Journey of The Healer

"Are you sure, sweetheart that you want to be well? A lot of weight when you well". " ~ Toni Cade Bambara

As a Health and Wellness professional it is important to be both healthy and well, in order to lead others one must be the embodiment of what one is teaching. Consequently, to be an effective and influential healer the professional must set the same standard for themselves that they do for their patients or clients. I believe it would be very easy for me to sense if my Health and Wellness practitioner was not well, there are obvious things such as excessive weight, labored breathing, and attitude e.g. personality issues. Needless to say such an individual would not be my choice for a healer. I would prefer to have a discerning, wise, energetic, and compassionate individual to guide me to wellness, for that is the only way. I guide must know the way! That isn't to say that a guide too will have issues that they may be working on and evolving simultaneously as he/she may be guiding me, but that is fine as long as the necessary work is being done to evolve and grow from that place. The overall expectation would be that my practitioner would be as healthy as possible and working towards resolution of whatever it may be preferably utilizing alternative and integral methods. Health and Wellness is a lifestyle, much like being a vegan, athlete or a dancer all require discipline, passion, focus and commitment to achieve optimal results and to be that which you choose to be. There are expectations that must be fulfilled and the most significant for the Health and Wellness Healer is awareness and compassion for self and others. Assessment I am aware that the area of relationships need attention in my life. In an Integral Assessment I listed one specific growth in four areas, and that hasn't changed much; however my awareness has grown and I am working on it. In the Psychospiritual arena - Conative was my weakness, I say that because it is necessary that I can take the process to the next level, I am a creator, or a creative sort, but the next level may be challenging for me, and to be whole whether I do so or not, it is necessary to at least try and take that step to the next level. Second was Biological - this area is specifically related to exercise, doing more of it and being consistent this is my weakness and I am very aware of what must happen and what I must do. Third is - Interpersonal which I mentioned relationships, I can grow in this area by opening outward, in more areas of my relational life, because of course everything is based on relationships. Last would be Worldly - Social Activism this is where the conative aspect comes in because I am a writer and I must learn to take further action to get my work out to the world and share the gifts I've been given, putting forth more effort in respect to this. Goal Development My goals of course are directly related to the four areas I mentioned, what I have done is a "Vision Board" listing my goals in these areas, it is posted in a prominent area of my dwelling so I can see it daily as a reminder of what needs to happen. I have for four quadrants and I have one category in each quadrant with a six month time span and what I expect to have achieved within that time span. It has pictures posted under each category and words that are stimulating and motivational to keep me moving in the direction of my goals. To support these goals I will utilize all of my practices for personal health in order to achieve them. Practices for Personal Health I have quite an arsenal of practices that I am presently utilizing and am planning to add a few others, such as Tai Chi, Qi gong (which actually is a part of my entrainment training now). I also plan to become a certified hypnotist and practice self-hypnosis and also use hypnosis as a healing modality for my clients. I presently walk for the physical, and for the psycho spiritual , I also meditate, utilize hypnosis, Paraliminal entrainment for all of my needs. I also am a Reiki healer and do self healing thus far, last but not least I have a very devoted spiritual life and I pray daily because spirituality is my life, it is because of my spiritual life that I can be an effective Health and Wellness professional. Commitment Assessment of progress will be revealed in the quality of my life and my practice as a Health and Wellness professional. My devotion is without question and my passion and zeal are obvious to all who come into my presence. Wellness is a gift that should be cherished and not taken for granted. Due to many cultural, and societal issues, many people suffer and are ignorant regarding their well-being. I feel a strong calling to and for these individuals. My desire to educate others who are unaware and even those who are but have challenges making necessary changes who need assistance is who I am committed to. Those who live a sub-par existence, who do not flourish, but only survive and are doomed to do so without a heart to reach out to them and offer guidance and support where there often is none. This is my commitment to myself and to them, this is my purpose for following this path. Practicing wellness as a lifestyle a committed journey not only as healer to healee, but journey to self which ultimately will heal all.

Not everyone is a healer, and not everyone wants to be healed. To desire to assist one to flourish, to bring life to something that is dying is not a simple task, and to be whole when all you've known is illness is not easy either. Health and healing is a journey a work in progress and only for those whom are called.

