SPIRITUAL HEALING
“The spirit is the master,
imagination the tool,
and the body the plastic. ”
Paracelsus
In the 21st century, we take physicians, their practice, and the medical system for granted. As if they had always been and always will be there for us when we are sick and injured. That medicine is THE WAY to deal with our ills and ailments. Almost as if, “God must have ordained it to be so.” But is it so? Medics run the show as a simple fact. They appear to “know” things that John Doe and Mary Smith don’t. At the same time, some people even look to doctors as MDs, Medical Deities. “Doctors do wonderful things. They know so much. They have studied and studied. Haven’t they been ‘touched’ in some extraordinary way to be Doctors?” This writer recalls a conversation long ago with a patient who had been treated by a general surgeon. He was so awed by him, that he announced, “He can cut on my brain. He can go where no other man has gone or would dare to go. I trust him that much.” In a general way, the medical monopoly in “health care” is widely and simplistically accepted. There are complements and supplements, to be sure. But, orthodox “heroic” medicine is clearly considered as the “gold standard.” However, that monopoly is the effect of societal not divine ordination. It has occurred with the rise of the forces of materialism and of what we call science. The power held by the Church of Religion has been largely replaced over the centuries by the Churches of Science and Medicine. But, it wasn’t that long ago when the case was otherwise. Nor is it even presently so in third world countries or in remote locations of western nations. In those places – between 70 and 80 percent of the world – indigenous healers, shamans, wise women, curanderos, etc. handle much of what now falls elsewhere into the arena of university-trained professionals. Long ago as well as far away from civilized society, there have existed and still exist such workers who may in fact be better able to practice Real Healing. Real Healing here is opposed to the vast majority of medical practice around the world. The practice of medicine too often falls far short in addressing Real Human Problems so that Real Healing might result. Let us look at a few of the reasons for this state of things. • Medicine works with matter and not spirit or essence. Medicine recognizes the existence neither of spirit nor of soul, while humans are in fact spiritual beings having physical experiences. • Medicine deals with the form and not with the state of being. The ills of our bodies result from the effects of our inner lives. • Medicine attends effects (symptoms) not causes in almost all cases. Treating symptoms only delays dealing with true causes. • Medicine looks at the surface of illnesses, injuries and the human being. What appears in our physical nature and in our physical ills are eventual results of inner causes. • Medicine generally uses artificial remedies rather than natural ones. Artifices can only deal effectively with artificial – man-ufactured – problems. • Medicine rarely opens to the real powers of healing, typically as a last resort. When all else fails, we turn to Nature and/or God. • Medical Doctors ignore, forget, or simply do not understand the fact of the Real Medical Deity. The Real Healer is kin to the Original Creator. Means as well as masters of healing have existed since the beginning – long before our pharmaceuticals, razor-sharp scalpels and technological interventions. And most often, older and simpler methods are better and safer than new ones. Anthropology tells us that healers have been active in the human race for ages. Credentials for professionals have only come with modern times. We point out in detail elsewhere how the vast majority of healers work quietly and unheralded in the form of mothers of the world. Even in the author’s lifetime, women held the unrecognized but practical roles as household healers. Life-giving and healing force naturally flows through females. “Women
hold up half the sky.”
