Vol. 9, No. 2, 1992

Articles on the New Age

Rick Branch

Unlike psychosomatic illness which is all in the head, the New Age technique of Reflexology makes a diagnosis from the opposite end, explaining, it's all in the feet!

A simply, yet concise definition for Reflexology is provided by June G. Bletzer, a self-professed proponent of parapsychology, in The Donning International Encyclopedic Psychic Dictionary when she states the following:

Reflexology an ancient foot therapy used for healing physical ills, rediscovered for westerners by Eunice Ingham; compression on various parts of the foot, by the three psychic fingers of the practitioner's hand; releases a flow of electrical energy to the blocked nerve endings, which show in the feet when parts of the body are congested; there is an area in the foot that corresponds to every part of the body; this compression normalizes the cells of the diseased area and hastens the ability of the cells to heal themselves (p. 530).

Thus, through foot message, the Reflexologist would have their patients believe that any disease cannot only be diagnosed but also treated and possibly cured.

Balancing The Universal Life Force

One of Reflexology's central themes is the idea that the body manifests sickness because the flow of the energy field within is blocked at certain meridians or junctures.

This energy flow is spoken of by Mildred Carter when she writes, There are main circuits to every organ, gland, and nerve in your body, and these circuits have endings in your hands and feet.

By massaging reflexes in various places on the body, you not only stop pain but you also send a healing force to all parts of the body by opening up closed electrical lines that have shut off the universal life force (Body Reflexology: Healing at Your Fingertips, p. 7, emphasis mine).

This Universal Life Force finds its origins not in established scientific medical data, but rather in the mystical superstition milieu of the Far East.

Reflexology is an American refinement of Oriental wisdom. Like many healing arts, it traces its roots back to Chinese medical philosophy and a theory of energy meridians (The Encyclopedia of Alternative Health Care, Kristin Gottschalk Olsen, p. 244).

Olsen further explains, Zone therapists and reflexologists say that massaging certain points on the body loosens tensions or blockages that stop universal life energy from circulating freely in the body.

Free-flowing energy helps the body regain its natural balance, harmony and health. The principle is similar to acupressure and acupuncture (Ibid, p. 246).

Concerning this connection with the Oriental philosophy as it relates to Reflexology, Anika Bergson and Vladimir Tuchak explain, especially important concepts are those of yin and yang, and the notion that man as indeed all things exist in a vast and indivisible whole which is constantly interreacting.

The ancient Chinese sages believed that for man to maintain mental and physical health he had to enter into a harmonious relationship with everything else; he had to fit into a world of correspondence where the twin principles, yin and yang, ruled (Zone Therapy, p. 10).

Once a person acknowledges the Universal Life Force or the yin/yang within all beings and the concept that this force can be blocked at meridian points in the body, it is a short step to accepting the New Age idea of healing through Reflexology.

A Rub A Day, Keeps...

As of 1983, more than ten million Americans had been introduced to Reflexology (Body Reflexology, p. 17). By 1992, that number has undoubtedly vastly increased.

The technique used in Reflexology no doubt feels very relaxing and many have found it to be quite enjoyable. But the question must be asked, what is this technique and how does it work?

In their Holistic Health Handbook, the Berkeley Holistic Health Center explains the process.

Now introduce yourself to each foot, one at a time, by generally rubbing, stroking, kneading and massaging it.

During this time, you can coordinate your breathing with your friend's by inhaling and exhaling simultaneously with him or her. This will help relax you both, and aid in establishing an energy connection.

You can also visualize yourself as being a channel for healing energy that flows through your hands into his or her feet (The Holistic Health Handbook: A Tool for Attaining Wholeness of Body, Mind and Spirit, p. 184).

It is during this rubbing or massaging process that the Reflexologist is to find small crystals around the nerve endings in certain areas of the feet. Once located, the Reflexologist then crushes these crystals, which in turn unblocks the meridians, sending the Universal Life Force flowing throughout the body (Ibid, p. 183).

The connection with the Oriental philosophy of balancing the Universal Life Force, opening the blocked meridians and channelling the healing power through visualization should last about twenty to thirty minutes (Stories the Feet Have Told Thru Reflexology, Eunice Ingham, p. 29).

As part of their treatment, patients are encouraged to visualize the parts of their body being stimulated by reflexology in order to gain an understanding and sense of control over their physical health (The Reflexology Workout: Hand and Foot Massage for Super Health and Rejuvenation, p. 11).

It is rather obvious how the patient knows on which part of the body to practice visualization. That is, if the shoulder hurts, then visualize the pain in the shoulder dissipating.

However, it may be observed that the body is somewhat larger than the foot and therefore, the Reflexologist will need to know precisely where on the foot to rub, in order to be the most effective at alleviating the pain.

How does the Reflexologist know where to rub? Similar to the Iridologist, the Reflexologist has a chart or charts!

As Olsen explains, Different versions of reflexology use different maps of the feet. The sinus can be on the big toe on one map, the baby toe on another, and the third toe on yet another.

With the confusion, how does the Reflexologist know which map or chart to follow? You may have to experiment for yourself says Olsen (The Encyclopedia of Alternative Health Care, p. 247).

