During those times, I know I feel bad and that my vibration is contracting away from Source, but sometimes that very fact makes it seem almost impossible to see where I am.

A few months ago, I discovered a combination of tools that work quite well for me, particularly when I’m feeling all muddy about how I’m feeling (so to speak).

I use three tools for this process

1. Muscle testing (with my fingers)
2. The Hawkins Map of Consciousness (the Hawkins scale)
3. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

First, using a script of sorts, I will show you what I do. Then, after a disclaimer or two, I’ll explain each step in more detail. Finally, there is a list of resources at the bottom of this post that you might find helpful.

An example

• I’m connected to my Higher Self.
  I’m connected to my unconscious mind.
  My Higher Self is connected to my unconscious mind.
• Clear to test.
  Clear to test.
  Clear to test.
• On the Hawkins scale of zero to 1000, where 1000 is enlightenment and 600 is peace, I am currently vibrating at 150.
• Even though I am at 150 on the Hawkins scale, I deeply and completely love, accept, and forgive myself.
• Even though I’m only at 150…
  It’s ok that I’m moving up slowly…
  I’m ready to move up the scale a bit more…
  Even though I’m only at 150, it would be nice to be at 200…

Don’t worry if you don’t immediately understand what each step above is doing. Keep reading for an explanation of each one.

But first…

A few disclaimers

Not everyone will like this approach and that’s perfectly fine. I’ve actually held off writing about this for a couple of reasons.

First, this may seem like a way of “managing” your vibration, which may not appeal to some.

Second, I can’t find a really good explanation of muscle testing. If you know of one, please leave any pertinent links in the comments… please!

It only took 45 minutes for someone to send me a link to a very comprehensive overview of muscle testing: http://www.goodhealthinfo.net/herbalists/muscle_testing.htm (Thanks to Meredith! @expectwonderful on Twitter).

So Still, this explanation assumes you know how to muscle test yourself. Oh, and it also assumes you know how to use EFT.

If I find a good explanation of muscle testing, I’ll update this post with that information.

In the meantime, let’s forge ahead with an explanation of the process.

Muscle testing

As mentioned above, I’m assuming you know how to muscle test yourself. But I’ve written up a brief explanation of how it works (for me, at least).

How muscle testing works for me

In muscle testing, I find it only works if I make a statement and then test for positive or negative (strong or weak).

I test by holding the thumb and forefinger of my non-dominant hand (left, in my case) in a circle.

While attempting to hold these two fingers together, I try to pull them apart with the forefinger of my dominant hand.

If my non-dominant hand fingers stay together, then the answer is positive. If they split, the answer is negative.

Preparing to test

Next, I’ll describe how I prepare to test. Everyone who uses muscle testing has their way of doing it. My description is just for illustration.

In the processes below, each sentence in italics is a test I use for the issue mentioned.

In preparing to test, I want to make sure I am focused on the process and that I connect with my Higher Self and unconscious mind. This may seem redundant or unnecessary, but it works best this way for me.

I also test that I am clear to test. I learned to do this from a person who is very skilled at muscle testing.

• Make sure I’m connected.
  I’m connected to my Higher Self.
  I’m connected to my unconscious mind.
  My Higher Self is connected to my unconscious mind.
• Make sure I’m clear to test.
  Clear to test.
  Clear to test.
  Clear to test.

Next, it’s time to check where I am on the Hawkins scale. In other words, where is my vibration at?

The Hawkins Scale

David Hawkins, author of Power v. Force, has described a Map of Consciousness that I like to call the Hawkins scale. It follows the same basic concept as the Abraham EGS: as consciousness (vibration) expands, it is more in alignment with Source energy. If you go up the scale, you are aligning your vibration with Source.

Using muscle testing on himself, Hawkins has given values to specific levels of consciousness and those are listed below. Note that the Hawkins scale doesn’t exactly correspond to the Abraham EGS.

The Scale

Testing yourself to a scale of numbers

So, there’s a bit of a trick to testing scales of numbers. The basic method is to start at the bottom (or where you think you are) and then keep moving up as long as you test positive. Once you test negative, you’ve gone over.

