What if you were able to transform any area of your life, naturally?
What if there was a way to turn your negatives into positives, your limitations into empowerment?
If there is such a thing, are you willing to try it?
Sounds compelling, right?
And this is why people have gone nuts for Theta Healing over the past few years.
The weird thing for me about this is that I have been into this for years; I mean like conducting my own Theta Healing using meditation and music.
Unbeknown to me was this whole empire-like brand of Theta Healing. It is even registered as a trademark.
I find this strange because this term is a very general term used to describe the benefits of the theta state – accessed through meditation practice – which has obviously been about for centuries.
There are seminars, courses, books and Theta healers for hire. It's huge.
I'm not saying this doesn't have any benefit, or that isn't positive. But when doing my research for this post, it seems like people are very likely to be overpaying for something that they can benefit from quite inexpensively.
So in this post I want to explore exactly what Theta Healing is: where it originates from, how it has been packaged as a brand, and most importantly how you can get started with this today simply by listening to some Theta music – which I'll recommend a bit later on.
People have been benefitting from the mental and physical healing properties of meditation for centuries.
What is the Theta State?
Let's start by understanding exactly what the Theta state is.
In a nutshell, when a person meditates and accesses a meditative state, the dominant brainwave frequencies can be categorised as theta waves. You would be in the theta state.
So let's explore how these brainwaves work for a moment.
All our emotions, behaviours and thoughts are rooted in what happens among the neurons inside our brain.
When neurons communicate (connect) with one another, they produce rhythmic electrical pulses or activities, known as brainwaves. To put it simply, brainwaves are the brain’s method of communication.
There are four main categories of brainwaves, and each produces waves according to the state (brain) we are in.
Beta waves, with a frequency of around 14-30 cycles per second (Hertz), are the dominant frequency range when the brain is aroused and engaged in a conversation or a practice that involves high-level cognition.
When in a state of relaxed focus or reflection, the dominant brainwaves are alpha waves. In this state, the brainwaves move at a frequency of 8-14 cycles per second.
Theta waves have a slower frequency and greater amplitude compared to alpha, with a frequency of 4-8 cycles per second.
Theta waves are generated when a person is in a very deeply relaxed mode and focus is turned inwards.
It is in this state that one might experience daydreaming and access the subconscious mind. In this state we can access a perfect calm; one where we can bring the mind into the present moment and focus our attention in the here and now.
Theta is therefore associated with deep meditation, and is also the state in which people are receptive to hypnosis and subliminal messaging.
Theta is also associated with creativity and unlocking creative vision. It is where free-flow ideation takes place.
Accessing the Theta state for a period of meditation has a beneficial effect on life post the meditation.
People are able to make decisions more objectively and less likely to be driven by sporadic thoughts and emotional reactions.
People generally feel calmer and more content in the present moment. They are less worried about time, less frantic, less anxious and stressed. In short, this enables a person to feel more calm, focussed, content, balanced and happy.
The Theta state is also considered a healing state. Meditation is healing by nature. It's benefits have been well studied by scientific research. Meditation and healing are synonymous. The healing takes place as a result of regular meditation practice.
During the process of meditation, accumulated stresses are removed, energy is increased, and health is positively affected overall.
Research has confirmed a myriad of health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. These include stress reduction, decreased anxiety, decreased depression, reduction in pain (both physical and psychological), improved memory, and increased efficiency.
Physiological benefits include reduced blood pressure, heart rate, lactate, cortisol, and epinephrine; decreased metabolism, breathing pattern, oxygen utilization, and carbon dioxide elimination; and increased melatonin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), skin resistance, and relative blood flow to the brain.
Meditation increases regional cerebral blood flow in the frontal and anterior cingulate regions of the brain, increases efficiency in the brain's executive attentional network, and increases electroencephalogram (EEG) coherence.
A study on the effect of meditation on the executive attentional network found that meditators were faster on all tasks. With aging, the brain cortical thickness (gray matter, which contains neurons) decreases, whereas meditation experience is associated with an increase in gray matter in the brain. (Source: NIH)
And briefly, the last frequency in the brainwave list is Delta. Delta produces very low-frequency brainwaves, between 0-4 cycles per second. It is associated with sleep, in particular the latter deep sleep stages.
What is ThetaHealing (the brand)?
The brand was developed by Vianna Stibal in 1995, Theta Healing is a technique based on the effects of theta brainwaves. Although it is not exclusive to a religion or origin, it does have a spiritual philosophy attached to it, with the purpose of getting closer to one’s Creator.
That said, meditation in general is heavily linked to the Buddhist traditions of the Far East, so this spirituality is really just the same as meditation: the idea being that you reconnect with the interconnected, interdependent world that you are inherently a part of.
Theta Healing trains your body, mind, and spirit. It helps improve a person’s overall well-being and health by blocking negative thought patterns and releasing negative experiences to develop positive thinking.
