For holistic and traditional healers, creating a safe and conducive space for those you work with for healing and growth is crucial. Aspects such as trust, comfort, and stability all hinge on how you conduct yourself, your offerings, and your space. Ethics should be at the very foundation upon which you build your offerings, create your space, and conduct yourself.
During my Yoga Teacher Training in 2021 when I was first introduced to the Eight Limbs of Yoga and the two-fold aspect of ethics that forms the foundation for an “Eight Limb” practice, I immediately recognized the familiarity of the teachings being shared. These were teachings I had encountered in various other traditions and practices I had studied up until then. What made these ethics particularly impactful was the structured simplicity of a well-rounded ethical system that not only looked after me but also anyone else I worked with or interacted with.
The Yamas – External Ethics
The Yamas serve as an ethical foundation, guiding our interactions with those who seek us out for our gifts and shaping the environment in which healing occurs. By practicing the Yamas, you can establish healthier boundaries and foster a more balanced and respectful relationship with the people you work with. This creates a safe, neutral, and nurturing space for healing and guidance, supported by the standard principles of care and compassion. The Yamas work as a guide to help you navigate the various types of people seeking you out and their needs in a healthy, productive way.
Ahimsa (Non-violence)
Ahimsa extends beyond physical harm to include any form of harm. Whether that be physical, emotional, energetic or mental. As practitioners, it’s essential to remain mindful of how we are interacting with our clients on all levels. Is your energy a bit more aggressive today? Are you subconsciously judging the people you are working with and thinking you know better than them? Are you inadvertently causing harm because you aren’t paying attention to the entire interaction you are having with them?
Check in with yourself before, during and after your sessions and interactions. Note where you mind, body, energy and emotions are and self regulate as needed to ensure neutrality. Ahimsa also stems into how we speak to and engage with these people. Are you mindful of your tone and word choice? Do you need some refinement in the tact department? I was never one to sugar coat in sessions, but there is a stark difference between not sugar coating (honesty – Satya) and lacking tact. Be aware of how you are speaking, sharing your insights, and the energy that comes with those words. Bringing the practice of Ahimsa into your work ethics ensure you are cultivating and maintaining a safe, no-harm space on all levels.
Satya (Truthfulness)
Satya encourages us to be honest and transparent in our interactions. This means providing accurate information about your skills and the methods you use. Now within the realms of holistic and traditional modalities, licenses and credentials can be tricky, as many do not have any official licensing boards or diplomas that can offer a formal credential. What is not tricky is the acknowledgement that your innate gifts are your credentials! Here Satya becomes all important and for those who are not innately gifted you should not be twisting yourself to appear as something you are not. Always be honest about your skills (innate or learned there is a BIG difference), level of experience and expertise.
I’ll give a simple example here: If you read Tarot cards as a hobby for some extra cash, not because you have any specific gifts or callings, you are not a healer or guide or someone with innate gifts and you should not market yourself as such. You should remain transparent and make people you read for aware that you are not by any means a naturally gifted reader, but a hobbyist slinging cards for quick cash. I said what I said! Same goes for those who have a single healing session and now have their certificates in Reiki and present themselves as gifted healers, here a paper credential does not define you as a naturally gifted healer. It means you have been taught how to channel energy, what you lack is the hard initiations into the path of a healer. Hence you are a practitioner of Reiki, not a healer, shaman or medicine person.
This empowers those looking for healing and direction to choose the right person for them. Satya also involves being upfront about any limitations you may have and not making unrealistic promises or claims. Giving those you work with any form of false hope is a gigantic NO-NO! So is not giving them information they should be privy to. Not saying something is still form of dishonestly. If you pick up something in your session speak honestly. They are trusting you to do so. People are going to feel comfortable with a healer who is authentic and truthful.
Asteya (Non-stealing)
Asteya reminds us to respect the time, energy, and resources of those we work with. This includes honoring appointment times, being fully present during sessions, and not overcharging for services – this doesn’t have to be your day job! Be respectful and non-stealing of their energy by maintaining silence in a healing session where needed and sharing where necessary instead of jabbering on about life. This is not your time or space, honor that. You are there for them, not the other way around.
Be fully attentive in your sessions, don’t let your mind wander off and think about your shopping list or what you want for lunch. Be fully present, you are stealing from them if you’re not. If you are not fit or well enough to work, don’t book a session, you would be stealing as you would not be fully available for them during their session. Asteya is much more than just material theft, it causes us to think much bigger about where and how we may be stealing without knowing it.
Brahmacharya (Moderation)
Brahmacharya encourages us to use our energy wisely and efficiently. This involves staying focused and attentive during sessions, avoiding unnecessary distractions or tangents, and prioritizing the needs of those we working with above all else. By channeling our energy in a focused and purposeful manner, we can provide the most effective and beneficial work. Here a we must be mindful of our own energy. Do you have too much or too little. Neither is ideal!
Too much energy is not good for anyone and you trying to hold it back will distract from your session. Ground and balance yourself before sessions to ensure you don’t “blast” your next person. Too little energy is a logical one, but one many of us will ignore this and try be of service when we have nothing or very little to offer. You are not on call 24/7 dear healer! So don’t force your energy to be as well. If you are low energy don’t deplete yourself any further and as mentioner earlier, don’t steal from those you work with.
Aparigraha (Non-attachment)
Aparigraha teaches us to let go of possessiveness and attachment to those we work with. While it’s natural to form a bond with them, it’s essential to respect their autonomy and independence. When our work is done, we must allow that relationship to close fully. This means directly after a session and in the long term when you are no longer required. Detachment doesn’t not mean lack of care or compassion it means not grasping or clutching to those you are currently working with.
