The Morality of Healing

A statement made by my husband some years ago concerning his gripes with the law of attraction rhetoric (and which I kinda wrote off as him 'not getting it') was echoed today by a friend of mine searching for help with her health issues.

What my hubs had said that his take on the L of A was that if you're weren't manifesting your desires, than somehow it was your fault. That it's because you weren't 'thinking' correctly, or doing it right, and it seemed to create a lot of unnecessary stress in worrying and watching your every thought. Because heaven forbid, you should offer up a contradictory thought, and undo all of the positive work you had invested.

While I still think that's not exactly the case, I can see how he developed that perspective. If I'm sitting here, visualizing prosperity and abundance, and I'm living life as if wealth is already mine, then why the hell am I still broke? It's something wrong with my thinking? The way I'm thinking? The thoughts themselves? Can I make myself any more neurotic than I already am? Gah!

And so, my friend today shared that in her pursuits for answers to her symptomology, she admitted finding more compassion among the allopathic docs than among the holistic practitioners she encountered. Seems there is something to be said for modalities that take some responsibility on themselves, instead of placing it all on the patient. Or better yet, give no explanation.

Weird, right?

What I mean is, somewhere along the line, the idea of our emotional stuff being made manifest in our physical bodies got a little twisted when it comes to some of us supposedly more enlightened holistic types. What my friend encountered, in response to these alternative treatments failing to solve her problems quickly, was a kind of blame. Why was she blocking the healing? Why did she need this illness? How was it serving her? (And ohmygod, smacking my head as I realize I've said this very thing to people in so many words.. and damn! how arrogant I can be sometimes...thank you, god, for showing me this perspective...)

I do believe there is validity to the underlying concept. I do believe that our emotions and our stuff, if not addressed, become our physical experience, and some of us do believe we need to be wounded in some way to have our needs met.

But our job, as therapists (I refrain from using 'healers', for reasons I've explained here) is not to judge, is it? Somehow that seems to smack of the MO of an certain entrenched dogmatic religious belief, which many of us in Western culture are indoctrinated in, whether we care to admit it or not.

The idea that Universe will not bestow its blessings on you unless you think the "right thoughts", as if said universe is peering into your head and hmm, gee, who does *that* sound like? And if you're not getting better after I've wielded my perfect and wondrous healing talents, well, then, there's something flawed in *your* mindset, and you must exorcise those demons.

Sigh.

Sounds a lot, too, like how we've mangled the concept of karma. Mistaking our tiny, limited and fallible judgement abilities for that of the Divine.

Anyway, as my friend was wise to realize, sometimes your journey is just your journey. And maybe this is hers. She wants healing. She wants relief from her pain, and to be in her power again. And maybe she does have lessons to learn. But does she need someone like me pointing out to her what I would have the audacity to think those lessons are? Could compassion be of more use? And gentle caring touch? And the meeting of her right where she is in all her imperfect perfection? And where I am in mine?

And does there need to be an Answer and an Explanation for everything, or can we just spend some time together, feeling the connection between us, which is healing for both of us, no matter how it appears or is quantified...?

(This post is dedicated to both L.H. and W.K....)

Energetics of Voting

If we are, in reality, spiritual beings, and we can manifest worlds with our thoughts, is voting really necessary?

Viewed through the paradigm that our physical actions are the only means of affecting our physical world and experience, we are prone to put tremendous weight on the act of casting a vote for a person whom we hope will create the external conditions by which we can be happier people. Or, by the same token, we may believe our individual vote to be only one small, insignificant voice in a sea of millions, lost in the political machinery that is quite possibly rigged beyond our control anyway.

But, now, let's take a moment to view our actions in the physical world as the end result and expression of a long chain of feelings, thoughts, beliefs, desires, hopes and dreams. We cast our votes for what we want to manifest long before we actually ever "do" anything. The gears of creation are put into motion long before we take action. Like an arrow released from the bow, the trajectory and proximity to the target are determined by our focus and intention, our stance, our expectation, our strength, and our dedication to honing these qualities. Letting the arrow fly is really only the last, and perhaps easiest step of the process

The voting process is wonderful metaphor for how consciously or not we live our lives, and how in touch we are with the process of deliberate creation. Whether we live our lives (often tellingly and nobly described as 'fighting' or 'struggling') trying to directly affect the world so we can feel more at ease, or whether we believe that we are powerless to change anything in order to have more positive life experiences, reflects how much stock we place in our physical actions to the exclusion of aligning our inner energies behind them.

Or, perhaps we believe that the only true power we have over our own happiness and well-being lies within us, and that our physical actions only follow and reflect that belief, and when offered with intention and consciousness, have far greater-reaching results than anything we could have imagined.

We are physical beings. We live in a physical world. The actions we take do have meaning and effect and carry our intent out into that world. However, I also believe we have the capacity, and dare I say responsibility, to live in our joy regardless of the election results... to be vigilant in not giving that power away to anyone.. whether our candidate of choice wins or not.

So, to vote or not to vote?

There are endless ways to find connection to and expression of your joy. I suggest that voting can be one too, especially if it can done with a eye on the larger context within which this small action exists... to offer this action in a spirit of positivity, affirmation, and appreciation. Stay keenly tuned to the qualities of life you are really asking for with this act. Find moments of appreciation even in the act itself... being involved in the process, getting out amongst members of your community, having the day off... whatever it may be.  And recognize that there really is no right or wrong, that all choices and paths are valid, and there is no need to exclude any of it in order for you to remain connected to your Source.

And above all, as someone wise I know often says, "Have fun with it!"

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Matrix Energetics

This book blew my mind.

Described on the jacket as 'paradigm-busting' (which is a sure way to get me to read anything!) Matrix Energetics is Dr. Richard Bartlett's account of his 'insight' into the basis of all reality as comprised of only information and light. How this impacted his abilities as a chiropractor and naturopath is nothing short of miraculous.