Dacher, E.S., M.D.,(2006). Integral Health, The Path to Human Flourishing, Basic Health Publications

Bambara, T.C. (1980). The Salteaters, Vintage Press.

Journey to "Mental Fitness"

I believe that I am utilizing these exercises as a daily practice to foster "Mental Fitness" in my life. I can truthfully say without these practices my life would be quite challenging and most importantly I would be very overweight, LOL :)!

My body has a tendency to gain weight when I am extremely stressed and quite frankly I have experienced quite a lot of it, stress I mean. Gaining an enlightened perspective, a greater awareness has been a phenomenal help to me in my life. Without telling my "whole story"; I can only say that circumstances were not in my favor; however, with things such as prayer, meditation and visualization I have powerful advocates and catalyst to health, wellness, well-being and presence of mind.

The sages say that everything in our lives serve a purpose, Jesus said that often what we find to be our most challenging experiences are actually what he uses to glorify himself through us. Consequently, utilizing these spiritual practices have been my "Saving Grace".

We don't get to choose who, what, why, initially and so we "get what we get", but as we grow and transform, what is happening is that we are becoming the being we are purposed to be based on how soon we evolve and become aware of our inner self. The sooner we begin the journey, the sooner we evolve to be that individual that we were created to be. I picked up my first Hatha Yoga book at the age of 17, I knew no one who practiced Yoga, and certainly no one in my immediate or extended family knew or understood what it was; it has always been my calling although I may have waited a while before I took up the practice.

I had many, many challenges and had it not been for Grace I would not be here. Gratitude and practice along with my spiritual life has been my life boat. I can only say that without these, I might have not become as I have. I am honest to the degree that I am because I believe being honest about my experience frees up others. I say this without arrogance, but with compassion, for it is significant to be as "real" as possible to fulfill the mandate for my life.

We are each here for a reason, and utilizing these exercises bring greater health, wellness and spirituality, psychological maturity and strength that is necessary for the fulfillment of the role of Health & Wellness practitioner.

This is a young field, a new field and those of us that are following this path and taking this journey are the pioneers of this modality, there will be no success if we do not utilize the practices ourselves before entering into healer relationship with those we are here to assist.

Blessings & Compassion to all!

An Emotional Experience

Wow, Meeting Asclepius was a very emotional experience for me. During the process I began to cry, tears welled up in my eyes and what I felt was an deep understanding of the guide or mentor I had chosen. I selected my mother and I felt her pain, pain that she carried within, it was an amazing experience. I did not anticipate this happening, because I had listened to this track before and did not have the affect on me that it did this evening. I have a great relationship with my mother because I worked really hard at developing it, and when I was directed to select a guide it was she that I saw.

During this week the exercises have been pretty intense. I have been working at my practice quite diligently and I do believe it is paying off. I have felt quite calm and relaxed the majority, although I have also noticed a bit of anxiety, but what I believe is happening is that the cleansing that is taking place is creating a bit of havoc in my system. This is not unusual when a body is shifting because the balance that was once there is being sorted out and as in all things balance requires that the equilibrium change and that is what I am feeling. The shift is psychological, spiritual and emotional. I say that because of how I am processing things, and the intense dreams I have been having as a result as well as signs I have seen in my life that point directly to the shift within me. All of these changes were brought about due to the intensity of practice and the looking within.

How I intend to continue to foster greater health and wellness is to continue these practices, I have added them to my hypnosis and entrainment practices that I do as well.

"One cannot lead another where he has not gone himself". Simply stated if one has not gone, what can not show you how to get there. As a Health and Wellness professional, it is necessary for me to set a precedent for those who I assist, treat or work with. It would be ludicrous for me to try and treat someone or give someone guidance if I have no knowledge or experience of it myself. Because I meditate, have had a yoga practice, have studied Reiki, I have knowledge and wisdom regarding these things, in these I can assist, advise and guide. That is what that quote is inferring.

I believe wholeheartedly that I must set an example for my patients, customers without the proper knowledge, practice and having done the work, I am worst than a fraud and my work will have not value neither will it help anyone, because the soul of it will not exist. I love this field, I have great passion regarding it, it is my purpose or calling as some might say. My grandmother was one of the first midwives, I would do her a grave injustice if I played at this, for I evolve from a patroness of women.