Attachment can look like a number of different situations. High paying or regular clients, they are a dominate source of your income and so you materialistically clutch to them to continue your revenue stream. You recommend follow up sessions, additional services or products and none of it is what they need. You become frantic that your main source of income will come to an end but holding on we have no space for the others that need us as well. Allow those you need to work with to come and go as THEY need.
Then there are our favorites to work, we have all had them. They do the work, we connect beautifully and we just love the days when we get to work with them. So we cling to them and the joy they bring to their sessions. Then there are the one’s we desperately want to fix – mind your co-dependance here! We check in on them more than we should, we feel like we would be a failure if we did not help them. So we cling to them in order to fix and save.
And there are the tough one’s to detach from. The one’s who share deeply intimate, terrifying stories of their lives and we just don’t know where to put them. So we cling to them in the hopes it will alleviate some of their suffering, or we just don’t know how to put it down. Care for each and every person uniquely and equally, but don’t attach yourself to them or their stuff.
The Niyamas – Inner Ethics
The Niyamas represent personal disciplines and observances that help holistic and traditional practitioners maintain their well-being and professionalism. By incorporating these observances into our work, we create a more conducive and nurturing environment for ourselves and those we work with. These practices help promote healthier boundaries, self-care, continued growth, and humility, allowing for deeper healing and well-being for all involved.
Saucha (Purity)
Saucha encourages us to maintain cleanliness and purity in all aspects of our lives and work. This includes keeping our physical living space clean and organized, as this will ensure no clutter, messiness or uncleanliness transfers from your living space to your working environment. What we consume is important as well, as this consumption becomes a part of us and we transfer that on to those we are working with. What we eat, watch, listen to and who we associate with all impacts our level of purity and cleanliness. Practices such as smudging or energy clearing can help to purify you and your working space to ensure a clean and clear environment
We should also ensure that our energy and intentions are clear and pure. As we know energy and intention can mean everything in a session. If yours is off or not aligned with pure intentions you could cause harm. Be mindful of how pure and clean you actual are and how that may be impacting those you are working with and work environment.
Santosha (Contentment)
Santosha teaches us to cultivate contentment and acceptance in our lives and work. It’s essential to be at peace with where you are in your journey as a healer. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be a better healer or to improve your skill set. However, when we begin comparing ourselves to other healers or we are constantly grasping to offer the next best modality we move from a place of present moment mindfulness and awareness of the needs of those we work with to obsessively chasing eternally unobtainable success and so we step out of being authentic healers. Never do you work from a place of lack, but always from a place of contentment.
Those you work with will sense your confidence and comfort with where and who you are currently and will trust and connect with you better. Be content with where you are, this helps to alleviate a lot of that angst a many healers face. Instead show gratitude for who has passed through your door and be content. Contentment and non-attachment go hand-in-hand, the one helps you achieve the other.
Tapas (Self-Discipline)
Tapas encourages us to cultivate self-discipline and dedication in our gifts and modalities. This involves committing to ongoing education and personal growth, as well as maintaining a disciplined approach to your work and your personal practices. Find your rituals in the mundane routines of life. Find time and space to honor those ancestors and guides. To pay homage to your traditions and gifts. Become disciplined in who you are as a naturally gifted healer.
Self-discipline also aids in maintaining things like self-care routines and practices that fulfill us spiritually. By maintaining discipline in self care and practices you ensure you are always at your best to assist those you need you. By continually learning and evolving you can provide the best possible version of yourself and ensure that you are always working at the highest level of skill and natural expertise.
Svadhyaya (Self-Study)
Svadhyaya is the practice of self-reflection and self-study. It involves taking the time to examine your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and identify areas for improvement. A fantastic lesson that was taught to me a few years back was, “check yourself, before you wreck yourself, and someone else.” As a healer this sat strongly with me. If I wasn’t aware of my own shortcomings, energy, mind state or emotions or could inadvertently hurt someone else.
So I continue to check myself regularly to ensure I don’t wreck myself or someone else. As a healer you will need to continue to grow and evolve. You don’t grab a Reiki Masters certification and think that your work is done. You’ve only just cracked the door. Get in there and do the work or you will pushed to do it – the spirit realm doesn’t play and it will test you in every way possible. You will want to “Know Thyself” – you will be tested on it!
We should regularly engage in self-assessment to assess our strengths and weaknesses, our shadow aspects and identify areas where they can grow and develop. This ongoing process of self-study helps to ensure that we are constantly evolving and improving in our work and being the best we can possibly be.
Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender)
Ishvara Pranidhana teaches us to surrender our ego and acknowledge that healing is ultimately beyond our control. While we play an essential role in facilitating healing, we must also recognize that there are limits to what we can achieve. By surrendering and acknowledging that there are larger forces at work, we can approach our work with humility and openness, allowing for more authentic and impactful healing to occur.
Don’t enter your sessions with expectations of changes anything. Allow your sessions to unfold and flow naturally. Don’t force control, do hold space, but don’t push or force anything. As this is predominately what we do, hold space for those who need it, so they can do the work they need to in order to heal, grow or transform.
By grounding yourself and work in the ethical principles of the Yamas and Niyamas, you can create an environment of trust, peace, and integrity. The Yamas and Niyamas really are a wonderful ethical guideline that are easy to follow and maintain. As healers we need some form of ethics, for me the most beneficial to work with has been the Yamas and Niyamas.
I encourage you to source your set of ethics, work with the ones yoga has to offer, but have a set of ethics by which you work. They will ensure that you are always providing the most effective and beneficial care possible.
