Comments on: What if I’m not the main character? The ultimate meaning of holistic healing. http://heartofhealing.net/2007/03/26/what-if-im-not-the-main-character-the-ultimate-meaning-of-holistic-healing/ Support for your healing journey Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:17:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Gene Eberts, Ph.D. http://heartofhealing.net/2007/03/26/what-if-im-not-the-main-character-the-ultimate-meaning-of-holistic-healing/comment-page-1/#comment-75 Gene Eberts, Ph.D. Wed, 15 Aug 2007 23:18:35 +0000 http://heartofhealing.wordpress.com/2007/03/26/what-if-im-not-the-main-character-the-ultimate-meaning-of-holistic-healing/#comment-75 One of the things I discovered early in my 32-year career in mind/body healing as a Health Psychologist, is that I could not facilitate healing in somone else without also experiencing healing myself. And once I tapped into the flow of that healing energy, “I” was no longer center stage. I believe most healers would agree with this experience – we are not “doing” the healing. I am reminded here of the many studies that have shown the power of prayer to heal – even when the person being prayed for is not aware of the prayer. And then there is the “Maharishi Effect”. Numerous studies have demonstrated that when a certain percentage of people are meditating together at the same time, there is a significant reduction in all sorts of negative events, like crime and accidents. Whatever this “energy” is that seems to connect us through healing, prayer and meditation, I believe it is becoming more manifest. And I am not alone in believing that we are going through a phase transition as a species, where this energy that connects us all will be obvious to everyone. Until then, I think it’s best to focus on healing ourselves and those we connect with. Remember, that from the perspective of holism, you cannot heal the part without also healing the whole. One of the things I discovered early in my 32-year career in mind/body healing as a Health Psychologist, is that I could not facilitate healing in somone else without also experiencing healing myself. And once I tapped into the flow of that healing energy, “I” was no longer center stage.

I believe most healers would agree with this experience – we are not “doing” the healing.

I am reminded here of the many studies that have shown the power of prayer to heal – even when the person being prayed for is not aware of the prayer.

And then there is the “Maharishi Effect”. Numerous studies have demonstrated that when a certain percentage of people are meditating together at the same time, there is a significant reduction in all sorts of negative events, like crime and accidents.

Whatever this “energy” is that seems to connect us through healing, prayer and meditation, I believe it is becoming more manifest.

And I am not alone in believing that we are going through a phase transition as a species, where this energy that connects us all will be obvious to everyone.

Until then, I think it’s best to focus on healing ourselves and those we connect with. Remember, that from the perspective of holism, you cannot heal the part without also healing the whole.

]]> By: heartofhealing http://heartofhealing.net/2007/03/26/what-if-im-not-the-main-character-the-ultimate-meaning-of-holistic-healing/comment-page-1/#comment-72 heartofhealing Thu, 26 Apr 2007 18:42:20 +0000 http://heartofhealing.wordpress.com/2007/03/26/what-if-im-not-the-main-character-the-ultimate-meaning-of-holistic-healing/#comment-72 Hi rubyshooz (love that nickname and image!), I'm glad you're enjoying the blog. It's painful to feel you're in that not healthy state. It's a great sign of health, though, to be open enough to learn from it ("I'm beginning to see things that I sure need to work on"). I also feel one of the biggest keys to healing is to be able to reach out for "healing vibes". We need to be able to let people know when we need their support. So glad you can do that! Hi rubyshooz (love that nickname and image!),

I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog. It’s painful to feel you’re in that not healthy state. It’s a great sign of health, though, to be open enough to learn from it (“I’m beginning to see things that I sure need to work on”). I also feel one of the biggest keys to healing is to be able to reach out for “healing vibes”. We need to be able to let people know when we need their support. So glad you can do that!

