The Basic Sedona Method ~ Letting go of Emotions at Will By Anita Briggs, DCEd, MSc, DAc. Emotions are an arousal of energy (energy in motion) intended to motivate and support the will to action in this regard, they provide us with experiential feedback and power to move on the results of our perceptions. They are intended to pass through, alerting and arousing us. When this natural process is arrested, then the emotions get stuck and stuffed in our bodies. We are not our emotions, though we often end up identifying with them. (I am angry, rather than I feel angry). When we do this over a lifetime, we can become so enmeshed in the emotion (e.g. chronic states of anxiety or depression) that we think it s who we are. We then lose all ability to let go. We often believe that we need to hold on to a feeling or emotional state as proof of being wronged, as self-punishment, or to make sure we don t make the same mistake in future. How will I improve if I don t berate myself and feel ashamed? This only strengthens the illusion that we are flawed and shameful, and makes us more prone to attracting situations that prove our shame and flawed nature. Sometimes we gravitate to a feeling as a cover up for something else (e.g. angry when feeling inept or sad when feeling angry). This creates negative emotional habits. Most people don't know how to use emotions, as they don t understand its language fundamentally, it is the language of the soul. When we learn to use it as the soul does flowing and shifting--we come to experience all emotions with equanimity. Emotions are messages, providing us the experience of our perceptions in this regard they give us valuable feedback on where we are holding distortions about who we are. When we stop resisting them we can 'get the message', the necessary internal shift can be made and the emotion dissipates or moves on, leaving way for a deeper emotion. And the process repeats until we hit our essential nature, which is inner peace. "If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand. If you want to get rid of something, You must first allow it to flourish. Tao Te Ching, Translated by Stephen Mitchell To truly resolve issues, come to a freedom to act effectively in our reality and to know the true self as loving and powerful requires that we develop this skill of letting the emotions speak and move, in other words, of feeling then letting go of emotions at will. A good analogy borrowed from the Sedona Method, Your Key to Lasting Happiness, Success, Peace and Emotional Well-being 1, is that of holding a pencil. Imagine gripping a pencil for so long that you re no longer aware of doing so. You will limit your movement (possibly only using one hand) and work around gripping the pencil until you become aware that you are holding the pencil. When you are aware of it, you can
begin to move the pencil in your hand, open your hand and let go dropping the pencil. The pencil is not attached to you you were holding onto to it; it cannot hold on to you. It is similar with emotions. When you recognize an unwanted emotion, you can isolate it and let it go at will. This makes room for other (deeper or more real) emotions to surface, and you can simply let go of those as well. The important thing is to let emotions flow their nature is movement as they are an aroused energy. When you keep the surface emotion stuck, all the deeper emotions (or messages) are kept repressed and you never allow the internal shifts necessary to feel good. If you resist letting go, then process that resistance. Letting go at will gets the emotions back into their natural flow. And when you stay present with the movement, you are able to shift and understand deeper parts of yourself. The deeper you go and let go, the more deeply you will experience peace. From a state of inner peace, you are then free to act. When we have made a habit of holding on to negative emotions, our thoughts and perceptions are colored by them and we can never quite get away from them. The emotions simply grow in their negative charge and fuel our reactions in life. On the other hand, with a clean emotional body, our actions are free and the emotional charge we bring to them can be a positive choice. With freedom to act, we choose what expresses our nature and life becomes joyful. This is a very simple exercise that requires mindfulness. It is the basis of the Sedona Method of attaining freedom. It is a two-step process, with step two consisting of asking three questions. Sit quietly and answer honestly. Your honest answer will be very revealing to you. The Basic Sedona Method NOTE: For greatly accelerated results, run the Affirmation Enhancer Tool throughout the exercise. The Tool will activate on all release and positive intention statements. Step 1: Connect to the uncomfortable feeling/emotional state that you do not want to experience (either current or something from your past). Allow yourself to welcome the feeling. Ask yourself: Could I let myself really feel this? Experience it and identify it if you can. Don t worry if you can t put a good descriptive word to it just a felt-sense 1 of it is fine too. The more clearly you can isolate the feeling, the easier it is to let go of. Step 2: Next, ask yourself the following three question, taking time on each to feel within: 1. Can I let this go? 2. Will I let this go? 1 This term comes for Eugene Gendlin s work on Focusing. A felt-sense is a combination of sensations and sensing on many different levels of being, and experienced as a whole.
