I recently had a strange
set of symptoms that were not so much about illness or disease as
about transformation. I sensed this even as the symptoms came on and
up until the time they left, about a week later. Call it a rearranging
of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies—an
invitation to reassess, realign and, perhaps, re-member ever more
aspects of self as part of our ever awakening journey.
With some of the
symptoms, pain was involved. As my intuition jumped from one aspect of
treatment to another, I realized just how wonderful it is to have a
very large treasure chest of healing modalities available. For myself,
I used bits and pieces of massage, Zero Balancing, basic stretching,
Alexander Technique, Emotional Freedom Technique, energy medicine,
herbs, ibuprofen, spicy chicken soup, visualizations combined with
breathing, the wisdom of dreams, internal dialogue and a vibrating
heating mat. What an amazing little party we had!
I write this now with a
small laugh, but during the worst of it, all I wanted to do was sink
down into an oblivious sleep. Indeed, when we are in pain the idea of
asking ourselves “What does this symptom tell me?” isn’t always
forefront to consciousness. When the pain diminished, however, I did
spend a good amount of time reflecting upon my various symptoms. I
wanted to move into the symptom and beyond, down deeper to cause and
origin. For it is there that we may speak with those fragile,
vulnerable, angry and frustrated aspects of ourselves that want—and
clearly, need—our attention.
In my experience,
talking with those forgotten, neglected or denied aspects of self is
more than half the healing. In opening to these selves in an honest,
authentic way, we may initiate healing. But we need to listen, too.
And it is in this way that we allow the process of a deeper
communication—and, perhaps, integration—between selves and spirit
to begin.
Sometimes we need a
little help along the way—a little encouragement, a little support
to help it all come together. Thus, our own personal repertoire of
bodywork techniques, home remedies, energy tools, herbal
formulas or plant essences, emotional or mental prodding, spiritual
insights and more offers us the bounty of its treasure.
As
I review the articles for this issue of Alaska Wellness, I am reminded
of how we strive to present you with a wide variety of approaches to
health and wellness. Some may appeal to you and some may not; some
techniques may work better for you than others; some may have no
appeal at all or appear downright silly. But that’s the beauty of it
all, isn’t it? That we may explore so many different ways of being
in the world! It is to our advantage to be informed, to try different
things, to enjoy the wealth of therapies that are available to all.
This, too, is a restorative realization that brings its own form of
freedom and healing.
Dawn
Brunke is the editor of
Alaska Wellness and author of Animal
Voices, Awakening to Animal Voices, and the upcoming Shapeshifting
with Our Animal Companions, to be published in August 2008.
See www.animalvoices.net for
more.
