Healing & Reciprocity

Image credits: Oriento on Unsplash

What is healing? Why does it matter?

When I talk to people about healing, what I get is often a blank look. The non-verbal expression I observe and perceive is, “Me? Do I look like I need healing?” If the world we live in is a broken one, and if you agree that there is a lot of “fixing” needed in this world, then you might also agree that the brokenness you see around us is a reflection of the brokenness of the people who make up our society. Harsh as it is, this society includes you and me, and any of the brokenness we have not faced and healed within ourselves.

This “brokenness” can be described in many different ways. Greed, lust, pride, and a general giving-up on life and the goodness of it. This brokenness has at its source a fear of annihilation and a sense of separation.

A person who is obsessed with power, money, and recognition from others is willing to do things that cause a lot of damage. Likewise, if one is concerned only with (financial and/or psychological) survival and nothing more, then he or she would hardly be able to acquaint herself with matters and energies that imbue life with beauty and harmony.

Healing is therefore about healing the brokenness inside. In my experience, it is most certainly a path that takes me (and likely you) back to our health and wholeness.

Healing is something we can work on at the physical, psychological and spiritual levels. The latter two are what people usually ignore because they may not consider themselves to be broken, even if partially. However, you can probably recall the time when someone apologized to you, or told you they loved you, or vice versa, and (happy) tears were shed, a gesture of open-heartedness was shared, and you felt lighter and happier as a result. This is an example of a moment of healing.

Beyond human interaction, music, film, or just life itself can bring unexpected moments of healing. Whenever this happens, there is an emotional release and some kind of psychological healing and rebalancing has taken place, which then usually leads one to experience lightness. This sense of release, openness, and lightness, as well as unobstructed and spontaneous flow of emotions (good and bad) is our original state of psychological and spiritual health and wholeness.

Regarding physical health and healing, the classic texts from The Yellow Emperor’s Nei-Jing (黃帝內經), which is the foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, states that longevity and health are the natural result of the human being following the way of Yin and Yang and of nature. When we live in accordance with the seasons, eat and drink in moderation, rise and rest according to the cycles of the sun and moon, work without exhausting oneself, and be content, simple and true in one’s heart, amont other things, one will naturally be in good health and live well until the end of his days. As such, healing is not even an intervening concept until and unless one has lost touch with the ways of Nature.

Invitation Reflection and Action

In what ways have you lost touch with nature? Can you still experience the wonder, beauty, and fascination that a child would have when gazing upon a flower, a ladybug, or the rainbow?

Will you take the time re-enchant yourself with nature by stopping what you are doing for a moment and give your full attention to something that is living? A plant, a tree, the wind, the rain, the moon, or the sun are all living and expressions of nature that can serve as a portal through which you reawaken your connection to your own essence.

Practices for Healing Yourself

Physically: touch and massage yourself for a few minutes in silence today. If a loved one is available and willing, ask for his/her/their service and also give it in return.

Psychologically: Say a loving word to yourself, such as “I appreciate you [Name] so much,” and then allow the meaning of these words sink deep into you. Likewise, ask a loved one to tell you how much they appreciate you, Return the service in kind.

Spiritually: Before going to bed (or just upon waking), imagine a place of rest, of peace, and restoration. Imagine yourself there. Stay there for several minutes. Many good audios exist out there to guide you on this. I recently listened to one by Burt Goldman, called “Spring of Wellness” which was great.