Book SummaryHands of Light, by Barbara Ann Brennan

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Hands of Light

In Hands of Light, Barbara Ann Brennan explores the human energy field (HEF) and its role in health and healing. She explains that the HEF is a dynamic, measurable energy field that envelops the body and passes through it. It's a glowing form that radiates light and is commonly known as the "aura." Brennan argues that the HEF is intimately associated with health, since our thinking influences our energy fields, which then influence our bodies. She also explains that healing involves engaging with the various layers of the...

Hands of Light Summary Foundations of Human Energy Fields

We will first look at the core components of the energy field around the human body and then examine energy flow and balance.

Core Components of the Body's Energy System

Brennan defines the HEF as a dynamic, measurable energy field that envelops the body and passes through it. It's a glowing form that radiates light and is commonly known as the "aura." The aura, or Human Energy Field (HEF), is the aspect of the Universal Energy Field (UEF) linked to the human body, while the aura is the aspect of the UEF connected to objects. The HEF is how we create our reality. It acts as a link to our soul, our internal life, and our divine essence.

(Shortform note: There is currently no reproducible experimental evidence that a measurable Human Energy Field exists around the body in the way described here. While some researchers have attempted to measure the HEF using devices like Kirlian photography, these methods have been widely criticized for lacking scientific rigor and failing to produce consistent results. The scientific community generally considers the concept of a measurable HEF to be unproven and...

Hands of Light Summary Healing Modalities & Techniques

Brennan explains that healing techniques involve working with the body's energy system and require specialized training. The healer must be able to perceive and manipulate the various levels of the HEF. This includes clearing emotional blockages, repairing the etheric layer, and releasing physical blocks in the body. The healer must also be able to raise their own energy frequency to transmit healing energy to the client. This process demands substantial focus and energy.

Besides energy healing techniques, Brennan says healers should have training in counseling, anatomy, physiology, pathology, massage, and nutrition, as well as methods like acupuncture and homeopathy. This knowledge helps them understand how different healing modalities work together and communicate that to other healthcare professionals.

The Training Required to Become a Healer

Brennan’s description of the training required to become a healer can be understood as a process of cultivating attention and body awareness. According to Lutz et al., systematic contemplative training can be understood as the cultivation of attention...

Hands of Light Summary Underlying Principles & Philosophy

Brennan believes that death is a transition to a more elevated level of awareness. During this process, the energy field's lower components disconnect from the upper ones, and the energy is flushed through the body, cleansing all blocks. The aura turns a golden-white as the person sees their entire life pass by them. The walls of forgetting dissolve, and the person remembers who they truly are, becoming integrated with their greater self. While the material body dies, the essence of self remains.

(Shortform note: Brennan’s description of the energy field’s lower and upper components separating at death is part of a broader intellectual tradition that has developed over the past century and a half. In The Subtle Body, Cyndi Dale explains that modern Western understandings of the human energy anatomy are not the direct continuation of a single ancient doctrine. Instead, they are largely a synthesis of Theosophical, yogic, and other esoteric teachings.)

Healing involves remembering your true self, according to Brennan. It’s a process of rebalancing the body's energies. When all bodily energies are balanced, wellness happens. The spirit...

Shortform Exploring the Concept of the Human Energy Field (HEF)

Consider the idea of the Human Energy Field (HEF) as described by Brennan. Reflect on its characteristics and its impact on well-being according to the summary.

What do you think about the concept of a Human Energy Field influencing health and reality? How does this idea resonate with you personally?