Commencements.

I have learned that life is a series of beginnings. I know we have losses and changes in our lives but with each change we begin a new existence. When we finish a book we begin to use the information contained within it. When a loved one dies we begin a new life without them. Just as the Bible ends in a revelation not a conclusion. When our son Keith completed his massage therapy classes the graduation ceremony was called a commencement not a termination.

So be open minded and begin to see the awe and wonder of the which surrounds you.

As a four year old I had a Near Death Experience, choking on the pieces of a toy I had taken apart and put in my mouth. I left my body and watched myself dying and thought nothing of the fact that I was out of my body but still seeing what was happening. I was used to being able to see. Then I heard and read about (Mindsight by Ken Ring) children blind from the time of their birth who were able see when they had a NDE. Some were upset when they were resuscitated, returned to their bodies and were blind again.

More controlled studies are being done on the effects of prayer on the sick. Those prayed for, even when unaware they are being prayed for, benefit over the control group.

As therapists you are touching people's lives so remember we are more than our bodies. Yes, we need our bodies to perform acts, but what lies within and what is consciousness. There are many questions we probably will never be able to answer including what makes our brain work. We anesthetize people every day and yet really don't know how it changes the nervous system so people are unconscious and pain free. I found patients followed my instructions given during surgery post-operatively like a post hypnotic suggestion. Hypnosis can also be utilized to perform major surgery free of pain. How do we manage these changes?

I don't bring these things up to confuse you but to remind you that when you touch someone's life you are touching more than just the physical aspects of that person. When you treat a disease, remember it is not the diagnosis you are treating but the person's experience. Listen to their description of their affliction and treat what they tell you. Then you are caring for the patient and not simply treating a disease or diagnosis.

If you treat only the disease you will be focusing on the technical and physical aspects of the problem and not caring for or about the deeper significance and meaning present. As a matter of fact, I have met people who don't want to be relieved of their disease because it gives them the freedom and permission to live differently and they don't want to go back to their former lives. By helping them to change, you can restore health and help them to rebirth and reparent themselves and be ready for a new and healthy life free of afflictions.

An athlete is not just a collection of muscles, but a life experience. The hands on treatment can be the way you enter into that person's life and the beginning of true healing. Just as we are not only our bodies, so your love, prayers and thoughts affect the person you are treating. Both of you need to enter a trance state to have true healing occur. In that state energy can be transmitted through you to the person you are treating. When the person you are treating enters this state of healing with you, changes occur in their physiology and true healing occurs.

I use the word healing not curing to point out that we are talking about more than the relief of physical symptoms. We are looking at the whole person and treatment of their body and soul. Having experienced this when touched by many therapists, but particularly our son, I can tell you it is a real happening.

These changes can be measured physiologically even when we can't explain how or why they happen. True healers are simply the conduit for the energy and consciousness of creation to pass through. So when you treat someone let yourself be that pipeline that allows the energy to flow into the person in need you are treating. You will find that now your work doesn't drain your energy and two people will be healed because the person you are caring for will also be giving something: back to you as you heal them, their new found energy.

Conscious love is the answer energy. Give it freely; it can never be depleted. Spend your lifetime enjoying your health days and not looking forward to your sick days.

My recent book is for healthy parenting to raise loved children: Love, Magic & Mud Pies.

Bernie Siegel, MD--LIFETIME member of IMDHA www.ecap-online.org