Transcript Wild Women Don`t Get the Blues

The Transformative Power of
Ceremony in Healing
Noël Radcliffe M.D.
April 9, 2011
“Wherever there is a human
being, there is an opportunity for
kindness.”
Luciuc Annaeus Seneca
Art by Funcor, Shalamar School for Hearing Impaired, Lahore
Worldview
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a set of assumptions which may be true, partially true, or entirely
false, which we hold consciously or subconsciously, about the
makeup and structure of the world. This is the framework of beliefs,
values, and judgments within which make decisions and go about
living. It profoundly affects our health and healing.
Consciousness and Worldview
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To a great extent, our worldview
determines what we’re capable of
seeing, and therefore determines
our perceptions of reality. What
our worldview doesn’t expand to
contain quite literally escapes our
perception. We just don’t see it.
--Living Deeply
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Inattentional blindness.
Hear what agrees with our
worldview.
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Cultural differences
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Disease / illness
 Disease is a biological
malfunctioning. Illness
is impaired functioning,
with a cultural context.
Healing /curing
 Curing is treating a
specific condition,
whereas healing refers
to the whole person, and
includes the spiritual
health.
Body /mind is illness located
just in the physical, or does
the mind influence health.
Perspectives of healing-a continuum.
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Physical to Spiritual
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Pharmaceuticals/surgery
Body work/chiropractic/acupuncture
Energy healing/qigong
Healing ceremony/prayer
External or Internal source
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Physician or healer driven (external)
Innate or thought driven (internal)
Illness can be transformative
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Susan Sontag --“Illness as a
Metaphor” Illness should
mean nothing, it just is.
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Louise Hay-- “Heal Your
Body A-Z: The Mental
Causes for Physical Illness
and the Way to Overcome
Them”
Supernatural -1800s
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Worldview- the world is hostile, humans
have no control.
Divine theory-Illness is thought to be
punishment from the Gods (AIDS),
Demonic-possession from evil spirits
Miasmatic-hidden entities in our air and
soil
Warrior-early 1900’s, fear based
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Maiasmas determined to be bacteria.
Science is the answer to fear.
Industrial revolution and science are
driving forces.
Increased separation between inner and
outer, subjective and rational.
Mastery and domination of natural forces.
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War on Cancer, War on AIDS.
Self regulating systems
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Disease is a
dysfunction in a self
regulating and self
healing system.
Seeking patterns that
can be changed.
Lifestyle
modifications.
Consciousness/Integral
Looking for deeper meaning, both metaphorical and
literal.
Cancer can be a life changing experience.
Self blame –”New age guilt” Belief that our own
thoughts and negative perceptions cause disease.
Insights can lead to a new direction.
“Much of society’s disillusionment with modern
medicine lies in its failure to acknowledge the
importance of meaning in their lives and illness.”
--Larry Dossey
The patient’s worldview
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Acceptance and nonjudgmental
Listen with empathy
Create openings or increase awareness.
“John B.-CAD, melanoma, prostate cancer,
GERD, CVA, hip and shoulder
replacements. Believes we are here to
suffer.
“When you
change the way
you look at
things, the
things you look
at change.”
Dr. Wayne Dyer
Upward Causation
“All phenomena
are caused by unchanging
universal laws that exist
independently of human
consciousness.”
Downward Causation
“Causal nature of
consciousness is
individually willed and
downward in direction.”
Art by Richard Bonk
“It is the seamless
interconnectedness
of experience that
reflects the complex
and dynamic flow of
forces, biological and
intentional, that
define the human
experience and open
the possibility of a
larger life and
health.”
Elliot Dacher
How do thoughts create changes in a
physical body?
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Psychoneuroimmunology
Heart math
Mind body interactions along the
neuro axis.
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currently available
indices of centralperipheral integration
and homeostasis
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heart rate variability
(HRV)
markers of
inflammation
Stem cells
Heart Math
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The heart generates an extensive and
powerful rhythmic electromagnetic
field.
The heart’s field acts as a carrier wave
for information that provides a global
synchronizing signal for the entire
body.
Information pertaining to a persons
emotional state is communicated
throughout the body via the hearts
electromagnetic field.
Emotions and the heart field
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Anger and
frustration are
associated with an
erratic, disordered,
incoherent pattern.