I live what I will teach. I emanate what I want others to learn, and I consciously and consistently work at evolving to the next level, by improving myself, and continually searching for new resources and new ways of growing, learning, knowing and being. I am far from perfection but my curiosity alone will not allow me to accept any one thing for long, I am always looking at what is out there, way out there in the ether or the space of the universe, the invisible stuff that Integral health is all about.

Dacher, E.S. (2006) Integral Health, The Path to Human Flourishing. Basic Health Publications

Schlitz, Marilyn, Amorok, Marilyn, Micozzi M. S. (2005). Consciousness & Healing. Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone

An Integral Assessment

Assessing myself is by far the most challenging thing I can do. I do try and face facts and be honest about where I am in life; however sometimes the answers aren't pretty. The loving-kindness exercise is becoming easier because I have for very long believed I loved others, but I had far too many issues with myself to be able to fully love another. Having said that I am very brutal with myself and far more generous to others, so clearly that is something I need to work on, what do you think? LOL

Secondly, getting back to the question at hand I am really enjoying and receiving benefit from the Loving-kindness exercise because I am creating a love for myself and showering me with the love I desire. Moving forward the assessment was not as polarizing as I believed. Not much was revealed that I did not know.

The areas I identified for growth and enhancement are as follows:

Psychospiritual - Conative
Biological - Fitness
Interpersonal - Family
Worldy - Social Activism

I believe I am strong in all of these areas however; I selected conative, because although I act and am self directed I believe there is more I can do. I believe based on my assessment that I can put more energy towards this area of my life, emotionally I am very strong and balanced and cognitively I am also very balanced and strong.

Regarding the biological aspect of the assessment, I chose fitness, because I have directed less energy to that aspect of this area than the others. I will begin by walking more and also joining the YWCA to begin my yoga practice again.

Interpersonally, family is most significant, although I am not very involved with my community, I believe my family should be first, and as I write this the Tsunami in Japan is headed towards the West Coast which is where all my family is, so clearly this brings it home in a way that is far more devastating than I would like. In terms of improvement because we live so far apart, I believe I can send more cards, call more, email more, text more, whatever it takes. Visiting is expensive and usually I would take my vacations once a year to see them, but finances have not allowed it in the last several years. Honestly, I believe I go over and above, but it seems as though I need to do more.

Lastly, Social Activism depending on how one looks at this is my weakest link. However, I just recently wrote a play that I am planning a workshop for within the next 6-8 months. The play is a feminist work and it deals with the issue of fragmented and marginalized women, sexual abuse, domestic violence, eating disorders and prostitution, so once the play is up and running my Social Activism responsibility will be fulfilled temporarily. With artistic endeavors that have a political bend to them getting support and production money can be challenging, but the work has been done. I am a activist for women and their issues this is my gift.

The only way to evolve is to face the fears we have, the things about us we don't like and move beyond them. Awareness is the first step in that growth process. Blessings everyone!

Lovingkindness the Subtle Mind a Contrast

Each of these meditations are about observing the self and the mind but in differing approaches. Each allows us to look within to determine how we think; however the Lovingkindness in contrast reminds us to give out and is to some degree and outward focused exercise. Initially, we are asked to think of someone we love and to feel the love in our heart and then to turn that love inward to ourselves. Lovingkindness sets us up to love the self whereas the Subtle Mind asks us to consciously observe ourselves and our mindset, our thoughts and reactions to stimuli outside of us and to release it returning to the study of self.

Lovingkindness ask us to feel love, and give love not only to others but ourselves as well, for in embracing ourselves we are better able to embrace and love others. With the subtle mind we are of course using our breath, and witnessing our consciousness concentrating on that as our focal point. It is a study of intention and attention, very soothing, relaxing and as mental activity ceases. The subtle mind is a nurturing, calming, centering and balancing study that brings one to self.

Lovingkindness is a loving, giving and visual exercise in seeing outside oneself and in doing so sending energy, light to another and then returning the same love and light to self. It is also a study in unity consciousness bringing all things together for the good of one and all. Love self and one is able to love and embrace themselves.