During a week when developing the meditative practices we have been learning would help me the most, I can’t seem to be purposeful enough to just “Do it”. I did do one formal Asciepius exercise session. What I noticed was that the most appropriate wise person I could focus on was Jesus. His image seemed the most appropriate for the entire exercise. When I started with a person I know that I consider full of wisdom, I felt that I was bordering on worshiping her and it detracted from my meditation. So I switched to my Lord and Savior and it worked much better. The other occurrence was that when I started relaxing, removing the mind chatter, and focusing on the exercise; I was compelled to pray for certain people. This in no way interfered but added to the whole experience. I ended the session refreshed and more focused.
“One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” is referring to gaining experience in the areas you want to teach or lead such as inner self or spiritual development. I am just beginning to realize how important it is to accomplish a high level of spiritual development in order to grow professionally. Developing spiritual awareness not only serves the client/patient holistically (mind, body, and spirit) but also will bring joy to the practitioner. (George, 2005) Sessions will not become mundane or repetitious. They become a ministry of a divine nature, completely individualistic for each person and for each day. George (2005) aptly puts it when he wrote “Integral Medicine incorporates both (treating disease and the patient) and also treats the doctor by offering a model that provides an integral awareness, which puts meaning, purpose, and love back into the practice of medicine.” (Parenthesis added for clarity.) Personally, continually developing meditative practices will enhance my psychological and spiritual growth. These meditative practices will include the contemplative exercises of loving-kindness, subtle mind, guided meditations, and prayer. I would also like to get more consistent at meditating over scripture. This has always provided focus and guidance.
Reference:
George, L. (2005) Transformation of the Healer: The Application of Ken Wilber’s Integral Model to Family Practice Medicine. Taken from Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., Micozzi, M. (2005) Consciousness and Healing: Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone
Focusing on Jesus can never steer you in the wrong direction! I commend you for being able to complete the exercise. I was able to complete it as well but felt that I did not get all I could have gotten from it. I was relaxed but had problems focusing on imaging the beam of light penetrating that person. I had I did like you and focused on Jesus, it might have worked as He is the Light of the world. I also agree that we must develop spiritually and psychologically ourselves if we want to be most effective at leading and guiding others to their own awareness.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with us!
Cheryl,
ReplyDeleteWhile you may have felt that you were getting away from the exercise, I agree with Roni74 in that Jesus is never a wrong choice. It is evident that you were comfortable with this change in your plans as you were able to go with it, and you even found yourself using the opportunity to express your faith and selflessly pray for those in need. I suspect that you got out of this exercise exactly what you were meant to!
I enjoyed reading your response to this week's question. Using the guided meditations we have been taught to enhance not only your own experiences but those of prospective clients would be highly beneficial to everyone. Having experienced it yourself, you can lead the client with much ease.
Hi Cheryl, I love that you called Jesus the wise healer. As I read more from the Integral Health book I am finding that Dacher has "met" Jesus in his own way. So much of what is in our text aligns itself perfectly to what is written in the Bible. I understand that there are many paths to reach the same destiny but when I read that contemporary research is finding that the thoughts and instructions that Jesus had and taught over two thousand years ago are effective and necessary to inner healing; it kind of makes me wonder why more people don't read the Bible. Just my thoughts being revealed.
ReplyDeleteAs always, thank you so much for sharing.
Michelle
Awesome, awesome as usual Cheryl I so look forward to reading your post, you keep it real like me but in a your own unique way. I too felt like the speakers voice was pulling me in so I too chose Jesus and connecting with Him in the ways asked is what I needed to be doing anyway, I liked the exercise because I got to chose the most awesome healer there is:). I agree with your take on developing the spititual to better tackle the everyday.
ReplyDeletehave a blessed week
Enjoyed your post, you always seem to speak from your heart. I can feel I want to say alot of things but expressing them has been hard for me to do and not feeling comfortable with putting it out there for everyone to see. You seemed to really enjoy the exercise and benefit from it. Have a wonderful day!
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