thanks mata

kazari — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:09:34 -0600

I am thinking about illness and healing and support a lot right now. my mum is in hospital, on the other side of the country, in pain - and nobody seems to know why.
it's amazing how quickly you butt up against the limitations of western medication.
your post is very timely for me, yet again.

Spirituality and psysical healing

Mata H — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:31:35 -0600

Is there a relationship between faith and health? Various studies posit different answers. Yes prayer helps, even by strangers. No it does not. Non religious doctors are more sensitive. Belief helps self-healing. No it does not. The studies are dizzying in their conclusions. So, I was surprised this past week, while watching Grey's Anatomy to see a spiritual healer dealt with very positively. I would expect this on other shows, but on a medical show? Something is afoot culturally.

The character Miranda's toddler has been badly injured in a household accident. There is evidence of severe internal damage. At the same time, a woman has been admitted as a patient who is in very rough shape. This woman, although very weak, seems to be able to heal other patients, and has been seen in the rooms of two other terminal patients right before their symptoms seemed to be healed. The woman claims no God-given gift -- she says she does not know where it comes from, but she is able to heal. Eventually, Miranda asks her to lay hands on her son, which she does. The son improves. While this is going on, the entire crew of interns and residents stand watch outside the glass walled room, watching a medicine they do not understand and "showing up" for Miranda.

The healer, a humble woman, reminded me of the character played by Ellen Burstyn in the film Resurrection who discovers that after a near-death experience that she has the ability to heal. Both characters are positioned as women with nothing to gain who do not seek fame. It's a fine film, by the way, also with Sam Sheppard in a tour de force role.

What is the faith that heals? What do you think about all this? Have you sen it happen? Have you experienced it yourself?

I do not believe the old saying that if you believe strongly enough, healing will happen. I think people can believe well and fully and still be ill, still suffer, still die. There is wretched arrogance in those who can look at a person who is suffering and castigate them for having too small a faith, or who attempt to goad the ill into some sort of formulated faith statement so that they will heal.

Yet, as I say that, I know that there can be influence on our health and our bodies from a realm larger than the medical, larger than our summed up empirical knowledge. My friend MaryJo will tell you that she has survived four separate incidents of breast and lymphatic cancer because of the prayers she, her husband, family and friends offer daily on her behalf. Is she right? Did that explain tumors vanishing that had not been medicated? Is there something about her prayers that differ from other's?

I had Bell's Palsy a few years ago. I woke up with half my face paralyzed. I rushed to the doctor and took medications. I did everything I was told, but a week later there was no change. I feared that the paralysis might be permanent as it is with many people. I went to a spiritual healer. A Sufi. A simple woman who does not advertise, but depends on word of mouth. The next morning I was 90% better. The day after that all sign was gone. Something happened. Did she "believe me well"? Did my hope turn the tide? Does it matter which is true? She spoke to me during the healing -- perhaps she unlocked a psychological block that had kept the meds from working. Or maybe she was in touch with something close to the source of all wellness.

Who knows?

I do not think there is an absolute answer here, but I would hope we could talk about it -- the role of spirituality in healing, and the randomness of healing in general.

There is something to the gathering of resources, to pouring a variety of healthy resources on a problem, to call forth the tribe of all of those who love us -- like Grey's Anatomy interns and residents, all of who stand by as witnesses to our well-being, who show up for us on the path, each with the tools and sources of well-being that they use best.

Related blogs --

The Girl Who Cried Epiphany says

...the Universe seems to be conspiring to make me think about wellness and infirmity, and the place of health and illness in my own life and the lives of those I touch every day.

Wendy at Spiritual Life Design adds the cautionary note:

I’ve been observing the changes in spirituality and healing over the past 10 years. If I had mentioned 10 years ago that I was psychic, I would have basically been burned at the stake. Consciousness on a whole has risen, and with that, so have some very fraudulent ‘healers’ who see a quick buck.

Certifications for this, and diplomas for that. I was just thumbing through a Spirituality and Health magazine and couldn’t help but notice all the ads. One claimed you could learn enlightenment for $1995. Are they serious? And who are the people who are paying this amount to be ‘enlightened’?

Judith in her blog, Z St News vents her spleen at the arrogance of certain Christian healer proponants.

Most rabid Christians I've encountered have very superstitious notions, not the least of which are all about whether the doctor or other professional brought in for treatment is a Christian. Rather than putting their faith in God to lead them to the person who can help them best, they put their faith in a label: Christian. Hmm....must be good, then, right? If they felt they didn't get good treatment, they blame it on the fact that the professional they were dealing with wasn't a Christian.

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thanks mata

Spirituality and psysical healing