The healing can be used alongside conventional medicine.
With the help of Theta Healing, energy blocks from past experiences that may have caused physical, mental or spiritual issues are removed and energy fields rebalanced.
The goal, as implied, is total healing and improved health and wellness.
Theta healing is a transformative healing for mind, body and spirit.
What Happens During a Theta Healing Session?
Okay, so let me explain how this is supposed to work, and then give you my thoughts…
Practitioners of Theta Healing are trained on how to access a theta brainwave state for deep meditation.
A Theta Healing session usually takes place with the client and the practitioner sitting together. Sessions can also be done over the phone, apparently.
A Theta Healing session usually lasts between 30 to 90 minutes, and the number of sessions varies depending on the issue you want to heal.
Theta Healing also works around informed consent, so expect that all changes and processes can only be embarked on and completed when you permit them. Your affirmation is viewed as a conscious willingness to receive a new reality.
Prior to a session, you are not expected to do anything as a preparation. If you have doubts about the technique, you can share it with the practitioner so he can also work in that area.
Drinking an adequate amount of water is advisable before the session starts. Doing so will make sure you are well hydrated, which is a good thing for when muscle testing is done, which is said to establish the beliefs and feelings stored within your subconscious mind.
During a Theta Healing session, you are not expected to do anything but sit and relax.
Although every Theta healer has their own unique style, a session typically begins with the practitioner creating an environment safe for exploring any area of your life, even the most embarrassing, painful and traumatic ones.
Then, you will be invited into a theta state: a powerful state for deep meditation, prayers, visualisations, affirmations and healing.
Once you are in the expected state, the practitioner will identify the key beliefs causing your emotional, mental, or physical issues.
Such process is known as ‘digging’ — basically, the practitioner digs detailed information about your beliefs to uncover the major one that is the root of all your suffering.
Theta Healing believes that once the bottom belief is changed, all of its fruits will automatically be transformed, like a domino effect. Your self-limiting beliefs are reprogrammed with positive and empowering thoughts.
The digging process is done through body scanning and muscle testing, a type of kinesiology where the practitioner will determine whether or not you hold certain beliefs or if one has already changed.
Muscle testing is based on the electromagnetic field of your body and its reaction to other electromagnetic fields around you. Your body’s electromagnetic field changes based on your thoughts and emotions.
In Theta Healing, healing occurs on four levels: core (your conscious and subconscious minds), genetic (your physical makeup), historic (your past life), and soul (at a spiritual level).
My Thoughts on Theta Healing
If you have read around my blog you know that I keep an open mind. However, I know science is not the answer to everything, but I think having some basis of science with which to qualify something, even a basic level, is necessary.
And while all the above sounds wonderful, I am skeptical of how much of this is achievable, at least in the way it is presented.
For a start, accessing a deep meditative state is not an easy thing to do. It takes practice. Often many years of practice. The deeper, longer term benefits do not present themselves immediately, either. That said, reduced stress and anxiety would be very apparent very quickly.
So I am assuming that perhaps Theta Healing might not work out for the first few sessions; because the person might not be able to access the state due to being a beginner, or simply because they are stressed, nervous or anxious.
Anyone who has experienced being a beginner at meditation will know what I mean. As soon as you sit down to meditate the monkey mind goes mental!
Some people experience the complete opposite of what they are supposed to experience. Some people experience surges in adrenaline, even a headache coming on, or just really uncomfortable and irritating feeling and cannot relax.
Even though this can be a good sign, because it means you are addressing negative energy and areas of your conscious, subconscious and being in general that you have neglected and are subsequently causing you problems in life, that is generally just the beginning of a long journey.
Of course, an experienced hypnotist, for example, could probably guide you into the theta state and under hypnosis, but the idea that someone can access the state by being “invited” sounds a bit too simplistic. Or perhaps this is just a turn of phrase?
One thing I have learnt from my own Theta meditation experiences is that interruptions are not good.
There has to be flow and consistency.
I try to go somewhere quiet. I turn off my phone, switch off the TV and the radio and try to eliminate distraction as best as possible. I use closed-back headphones to ensure that I block out background noise.
If I was to stop and start by having to do prayers, affirmations, or any kind of counselling of sorts I would not consider that a Theta healing/meditation session.
Interruptions and having to refocus and concentrate on another subject matter or area of self-improvement would mean your brain shifting into a different state together, perhaps into alpha with some beta activity in their too.
Of course, while meditating you can recite a mantra, listen to a mantra or prayer, use bowls or bells, or listen to theta meditation music like I often do. But such guides and aids are designed to help you stay focused and present; to help turn the mind inwards for reflection and introspection.
The guides meditative selves and designed to provide a repetitive, almost hypnotising element that helps you to stay present, relaxed and engaged
Again, I am not saying there isn't value in doing one of these Theta Healing courses, or doing sessions with a practitioner, but I do feel like the natural benefits that arise from meditation, which healing is a big part of, are being somewhat disingenuously packaged.
