The Power of Tapping: It’s Not Just a Danceby Kathryn Tristan
Emotional Freedom Technique is hailed as miraculous by some and equally disparaged by others. EFT, also called Tapping, is a technique that is used to unlock emotional blocks, restore harmonious balance and turn negative thought patterns into more positive reactions. It’s being used for anything from helping with post-traumatic stress disorder to getting a job. EFT has received glowing endorsements by a host of metaphysical teachers and celebrities such as Deepak Chopra, Jack Canfield, Rhonda Byrne (The Secret) and Bruce Lipton.
Often referred to as acupuncture without needles, EFT involves tapping on energy points (meridians) on one’s body while simultaneously saying or thinking specific thoughts to positively alter energy flow.
Our bodies have a profound electrical nature — our trillions of cells transmit electrical pulses of energy. Just walk across the carpet in the winter and then touch metal or another person and you’ll immediately see and feel the electrical energy of the body. This can be measured in the brain and heart using electroencephalographs (EEGs) and electrocardiograms (EKGs). According to the proposed Standard International Acupuncture Nomenclature, the meridian system consists of more than 400 acupuncture points and 20 connecting meridians.
The idea with tapping is that negative or traumatic emotions create blockages that disrupt and stall the body’s energy flow. Theoretically these blockages contribute to disease, stress and poor health. When painful events happen, memories of those events are created. When those memories are reactivated, the associated energy imbalances/disturbances also get reactivated.
To release those blocks, one would briefly recall or think about the problem while tapping on the meridians. Then, the combination of vocalizing positive affirmations and tapping the energy meridians theoretically clears and corrects the short-circuit — the emotional block — thus restoring balance. Basically, after clearing the blockage, the memory can be recalled without the painful emotional reaction.
The meridian points that are used in EFT correspond to some of the acupuncture meridians. There are approximately 13 tapping points. According to Gary Craig, founder of EFT, the points are: inside edge of the eyebrow, side of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, chin, collar bone, under the arm, under the nipple, thumb, index finger, middle finger, baby finger and the “karate chop” area of the hand.
The tapping sequence takes only a few minutes to learn. The key to mastering the technique is creating a brief statement of the problem, adding a self-acceptance affirmation, and mastering where and how to tap.
Traditional EFT suggests tapping with one hand using the fingertips of your index finger and middle finger. Other variations include using both hands and/or tapping with all fingers (since they also contain meridians).
The procedure varies somewhat according to different sources. Here’s how to do it.
Get comfortable. Remove any eyeglasses and/or your wristwatch.
Identify a problem. Select the problem you want to address and create a statement relating to it. For example, “I’m afraid to fly.” Shorten that to a brief reminder phrase such as “afraid to fly.”
Rate it. Rate the discomfort you feel from 0 to 10, 10 being the highest level of discomfort.
Create an affirmation. Often recommended is the formula, “Even though I have this problem (state the problem), I deeply and completely love and accept myself.” In this case you would be saying “Even though I’m afraid to fly, I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself.”
Say the affirmation. Start the process by rubbing on the sore spot (a tender area on the chest approximately three inches below collarbone) while saying your affirmation several times.
Tap meridians and say the reminder phrase. Tap each of the meridians seven times while saying the reminder phrase (a shortened version of the affirmation).
Evaluate. Reassess the pain/intensity level of the problem you’re addressing. If the tapping is working, on a scale of one to 10, it should be between one and three.
Repeat. If needed, repeating the process several times until the level of discomfort lessens.
Gary Craig originally established the techniques of EFT based on the teachings of his mentor, Roger Callahan. Craig and others have written many books on the subject — even an EFT for Dummies released last year. The internet offers plenty of help, including videos on YouTube. Just a quick search brings up suggestions and resources for trying it out. Craig’s web site, www.emofree.com, offers explanations, examples and free downloads. Other helpful sites are: www.mercola.com/ forms/eftcourse1.htm and www.eft-alive .com/how-to-do-EFT.html.
Does science back up the claims of EFT? The answer is sometimes yes and sometimes no. Studies performed on the efficacy of EFT have varied and ultimately provide inconclusive results. However, reports from individuals who have had amazing success also exist. But whether EFT can cure all individuals of non-life-threatening diseases or help in other areas such as test anxiety is open to speculation. Further studies are needed to establish it unequivocally.
Ultimately, it is best to thoroughly examine the subject and draw your own conclusions. If you are interested in EFT, investigate the process and then decide if it’s right for you.