As we talked about in the history section on tapping, there are many approaches and points of view in how we tap. My approach is very straightforward, I use the following formula:

Tapping + Tuning into issue = Relief

The tapping part is simple. We will use 9 points on the body.

SoH (Side of Hand): This point is on the side of the hand, the part that you would use if you were going to break a board in a martial arts move. Use the fingertips of all four fingers of one hand to tap on the fleshy part of the side of the other hand.

TH (Top of the Head): This is located on the very tippy top of your head. The place to tap is the space where the piece of metal hits the top of your head when the doctor is measuring your height. Please note that this point can be very tender because you are tapping right on top of your brain. If it hurts to tap here just tap a few inches above the head without making contact.

EB (Eyebrow): When you tap on the eyebrow tap as far to the inside of the eyebrow without falling down onto the nose, using two fingers.

SE (Side of the Eye): This tapping point is located on the edge of your eye socket. Make sure you are on the ridge outside the eye, without touching your eyeball or eyelid. Use two fingers on this tapping point.

UE (Under the Eye): This point is on your cheek, directly below the iris of your eye. Use two fingers to tap on this point. There is a sinus cavity directly under this point so if you find it too tender to tap you can lightly touch the point and rub in small circles.

UN (Under the Nose): Use two fingers on this point which is located directly below the nose and above the upper lip.

C (Chin): The tapping point is located halfway between the point of your chin and your lower lip. Use two fingers on this tapping point.

CB (Collar Bone): This tapping point is located just under the collar bone near the center of the chest. To tap on this point use your whole hand. You can use either hand. I am going to use the right hand for the explanation, but you can use either. Open your right hand so you are looking at the palm of a flat hand. As you lay your hand flat on your chest place your right thumb along the right collar bone and lay your right index finger on the left collar bone. Use the whole hand and pat your chest like you were burping a baby.

UA (Under the Arm): Use all four fingertips to tap on the point located under your arm, located in the middle, as you move from front to back on your side. The point is about bra strap height. The place you tap will feel a bit like a bruise. You can tap on this point by reaching across your body or you can tap under the arm you are using to tap. If you don’t feel confident that you are tapping on the right spot, just tap the entire area.

Notes on tapping:
When you are tapping you will simply move from tapping point to tapping point as you tune into your issue. Here are some of the basics.

As we move through the process this is going to make more sense, but for now here are the basics.

How many times do I tap?
Tap on each spot six to eight times. Often you will be tapping while you are reading a script. If you are doing this you will tap on each point while you read one sentence. When you reach the end of sentence, move on to the next tapping point.

Which hand should I tap with?
It doesn’t matter which hand you use to tap. You will also notice that many of the tapping points can be found on both sides of the body. You can tap on either point with either hand. For example, you can use your right hand and tap on the right or left eyebrow and receive the same benefit. Some people like to use both hands when tapping, for example tapping with the right hand on the right eyebrow and the left hand of the left eyebrow.

Should I tap in a specific order?
The order you tap in is not important. The points above were explained in the order that the points line up neatly on the body. You can tap on the points in any order you want. It is most common to tap through them in the order above, but do what is most comfortable.

What if I am not sure if I am getting the right spot?
The nice thing about tapping is that it is a very forgiving tool. You just need it to be close. If you don’t feel you are getting the point exactly right just tap in a small circle covering as much of the area as possible. Nothing bad can happen if you tap on the wrong spot (assuming you are not poking your eyes out).

What happens if it hurts when I tap somewhere?
STOP! Tapping should not be painful. You need to take total responsibility for yourself when tapping. If it hurts beyond mild tenderness, don’t do it. If one of the tapping points hurts then just rub it. If it hurts to rub it, just touch the point and take deep breaths.

This article is part of TappingQ&A’s Learn Tapping Guide. Full Guide | Previous Article | Next Article