]]> By: rubyshooz http://heartofhealing.net/2007/03/26/what-if-im-not-the-main-character-the-ultimate-meaning-of-holistic-healing/comment-page-1/#comment-71 rubyshooz Thu, 26 Apr 2007 04:38:53 +0000 http://heartofhealing.wordpress.com/2007/03/26/what-if-im-not-the-main-character-the-ultimate-meaning-of-holistic-healing/#comment-71 I sure wish I could find a doctor who felt the way you do bobleckridge and I am going to look into Cassell's work myself. Thank you for this blog here Mary, I've been looking for something along these lines and look forward to seeing and reading more here. I'm not in a healthy state right now nor a healthy state of mind either, but I'm beginning to see things that I sure need to work on and I've gotten some very healing vibes from some folks - and not so healing vibes from others. Always welcoming more healinghearts and vibes. :) I sure wish I could find a doctor who felt the way you do bobleckridge and I am going to look into Cassell’s work myself.

Thank you for this blog here Mary, I’ve been looking for something along these lines and look forward to seeing and reading more here.

I’m not in a healthy state right now nor a healthy state of mind either, but I’m beginning to see things that I sure need to work on and I’ve gotten some very healing vibes from some folks – and not so healing vibes from others. Always welcoming more healinghearts and vibes. :)

]]> By: heartofhealing http://heartofhealing.net/2007/03/26/what-if-im-not-the-main-character-the-ultimate-meaning-of-holistic-healing/comment-page-1/#comment-74 heartofhealing Sun, 08 Apr 2007 22:42:20 +0000 http://heartofhealing.wordpress.com/2007/03/26/what-if-im-not-the-main-character-the-ultimate-meaning-of-holistic-healing/#comment-74 Thank you, Bob, for your enriching comments. I'm glad you mentioned the danger of people feeling responsible for their illnesses. That idea is quite prevalent and I feel it is not only inaccurate but quite hurtful. I'm eager to look into Cassell's work -- the quote is beautiful! Mary Thank you, Bob, for your enriching comments.

I’m glad you mentioned the danger of people feeling responsible for their illnesses. That idea is quite prevalent and I feel it is not only inaccurate but quite hurtful.

I’m eager to look into Cassell’s work — the quote is beautiful! Mary

]]> By: bobleckridge http://heartofhealing.net/2007/03/26/what-if-im-not-the-main-character-the-ultimate-meaning-of-holistic-healing/comment-page-1/#comment-73 bobleckridge Sun, 08 Apr 2007 22:19:36 +0000 http://heartofhealing.wordpress.com/2007/03/26/what-if-im-not-the-main-character-the-ultimate-meaning-of-holistic-healing/#comment-73 You are so right! There's certainly a strong element of focus on the self (OK, the "whole self") in holistic practice, and it's a good thing when it moves the focus away from disease/pathology/part of a person towards illness/suffering/the whole person, but this way of thinking has a couple of potential dangers. There's the danger that an already suffering person is made to feel responsible for their own illness in the sense that they have created it themselves somehow. And there's the danger you point out so clearly here - that the medical gaze stops at the edges of the patient's skin and both the external causes and solutions are left ignored. I really enjoy the work of Eric Cassell. In his "The Nature of Suffering and The Goals of Medicine" he says "There is no self without others, there is no consciousness without a consciousness of others, no speaker without a hearer, no dreamer who does not dream in relation to others, no act or object or thought that does not somehow encompass others." He is one of the authors who changed my view of my job as a doctor. I still think my priority is to help this unique individual before me today but I think I can't do that unless I see them "embedded" in the myriad of connections and environments of their lives, and seek to engage with that perspective too. You are so right! There’s certainly a strong element of focus on the self (OK, the “whole self”) in holistic practice, and it’s a good thing when it moves the focus away from disease/pathology/part of a person towards illness/suffering/the whole person, but this way of thinking has a couple of potential dangers. There’s the danger that an already suffering person is made to feel responsible for their own illness in the sense that they have created it themselves somehow. And there’s the danger you point out so clearly here – that the medical gaze stops at the edges of the patient’s skin and both the external causes and solutions are left ignored.
I really enjoy the work of Eric Cassell. In his “The Nature of Suffering and The Goals of Medicine” he says “There is no self without others, there is no consciousness without a consciousness of others, no speaker without a hearer, no dreamer who does not dream in relation to others, no act or object or thought that does not somehow encompass others.” He is one of the authors who changed my view of my job as a doctor.
I still think my priority is to help this unique individual before me today but I think I can’t do that unless I see them “embedded” in the myriad of connections and environments of their lives, and seek to engage with that perspective too.

]]>