Hello all!
My meditation for this week was “Meeting Asciepius”. The exercise asked us to think of a wise man or woman that we respected and who would represent our inner self and healer. If we couldn't call someone to mind, we could create our own. This is what I did: I combined some people that I do know into one being of my own. My mom's eyes, the face of an ancient woman that I have only seen in pictures but was immediately drawn to, and the tiny shape of a grandmother with a big heart. This inner being was calming to me before the exercise really even began. :-) After I had my inner-healer image stabilized, I was directed to visualize a white light from her forehead to mime in order to cleanse my thoughts & feelings. I then repeated the process for my throat (my words) & heart.
I got a lot out of this exercise and intend to practice it until it becomes second nature and I can call on my inner guide at will. I had a little trouble at the end when I was to let the light flow from my head through my body so I added a little movement of my own and it really helped me. I took my hands and placed them on top of my head then slowly pulled them down over my head as though I was 'helping' the light move down my body. (This is actually a modification of an 'energy exercise' that I learned from my naturopathic doctor.) I stopped 'physically' at my heart but then I found it easier to imagine the healing light down to my toes. In the future I would love to accomplish the effect of this meditation practice by just performing this movement...especially in the middle of a stressful situation. :-) While I was practicing this meditation, I felt warm inside...I could feel the healing light moving through my body & it was fantastic! Admittedly, it was hard to keep focused, but I still felt the warmth and peace after I was finished...definitely a great experience!
In Integral Health: The path to human flourishing, Elliot Dacher, MD (2006) uses the phrase: one cannot lead another where one has not gone himself. What does this mean, exactly? It means that we can't help anyone else (in any manner) if we haven't had the experience or learning lesson for ourselves. How can we understand the path that someone needs to take if we haven't taken our own journey? The experience doesn't necessarily have to be the same, but the lesson does. I have battled my weight (on the 'too much' side) so I do have an idea how someone with anorexia or bulimia may feel. We have to learn from our individual struggles before we can begin to move a client towards a healthier mind-body-spirit connection. As a health practitioner, we owe it to ourselves first and then to our clientele to have our own mind-body-spirit connection whole & healthy...and to have the tools to establish integral health. If we aren't capable of healing & helping ourselves...we can't be of service to anyone else, can we? I am striving everyday to cleanse the toxins (all manners) from my system in order to have a healthy mind, body & spirit. I'm so excited to continue growing!
Reference: Dacher, E.S., M.D. Integral Health: The path to human flourishing. (2006) Basic Heath Publications, Inc. Laguna Beach, CA.
Hi Dianne,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. We cannot expect to help someone else down their path if we have not had our own experience. How can I walk you through the healing process if I have never been hurt. I know what it is like to go through something and come out on the other side of it a winner. What do you think holds you back from accomplishing your goals? I encourage you to deal with it.
Denise