For example, to check myself on this scale, I test myself starting at 100.

If that number is positive, I try 125.

If that number is negative, I stop as this means I’m at 100 or between 100 and 125.

But, if 125 is positive, then I test 150. And I keep going until I test negative on a number.

However, if I start at 100 and I test negative, that means I need to go down the scale.

So, the next thing I would test is 75. If that tests positive, I stop. If it tests negative, I would go down to 50 and test that. And so on.

I don’t always try to get the specific number. I usually just want to know where I am on this chart (100, 125, 150, etc.). But you can test to as fine a number as you want (like 107, 145, 309, etc.).

When testing, I always introduce the concept to my Higher Self and unconscious mind by announcing out loud what I am doing:

On the Hawkins scale of zero to 1000, where 1000 is enlightenment and 600 is peace, I am currently vibrating at…

After the first test, I cut the test language down a bit:

On the Hawkins scale of zero to 1000, I am currently vibrating at…

Once I know where I am on the scale, I start using EFT to move up.

Using other scales

By the way, you could also use the Abraham EGS in a similar way.

You could also use your own scale. For instance you could test yourself from 1 to 10, where 1 is a heavily contracted vibration and 10 is a highly expansive vibration.

Go with what feels right to you. I’ve used the EGS and my own scale. There’s just something about the Hawkins scale that appeals to me.

EFT

So, here is where the shift happens. I know where I’m at on the scale. And I know I want to move up. So, I use EFT to accomplish that.

The setup statement

Use the following setup statement in whatever form works for you (the part in bold is key, the rest can be adapted to your own way of doing setup statements):

Even though I am at 100 on the Hawkins scale, I deeply and completely love, accept, and forgive myself.

The sequence

Go through the sequence. I like to say things like this as I’m tapping:

• Even though I’m only at 150
• It’s ok that I’m moving up slowly.
• I’m ready to move up the scale a bit more.
• Even though I’m only at 150, it would be nice to be at 200.

As with all things, being easy with it is the best approach.

After you complete one sequence, test yourself again on the Hawkins scale as described above.

Moving up the scale (usually)

You most likely will have moved up a bit, at least. Sometimes, I actually move down as “stuff” comes up and clears. Regardless, keep going until you feel good and expansive.

If you are going to continue, do the setup statement again:

Even though I am at 150 on the Hawkins scale, I still deeply and completely love, accept, and forgive myself.

And go through the sequence again.

Repeat as much as you want.

One last thing

This post isn’t a comprehensive explanation of these three useful tools. It’s an explanation of how I use them. Here are a few resources that you might find helpful:

Consciousness Project — a resource for students of David Hawkins’ work.

Emotional Freedom Technique — Gary Craig’s website for all things EFT.

EFT Manual — direct link to where you can download the EFT manual for free.

Muscle Testing — a comprehensive overview of muscle testing.

Here’s what happened (and why this blog has been so quiet for the last few days)…

I went to Lubbock 10 days ago to visit family. My brother Kurt almost didn’t come because he was just getting over a cold. But fortunately he made it.

On the Saturday we were there, Kurt and I went to the store to pick up some things for a big get-together later that night. While we were driving, I had a passing thought that I might pick up his cold. The next thought was, “oooh — I need to tap on that so it passes right on.” Which I didn’t do.

Fast forward to last Tuesday. Bam — I have a cold. So I start tapping. In the past, colds stayed with me for about 7 days or so. This one only hung around for 3.

I tapped every morning after waking up and every evening before going to bed. I always felt much better after each session.

In the sequences, I would start off with “Even though I have this cold, I deeply and completely love, accept, and forgive myself.” Usually I would find something underneath the cold. Most of the time it was a sense of being overwhelmed.

I learned a couple of things in the process:

1. Start tapping as quickly as possible when the thought to do so comes.
2. Tap as much as is necessary to feel better. I could have tapped more times each day, particularly when my energy was going down as often happens during the run of a cold.
3. Keep a journal of the issues that you tap through — if only because it’s interesting to see what happens and how an issue progresses.

