ONE of the most popular exercises in Energy Medicine as taught by Donna Eden has many more benefits than meets the eye. “Connecting Heaven and Earth” is an exercise that is simple to learn and simple to practice that promotes stretching and movement of energy through the joints. Donna believes it can help prevent arthritis.
Let’s take a deeper look into this whole-body practice.
If you have done the exercise already, then you’ll know that it is crucial to point the palm of one hand to the sky above (Heaven) and simultaneously point the palm of the other hand down to the Earth below.
As we do Connecting Heaven and Earth we mostly focus on the benefits of stretching but did you know that there is a very wise reason for the palms to be exposed to the forces above and below? These are the forces of Heaven and Earth. Don’t let yourself get distracted by the term ‘Heaven’ as it is simply a poetic name used to describe the cosmos or universe above and around us. Just imagine our beautiful planet floating, spinning, and rotating through space. Heaven is above our heads but also under our feet. We are immersed in energies of the universe day and night. It is a mighty force which holds us in space and is charging our batteries! Human beings receive a positive charge from the cosmos. We call this charge Yang. The negative charge enters the body from Earth through the soles of the feet. We call that negative charge Yin.
When we practice Connecting Heaven and Earth we are telling our body to open and receive Yin and Yang forces. The palm stretching up soaks in Yang (positive charge) energies from the cosmos and the palm facing down soaks in Yin (negative charge) energies form the Earth. As we stretch we are making space for stagnant energies to move out and release. We also exercise all of the meridians and replenish them with a positive and negative charges that will get circulated through the body to balance deficiencies and excess. The Liver and Spleen meridians benefit greatly from this exercise, yet Heart and Lung meridians get a good workout too. When we bend forward to hang like a rag doll our spine gets a nice stretch but also our Bladder meridian releases accumulated tension.
Connecting Heaven and Earth affects most of the meridians therefore the Yin and Yang forces can enter at various acupuncture points distributed through the entire body and are easily found on the surface of the skin along meridian lines.
Some sources of external influence are beneficial to our well-being and some can be destructive. Noise for instance, can be harmful but peaceful music or sound can be very replenishing. In big cities people are more conditioned to ignore intrusive sounds of fire engines, airplanes, the subway, trams, motorbikes and many other noises that penetrate through the invisible walls of the city night and day.
If you can get out into nature when doing Connecting Heaven and Earth, you should, as it will bring the most benefits. If you are in bare feet, even better! As you stretch and recharge your whole being is influenced by frequencies of mountains, water, trees, clouds, wind, smells, sun, moon and all kinds of subtle energies science cannot yet measure. When you do it barefoot the soles of your feet release used energies and absorb new energy through a vortex called “The Bubbling Spring.”
When one walks through a forest or sits at the edge of a pond, different sounds penetrate the body and bathe the organs , thoughts, nerves and other tissues with their frequencies. The whole body is immersed in nature-based vibrations. That is very rejuvenating to our mind, spirit and physical body. As human beings we need to replenish our energies with the forces of nature. Nature is a positive anchor. All the beauty, colors and textures speak to us in rhythms that the body understands.
Connecting Heaven and Earth is an exercise that truly opens you to absorb subtle external forces and replenish your body.