Positive emotions
such as love and
appreciation are
associated with a
smooth, ordered,
coherent pattern
Dean Ornish
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“Of course, ancient swamis and yogis,
rabbis and priests, nuns and monks didn’t
develop mind-body techniques to get
cholesterol down…or to perform better at
board meetings. Their techniques are tools
for transformation and transcendence. “
Ultimate health
There is considerable evidence
of efficacy for several mindbody therapies in the treatment
of :
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coronary artery disease (eg,
cardiac rehabilitation),
headaches,
insomnia,
incontinence,
chronic low back pain,
disease and treatment-related
symptoms of cancer
improving postsurgical
outcomes.
Astin JA, Shapiro SL, Eisenberg DM, Forys KL.
Positive outcomes in mind body
therapies.
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depression
insomnia
Anxiety
post-traumatic stress
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
nausea
acute and chronic pain
managing impaired circulation
diabetes
hypertension
enhanced cardiac-vagal tone and cardiovascular function
improved glucose tolerance and lipid profiles
modulation of neuroendocrine responses
immune responses and inflammatory responses
Intention
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MBSR and HTN
MBSR and depression
Group that set their
intention prior to start
of each session did the
best.
SL Shapiro
History of the Healing Ceremony
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Local healers
Shaman
Medicine Woman
Local herbs
Symbolic rituals
Dance
Drumming
Art by Teri Rosario
Community Rituals
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Rituals gave structure and
meaning to life’s challenges.
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Taught people how to act in
times of trouble.
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Created the values of a culture.
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Gave significance to life’s
passages.
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In times of a mystical belief
system they provided the
opportunity for a strong
connection to the sacred.
Shamanism
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Shamanic healing is a
method of healing that
treats the spiritual aspect
of illness (tikkun
huanefesh — repair of
the soul).
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Shamanic ceremonies
often require the
shaman to use
hallucinogenics to
achieve greater
communion with the
spirit world.
Smudging
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The ritual of smudging can
be defined as "spiritual
house cleaning."
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In theory, the smoke
attaches itself to negative
energy and as the smoke
clears it takes the negative
energy with it, releasing it
into another space where it
will be regenerated into
positive energy.
Humoral Systems
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TCM
Ayurvedic
Latin America
Imbalance of hot and
cold
Goal is to restore
homeostasis or
balance.
Ignorance
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Desire, anger and
closed mindedness give
rise to imbalances to the
bodies three humors,
bile, wind and phlegm.
In Tibetan medicine the
cause of disease is our
ignorance of our human
interconnectedness.
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Art by Theresa Lucero
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In Tibetan medicine:
Our state of consciousness is critical to the outcome of
our healing process.
Our hopes, fears, dreams create stability or instability
Stress causes disruption in our life force, nervous system
and physiology.
Actions follow thoughts and therefore our thoughts create
our future.
Thoughts cause disease and healing
accepted in Tibetan culture
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In this culture however, it is OK to say:
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smoking causes cancer
Obesity causes diabetes
Anger and resentment causes heart disease?
Why is that so hard to accept?
Most of us do not believe we have control of
our thoughts.
Treatments
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Choelam—lifestyle
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Sae—diet
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connectedness
Balance humors
sMen—medicines
Chae--therapies
Vibrational healing
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Everything
vibrates at a given
frequency.
Energy can be
blocked, or not
balanced.
Sound waves can
be used to balance
the body’s energy.
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“Clearly the unique quality of
Tibetan medicine lay not only
in its commitment to healing
the human body of illness and
disease, but equally, in its
revelation of a path in which
body, mind and spirit could
be liberated from the
sufferings of conditioned
existence. “
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The Spiritual Medicine of Tibet
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Healing comes on a
spiritual level. We have
to make ourselves
available to the spiritual
realm. Ceremony and
ritual provide the
means of making
ourselves available."
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--Lewis MehlMadrona, M.D., author
of Coyote Medicine
Healing ceremonies
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Sweat lodge
Vision quest
Peace pipe
Sundance
Medicine wheel
Plants and herbs
Prayer circles and chants
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Art by Georgia Lesley
Native American Sweat Lodge
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"For a Native American, a healing is a
spiritual journey,"
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"What happens to the body reflects what
is happening in the mind and spirit.“
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-- Lewis Mehl-Madrona, M.D., author of Coyote
Medicine and a descendent of the Lakota and Cherokee
tribes.
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Spirit is inseparable element of
healing, including spirit of the
patient, healer, the patient’s family,
community, the environment, and the
medicine itself.
