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The Modern Order of Essenes: Foot Reflexology
This week's helping from the banquet of the Modern Order of Essenes is a simple but effective method of self-healing using foot massage. This was part of the Apprentice curriculum; the equivalent practice of hand reflexology is covered in the Healer grade. Give it a try and see what results you get. Essene Foot Reflexology
Foot reflexology as an art and science has been around for centuries. Healers in ancient Egypt, India, China, and Japan practiced reflexology on hands and feet, and the latter three countries all still have a rich tradition of specialized point massage of hands and feet for healing purposes. The modern Western art of reflexology, however, originated in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, when Dr. William Fitzgerald discovered a set of ten zones running lengthwise along the outside of the human body, ending in the ten toes; branches of these zones also pass down the arms to end in the ten fingers.
Fitzgerald found that massage and pressure in these zones, especially on the hands and feet, had significant effects on tension and ill health focused in the same zones elsewhere on the body. With another physician, Dr. Edwin Bowers, he published a book in 1913 titled Zone Therapy discussing his discoveries, and many other medical practitioners adopted the method. It was one of these, physiotherapist Eunice D. Ingham, who developed the zone therapy of Fitzgerald into reflexology as it is now practiced.
Reflexology today is a well developed alternative healing modality with its own periodicals, institutes, and certification organizations, as well as a substantial literature for professionals and ordinary people and a growing body of peer-reviewed studies upholding its central claims. The methods of reflexology taught by the Modern Order of Essenes, dating as they do from the 1940s, are much simpler than the modern version of the art, and they are designed to be used by individuals practicing on themselves, rather than by professionals practicing on clients.
Learning the Order’s material will not qualify you as a professional reflexologist. If you find that you want to practice reflexology professionally, there are plenty of schools that can give you the necessary training and experience, and we recommend that you consider applying to one of them so that you can get the education you will need. If you simply find that you want to know more about reflexology than these lectures teach, we recommend that you read several of the dozens of books currently in print and take classes if those are available in your area. We also recommend that you consider getting a reflexology treatment from a qualified reflexologist, for your own education as well as for the benefits it provides.
The point of the Essene system of foot reflexology is simply to help you release tension and stress from your body so that you will be better able to practice spiritual healing. You can also teach these methods to other people so they can release tension and stress from their bodies. By clearing away tension and stress, you and those you teach become better able to align yourselves with the spiritual realm, and thus better able to practice and receive spiritual healing.
The Zones
Fitzgerald’s original zone therapy, as noted above, worked with zones that extend vertically along the outside of the body. Each foot is divided into five lengthwise zones, which run from each toe down to the corresponding part of the heel, and each of these zones relates to part of the body, as follows:
The Ten Vertical Zones
Zone of the foot Zone of the body
left little toe to outside heel zone left side of body from head to toe
left 4th toe to heel zone area between left and middle left side
left middle toe to middle of heel zone middle portion of the left side including left eye
left 2nd toe to heel zone area between left of center and middle of left side
left big toe to inside heel zone just to the left of the middle of the body
right big toe to inside heel zone just to the right of the middle of the body
right 2nd toe to heel zone area between right of center and middle of right side
right middle toe to middle of heel zone middle portion of right side including right eye
right 4th toe to heel zone area between the right and middle of the right side
right little toe to outside heel zone right side of body from head to toe
The left side of the left foot, including the outside edge of the foot, corresponds to the outside of left side of the head, shoulders and arms, body, hip and the left leg. The right side of the right foot, including the outside edge of the foot, corresponds to the outside of the right side of the head, shoulders and arms, body, hip and right leg.
The middle of the left foot including the middle toe corresponds to the middle of the left side of the head, the left eye, the left side of the neck, the middle of the left side of the body and the middle of the left leg. The middle of the right foot including the middle toe corresponds to the middle of the right side of the head, the right eye, the right side of the neck, the middle of the right side of the body and the middle of the right leg.
The right side of the left foot, including the inside edge of the foot, corresponds to the left side of the spinal column and skull and the inside of the left leg. The left side of the right foot, including the inside edge of the foot, corresponds to the right side of the spinal column and skull and the inside of the right leg.