Thus, with the various foot charts it evidently matters little where the Reflexologist rubs. Apparently, it is not the massaging process but rather the visualization and channelling processes that work the real healing.

In fact, since Reflexology is based on New Age philosophy, some Reflexologists hold the view that the sickness which is experienced in this life may have been caused prior to birth or even prior to conception.

Standing on the Past Life Problems

Because Reflexology is not scientifically sound, it has had many variations. One such variation, called the Metamorphic Technique, was founded by Robert St. John in the 1960's.

This approach, unique even to Reflexology, explained that many of the problems in this life were acquired prior to birth.

In speaking of St. John, Olsen explained, He created his own chart of foot reflex points, superimposing the spine on the inside edge of each foot, from toe to heel.

As he observed the psychological effects of his foot massage treatments, he concluded that the spinal points correlated to the nine months we spent growing in the womb. The spinal reflexes have stored up the emotional traumas we experienced in utero the negative reactions.

The Metamorphic Technique aims to smooth out those prenatal imprints or fears that may be causing behaviors or emotional stresses that contribute to ill health (The Encyclopedia of Alternative Health Care, p. 245).

Hence, by using his own unique chart, St. John traced many problems and sicknesses of this life to life in the womb. However, there are others that trace such problems to a time even before the womb.

In the book, Encyclopedic Psychic Dictionary, under the heading of Reflexology, June Bletzer asks the reader to see for further information, Curative Education, Acupuncture (p. 530). One of the points under the Curative Education section is the idea known as Law of Healing (Ibid, p. 148).

Bletzer writes, Healing, Law of: (holistic health, meta-physics) A true healing is to aid in a physical or mental cure and at the same time seek the reason for the disturbance.

One must correctly interpret and overcome the original traumatic experience at the base of the disease, by a change in attitude regarding the traumatic experience.

The repaired transceiver point (meridian) stirs up the vital flow of magnetism (Universal Life Force) throughout the sympathetic nervous system releasing the obstruction and the body or brain cells normalize and repair themselves.

Original causes can date back from one's past life or past incarnations. Every situation in one's life comes for a reason, and must be balanced (p. 845, last two parenthesis added for clarification).

Thus, according to this view taught by certain Reflexologists, the sickness currently being experienced may not have found its origin in this life. Rather, like many New Age advocates, these Reflexologists promote the idea of reincarnation.

Science verses Fiction

In the final analysis, what then can be said about Reflexology?

Based on the writings of New Age proponents, it is admittedly closely connected with Oriental philosophy. The concept of finding meridian points, crushing crystals, balancing the yin/yang or inner Universal Life Force fields is central.

However, not all is well in Reflexology.

The first problem concerns the meridians. Bergson and Tuchak have written, Still, the fact remains that zones and meridians have not been explained to the satisfaction of science (Zone Therapy, p. 4).

In fact, no scientific evidence has yet come forth to in any way substantiate the physiological existence of these meridians or the Life Force which supposedly flows through them.

The second problem concerns the many different Reflexology charts. If Reflexology is truly opening genuinely blocked meridians, how is it doing so with different charts or maps? Which chart is correct or are they all in error?

The third problem concerns the concept of healing by use of visualization and channelled energy. In an interview with Ken Wilber, a New Age advocate, the author of eleven books and almost 200 articles on spiritual and psychological subjects, the New Age Journal explains the following:

Wilber: The `new age stance,' as I have come to see it, is largely defined by its narcissistic, grandiose, and omnipotent fantasies. And one of these grandiose fantasies is that, if we want to, we can `visualize' disease as going away and the disease will simply go away.

New Age Journal: But sometimes that does happen.

Wilber: Sometimes that does happen, definitely. And, in 99 percent of the cases, it doesn't. You have to account for the vast majority where it doesn't. And any careful examination of this field shows that vast majority is shot through with magical or wish-fulfillment thinking. `I can think my disease away.' That's pure fixation on the magical level (New Age Journal, Sept./Oct. 1988, p. 51).

The Reflexologist's idea of visualization is thus called magical and wishful thinking by one who believes in the New Age.

The fourth problem concerns some Reflexologists' ideas that illness in this life is caused by actions in a past life. Aside from the complete lack of evidence from a scientific perspective with regards to reincarnation, there is substantial evidence for the Christian that this is untrue.

The author of Hebrews wrote, And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement (Hebrews 9:27, emphasis mine). It is clear from a biblical perspective that Reincarnation is not true.

The fifth problem concerns the theological admissions made either consciously or unconsciously by some promoters of Reflexology.

In her book, Mildred Carter writes, Reflexology is truly the healing miracle of the new age we are entering. Hopefully, reflexology will be taught someday in all the schools all over the world (Body Reflexology, p. 8).

From her own mouth, Carter classifies Reflexology as a New Age technique.

Interestingly, this very admission gives rise to the sixth and final problem to be mentioned in this article. That being, The American Medical Association calls reflexology simply `a cult' (Healing At Any Price: The Hidden Dangers of Alternative Medicine, Samuel Pfeifer, p. 57).