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Spirituality

 

What Kind of Healing Do You Need?

by John Williston

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Healing - This is something the western medical profession doesn’t really do. Prescriptions are given to alleviate pain, to relax muscles, to relax the brain, to address chemical imbalances and so on; however, amongst the medical protocol there isn’t a healing component such as we in the holistic community know it. Given the medical community’s lack of understanding of what healers do, one cannot generally seek direction from them in deciding what form of healing is appropriate to one’s situation. Indeed it can be confusing given the variety and the sometimes blurred lines between different holistic modalities. Nonetheless, all of the healing modalities can be placed in four categories; lifestyle changes, the process of detoxification and rejuvenation, emergency medicine, and, spiritual medicine. Some of these may overlap but ultimately all are helpful.

Lifestyle Change - Not only is this the most readily available, it is also the one that most people will not undertake until they find themselves in a compromised state of health. An example of such a case is the overweight person who, faced with the increasing risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other obesity related disorders, finally decides to take responsibility for their life and undertakes a lifestyle change. These changes need not be precipitated by the prospect of disease but generally humans do not change unless put under some stress to do so - either by someone else, by their bodies, or through some spiritual insight.

A variety of lifestyle changes are available - one can join a gym, attend yoga class, begin attending worship services, get a divorce from an unhealthy marriage, leave an onerous and repressive job, change one’s diet, and others. Lifestyle changes are embarked upon only when one realizes that life has to change.

The process of detoxification and rejuvenation - This is more invasive than lifestyle changes and requires more understanding on the part of the healer. It is important to recognize that once a healer begins to administer various purifying actions, it is understood that the healer is beginning to influence their Karma. It is important that the client be comfortable with and have confidence in their healer.

During detoxification and rejuvenation one looks to supplement their body functions. One will begin to consume herbs and supplements, becoming more aware of the relative value of what one is putting in one’s body and the need to augment it. Additionally, one may undertake fasting (which has been recommended by all religious practices throughout the world) which could be called detoxification medicine. Detoxification options including various colonic treatments, deep tissue massage, shiatsu massage, yoga (this can be a powerful detoxification process), steam baths, etc.

Within the Medicine Buddha practices there are Five Karmas that are detoxificants and which include enemas, purgatives, emetics, nasal douching, and blood-letting or blood purification.

Once detoxification is complete one can move towards rejuvenation. Too often people will skip the detoxification process and attempt rejuvenation. Generally speaking, this is not at all helpful as the rejuvenation results will be minimal at best. However, it must nonetheless be recognized that there may be times when rejuvenating practices need to be undertaken first in order to raise one’s energy prior to detoxification such as when one has been weakened through chemotherapy, or an accident or surgery. Rejuvenation is attained through consumption of herbs, and of supplements, essence extracts (such as aromatherapy), massage, hydrotherapies with rejuvenating herbs, and herbal enemas.

Emergency Medicine - By its very nature, emergency medicine is more invasive than either of the above approaches. One seeks emergency medicine once the condition has approached either a chronic or emergency level and requires immediate treatment. The reason for this urgency generally is that one has not undertaken lifestyle changes or sought to detoxify and rejuvenate the body before this point. Emergency medicine is therefore the treatment for deep-seated problems that require radical intervention. Such intervention may include acupuncture, moxibustion, or surgery. These are usually considered last resorts with all other attempts at treatment having failed.

Spiritual Medicine - Spiritual medicine is certainly the deepest, most invasive and most complex form of healing. Not only does it generally require a highly skilled spiritual helper, it also requires the absolute commitment of the individual and hence is the least undertaken. Spiritual medicine is often used by those for whom the above approaches have failed and who are now facing the fact that they will soon leave their bodies. However, over the past few years there has been an increasing and encouraging trend toward people beginning to incorporate spiritual medicine into lifestyle changes - a wonderful development indeed. The most powerful form of spiritual medicine that I have personally uncovered is a traditional form of Reiki healing energy which allows for the release of repressed emotions and fears thereby allowing the client to remove the source of their challenge. For more information on undertaking a spiritual journey please see the article ‘The Spiritual Journey - Are You Ready’ by this author in a previous issue.

Spiritual medicine includes the practices of contemplation and meditation as well as spiritual seeking. One needs to be able to contemplate how they have contributed to their distress and the resulting illness (hence its lack of popularity) and then take responsibility for the situation. Such personal knowledge is critical if one is to move beyond the present situation. When this process is successfully completed the chronic situation is often spontaneously removed.

Clinical research has proven that people who meditate or pray regularly and have a spiritual practice are much less likely to become chronically ill, and when they do, the recovery time is generally shortened.

Spiritual medicine is considered the most invasive because it requires a thorough examination of one’s life with the goal of addressing all unresolved conflicts, abuse, pain, heartache and other unpleasant circumstances that have created the seed from which illness arises. Interestingly, some people would rather face death than resolve their internal struggles. Where this is the case, one must show them compassion and understanding and support them on their journey.

Lifestyle change, detoxification and rejuvenation, emergency medicine, and, spiritual medicine are the four categories of holistic health practice that one can choose from. Each has its own purpose and they are quite often combined with one another - they are not necessarily meant to be followed in a sequential fashion. Indeed a combination of them is usually more helpful than any one in isolation.

John Williston is a Holistic Therapist in Halifax (j.williston@ns.sympatico.ca)

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