The power of the index finger in Jin Shin Jyutsu
We often think of our hands as tools to do things like grasp, hold, create, or communicate. But what if your hands could also help you harmonise and heal? In Jin Shin Jyutsu, each finger holds the power to support your wellbeing, balance your emotions, and restore the natural flow of energy in your body. In this post we look at the power of the index finger in Jin Shin Jyutsu.
First, a little about Jin Shin Jyutsu
Let’s start with the basics. Jin Shin Jyutsu is a gentle, hands-on healing art that promotes balance to spirit, mind and body. By using your own hands to connect with energy pathways, you help encourage smooth, healthy flow throughout the whole being. Holding the fingers is the simplest way to do this and forms the basis of self help in Jin Shin Jyutsu. Today the spotlight is on the transformative potential of the index finger.
Watch the video: Jin Shin Jyutsu and the Index Finger
The Flow of Life and how FEAR can get in the way
In Jin Shin Jyutsu, the index finger is all about flow. When our energy is flowing freely, everything in our body and life moves with ease: our circulation, our thoughts, our emotions. But what’s the biggest thing that blocks this flow?
FEAR
As Mary Burmeister, the woman who brought Jin Shin Jyutsu to the West, said: ‘Fear is false evidence appearing real.” It’s not just fear either: stuck emotions like worry, anger, grief, and effort can weigh us down and stop the flow on every level.
But here’s the good news: holding your index finger can help release those emotional blocks and get your energy moving again.
How to use the index finger in Jin Shin Jyutsu
Holding your index finger is so simple. Just wrap one hand gently around the other index finger, and hold. That’s it. You don’t need any tools, special equipment, or complicated techniques. You don’t even need to think or focus on anything.
So what can this simple practice help with? Holding the index finger can:
- Ease fear and anxious thoughts
- Relieve back tension – especially at the first sign of a backache
- Support kidney and bladder health, since the index finger is connected to these energy pathways
- Help babies with teething pain and discomfort (just gently hold their little index finger!)
- Soothe tooth and gum discomfort
- Prevent graying and thinning hair (yes, really)
- Revitalise bones and bone marrow
I’m sure you’ll agree that’s a lot of power in just one finger!
A personal story
Let me share a quick story about when this practice really saved my day.
I was in London, on my way home from work, and got stuck on the underground. I was far from home, and no bathroom in sight. My eyes were dry from wearing contact lenses, and my bladder was uncomfortably full. Not the best combo.
Then I remembered: The element connected to the index finger is water and in Jin Shin Jyutsu, holding the index finger can help balance both too much and too little of something. So, I held my index fingers – one then then other.
After just a few minutes, my eyes started to feel better and – miraculously – so did my bladder. I was able to get home comfortably. That moment was such a powerful reminder that our bodies know how to balance themselves, and we can help them just by holding our fingers.
Give it a go! How to practice
Want to give it a try? Here’s a mini practice you can do right now:
- Sit comfortably. You can rest your hands on your lap, maybe on a little cushion.
- Gently wrap the fingers of one hand around the index finger of the other.
- Close your eyes. Breathe. Just hold.
- After a minute or two, switch hands. Hold the other index finger.
- Let go, and notice how you feel.
That’s all it takes to start bringing more harmony, circulation, and flow into your day.
When the energy flows, life is better
When our energy flows, life just feels better. We’re healthier. Happier. More in tune with ourselves and the world around us.
Holding your index finger for just a few minutes each day can help clear emotional and energetic blocks that hold us back. Whether it’s fear, tension, or just a general feeling of ‘not enough’, this simple practice can gently guide us back into balance.
Think of it like a little river flowing inside you – sometimes it gets a bit clogged, but with a little help (and a little holding), it flows again. And when your energy flows, everything else does too.
Want to practice Jin Shin Jyutsu every week?
If this resonates with you, I invite you to join me for a weekly group practice session where we come together online to explore and experience the magic of Jin Shin Jyutsu. It’s gentle, beautiful, and so nourishing. For more information see here: WEEKLY GROUP PRACTICE