In contrast, the traditional Asian view of medicine has been one of preventive healthcare; one in which the doctor gets paid when the patient remains healthy, but not when the patient is sick. Traditionally, people in Asian cultures do more on a regular basis to stay healthy, and incorporate techniques that are balancing to the mind, body, spirit, and emotions. In Western society, we tend to focus on the physical body and treat it like a machine that can be repaired when it inevitably breaks down from overuse. I have had clients come to me who, after one session, got off the table and were angry and frustrated because they were not "all better". I have also had clients who came to me in a state of exhaustion due to some chronic debilitating illness or depression ask for a refund because they weren't "full of energy" at the end of the session; they were operating under the misconception that energy work would give them an infusion of boundless energy so that they could go back to their lives and continue to do all of the things they were doing before. In fact these were likely all of the things that led them to becoem so out of balance in the first place, leaving their body vulnerable to illness).

In many ways, my work involves not only healing but also educating my clients. I view all illness as a call for healing. I am often reminded of a quote by Deena Metzger; "A sacred illness is one that educates us and alters us from the inside out, provides experiences and therefore knowledge that we could not possible achieve in any other way, and aligns up with a life path that is, ultimately, of benefit to ourselves and those around us." I believe that our illnesses, be they physical, mental, emotional, or spiritually based, are communications from our Soul and they can show us the way toward wholeness. Sacred illness helps open us to a new way of thinking and being; and allows us to realign with our Soul purpose.  Carolyn Myss says that, "a person in need of healing who pursues energy medicine techniques…cannot approach it as one does bottled medicine, which is just let someone "work on you" and then go back to your ordinary world. Very little improvement will come of that."   She postulates that energy medicine "requires that the person keep the fires of grace alive within. This requires instruction and guidance, either to the person him/herself, or to those who are maintaining the fire of grace for their beloved family member, mate, or friend- or even our beloved human community. This instruction includes learning about the nature of grace, how to channel grace, deeper soul guidance, the practice of contemplation, and other practices that are basic to the mystic." 

The healing journey requires one to learn a new way of being; one that aligns with the deepest aspects of your Soul. The healer can't know what that will look like for  an individual client, but they can help facilitate that process. One misconception that I come across often is the idea that the healer has a special gift of healing, and that type of thinking tends to inappropriately elevate individuals to guru status who have helped individuals heal. It becomes a cult of personality, rather than a realization that all healing comes from Source and that the ability to channel healing energy is our birthright. Carolyn Myss says that "healing outcomes are not in our hands, but what is in our hands is the capacity to channel grace through our bodies as vessels to someone in need and to one another." The truth is that healing is available to everyone, but it's not always easy to access it by ourselves. That's where the healing partnership takes place. When two people come together and hold a sacred space for healing to occur, allowing the Source energy to flow, anything is possible!

I would love to hear your comments on the information in this post. If you feel so inclined, I invite you to post your comments to this blog.

Blessings,
Mary