and administration of the therapeutic benefits of energy healing. Among them is music, art, scent, and colors, which are often employed by spiritual healers (Camic, 2008). For example, in the practice of Feng Shui, color plays a vital role as it is believed to possess a vibrational tone. Chi, (one’s energy) picks up this tone and distributes it within and without one’s environment. For this reason, color is considered to significantly impact one’s state of mind as well as their feel of balance hence the need for those who practice Feng Shui to pay attention in choosing colors they identify with. The knowledge of creative design has been implemented in the design of various ‘safe spaces’ such as hospitals and relaxation spas that are used to promote spiritual/energy healing by considering the colors to use in the space, the general design of the space, and the background of the space.

Creative design elements and energy healing

Azeemi and Raza (2005) speak on color, through chromotherapy defined as the use of the visible spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation in the curing of diseases, and it is one of the core practices in energy healing. They traced the history of chromotherapy back to ancient Egypt medicine, where sunlight was utilized for therapy, as well as in Greece, India, and China. Through the chronological studies of the history of light therapy, they were able to trace these practices from the 19^th century, all the way to its current incorporation in modern medicine. They highlighted the practice of color frequency and Chakra, its effects on human blood albumin, and the body’s biological functioning through the experiments of the scientist Takkata Ott. In the field of energy healing, there are seven Chakra. Each is associated with a specific color (Ross, 2019). For example, orange represents sacral Chakra; blue is for throat and green, the heart chakra. Chakra is considered to be necessary for the sustenance and energizing of associated organs. For one to be at optimum health, it is believed that the seven chakra have to be in balance. The healing from them is transmitted in the body through electromagnetic fields surrounding it. These findings are supported by various other scholars like Whitefield & Whelton (2013), who state categorically that chromotherapy is one of the most successful therapies around the aura. It can elicit around a body and, in turn, transfer that energy field into the physical body. Medically, evidence of success has been found in the application of various types of light to manage multiple conditions. Warm colors are shown to arouse and especially beneficial in depression, while cool colors have the opposite effect of relaxing, such as in anxiety. It is this knowledge that spiritual healers apply in their line of work, and the same expertise serves in the field of creative design to help create mood and ambiance of spaces.

Archibald and Dewar (2010) explored the correlation between creative arts and healing. Through the use of open-ended questionnaires and interviews, many individuals expressed having experienced the healing power of art in the form of music, painting, dancing, and story writing. They were also able to unravel the successful application of creative skills in healing programs for trauma patients and even cancer patients. Their findings supported those of Castellano (2006), Fred (2008), Moon (2007), and Thompson (2010) and provided compelling evidence of the role art plays in healing. Suzuki et al. also supports the influence of art in improving the quality of life through their study of Japanese. Spiritual healers usually use the healing benefits drawn from art as a way of helping their patients get in touch with their deeper selves and giving them a sense of great possibilities (Ettun, Schultz & Sela, 2014). In the ancient world, the benefits of art in healing were well recognized. Among the Greek, art in the form of drama was used to elicit emotional catharsis. In Asia, Tibetan Monks still employ the use of chants and sound therapy through bells and bowls (Larson, 2016). Art helps heal through easing one into a deep state of relaxation (Martin et al., 2018). Not only does it affect the brain, but music, drawing, and similar forms of art affect both the central nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. When creating or expressive ourselves creatively, one naturally falls into an altered state, in which the electromagnetic field of the earth has been found to align with the earth. This knowledge has found practical application in various areas such as medicine. For example, at the University of Florida Hospital, policies to explore creative energy in the form of music, drawing, puppetry, and magic were implemented. As a result, the general response of their patients to this therapy has improved significantly (www.shands.org/aim/)

Totaforti (2018) also highlights the place of creative design in energy healing through its application in hospital design. Through a case description, he explains show architecture has often been used to distance humans from nature, which is seen to have a negative impact on their balance. Just as Grahn (2010), he advocates for biophilic design, which instead is inclined towards transferrin an individual towards natural systems hence helping them understand and relate their environment better (Browning, Garvin, Ryan, et al., 2012). In a hospital setting, the design has been found beneficial in helping the patients deal with stress and promote their psychological wellbeing (Brown, Barton & Gladwell, 2013). His research is supported by the findings of Alvarsson and Nilsson (2010) and Browning et al. (2012). Browning, Ryan, and Clancy (2014) highlight fourteen patterns of biophilic designs that can be implemented not just in a hospital setting but also day to day environment to help all derive its benefits.  Given that creative design is the core of the formation of healthy spaces (Downton, 2016; Downton, David, Zeunert & Roos, 2017), this knowledge is therefore essential when in consideration of the implementation of psychic/energy healing.

Conclusion

Our paper aimed at exploring how the fields of creative design and energy healing are related. It is common knowledge that not all diseases require medication for their management. In this case, the literature reviewed to shed light on the successful application of energy healing through creative expressions using forms such as music, writing, drawing and even design of spaces to provide a therapeutic benefit. Through this analysis, we, therefore, conclude that the integration of elements of creative design in energy healing is crucial as it helps achieve spiritual healing of self. Medically, attempts at integrated medicine have been made since medical practitioners are making more effort to understand and harness the therapeutic benefits of energy healing. The integration is made possible through the encouragement of patients to embrace and exploit their creative energies. More research is needed, though, before full inclusion in the two fields is achieved. The number of certified healers is few, and there are no set regulations or practicing policies. Further research is, therefore needed to bridge these gaps.

There being limited published literature on the link between creative design and energy medicine, this report plays the crucial role of shedding light on the seamless interconnections and interdependencies between the two fields. There are various branches of energy medicine, though, many of which have not been discussed in this paper. More research is therefore needed to showcase how the other fields of spiritual healing can be used together with the field of creative design. This is due to the fact that many of the potential therapeutic areas such as chromatotherapy , are neglected. We, therefore, recommend that more health centers adopt and implement integrative medicine not just in terms of implementing spiritual healing, but also consciously adopting creative design as a part of the process.

References

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