Gong Show

I am open to all kinds of healing and it's always my hope that I can find healthcare practitioners who respect and integrate Eastern and Western practices. Years ago I studied Reiki and have used it-quite irregularly--to help myself and others. It's one of those things that you can believe or not because its all to the good, especially when combined with good healthcare practices.

Last night I tried something new called a Gong Bath.  Nope, no getting naked or cold. Gong Bath is done with a group of people who lay or sit comfortably while being "bathed" in the sounds of huge (really huge) Japanese and Tibetan gongs. The lights are low, the sounds are not loud at all but you can feel the vibrations going through your body. There was a very brief intro--kind of like a verbal meditation instruction--Relax. Breathe. It was very comfortable and very comforting.

We stayed with the gongs "bathing" us for an hour and then some more brief verbal instructions to return to the present and the now. At the close the Gong Master explained that the gongs--there were 8 or ten of them--were tuned to the chakras of the body/mind and that the vibrations and sensations are intended to heal and align the chakras.

Even if you tend to roll your eyes at this kind of thing it's worth checking out. An hour after work on a Friday night, a cozy room, loving vibrations soothing to the body and mind--that was a Happy Hour.

Relationships and Cancer

Relationship and cancer. Relationship with cancer. Relationship when you know your heart will be broken--but not before it is healed and opened wide. Take a look at this relationship and cancer story from today's New York Times.


http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/05/16/health/100000000821590/love-endures-all-even-cancer.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=thab1

Triangles and Words That Heal

This morning in church we prayed, “But only say the word and I shall be healed”, and I laughed out loud. This week it was words that jump-started some healing for me: The Karpman Drama Triangle, a psycho-social theory developed by Stephen Karpman. In it he describes the cycle or triangle of how we move from rescuer or persecutor to victim—always cycling thru to victim, victim, victim. It came to me seemingly out of the blue in some unrelated research but there it was, the very “word” I needed to hear and heal.

It is perfect and perfect timing. I realized this week that I have been trying to out-victim the victim in my relationship with John and in other parts of my life as well. Karpman would simply say, “Uh huh.”

Here’s where it get’s tricky: cancer care. People with cancer—those in the throes of chemo and surgery are kind of victim-y and cancer caregivers—those in the midst of physical and emotional exhaustion are wonderfully victim-y, and those surrounding both of them make perfect persecutors: “You should”, “One should”, “You never should”, “You must”, “Do it this way, and “Well…”.

Cancer care is loaded with victims, rescuers and persecutors all vying for top billing as best and biggest victim. It’s so easy to say don’t do what you don’t want to do, or take care of yourself first—God knows we preach that crap all the time--but in real life and real caregiving theory is honored in the breach.

Maybe the Karpman Triangle can be taught to caregivers. Maybe we can give out little triangles as a reminder. Maybe I need a triangle tattooed on my right hand.

Am I Loved?

We are getting ready for a long weekend. I remind myself that this matters to him. He wants this time as much or more than I do. I say to myself, “Get it”. Something in me would convince me otherwise. I think about past relationships when I did not believe I was loved—or loved enough—despite evidence to the contrary. Some old veil in my heart? Some old old message that tried so hard to convince me that I am not loveable. It seems like that would be a problem for me and it is, but it’s also a problem for those who love me. It is as if I am deaf and staring at the mouth moving before me…I sense something but I can’t get it. It is a kind of blindness and a kind of deafness. It limits me but also frustrates others.

I look at this passage from Luke that sits near my computer:

“And those who had seen it told how he who had been possessed with wild demons was healed.” Luke 8:36.

I believe; God help my unbelief.