There are also four horizontal zones, which were discovered by Dr. Shelby Riley and brought into standard use by Eunice Ingham. These are much simpler to learn and use. Combined with the ten horizontal zones, however, they produce a matrix that allows specific problems anywhere on the body to be identified through their reflex points on hands and feet.
The Four Horizontal Zones
Part of Foot Part of Body
Toes Head
Ball of Foot Chest & Upper Back
Arch Abdomen and Lower Back
Heel Hips, Legs and Feet
Unless you are a licensed medical care provider, using this information to diagnose illness, injury or disease is fraught with the danger of being convicted of practicing medicine without a license. Using this information to confirm a diagnosis is almost as risky. The purpose of this technique is to help yourself heal yourself spiritually, or to help other people heal themselves spiritually. Always keep this in mind.
The diagrams shown here are from the original papers, and are much less detailed than they might be; they can be supplemented with other reflexology diagrams showing the feet. Keep these general rules in mind as you study:
1. The tip of the toes are referenced to the top of the head.
2. The root of the toes are referenced to the neck.
3. The base of the toes are referenced to the shoulders.
4. The ball of the foot is referenced to the chest area.
5. The arch of the foot is referenced to the abdominal area.
6. The heel is referenced to the groin and legs.
7. The sides of the foot are referenced to the sides of the body.
Daily Foot Reflexology Treatment
The basic technique that Essene healers practice daily, and teach their clients to help them release tension and stress and receive spiritual healing from the Divine, is as follows.
1. Take off your shoes (taking off your socks is optional).
2. Lift one of your feet to a position where you can work on it easily.
3. Rub the upper surface of the foot using light pressure.
4. Massage the toes and ball of the foot by squeezing them lightly.
5. Rub the ball, arch and heel of the foot.
6. Perform a lymphatic pump with your toes.
7. Perform a lymphatic pump with your feet.
8. Go through the four zones on the foot starting with the toes, using pressure to release painful points as explained below.
9. Do the same thing with the other foot.
THE LYMPHATIC PUMP - The Toes
Grab your toes with your opposite hand. Use a pumping motion to move your toes toward you and away from you in a smooth and easy motion. Another way of saying this is you’re going to push your toes down and below and then raise them up and above the normal straight line your toes form with your foot.
This action moves the lymph out of the forward part of your foot. By reflex action, it also moves lymph from your shoulder and upper chest area. Wherever lymph pools, toxins build up causing tension and stress. The lymphatic pump motion applied to your toes loosens the lymph and starts it moving throughout your body. The lymph carries the toxins to your spleen, liver and kidney where the toxins will be processed and excreted.
THE LYMPHATIC PUMP - The Feet
While still holding your toes as before, now move your whole foot up and down, bending the entire foot with as much flexibility as possible in a pumping motion. Do this without causing yourself any pain or discomfort. This action loosens and moves the lymph throughout your feet and, by reflex action, through your entire body. This releases toxins throughout your body and moves them through your lymphatic system where they will eventually reach one of your excretory organs.
ZONE ONE - The Toes
The Toes are referenced to the head and neck, with the big toe referenced to the middle of the head in the same side of the body. As you work your way through the toes, stop and apply pressure anyplace where there is any tenderness, tension or pain. Hold this pressure until the tenderness, tension or pain goes away. Press a little harder and hold that pressure until the tenderness, tension or pain goes away again. Repeat this process one more time and then continue with the session.
ZONE TWO - The Ball of the Foot
The place where the toes connect to the ball of the foot references to the shoulders. The outside of the little toe references to the lower outside shoulder on the same side of the body. The outside of the big toe references to the lower neck at the place where the neck joins the trunk.
The ball of the foot proper references to the chest, ribs, upper back and everything in between, including the heart and lungs. As you work your way through the ball of each foot, stop and apply pressure any place where there is tension or pain. Hold this pressure until the tension or pain goes away. Press a little harder and hold that pressure until the tension or pain goes away. Repeat this process one more time and then continue with the session.
