Prof and class, during this week after using the Aesclepius exercise I felt confused and not at peace at all. I could only think of the mentor I had chosen and the effects and life stories that I had the time to hear or experience. The one mindfulness practice that I had to enjoy more this week was my running. I have been leisurely training for a breast cancer 5k at the beach. I find that when running my mind is clear and that it does not wonder. I just take in the sounds and concentrate on my breathing. I have started to see the difference in my mood and attitude before and after these alone times. "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" (Schlitz, Amorok, Micozzi, pg. 477). When I hear this phase I think that the true meaning is that you do not have to actually experience the event but have to be educated and possibly even serving toward helping curing, preventing and caring for the people and places that have experienced them. An example would be an Oncology doctor. These people have committed there life’s work to helping and curing these cancerous diseases even though they have not or may not ever experience one. I still feel that yes as a healer to gain respect from your peers and your clients you need to foster in yourself the psychological, physical and spiritual aspects of being a healer. I have started to inquire more about what I can do in my current position as the patient chef to encourage nutritional healing and what specific sections of the hospital require special nutrients to promote this gastronomic healing. Thanks Sam
Schlitz, M. Amorok, T. Micozzi,
M. (2005) Consciousness and Healing-Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine,
Elsevier Churchill Livingstone
Sam,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your view on the quote, I now know what you were thinking when you responded to this posting. It was certainly a different viewpoint from what I was thinking when I answered it. You are right, it is about being educated on the topics to help others when they do not personally experience it. I was initially looking at it from the point of view of understanding and practicing the techniques we've learned here. If we do not do the exercises and learn from them then we do not reap the benefits; and therefore, it would make it difficult to help others use and benefit from them.
The exercise was okay for me this week, but I too found it difficult. I was in touch with my inner Asclepius for bits of time. I think where I found it more difficult was when I was envisioning the light, I seemed to loose my focus on the inner Asclepius which I wanted to still see. While this happened to me, it made me feel close to the inner me and them which was much needed. I felt much better than I did before the exercise, but I am most certainly sure it could have gone better.
Great post! Thanks for your thoughts and insights.
Elicia