Jump to the following topics:

1. What is energy tone?
2. What is energy toning?
3. We can use various techniques for energy toning.

What is energy tone? It is the energy-charge which is attached to the elements in an archetypal field; those elements are the thoughts, images, and physical habits. Technically, the energy tone is not an element in its own right; instead, it is the charge of those thoughts, images, and habits. Energy tone contains two aspects:

1. Energy. There is a charge associated with each a-field element -- each thought, image, and action. For example, we might feel the emotional energy of fear when we recall a visual memory of a car accident.
2. Tone. At some level, the energy is an undifferentiated entity -- like electricity, which is essentially the same whether it is in a computer or a lightning bolt. However, in our human experience of this energy, it has a tone, a texture, a quality. If we try to describe the tone of a given a-field element, we might categorize this tone as:
   • An emotion (e.g., anger, fear, love).
   • A feeling (e.g., liking, repulsion, affection, disgust, etc.)
   • A physical sensation (e.g., pleasure, relaxation, sexuality, sensuality, warmth, etc.).

What is energy toning? It a collection of techniques whereby we improve the quality of our archetypal fields by altering the energy tones such that we are more productive materially and more loving spiritually. "Energy toning" per se is my own invention, but the basic concept can be found within other techniques; for example, when other authors explain a method of affirmation, they usually say, "Put some feeling into the affirmation." That is energy toning; however, I am considering energy tone as a phenomenon in its own right, such that we can work with it apart from the techniques of affirmation, visualization, etc.

We can use various techniques for energy toning.  

