Gary Craig has said that our early thoughts, actions and statements become the "writings on our walls" and they can impact us negatively for the rest of our lives. All those times we hear "no, don't do this, don't do that" as a child can progress to criticism, abuse or trauma from our parents, siblings, relatives, teachers, friend, classmates, bullies, bosses or caches.

Typically, a client has one or two major issues that are the most detrimental to their balanced health. Unless a client comes in asking for a specific modality, I will dowse to see what is most appropriate for their highest good at that time. Bio-feedback and EFT come up most often (and EFT almost always.) A client usually sees me for a specific physical issue they want addressed, but the overwhelming reason why the issue has occurred or cannot be resolved is emotional. Even thought the physical issue may be recent, the main negative emotion that needs to be released more than likely goes back for years. If not the result of a recent traumatic event, these negative emotions typically occurred more than five years in the past.

Some people undergoing an EFT session will have no success for a couple of reasons. They may have been brought to the session by well-meaning friends or relatives, but believe that they can't heal themselves of that EFT is not science-based and thus won't work. Another issue is the ego...You must let it go.

Remember that your power is unlimited! You can heal yourself of all things. You can accomplish anything you want if you will let go of negative thoughts, attitude, and behavior as well as fear, worry and anger. Jesus said, "All that I can do, you can do." And the Bible says that God created man in His image. In other words, you have the ability to be a co-creator with God. The path to balanced health is clear you just have to figure how far you want to walk on it without taking those side paths of fear, worry, negative thoughts, etc.

Before you start an EFT session, it's good to do some "cross crawls" (right elbow to left knee, then left elbow to right knee, several times) to get your energy flowing. Next perform the "Gamut Procedure," which takes about 10 seconds but gets both the right and left sides of your brain working. TO do this tap on the Gamut Point (see illustration) between the baby and ring fingers. While tapping, close your eyes, open them, look hard to the left, look hard to the right, look down to the left and look down to the right. Roll your eyes counterclockwise, then roll them clockwise. Hum a tune for two seconds. Count to five and then hum a tune for two seconds again.

To begin EFT, select an issue and focus on it for a minute. Bring to mind when it occurred and include the sensations present at that time, e.g., sight, sound, colors, temperature, feeling, scents, etc. Relive the moment and then assign the issue a number from 1 to 10, with 10 being the greatest negative emotion. If the issue is abuse suffered as a child for example, create an affirmation statement scubas, " I release the trauma of this abuse." Repeat the affirmation statement three times while tapping on the "Sore Spot" (see illustration), also known as K27.

Tapping will continue at the top of the head. Tap at least seven times while saying, "even though I was abused by ________, it is time to let it go. I don't want it. I don't need it. I choose to let it go."

Move to the bone between the eyes and repeat the same statement while tapping at least seven times.

Continue tapping and repeating the statement as you move to the occipital bone on the sides of the eye, the occipital bone below the eyes, under the nose above the lip, above the lip, above the chin and below the lip, where the collar bone meets the sternum, under the arm pit, points on the fingers and the karate point on the side of the hand. Finish by tapping the inside of the two wrist together.

When your tapping is complete, review the issue again, focus your senses on it, and assign it a number. It will be the first number that comes to your mind. Don't try to second guess yourself. If you originally assigned the issue a 10, perhaps it is now a 7.

Next, look at a tangent to that issue. For example, your next statement might be, "Even thought ________ abused me, and ________ knew about it I choose to forgive them." Repeat this new statement through another round of tapping. Reassess your "number" and keep repeating the process until you reach 0. Clients frequently believe that the issue was their "fault" as well and will need to also forgive themselves, which can be more difficult than forgiving other.

The release (achieving 0) is accompanied typically by a physical reaction. Gary Craig calls this the "ZZIT Point" and it may be a yawn, a deep breath, a wave of calmness or a vibration or tingling. When you feel this reaction, you will no longer need to assign numbers on the issue at the end of a found; you are done. Unless you consciously make an effort to bring it back, the issue is gone and will not return.