If people want to access the theta state and begin to benefit, they can simply use brainwave entrainment. This is a highly efficient and proven way to entrain the brain to a theta state.
Just Meditate, Man!
Theta Healing is simply based on deep meditation.
During deep meditation, theta waves are most abundant, especially in the frontal parts of the brain, which are associated with the monitoring of other mental functions.
This study showed that theta waves occur more frequently in experienced meditation practitioners.
During meditation, theta waves were most abundant in the frontal and middle parts of the brain.
These types of waves likely originate from a relaxed attention that monitors our inner experiences.
SIDE NOTE: It isn't just theta waves that are present during meditation. Actually, in any state we usually have a dominant type of brainwave, but different parts of the brain may be characterised by different brainwaves. During meditation alpha waves are also present but in a different part of the brain:
“This wave type (alpha) has been used as a universal sign of relaxation during meditation and other types of rest,” comments Professor Øyvind Ellingsen from NTNU. The amount of alpha waves increases when the brain relaxes from intentional, goal-oriented tasks.This is a sign of deep relaxation, — but it does not mean that the mind is void.”
Anyway, if you want to benefit from the healing properties of Theta waves, just start meditating.
You can use theta binaural beats music to help you access a meditative state.
For probably one third of the price of a Theta Healing session, toluene you can get started right now.
Check out the following:
Meditation is said to be the gateway to creativity, imagination, intuition, and strong emotional and spiritual connections.
It has many benefits including increased creativity and intuition, a sense of calmness and relaxation, an ability to access the subconscious mind and transform it, improved energy and enhanced concentration.
Theta Healing is said to identify negative beliefs and reprogram them by identifying the root cause. This in turn will free you from the self limitations of those beliefs and create a more positive mindset with new beliefs and ultimately become a happier person.
In my experience you can go a step further the meditation to help achieve this type of subconscious reprogram.
You can use subliminal audio messaging as part of a meditation audio program, something I wrote about here.
It can also be achieved through hypnosis. If you want to try that check out my 3 top hypnosis store recommendations here.
There is also music that combines theta frequencies with subliminal messaging to reprogram specific negative belief patterns.
See audio programs like these:
Benefits of Theta Healing
I'm certainly all for Theta Healing, though my experience and how this is achieved differs somewhat from the broad marketing message sold under the brand of the same name.
I'm not saying don't try it, but I would also definitely recommend listening to theta wave music, and to hypnosis and subliminal audio messaging that combines theta wave music.
Here is a brief summary of some of the benefits that can be achieved through theta meditation:
Mental Health:
Resolves underlying beliefs and thoughts that cause health concerns and limit your potential. Helps resolve anxiety and depression, improving your overall mental health.
Emotional Balance:
Helps clear negative emotions and thoughts that hinder you on a daily basis. Helps you identify and resolve emotional problems or difficulties.
Spiritual Growth:
Helps you reconnect with Mother Nature (God) and feel more in tune with the natural world.
Health and Wellbeing:
Increases vitality and energy and promotes healing in the body (if combined with good diet).
Relationship Improvements:
Our relationship with other people is easily affected by the relationship we have with ourselves. Meditation helps you find harmony within, which in return will enable you to find harmony with others.
Those suffering the following will benefit from Theta meditation/healing:
- Addiction
- Anger issues
- Drug abuse
- Anxiety and fear
- Grief and guilt
- Jealousy
- Loneliness
- Obsessions
- Phobias
- Stress
- Trauma
Meditation re-connects you with you with Mother Nature and gives you a sense of contentedness within the world.
How to Get Started with Theta Healing, Today
As I have said, you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on a seminar, online course or even take numerous sessions with a therapist to get started with Theta Healing. This whole concept emerges from an ancient spiritual practice, which we all know as meditation, and for which there is an abundance of scientific evidence.
Meditation enables you to enter the Theta state of deep relaxation, one where you can bring the mind into the present moment and feel completely at one with the earth and identify with your “being”.
Meditation promotes healing from the inside out. When one begins to heal the mind, a healing of the body follows. Meditation is a holistic healing experience.
However, healing of the mind such as being able to let go of past emotional trauma is not something that can be achieved in just one session, or even five sessions. Meditation is something that you should do regularly.
I strongly recommend listening to meditation music that contains theta frequencies designed to entrain the brain into the theta state.
If you don't like the idea of traditionally seated meditation then you have the option of listening to this music and lying down, sitting down on a chair, sitting down outside in the park or in your garden, or even walking around and doing a walking meditation.
It is flexible, relaxing, enjoyable and within most people's budgets.
Derek McDoogle says
I found it interesting when you said that all our emotions, behaviors and thoughts are rooted in what happens among the neurons inside our brain. it would be nice to explore new ways to relax and release stress. Thanks for the advice about how the theta state can help you make decisions more objectively.