My Personal Journey Leading to TAI
Before discovering TAI, I encountered EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) several years ago following the sudden death of my husband. The trauma was so intense that it couldn’t be “processed” solely through the grieving process, resulting in post-traumatic stress. EFT became a powerful tool for me to release this stress. More recently, I faced the death of one of my children. I decided to attend a Vipassana retreat in Malaysia to “see things as they really are” by paying attention to physical sensations, emerging emotions, and thoughts without judgment. After ten days of meditation for twelve hours daily, I felt a deep cleansing that allowed me to accept and process this grief more serenely.
Later, I developed a passion for energy work, particularly magnetism, which helps dissolve physical and mental blockages to free stuck energy. As a teacher, I also observed many students struggling with learning difficulties, often linked to stress. Naturally, I began exploring research related to emotions. This led me to train in EFT to assist young people more effectively, offering them specific support through these techniques.
My Encounter with TAI
From the moment I discovered TAI, it resonated deeply with me—not as a new technique, but as something that connects everything to a more subtle and spiritual dimension, something linked to the Whole. During its presentation, I was profoundly moved, feeling a natural instinct to join the training. TAI felt aligned with the other techniques I had learned. I sensed a possibility for greater freedom to be, in all dimensions of my being.
Since practicing TAI, I have gained access to a new awareness of myself, particularly regarding my thoughts, beliefs, sensory perceptions, and emotional and physical sensations. I now perceive both my inner world and the external world with more clarity, intuition, less judgment, and greater compassion. TAI has allowed me to honor my inner process at my own pace and with gentleness, working ever more deeply.
My Daily Practice of TAI: Its Effects
Since incorporating TAI into my daily practice, I have found greater inner peace and self-confidence. I am more willing to confront problems directly, embracing them with the intention of transformation. I now intervene in conflict situations more quickly instead of allowing them to fester. The powerful phrase “I take back my power…” has become an important tool for me.
I also find myself more attuned to my body’s reactions before my mind, emotions, or thoughts express themselves. I can quickly identify the most obvious signs of stress (fatigue, apathy, agitation, irritability, hyperactivity) and respond more effectively, regaining my balance sooner. As I progressed through the training and Andrea’s book, I gained deeper insights into the method, which reinforced my daily practice, making it more fluid and integrated.
The words used in TAI are powerful. For example, when I “release the energy trapped in the representation,” I can clearly feel the image dissolve. When I “let go of all identification and attachment,” I feel a part of me, previously stuck in a knot of consciousness, begin to untangle. This brings a sense of relief, especially when I place my hands over my heart. I feel deeply reconnected to my essence, a feeling of “coming home.”
Using meta-questions, I often visualize the representation of an event moving away, becoming blurred or inaudible until it completely disappears from my sensory, emotional, and mental fields. I frequently experience deep yawning during this process, followed by a sensation of my body and mind returning to awareness. I become aware that the energy I released is now circulating freely, available for further transformation and growth.
Integrating TAI with Other Practices
I meditate daily while walking in nature, focusing on my breath. This practice reconnects me with my body, calms my mind, and quickly restores inner peace. I’ve started to integrate TAI into this routine, applying it when certain thoughts arise that cause discomfort. By placing one hand on the lower Dantian and the other on my heart, I breathe consciously and observe the changes. I often notice the thought “unraveling” and disappearing, leaving me with a deeper sense of presence and calm.
Since practicing TAI, I have noticed improvements in my ability to focus. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I struggled to concentrate on reading, with my mind wandering constantly. Now, I can immerse myself in novels again, enjoying the process.
I have also learned to be kinder to myself, no longer judging myself harshly. This change has increased my self-esteem. Similarly, in my work as a practitioner, I am more compassionate and less judgmental, creating a safe space where clients feel heard and understood. They experience relief and reconnection to their inner strength and freedom.
TAI in the Helping Relationship
During individual practice, when I visualize an “energy tangle,” I focus my attention on the heart, as if connecting to a higher dimension of myself. Sometimes, an image or intuition arises suddenly, like a flash. When this happens, I know I’ve found what I was seeking. This instant reconnection to my essence brings immediate inner peace and gratitude.
Example Case: TAI with a Visual Representation
F., a 14-year-old girl, was traumatized by a scene from the movie Forbidden Games, which she watched at age five. The scene where the heroine witnesses the death of her parents and dog during World War II caused her significant distress. She identified strongly with the little girl in the movie.
First Step: Connection and Assessment
When thinking about the movie, I asked her to describe what comes to mind:
- She saw the scene playing from left to right, very close to her, in black and white, and very vivid.
- She felt a tightness in her throat and a heavy sadness.
TAI Sequence:
We proceeded with the TAI protocol, using the three Dantian:
- First Dantian: “I take back my power and release the energy trapped in this scene and all it represents for me.”
- Second Dantian: “I let go of all identification and attachment to this scene and all it represents for me.”
- Third Dantian: “I create order and coherence within myself concerning this scene.”
After a few rounds, her body relaxed, and the scene became blurry, distanced, and harder to see. Her level of stress dropped to 0, and by the end of the session, she could talk about the movie without discomfort.
Conclusion: The Transformative Power of TAI
In conclusion, TAI has offered me deep healing and a new way of perceiving both myself and the world around me. It has helped me transform grief and trauma into peace and inner freedom. Through my daily practice, I continue to experience more presence, awareness, and compassion—for myself and others.
Catherine Halle-Mangani
Teacher & EFT Practitioner
Phone: 07 77 84 50 66
Email: accompagnement.eft22@gmail.com