Bartlett writes with simplicity and humor about his experiences working with client issues, based not on observing and addressing their 'problem set' but by envisioning a different reality for them altogether... one in which they are already whole and perfect, and allowing for the information that is their clients' physical bodies to reorganize itself accordingly.

Yes, you will encounter some of the basic principles of the law of attraction here... intention-setting, quantum physics, mindset-shifting... but used in a form to bring about healing, or as he calls it, transformation. Bartlett has tapped into something that is both cutting edge and ancient.. a capacity for profound healing that we humans are all endowed with, and he has created an easily-reproducible process by which we can reclaim and use this technique ourselves.

Bartlett's language is so straightforward and accessible, even when discussing such esoteric topics, that I think it's well worth a read even by skeptics. At 183 pages, one could read it in a day or two. Approached with an open mind, the implied potential for this kind of approach to healing, or to anything in life, might well knock your socks off too.

Law of Attraction for Skeptics

Whether you think it's 'the bomb' or complete and utter BS, there's no doubt the 'Law of Attraction' has hit mainstream consciousness.

This 'theory' that we humans are able to create our own realities by fleshing out  a vision of what we want to that reality to be: prosperity, vibrant health, fulfilling relationships, and then positioning one's mindset in an expectation that these experiences are already coming to us, making it irresistible to the ever-responsive Universe to 'make it so', has understandably attracted many, many followers, and of course, many critics and detractors.

I have been intrigued by the idea of "deliberate creation' for some time, say around 12 years. I can understand, from a naysayers perspective, how the idea of 'attracting' wealth, and success, and all good things, runs counter to the noble and traditional Protestant work ethic, leaving itself open to criticism, especially when these ideas always seem to be presented by spokespeople of the fringe, and with an air of total self-gratification, and just a little greed.

It's a shame that this potentially useful tool has become so maligned, particularly when probably all of us make use of its principles under other names.

I'm not so well-equipped with the scientific understanding or vocabulary of how this all works, and while I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me could fill in most gaps, I also believe there is still a realm of as-yet-undiscovered capabilities of the human nervous system that would account for the seemingly mystical workings of the law of attraction. 

But here's what I think.

For one, we got a heck of a lot more going on in our brains than we are aware of. I'm sure there's some scientifically-established number given to the particular bits of sensory information that bombard our brain in every moment. But suffice it to say that it's a lot more than we could process and still be able to function throughout the day. As a necessity, our conscious mind acts as a filter, and the parameters of that filter are determined by past experiences, beliefs, paradigms, expectations, etc. We are not, nor can we ever really be totally objective observers.

Life is undoubtedly full of endless variations and possibilities. Stuff going on all the time, with quite possibly no real rhyme or reason, or meaning, except we what we humans ascribe to it, once again, based on the parameters mentioned above. It's what we pay attention to and the meanings we overlay onto the events we notice that shape our unique experiences.

The foundation of the law of attraction, and really of anything we set out to do, is the setting of an intention. On a conscious level, this determines where we want our path to lead. On a subconscious level, a clear stated intention sends a message to the brain to adjust the criteria of the filter... allowing our subconscious to bring our attention to those things happening in the external world that will help us reach our goal that we might otherwise have missed. I think we grossly underestimate the feedback loop.. how our belief systems shape not only shape what we pay attention to, and how we interpret those things, but affect the subtleties in our words, tone, and actions that reinforce those beliefs. And then, of course, how the world around us responds in kind. People who 'magically' or synchronistically appear in our lives at the right moment may have actually been there all along, but through the power of intention (or expectation), we just happened to more receptive at that moment.

Believe me, I'm not discounting the wonder and miraculous nature of this process... on the contrary, I am in continual awe as I discover how much more capability we have in the human form that we've believed up until recently.  A certain prominent voice in the "Law of Attraction" field has likened the human form to a radio antenna, and setting our intentions is like adjusting our radio frequency. My Shin tai teacher, Saul Goodman, also believes in the resonant and vibratory nature of our central nervous systems, affirming the power of the mind/body connection, and radio frequency-like nature of our physical forms.  This is the aspect that I will refrain from going into here, but it offers continued support of the idea that our attitudes, beliefs, life experiences, expectations and moods shape and are shaped by our physical posture... we project out into the world our particular paradigm, and we are receptive only to that sensory stimulus which supports those paradigms.

The 'L of A' folks, in my opinion, are really only encouraging a challenge of those paradigms.

But we can talk about that in other ways as well.

When we hear about 'putting yourself in vibratory alignment with your desires' what does that mean? It means that no matter how much you may want the object of your desire, if your entrenched underlying beliefs systems run counter to attaining that goal, and your subconscious filters are keeping potential opportunities from entering your field of conscious awareness, the status quo will hold firm. I believe most of us have experience with self-sabotage.. the underlying need to keep things as they are, without threatening the dominant paradigm. "Vibratory alignment" also suggests that your actions, and your mind/body posturing have to reflect the belief and environment within which the outcome of your desire can exist.

I think too many people, both supporters and critics of the "L of A" have come to equate it with 'positive (or even, 'wishful') thinking". Sonia Simone, in her awesome post, "Are You Ready for Your Audition?" says:

"You’re getting more chances than you realize to strut your stuff for someone who could help you. (I’m convinced that this is how the “Law of Attraction” really works. Great stuff doesn’t show up because you focus on it. You’re just able to suddenly perceive all the great stuff that’s always been right in front of you, because you focus on it. )"

Which I guess I could have said just as simply.

So, the question is: Do you want to know what signal you are projecting? Start by listening to your own story about what you're receiving.
Feel free to email me your insights, or share them here.


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