1. We can use the general guidelines which are in the chapter regarding archetypal field-work. To avoid redundancy, those guidelines are not repeated here.
2. We can combine the aspects of field-work. For example, while using energy toning, we can use:
   • Self-talk. We can associate an energy tone with a self-talk statement. For example, while we say, "I am relaxed when speaking in front of groups," we generate a state of relaxation.
   • Directed imagination. While energy-toning, we can add add an appropriate image. For example, if we are creating an energy tone of happiness, we visualize something which helps us to be happy, e.g., an image of a flower.
   • The as-if principle. During energy-toning, we can act out the behavior which is associated with that tone; for example, to facilitate the energy tone of "being loved," we can hug ourselves.
3. We can use "directed perception" toward one part of our situation. Every situation contains an infinite number of details which can be viewed from an infinite number of perspectives; this is true for both the material details and the spiritual archetypes (because spirit is everywhere and it contains all archetypes). We can choose to focus our attention on the aspects which elicit the specific energy tone which we prefer; for example, in the midst of a stressful day at work, we dwell on our appreciation for one co-worker's assistance, or we glance occasionally at the pretty flowers on our desk. We are not repressing our awareness of unpleasant facets of the situation; we acknowledge their existence, but we direct our attention to the pleasant facets as much as possible. This pleasurable energy tone becomes part of the general archetypal field of our job, and so it extends into the archetypal field of individual aspects of our job, e.g., the presence of the people to whom we usually react in a stressed manner. We still have to deal with the stressors (and the archetypes which they represent) -- but the task is easier now because we have implanted an agreeable energy tone into our overall experience of the job.  
4. We can transplant energy tone from one situation to another. Instead of directing our attention toward a present object (such as a helpful co-worker), we generate thoughts and imagery of a non-present object or situation; for example, in the midst of the stressful work-day, we "daydream" of our fun vacation or our loving spouse. Again, as with the "directed perception" technique, this technique does not release us from the obligation of coming to terms with the present archetypes, but the technique can introduce some pleasant energy tones into the situation while we explore those present archetypes. We can transplant energy tones from various types of situations:
   • A memory. We can dwell upon about a memory -- something which has happened in our physical reality.
   • A fantasy. We can dwell upon a fantasy -- something which has not happened in our physical reality.
   • An analogy. We can dwell upon a previous situation which is similar to the present situation. Because the previous situation and our present circumstances are similar, they involve some of the same archetypes. When we are in the stressful work-place, we can recall stressful situations in which we succeeded despite the stress; we remember the specific previous thoughts, images, energy tones, and actions so that we can dwell on them and build from them in this current circumstance. We say "this reminds me of ....," and then we proceed on the basis of the previously implanted elements (while intuiting the current factors which differ from those of the prior archetypal encounter).
5. We can perceive spirit (i.e., life) in this situation. For this technique, we are not directing our attention toward the material factors (e.g., the people, objects, and general circumstance); instead, we are looking for the transcendental life and spirit, and we are recognizing that the people and objects are manifestations of spirit itself. Soul is always happy just to be alive, regardless of our human situation. In the book, Vivation, Jim Leonard says that our natural state is ecstasy and awe at the miracle of existence; this can be our energy tone in all archetypal situations. The individual soul experiences ecstasy internally (in its sheer delight in being alive), and it also experiences ecstasy in relation to other souls (in its recognition of their common substance -- spirit); the tone of this soul-to-soul relationship might be characterized in our human world as a type of light affection, playfulness, and sharing.
6. We can use the energy tones of the objects in our life.
   • We can use objects which evoke the energy tone which we want. Like Linus with his "security blanket," we can select objects for our home and office: particular paintings, sentimental items (e.g., a wood-carving from our beloved niece), particular clothing (e.g., a fuzzy sweater which makes us feel "snug"), a cozy fire in our fireplace, and artwork on our computer (e.g., wallpapers and screensavers which depict scenes from nature).
   • We can put an energy tone into the objects. When we enter some homes, we feel the human love and warmth; this is the energy tone which the residents have put into their house and possessions. To install an energy tone in an object, we can hold it in our hands, and feel (and visualize) our warm human energy flowing into it, while we say a self-talk statement such as "I enjoy and appreciate this part of my life." (We all put energy tones into the "objects" of our life -- when we hug a friend, or when we pamper a pet or a houseplant, or when we affectionately scrub our new car). We can install this energy even if are not touching the object, but the technique is more effective if we are touching it -- perhaps in the regular tasks of housecleaning. The energy will linger in the object, and it will slowly radiate back to us, to enhance the general energy tone of our home.
7. We can use energy toning in the body. In an archetypal field, the energy is not just a psychological phenomenon (e.g., an emotion or a feeling); it also corresponds to physical sensations (such as relaxation or muscular tension). In our body, the natural energy-tone is warmth and comfort and vitality and a friendliness toward other people's bodies; if we are not experiencing that tone, it is usually because our thoughts and images and actions and psychological energy tones are interfering with the body's basic state. (For example, although our body directly experiences emotional tones such as anger or fear, it does not generate the neurotic psychological tones of hatred or self-consciousness or worry.) To implant pleasant energy tones, we can use the following techniques:
   • Physical posturing. As explained in the chapter regarding the as-if principle, we change our body's energy when we change our position or activity; for example, when we smile or when we have good posture, we increase blood-flow to the brain. Then, the body's vibrant energy tone is implanted into the archetypal situation.
   • Body-work. In addition to the short-term changes which occur when we smile (for example), we can change the baseline of our body's energy, so that its enhanced energy tone will improve the overall energy tone in all archetypal situations. We can create these long-term enhancements through any practice which improves the strength and health of the body, e.g., exercise, massage, and hatha yoga.
8. We can take advantage of our high-energy moments. Whenever we are experiencing a large amount of energy, we can make a point of doing field-work, i.e., saying self-talk statements, generating visual imagery and specific energy tones, and performing actions which we want to habituate. These elements -- the thoughts, images, and habits -- will acquire some of the energy which is occurring, so they will have a particularly strong presence in our archetypal field. A few points:
   • Our implanted elements will have the tone of the energy which we experiencing, unless we consciously change the tone. We can change the tone because it is separate from the energy itself; thus, for example, if we are experiencing fear, we might be indulging thoughts and images regarding the harm which could happen to us -- but we can substitute those elements with thoughts and images of courage and success, while using the energy both internally (to charge our thoughts and images) and externally (to give us some extra power to counteract whatever is frightening us).
   • This principle occurs whether our elements are constructive or destructive. Unfortunately, the energies which we feel most intensely are those of anger and fear; thus we need to be careful about our thoughts and imagery when we are experiencing those emotions. When we say that someone is "developing a complex" (i.e., implanting harmful elements into an archetypal field), the person is creating a large number of thoughts and images, along with a high charge of emotion. When the emotions of anger, fear, and love are mismanaged (with the implanting of particularly inappropriate elements), they become distorted: anger becomes hatred, bitterness, etc.; fear becomes anxiety, worry, etc.; love becomes sentimentality, co-dependence, etc.
   • We can use all types of energy: emotional, feeling, etc. -- and even sexual energy. Thus, our field-work might be particularly effective if we use it during sexual excitement -- during our fantasies, or during times of sexual arousal throughout the day, or during love-making (or immediately after the orgasm).
   • We can schedule our field-work to concur with the periodic upswings in our energy level. Regardless of whether we believe in bio-rhythms as described in popular books, we apparently do have cycles in our energy -- physical, emotional, and intellectual. Field-work might be more effective during the peaks, because the additional energy will be implanted into our archetypal fields.
   • When we implant our excess energy into archetypal fields, we create "karma"; this energy is the force which will re-create the situation in the future. Because these high-energy moments do occur, we might as well create "good" karma (via the procedures in this list), so that the future situations will be pleasant. However, our long-term goal can be to create no karma (because all karma is limiting); we can pursue this goal by:
     • Learning to use our energy in the situation itself, so that we are not experiencing an "excess." For example, when we are experiencing an emotion (e.g., fear or anger), the emotional energy has been generated for the specific purpose of confronting a challenge. The "excess" is the energy which we did not use; for example, we did not use the "fear" emotional energy to run or to fight.
     • Dismantling the cause of the excessive energy. For example, if we have an excess of anger, this excess is due to our perspective on the situation, i.e., our inflammatory thoughts, images, energy tones, and actions. As we implant a-field elements which do not amplify our emotion, we will experience less excess of the emotional energy.
9. We can develop our general capacity for emotion and feeling. Some people repress or suppress their emotions and feelings, and thus they do not have experience, skill, and comfort in expressing those energy tones. We need to be able to feel and display emotion and feeling-- and to do it with its many nuances, because those nuances are the energy tone. (Techniques for the development of emotional expression are given in the chapter regarding emotions.)
10. We can use sound.
    • Music. Whether we listen attentively, or we use the music as a "background," it alters our energy tone; for example, smooth jazz is likely to evoke an energy tone of calmness.
    • Sound effects. We can buy cassettes or computer programs which play recordings of nature sounds; for example, a cassette of "ocean surf" is likely to be soothing.
    • Our own musical instruments. Many people play musical instruments to generate an energy tone; for example, we might play an electric guitar for the energy tone of excitement.
    • Our voice. When we are singing or whistling, we change our energy tone.
11. We can learn more about the individual energy tones. Other chapters explore various energy tones, e.g., relaxation, pleasure, etc.