3. When? If the answer is no to the first two questions, or later to the last one, listen to your inner voice to find the reasons why you cannot or will not let go, or will not let go right now. This in itself is very revealing. Ask yourself if holding onto that resistance has made you happy in the past. Chances are it has never led to happiness and so, see if you are willing to let that resistance go. If you re not willing to let go of the resistance, change the focus from the unwanted feeling to your resistance to letting go. And repeat the two-step exercise on not wanting to let this go. Do this repeatedly on what gets in the way until you can let go of the original feelings. Be methodical and you will end up letting go. If you answer yes and NOW to the above three questions, sit quietly and allow yourself to sense the shift within you. Take a deep cleansing breath. Then tune in to whatever feeling/emotional state surfaces next. Repeat the process on that new emotional state. Handling Being Stuck Additional Processing Step If at any time you feel stuck, ask yourself if the situation expresses a need or want for security, approval, control, or separation. When you identify what it involves (and it may several), focus on the need or want for [one of the four]. Then do the Sedona Method on that, and go back to the original situation again. Note that you re not being asked to let go of control, approval, security, or separation, but merely to let go of your feeling of lacking them, or wanting. If you re not sure what the underlying want is, then ask, Could I allow myself to want [security, approval, control, or separation]. Go through each and feel if it s there. If you find a want, then release on it. Another way to move through resistance or being stuck is to ask yourself if you want to change the situation or emotional state. Generally the answer is yes. Then let yourself feel wanting to change the situation, and do the basic Sedona Method release steps on that. Note that letting go of wanting to change a situation does not imply you want to keep the situation as is you are merely letting go of a feeling of lack. When you let go of these underlying wants, you free yourself to accept the situation as is and are far more able to come to peace and resolution with it. These and other additional steps are suggested in the Sedona Method book 1, which is an excellent resource to learn about using the Sedona Method for all manner of dysfunction and to increase your competence with it. If you re having difficulty isolating the wants, then (with the AET running) make general affirmations such as I am detached from the situation completely, I have no hidden
agendas with this situation, I am no longer seeking security, approval, control or separation with this situation, I release all my motives, conscious and unconscious, keeping me in this situation. Clearing the Meridians If you are having difficulties releasing still or feel in a muddle, do one or several of the following steps, and then go back to the original exercise. The AET will activate on all statements made, so make liberal use of reprogramming statements. 1- Tap vigorously on the psychological reversal point (karate chop on the pinky side of either hand), and state the following three times: Even though [I am choosing to be miserable, or I would rather be right than happy, or I refuse to let go of [emotional state], I love and accept myself completely and deeply. (Be as specific as possible in stating [emotional state].) Even though I needed [to see things [this way], or to hold onto [this feeling], I now choose to see this situation differently. (Be as specific as possible, and you may also replace see this situation differently with something more specific.) 3 times 2- Rub the Tender Spot, which is on the left side of the upper body, below the collarbone and between the 2 nd and 3 rd rib and state I m okay even though I can t or won t let go of this [state emotion], Everyone else is okay even though I can t or won t let go of this [state emotion]. Follow with I m okay no matter what happens. Everyone else is okay no matter what happens. Repeat the last statement. 3- Rub a fist over the heart chakra and say: Even though I feel [state emotions], I love and accept myself completely and deeply 3 times 4- Tap over and around the ears (Triple Warmer (fight/flight) meridian and the Gall Bladder Meridian (major role in mental activity) and say It is safe to let go of this [emotions], I can easily let of this [emotion], I no longer need to hold onto my [emotion] (tapping the full length around the ears about 5 times emphasis on need ) * * * * * Keep doing the Sedona Method of release until you reach a state of inner peace. Let the peace of mind you are now feeling enter into every cell of your body. Welcome a feeling of joy and gratitude for having shifted your emotional state. If you feel this clearly, then
tap on the your third eye, firmly but gently, for about 20 seconds while breathing deeply through your nose and exhaling out the mouth. Tapping at your third eye will direct this energy to leave an imprint on your entire nervous system, thereby making it easier for your body to support this vibration as a new habit. 2 It is recommended that you practice this release method often so that you reach proficiency with it and are able to use it on the spot. It is possible to get to the point that just thinking can I let this go? triggers the release. I consider this method not so much as a release technique, as a new life skill resulting in a much more resourceful way of approaching external events of life. For practitioners of energy psychology and psychotherapy/psychology, mastering the Sedona Method will help you in facilitating inner processing of issues for clients. No matter what modalities you use, the method will help you gain skill in pinpointing underlying beliefs that are keeping your clients stuck in dysfunction. The more tools you have, the more flexible and effective you can be. Combining inner processing with the Affirmation Enhancer Tool, you will find that clients become quite insightful about their situations. I used to always be at least a few steps ahead of my clients while facilitating inner processing. But since using the AET and other Inner Mastery Tools, I ve noticed that clients will often come up with brilliant insights and resolutions on their own, before I ve had a have a chance to get there. 1 The Sedona Method, By Hale Dwoskin (Sedona Press), or see www.sedona.com 2 Donna Eden, Energy Medicine Tarcher-Putnam 1998. ISBN 1-58542-021-2. p. 331