A chiropractor in Washington state asked a patient with a frozen shoulder to imagine a point in space two feet in front of her nose. Then another point two feet behind her head. She held both in awareness at once. The shoulder released. That was the birth of Matrix Energetics, a system of energy healing developed by Dr. Richard Bartlett in the early 2000s. It proposes that reality is a holographic field of information, and that by holding two points of attention simultaneously, the practitioner can trigger spontaneous shifts in the physical body.
Where Did Matrix Energetics Come From?
Richard Bartlett, a chiropractor and naturopath practicing in Washington, discovered the core technique by accident. In 2004, while treating a patient with chronic shoulder pain, he found that asking her to hold two points of awareness at once produced an immediate release. He had no theoretical framework for it at the time. He later described the experience as “the universe winking at me.”
Bartlett began experimenting. He found that the same effect occurred with other patients, and that it worked even when the practitioner was not physically touching the client. He published his findings in Matrix Energetics: The Science and Art of Transformation in 2007, followed by The Physics of Miracles in 2009. The books drew heavily on quantum physics metaphors, especially the observer effect and the holographic principle, as well as sacred geometry motifs such as the Flower of Life.
Bartlett had studied under various teachers of energy work, including Robert Bruce (author of Astral Dynamics) and the Hawaiian healing tradition of Ho‘oponopono. But Matrix Energetics was not a synthesis of those systems. It emerged from a single observation: that attention, when split between two points, seemed to collapse a field of possibility into a new physical reality.
The system spread through workshops and certification programs. By 2010, it had a global following of practitioners, many of whom were also trained in Reiki, ThetaHealing, or Quantum Touch. Bartlett continued to refine the method, adding elements of “the 21-word story” and “the Matrix Energetics process” for deeper emotional work.
What Does the “Matrix” in Matrix Energetics Mean?
The term “matrix” refers to the underlying field of information that, according to the system, generates all physical reality. This is not a new idea. The Hermetic axiom “as above, so below” implies a similar holographic structure. In Matrix Energetics, the matrix is the blueprint. Every object, every body, every condition exists first as a pattern in this field.
The practitioner does not manipulate energy directly. Instead, they shift their own attention to a different point in the matrix. The body, being part of the same field, follows. This is why the two-point technique works: holding two points at once creates a “phase shift” in the practitioner’s perception, and the client’s field synchronizes to the new frequency.
The symbolism is deliberately abstract. There is no appeal to spirits, guides, or chakras. The system uses geometry and intention. The practitioner is asked to “get out of the way” and allow the shift to happen. This is closer to the Zen concept of “no mind” than to traditional energy healing.
How Is Matrix Energetics Practiced?
A typical session begins with the practitioner and client sitting facing each other. The client identifies a specific issue: a pain, a limitation, a pattern. The practitioner asks the client to locate the sensation in the body. Then the practitioner guides the client to imagine a point in space somewhere in the room. It can be any point. The client holds that point in awareness.
Then the practitioner asks the client to imagine a second point, often behind the body or at a distance. The client holds both points simultaneously. This is the two-point technique. The practitioner may also tap on acupressure points or use light touch, but the core is the attention split.
We have found that the shift often comes as a sigh, a tremor, a sudden warmth. The client’s eyes flutter. The pain may vanish instantly or dissolve over the next few hours. Bartlett called this “the blink.” It is the moment the field reorganizes.
The practitioner does not diagnose, prescribe, or claim to heal. They simply hold the space for the shift. The client’s own field does the work. Sessions can be done in person or remotely, since the matrix is nonlocal.
Advanced practitioners use “the 21-word story” to address emotional patterns. The client tells a story about the issue in 21 words or fewer. The practitioner then asks the client to hold two points while repeating the story. The emotional charge often dissipates.
How Does Matrix Energetics Compare to Reiki or ThetaHealing?
Matrix Energetics shares with Reiki the idea that the practitioner is a conduit for a healing intelligence. But Reiki relies on channeling universal life energy through symbols and attunements. Matrix Energetics uses no symbols, no attunements, and no energy transfer. The shift is purely attentional.
ThetaHealing, developed by Vianna Stibal, uses the theta brainwave state to access the “Creator of All That Is.” Matrix Energetics does not invoke a deity. It treats the matrix as a neutral field. The practitioner does not ask for permission or guidance. They simply point attention.
Quantum Touch, another system, uses breath and intention to amplify life force. Matrix Energetics is more minimalist. It requires no breathing techniques, no hand positions, no visualization of light. The two-point technique is the entire engine.
Where Matrix Energetics differs most sharply is in its insistence on the practitioner’s state. The practitioner must be in “no mind” — a state of relaxed alertness without attachment to outcome. This is closer to the Taoist concept of wu wei (effortless action) than to Western energy work.
What Are the Common Misunderstandings About Matrix Energetics?
The most frequent criticism is that it is pseudoscience dressed in quantum jargon. Bartlett himself acknowledged that he uses quantum physics as a metaphor, not as a literal explanation. The system does not claim to be scientifically validated. It is a practical technique that works for some people, and that is enough.
Another misconception is that the practitioner must believe in the system for it to work. We have seen skeptics produce shifts on their first attempt. Belief is not required. Attention is.
Some worry that the two-point technique could cause harm by “shifting” something that should not be shifted. In our experience, the matrix is self-correcting. The practitioner does not direct the shift. They only create the condition for it. The client’s body chooses what to release.
Finally, Matrix Energetics is sometimes dismissed as a quick fix. It can produce dramatic results, but lasting change often requires repeated sessions or deeper work with the 21-word story. The system does not promise miracles. It promises a method.
FAQ
Is Matrix Energetics scientifically proven?
No. The system uses quantum physics as a metaphor, not as evidence. There are no peer-reviewed studies validating its effects.
Can anyone learn Matrix Energetics?
Yes. No prior training in energy work is required. The two-point technique can be learned in a few minutes, though mastery takes practice.
How is Matrix Energetics different from Reiki?
Reiki channels universal life energy through symbols and attunements. Matrix Energetics uses only attention and the two-point technique, with no energy transfer.
Does Matrix Energetics work on animals?
Practitioners report success with animals, who seem to respond to the shift without needing verbal instruction. The technique is applied remotely.
Where to Go Next
Matrix Energetics is one of several modern systems that treat attention as the primary tool for transformation. It shares territory with Reiki energy work, though the methods differ. For a deeper look at the concept of the holographic field, see our glossary entry on the Akashic Records. And if you want to practice the two-point technique yourself, our guide to the two-point method walks through the steps in detail.
The matrix is always there. You only have to look at it from two places at once.