RADIANCE: Eight Letters for Strong Immunity

Khush Raho with Sangeeta

Water is the simplest medicine we have. Our bodies are mostly water, and every cell depends on it to carry nutrients, flush out waste, and keep energy moving, so sip it through the day, and spend time in rivers and oceans when we can

Days after my article on the inner shield, I came across a podcast discussing immune health. Inspired by its acronym, I felt ancient wisdom and energy systems offered a more complete, holistic approach to wellbeing. Thus, I developed my own acronym, RADIANCE, to promote a healthy, happy and balanced self.

R is for Roots. Let us reconnect with nature and with Mother Earth. Walk barefoot on grass or soil (clean) whenever possible, so that the earth can ground our energy and send us hers. Sit under a tree, touch its bark, and breathe slowly in its presence. Trees are generous healers, releasing phytoncides into the air which strengthen our Natural Killer immune cells.

A is for Aqua. Water is the simplest medicine we have. Our bodies are mostly water, and every cell depends on it to carry nutrients, flush out waste, and keep energy moving, so sip it through the day, and spend time in rivers and oceans when we can. 

D is for Dissolve. Let us let go of what keeps us attached to the past. Each day, we can release the worry, the anger, and the replaying of old conversations that collect in the mind. Through this gentle release by practicing forgiveness and gratitude, we cleanse the aura and make room for something brighter to take hold.

I is for Inner Stillness. For sitting in meditation each day. In stillness, the spiritual shower we have spoken of before washes through the aura and the chakras, and fresh, divine energy reaches into every cell of the body. A still mind is not an escape from life. It is a connection to the eternal.

A is for Act with Love. Extending compassion to all sentient beings through kindness, forgiveness, and generosity releases tension that quietly weakens immunity, filling us with love and gratitude. What we give returns, strengthening immunity. Ram Dass, formerly Harvard’s Dr. Richard Alpert, asked Neem Karoli Baba for spiritual guidance and was told, “Love everyone.” Admitting, “I hate them,” reminds us compassion grows through small acts. 

N is for Nourish. A balanced plant-based diet, fresh, local, colourful and seasonal. Best to avoid processed food, sugary drinks, and packaged juices. The body needs carbs, proteins, fibre and fats. 

C is for Connect with the Sun. Stepping out to receive full spectrum light. Natural sunlight burns away stale energy, fuels our body with Vitamin D, and keeps our mitochondria functioning as nature intended. A minimum of twenty to thirty minutes a day is all it takes. 

E for Exercise. Movement keeps the blood flowing and the energy circulating through the nadis and chakras. If we sit for long hours, it is good to move for two to five minutes every hour. Yoga, a brisk walk, a sport, or any activity of choice. 

Together, these eight practices form one shield. No single letter is enough on its own, but together they build an immunity that grows our inner power.

(Sangeeta Bhalla is an Energy Healer. She can be reached at sangeetabhalla.net)