It is important to follow the guidelines as you begin to learn the tapping process. You need to verbalize your statements –some– times shouting them can help. But once you have the technique down, the rules can be broken: you won't need to use two hands on the eyes; it's OK if you miss a spot. I have one client who began virtual tapping as a marathon swimmer, going through the statements and points in her mind while swimming. Above all else it is important to be specific in your statement. A general statement such as, "Even though I have this anxiety, I don't want it, I don't need it, and I choose to let it go," will not clear because it is just too general! Fears and worries are usually big issues. So get specific. For example, "This fear of flying that I have because I think the plane will crash...I don't want it, I don't need it and I choose to let it go" is very specific.

It is essential to bring up the negative emotional issue in EFT and then follow it with a positive release such as, "I choose to let it go." Creating a statement with intent is crucial to EFT's success. One reason people don't continue with EFT on their won is that they "don't know what to say." My advice is: Just bring up a negative and follow it with a positive. Following are a few sample statements:

• "Even though I ________ (enter specific issue)________, I don't want it, I don't need it, I choose to let it go."
• "I choose now to ________(enter positive specific issue)________."
• "Event though________(enter specific issue)________ has been with me all these years, it is time to let it go. I don't want it. I don't need it and I choose to let it go."
• "Event though I get upset and nervous about ________(enter specific issue)________, I choose to be calm, confident and in control."

People are bothered by the negative thoughts that enter their minds. You can't stop those thoughts but you don't

have to keep it there. Say simply, "Cancel that thought." If it goes away, great: if it doesn't, then a quick round of tapping should resolve it.

EFT is not hard to learn and it works for everything  – physical and emotional. It has proven to be one of the best treatments for PTSD for veterans and is very effective in treating trauma incurred from abusive relationships. 

Athletes also practice EFT to help heal sports-related injuries. I work with a client who is both a successful athlete and an astute business person. Significant issues developed within a family-run business and the client stepped in to help  resolve the problems. The emotional toll on my client was devastating and my client soon developed fear and a should problem. After one EFT session, everything changed. One athletic triumph led to another and within two years my client was named World Athlete of the Year in their sport!

Suggestions and Affirmations

The following are general suggestions and affirmations you can tap on that will help maintain your health and happiness:

• My mind will always reject all suggestions and subliminal messages that are non-beneficial to me(i.e., commercials, radio, TV, etc.).
• I am always aware of any non-beneficial frequencies of disharmony within my energy field.
• I repel all people and energies that are detrimental to me.
• I am always aware of negative forces within my energy field.
• I am always aware of any danger to myself, my family, friends and country and take the appropriate actions to prevent or avoid danger.
• I am always at the right place at the right time.
• I attract to me people, circumstances and events to enhance my life (to bring me peace, harmony and prosperity).
• I think only positive thoughts.
• I always seek the divine truth.
• I always have the time to do the things I choose to do and do it well with time to spare.
• I understand my life purposes and I have the knowledge and ability to fulfill them.

The EFT Masters listed below (along with their websites and contact information), offer a wealth of information, tutorials and examples...so get tapping!

• Gary Craig: The originator of EFT. Offers a free newsletter and has a huge library on specific issues and instruction books. garycraig@emofree.com

EFT Masters

• Carl Look: Master EFT practitioner. Offers a free newsletter and great tutorials. www.CarolLook.com carol@carollock.com
• Dawson Church: Offers a free newsletter, 5,000 articles, books, training and EFT Peak Insights. www.eftuniverse.com
• Patricia Carrington: Has written a book, Try it on Everything and offers EFT 1 minute news. www.MasteringEFT.com
• Jack Canfield: www.JackCanfield.com

Tom Meade has been a dowser for over 20 years and has been teaching a practicing EFT for 15. He is a holistic practitioner in Endicott, NY, where he performs bio-feedback, Reconnective Healing and the Reconnection. He also uses Bio-Genesis tools in his practice. Tom works with individual athletes and teams, focusing on mental training. For more information, please email Tom at tmeade@stny.rr.com.