ZONE THREE - The Arch of the Foot
The arch of the foot, between the ball and heel of each foot references to the abdomen, lower back and everything between them including the stomach, liver, gall bladder, kidneys and intestines. As you work your way through the arch of each foot, stop and apply pressure anyplace where there is tension or pain. Hold this pressure until the tension or pain goes away. Press a little harder and hold that pressure until the tension or pain goes away. Repeat this process one more time and then continue with the session.
ZONE FOUR - The Heel of the Foot
The place where the arch and heel meet references to the hips and the bulk of the heel references to the legs. The back of the heels, above the usual heel calluses, references to the feet and toes. This is a small area on the heel and it’s usually very tender for people with foot problems.
As you work your way through the heel of each foot, stop and apply pressure anyplace where there is tension or pain. Hold this pressure until the tension or pain goes away. Press a little harder and hold that pressure until the tension or pain go away. Repeat this process one more time and then continue with the session.
If you do this daily, you’ll find that it takes just a few minutes to go through the whole sequence. If you do it less often, it will take more time.
Using Essene Foot Reflexology for Others
If you’re helping another person using Essene foot reflexology, the basic process is the same but a few of the details differ.
Start your foot reflexology session by massaging both feet and all ten toes. Give both feet and ankles and all ten toes a gentle stretch. Rub both feet briskly to encourage blood flow and help relax the feet. Squeeze both feet gently and roll them between your hands.
Start with the big toe of one foot. Lightly squeeze the tip of this toe between the side of your first finger and thumb. Work your way up this toe to the ball of the foot. Repeat this process with the other four toes on this foot. Where you feel tension or discomfort, use the three-phase application of pressure as taught in the description of Essene foot reflexology.
When you’ve completed the work with the toes, pay special attention to the joints between the toes and the ball of the foot. This area corresponds to the shoulders where angry feelings are often stored as tension. This tension restricts the blood flow and this lack of blood causes pain. Where you feel tension or discomfort use the three-phase application of pressure.
Work your way through the ball of the foot, arch and heel in a similar manner and then repeat this process with the other foot. Pay attention to areas of tension or discomfort not to ascertain the cause but to release this tension and pain.
Essene foot reflexology works on animals as well as humans. The toes always refer to the head. The area between the toes and pad refer to the shoulders and front legs. The pad refers to the chest (near the toes) and abdomen (near the heel of the foot) and to the upper and lower back. The heel refers to the hind legs and feet. With these differences in mind, you can use Essene foot reflexology on pets. Press gently—they’ll let you know in no uncertain terms if you’re pressing too hard!The following diagrams came with the papers I received from John. They are somewhat crude; more detailed diagrams of foot reflexology zones can be found readily on the internet and in books on the subject. I've included these simply because they are part of the tradition.
So there you have it. Give it a try and see what results you get.
Re: Healing Hands Request
Re: Healing Hands Request
Re: Healing Hands Request
(Anonymous) 2023-01-01 03:13 am (UTC)(link)Do I recall correctly that about a year or so ago, a person outside the family touched your daughter and she reacted badly to this touch?
Might her current state of affairs be an after-effect of that incident?
Hope this is helpful,
- Cicada Grove
Re: Healing Hands Request
This post is getting a little old but thought of commenting here in case it might be helpful. Back home, we believe such things do happen, which is the reason why in trad towns babies and children below 8 (and beyond, I still wear one) are put a red string of yarn on the left wrist (and additionally left heal) by the grandmother, mother, or father with three knots, and prayed over as it's been tied up with a protective statement in order to avoid Evil Eye, jealousy, strong foreign energies etc which is common for children to absorb when outside.
It might be helpful after the Healing Hands is received if her nervous system is more sensitive than other's, generally speaking.
Re: Healing Hands Request
As I said there, it's difficult to say whether that touch was the cause. Her condition is genetic, but that incident certainly precipitated the first notable expression of it. It seems likely but not certain that something else would have set her off at some point instead.
Anyway, it happened, and whether or not that was a real cause is only relevant at this point if it helps to suggest a solution or method of amelioration.