But I discovered something. The more I use EFT, the more uses I find for it. In the last 36 hours, I have been tapping… secretly. Eek! I’m a secret tapper!

I’m only a secret tapper because I don’t want to make anyone else uncomfortable. Some people may not want to see me tapping on my face and talking to myself. I can understand that.

So, I have been looking for venues for tapping while on the go. Pulling over in the car in a somewhat discreet location seems to work. I tapped yesterday morning in the car while pulled over near a park in Lubbock. I was tapping on my resistance to being in Lubbock and enjoying time with my family. And it worked!

Today, I am out at my local coffeehouse. I suddenly realized that I was trying to get a cold. And I needed to start tapping out the issue. So, after looking around the place like Linda Carter in WWII Washington, I slipped into the bathroom and started tapping.

And I feel better… even though I am a secret tapper!

Here is an excerpt from one of her pages:

There are four major steps to increasing success and abundance in all areas of your life:

1. CLEAR THE BLOCKS TO SUCCESS
2. BUILD YOUR PROSPERITY CONSCIOUSNESS
3. ACTIVATE THE LAW OF ATTRACTION
4. CLAIM ABUNDANCE

If you put EFT to work on these four steps, you will improve every area of your life from finances, to relationships to your health.

The above is from a page on her site that gives an overview of the different blocks that some people may need to clear around success and abundance.

I just love the anecdotal EFT success stories. Here is one from Carol where she worked with a client to shift his energy. It begins like this:

… People often forget that their negative feelings — fear, anxiety, resentment — are blocking success and abundance from flowing into their lives. Releasing these feelings and associated conflicts with EFT (rather than working harder, making more calls, or pounding the pavement) is the key to shifting your energy, which in turn, allows the opportunities and abundance to flow into your life. If you feel stuck, afraid, resentful, or pessimistic, try tapping before shopping your resume around town…

Read the rest here.

How did I discover EFT? My friend Doug introduced me to Kay Christopher, who is a therapist and coach in Austin. She uses EFT in her practice.

I have worked with Kay more than once and have experienced big changes as a result. I highly recommend working with Kay if you at all feel stuck and can’t seem to get results on your own.

My first experience with EFT came during the fall of 2006 when nothing would help clear my sinuses. I was miserable. I couldn’t breathe through my nose and, worst of all, I couldn’t sleep. So, I printed out the EFT manual (from http://www.emofree.com) and tried it out.

It took a few days (and nights) of tapping and working through issues for my sinuses to finally clear. And they haven’t been stopped up since then. That includes during the month of January which is usually really bad for allergies in Austin.

Then in the early spring of this year I met with Kay and refined my technique. Now the results come a lot quicker.

Kay also introduced a rather startling concept when we worked together. Change does not require a lot of drama. That was news to me! I thought I needed to get the anger out angrily and move the grief through with a lot of tears and basically relive old traumas.

Turns out I was quite wrong. Working with a long-time EFT teacher showed me that I could release the past quickly and easily with very little pain. Knowing this has been helpful in my work and my life.

Here are a couple of great videos about EFT.

First, watch this great introduction video about EFT:

Next, watch Bob Doyle of Wealth Beyond Reason talk about how he uses EFT in combination with his Law of Attraction work:

Never heard of it? Here’s an introduction:

EFT is based on a new discovery that has provided thousands with relief from pain, diseases and emotional issues. Simply stated, it is an emotional version of acupuncture except needles aren’t necessary. Instead, you stimulate well established energy meridian points on your body by tapping on them with your fingertips. The process is easy to memorize and is portable so you can do it anywhere.

That’s from the EFT website at http://www.emofree.com. Be sure to check out the hundreds of anecdotal stories about how EFT worked for people in all manner of situations. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Weight loss
• Cancer
• PTSD (following 9/11)
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Allergies
• Abundance and limiting beliefs
• Writer’s block

While you are there, download the manual (there’s no charge).

I’ve personally had several great breakthroughs with EFT. I’ll be posting more about those later.

If you want to get started with EFT right away, download a quick-start guide that I created. As Gary Craig, the founder of EFT says, “try it on everything.”