Mao Tse Tung To move closer to our thesis, we come to Biblical times. The Old Testament only mentions a few instances of healing at the hands of prophets. But, in the New Testament – especially the Gospels, we find Jesus Christ spending much time and producing dramatic moments in healing all manner of ills in Palestine. Healing was quite clearly a central focus of the message of the Kingdom at hand. Neither Jesus nor the Disciples nor the Seventy were credentialed. Were they to appear among us and be active in the present era, they might be arrested for “practicing medicine without a license.” The Christian Church has all but forgotten Christ’s Commission for his followers to Heal the sick along with Preaching the Kingdom. Likewise little emphasized in modern times are the many cases of wonderful healings – as well as the casting out of evil spirits – which lay at the very heart of Jesus Christ’s mission and commission. In fact it is interesting to note that Jeshua in Hebrew means God saves – God heals. For around three hundred years, Christians held to their healing mission, praying for the sick and casting out demons. Early church fathers Arnobius and Tertullian noted that God worked through the prayers of the lowliest. Those Christians acted “to exorcise evil spirits – to perform cures – to live to God.” Modern people might call their beliefs superstitious, since early Christians believed in the supernatural. But, the communities of believers thus expressed the gifts of the spirit to the wider benefit. Spiritual and supernatural were and are linked together to those who have eyes to see. After 350 AD, healings were rarer while the church became hierarchical and based in buildings. More and more, the sick were sent off to shrines. Thus, the human touch was lost as healing was gradually invested in sacred places during the dark ages. All the same, healing saints appeared here and there over the ages – from Saint Patrick in 4th-century Ireland to the likes of Saints Francis, Catherine and Martin in the middle ages, as well as John Bosco and Padre Pio in relatively recent times. Nonetheless, healing by living church members and figures was an exception. To this day, shrines remain as the main focus of healing in the Catholic Church with 6000 of them still existing in Europe with approval of the church. “They
will keep up the outward appearance of religion
but will have rejected the inner power of it.” 2 Timothy 3:5 Preaching that God’s Kingdom is at hand rings hollow without the ministry of healing. From the beginning, all Christians were meant to be involved in such a ministry. They were expected to model their lives after Jesus Christ. Thence, they would naturally share in the desire and power to heal the sick. Such power being a gift of the Spirit. Like Jesus, his direct followers healed in numerous ways. Surely, they had advantages over people 2000 years distant from the time the Messiah walked, talked, and healed. The early followers seemed to have been especially empowered to continue his works. Still, the power to heal, while much forgotten, is certainly not lost and is still freely available to any and all who have interest. Those who stood in his Presence, heard his Words, and learned his Ways were christened – so to speak – to continue the Work. Some of his powers were sure to be transmitted to close students and believers. Disciples and observers saw the Christ using varied means suitable to the moment and the person to bring forth healing far and wide. Still at this distant time, we too can discern some of the means the Master used to produce healing. And thus gather hints for us to emulate those works. • Being at one with the Father, the Christ was capable of Soul contact with all beings. He could delve into the greatest depths, into the very souls of those seeking help. All things were known to Him because of his universal connections. • He could read minds, pick up the thoughts of others. Matthew 9:3 So, Jesus was constantly able to ascertain what influences were at work in the lives of the sick and injured. There are numerous instances in the scriptures to validate this idea. The Master often responded to unspoken questions in the minds of disciples as well as of detractors. • Similar to mind-reading, Jesus Christ could perfectly read the auras of people near him. As a perfect being, Christ’s senses were perfected and his interpretations were flawless. When challenged to deal with the woman caught in adultery, the Master read the tainted auras of those who were ready to stone her. Then, he bent over and began to write in the sand some of the crimes of the accusers. Had any dared to raise a stone, his offenses were inscribed in the dirt waiting to remind him. “And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.” John 8:8 • Furthermore, Jesus could call at will upon legions of angels and spirits for assistance in focusing and directing healing forces. He surely did act so similarly when presented with the need to feed thousands while turning a few loaves and fishes into a miraculous banquet. Matthew 14:13 We can consider specific instances of healing through •
forgiveness of sins
• pronouncing words of power • the touch of a garment • the laying on of hands The latter was the most common method used, alone or with other means. In later times, Peter, John, Paul, Ananias and others healed the lame, possessed, blind, and fevered in varying ways. Merely the shadow of Peter was said to stimulate healing. The gaze of Paul healed a man crippled from birth. Acts 3 tells of how Peter and John encountered a lame beggar outside the temple one day. “While the young man was asking for alms, “Peter said, ‘Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.’ And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.” Few healers in any era have such dramatic effects on the sick and lame. But believe it or not, we all can come to their aid and give substantive help in mere moments or over time. Thus, we all can be about Healing the Body of Christ. Healing is much like creating. The creative process, of which we are generally only slightly conscious, actually occurs through the agency of subtle powers not the simple biological mechanisms we have been taught. Neither do plants germinate from tiny visible seeds nor humans merely grow from the combination of sperm and egg. The reality is much deeper and quite hidden from our common awareness. Energies, forces, powers of life in fact create, sustain, and re-create living substance in our midst constantly. Angelic and elemental forces mediate those vast works all the while we humans think we understand them through crude chemical and biological study. Similarly, we take credit for the growth of crops and the generation of human forms. All these processes, just like those at the beginning of creation, occur through the power of the silent Word and the subtlest Light of which the scriptures have spoken. Ideas – great or small – are set in motion to stir, organize and manifest outer forms. In similar manner, we can re-create and re-build human forms by aligning ourselves with initial ideas and intents. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” John 14:12 Human beings are meant to be co-creators with Divine Forces. We have that capability, having been ourselves created “in the image and likeness” of God. Close study of the history of healing adds much support to this idea. It seems that from the human angle, the simple requisites to be an instrument of healing are belief (faith), sympathy (love), and time. With a basis in faith in goodness, sympathy for the one in need, and the time to share healing force, all manner of “magic and miracles” can occur. Adding the quality and quantity afforded by a community of well-intended souls can make for even more dramatic changes. The Spirit or spirits, ether, prana constantly flow into our being to sustain and rebuild our bodies. With slight but proper preparation, that force can be directed through us for the benefit and healing of others. We are energy. Every thing is energy. Matter, as we sense it, is energy. While we look solid and stationary, we are really in constant motion. The tiniest cell to the greatest creature is in continuous motion – if we only had the eyes to see. That motion, governed by its hidden life, creates, sustains and even destroys beings. Which in the latter case are rebuilt into new and different forms. There is in fact no death, only change of states and dimensions of life. Spirit, Energy, is constantly available to be directed. Nature is another name for this Spirit or Energy. “Nature is the Garment of God.” Johann von Goethe We use that energy moment to moment, even while It uses us – to a greater or lesser degree. So, if we get in the flow of this Spirit, Energy, Nature, we can be about the greater works. Over the centuries, human beings have been studying and commanding matter more and more potently for its uses and benefits. Now, it is time for us to learn consciously and intentionally to do the same with the Energy behind and within matter. Part of humanity’s next step is to cooperate with greater Forces in building and re-building, creating and re-creating, healing and transforming planetary life. A wonderful way to start that ball rolling will be to actively and consciously join with others to re-build the bodies of fellow human beings. Then, we will be active in the fundamental one of healing the Body of Christ. We will manifest the Love of God for Man which was long ago enjoined by Jesus the Christ. The Christ power will then be put into action before our eyes and through of very own hands. Much is said about the Holy Spirit, but too often with little understanding. As we participate in healing the Body of Christ, we will gradually come closer to that awareness. Along the way, we will also come to perceive our own beings much more fully. “Man, Know Thyself.” The idea of Healing Another Human Being may sound monumental to the non-medical, non-professional, non-credentialed person. That idea is taken for granted within the medical profession, but rarely explored as medicine tends to focus on the pieces and parts of the physical body. Healing is not part of the curriculum of any medical school – to our knowledge and chagrin. Since we have not been especially empowered as the original Disciples were, there must be another way or ways. This writer believes that the best way to learn to heal and accentuate the healing force is to work in a group/community dedicated to that purpose. Each person should stand in positive faith and belief founded on an open and teachable mind. It is most helpful to invest sufficient time in learning to attract and channel healing force. Supportive environment and observers can add significantly to the work. Yes, individuals on their own can be conduits/channels for healing energies. But, there are distinct advantages in working through a group setting. Such a group brings forth a number of benefits and gifts: • People learn to give and share of their own energies aided by support and cooperation. • Members become comfortable with the simple but largely forgotten power of touch. • A magnetic chain of forces is created which can be directly and potently focused. • “Soaking prayer” benefits the individual in need, as well as all group members. • Concern and sympathy and love beyond words and touch are also communicated. • A sense of community and love is experienced in a very deep way. There are other benefits which are unique to each group. But, we must also point to a higher, supra-human level for the ultimate benefit of such an endeavor. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20 The group which convenes to focus and stimulate healing should recognize itself as an instrument for the Christ – the Holy Spirit in action. Action and Healing occurs because, “It is Christ in You, the Hope of Glory,” which lives and moves, heals and transforms. Thus, the real healing power, wherever it may act is like the creative power of God. That power is ultimately the one and only Medical Doctor. It is in fact THE Medical Deity – the Christ Force of Universe – accessible here and everywhere. |
“Even as there is only one nature, one life, one health,
there is, only one disease, one remedy, one healing.”
Mesmer
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