Native Healers
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"For a Native
American sweat
lodges help you
purify the body,
integrate the
physical and the
spiritual, and
reconnect with the
earth.
Symbolism of Sweat Lodge
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Round lodge-womb, rebirth
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Low door, enter crouched—show
respect and humility for the earth.
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Willow saplings—die in winter,
rebirth in spring, medicinal/healing
properties.
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Rocks, called Stone People
represent ancestors, are heated.
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Steam is release of ancient wisdom
Today’s Healing Rituals
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Lack of connection
to sacred.
Tattooing, piercing ,
plastic surgery.
Physician’s office
as a healing space?
Symbolism of Plastic Surgery
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Withdraw from society for a
short time.
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You remove your outer
garments, your identifying
objects.
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You enter in a sacred space.
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You become less conscious.
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You undergo a death/rebirth
sequence in which you willingly
surrender your life.
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You emerge transformed.
Today’s Clinic Experience
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Space
Intentions
The visit as a
journey
Healing relationship
Acceptance
Gratitude
Advice for patients
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Set your intentions--What do you wish to accomplish,
feel, share, receive.
Imagine the health care facility as a healing space.
Pause before entering, take off coat.
Incorporate the process. Filling out paper work.
Share your feelings, vulnerability increases
communion.
Listen without judgment. Accept what they offer,
decide later if it is right for you.
Leave with gratitude.
Why consider a healing ceremony?
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Healing can be a
process of personal
transformation.
Health crisis leads to
deeper reflection.
Holding on to negative
patterns, self
destructive thoughts
can block healing.
Positive thinking has
health benefits.
Ceremony and Ritual today
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Must be consistent with
the patient’s belief
system.(Trust in higher
power and purpose.)
Bond between healer
and person seeking
help.
Intentions must be clear.
Choose symbolism that
is meaningful.
Power of the Mind
Reasons to use Ceremony
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Awareness
Letting go
Create an opening
Balance energy
Cleanse thoughts
Manifest Intentions
Facilitate
transformation
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Art by Bill Wassman
Ceremony brings you into the present.
Creates a deeper connection to spirit.
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Ceremony
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Aligns the
physical and the
spirit
your intentions
and your actions.
To unite
downward and
upward
causation.
(chemotherapy)
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Ceremony can include family or community
support, thus strengthening the patient’s
connection to support.
Healing rituals allow a
person to become an
active participant in
their own healing
process.
Activate the body’s own
natural healing abilities.
Encourage empowerment
over victimhood.
Art by Alice Lansfield
Ceremony ABC’s
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Create space
Intentions
Symbolism
Power of your
mind—imagery.
Manifest changes
in the physical
body or reality.
Create a sacred space
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This can be a physical
space, such as an alter or
prayer circle, defined by
visible borders.
It is also a creation of
space (time) in one’s
life. We must make time
in our life, away from
our usual daily activities
to engage in ceremony.
Intentions
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What is the desired
outcome?
What do we want to
change?
What is the path or
method we choose to
accomplish this?
What can we do to
support this process?
What are the blocks to
healing?
Symbols --We can use symbolism to create a physical
manifestation of our intentions.
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Smoke
Candles/flame
Labyrinth
Prayer beads
Sweat lodge
Mantras
Water
Sacred symbols
Imagery--
Caterpillar to Butterfly
LETTING GO
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To visualize is to let go.
Write a letter, express all your
pain and tear it up or burn it.
Releasing yourself from the
negative emotions as you do
so.
Give it up to God, Mother
Earth or the Spirit of the
Universe, or the biggest tree
you can find. Remember there
is something bigger than
yourself, which can take all
your pain.
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The balloon popping,
The forgiving tree (worry
tree).
The beam of light.
I also believe that you can
release things unconsciously
through body work, Qigong
and meditations.
Ceremony for beginners.
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Create space
Intentions
Symbolism
Visualize medications as a healing elixer.
Let go of negative thoughts about a treatment or disease.
See themselves as healed-Visualization
Use stories to create awareness ( white/black wolf)
Encourage your patients to use ceremony in their lives.
Use Ceremony to increase Joy
Be thankful.
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Find something
to be thankful
for everyday.
Create a
ceremony of
gratitude that
you do every
morning.
“The Happiness
of your life
depends on the
quality of your
thoughts.”
Marcus Aurelius