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HEALING THROUGH UNITY
October, 1999

A monthly newsletter dedicated to serving the principles of
physical and spiritual health envisioned in the Baha'i Teachings.

Volume 3, Issue #2
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CONTENTS
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- Thoughtfulness - A Lesson By Abdu'l-Baha
- The Exchange
- Craniosacral Therapy
- Responses to the Six Types of Healing
- Reiki Treatment
- Baha'i Writings - "Friends Will Become Physicians"
- "Assisting the Traumatized Soul"
- Laughter Room
- Health Habits
- Question of the Month
- Purpose of the Newsletter

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THOUGHTFULNESS - A LESSON BY ABDU'L-BAHA
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From An Early Pilgrimage, pp. 14-16 - quoted in Vignettes from the Life of
Abdu'l-Baha, AnnaMarie Honnold, p. 87

On pilgrimage May Maxwell came to realize that every word and every act of
the Master's (Abdu'l-Baha) had meaning and purpose. The pilgrim party was
invited to meet Abdu'l-Baha 'under the cedar trees on Mount Carmel where He
had been in the habit of sitting with Baha'u'llah.' She recalled that 'on
Sunday morning we awakened with the joy and hope of the meeting on Mount
Carmel. The Master arrived quite early and after looking at me, touching my
head and counting my pulse, still holding my hand He said to the believers
present: "There will be no meeting on Mount Carmel today...we could not go
and leave one of the beloved of God alone and sick. We could none of us be
happy unless all the beloved were happy." We were astonished. That anything
so important as this meeting in that blessed spot should be cancelled
because one person was ill and could not go seemed incredible. It was so
contrary to all ordinary habits of thoughts and action, so different from
the life of the world where daily events and material circumstances are
supreme in importance that it gave us a genuine shock of surprise, and in
that shock the foundations of the old order began to totter and fall. The
Master's words had opened wide the door of God's Kingdom and given us a
vision of that infinite world whose only law is love. This was but one of
the many times that we saw Abdu'l-Baha place above every other
consideration the love and kindness, the sympathy and compassion due to
every soul.'

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THE EXCHANGE
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Question:

In the September, 1999 issue, the question was:

What are your views of the Spiritual Health Habits? Do you have any
suggestions or additions to build on the Spiritual Health Habits? Have you
had any experience with a specific health habit (positive or negative),
which you can share with us?

Answers:

- Since Baha'u'llah does not define "physician" narrowly, it seems to me
that a person, who after prayer felt inclined to consult a competent
chiropractic physican, homeopathic physician, traditional Asian physician,
etc., would still be obeying Baha'u'llah's injunction. Since Abdu'l-Baha
said,

"At whatever time highly-skilled physicians shall have developed the
healing of illnesses by means of foods, and shall make provision for simple
foods, and shall prohibit humankind from living as slaves to their lustful
appetites, it is certain that the incidence of chronic and diversified
illnesses will abate, and the general health of all mankind will be much
improved." ( Selections From the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p.156),

One could consider that "skilled physicians" might refer more to those
physicians of "alternative medicine" who are developing food therapies and
inspiring patients to abandon lustful appetites. But once a "competent
physician" has been chosen, the Baha'i patient has an obligation to obey!
(no fair saying, "never mind, she's only a chiropractor, not a 'real'
doctor")

"Resort ye, in times of sickness, to competent physicians.."
(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqas, The Most Holy Book, paragraph 113)

- One might reflect on why Baha'u'llah considered this matter serious
enough to include in the Most Holy Book. One possible reason is the
overwhelming human tendency to go into denial... and to fail to act on
matters until they are beyond repair. If it weren't for that, I would
support Dr. Boyle's implied suggestion to move this "habit" to the bottom
of the list, since the others are all preventative and could potentially
make this one unnecessary.

- Linda Popov's list (September, 1999 issue) pointed up a spiritual health
habit that is missing from the 12 -- cleanliness.
- Kim Bowden-Kerby, Fiji
(Editor's note: Cleanliness is now added to the Health Habits list.)

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CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
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By Lynn Ascrizzi, Freedom, Maine, U.S.A.

(Editor's note: This article was written by Lynn Ascrizzi in response to
the couple's request for assistance for their 12-year-old daughter; printed
in Volume 3, Issue #1. Lynn was willing to put this article in the
newsletter so we can learn more about craniosacral therapy.)

Dear Cori and Marlize Silva Correa,

I read your letter in the September, 1999 issue of the Healing Through
Unity Newsletter. Considering that neurological testing has not detected
anything, and also, seeing that your daughter has some autistic-like
behavior, I think you might be interested to learn of craniosacral therapy
-- CST.

I am a lifestyle editor for Central Maine Newspapers and recently did a
story on a craniosacral practitioner here in Belfast, Maine -- Tsunenori
Fujimaki -- or Fuji.

Fuji was born in Tokyo and is a Japanese trained chiropractor, but
specializes only in craniosacral techniques here in the states. He has
worked extensively with brain-injured children in Japan and at the
Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential in Philadelphia, Pa., an
international organization for the rehabilitation of brain-injured
children. The institute has branches in Brazil and Australia. Fuji won a
Gold Medal of Honor from Brazil in recognition for his overal contribution
to the institute's programs. He has worked with autistic children and
children with behavioral problems, with amazing success.

Of the craniosacral fluid, he says: "I can feel it; it is like a river."
His techniques are completely noninvasive, and so gentle! He did wonders
for my neck pain caused by repetitive strain injury, from sitting at the
computer too many hours a day. I tried other therapies, but his brought
results after the first session! He gives workshops on the method, too.

Here is an excerpt from the sidebar of my story:

"Craniosacral therapy -- CST -- is a relatively recent discovery.
It dates back to the early 1900s, when osteopathic physician William
Sutherland developed a system known as cranial osteopathy. In 1970, Dr.
John E. Upledger observed the rhythmic movement of the craniosacral system
firsthand during surgery. He incorporated and refined Dr. Sutherland's
techniques with success.
Later, he and a team of medical researchers tested and documented
the influence of therapy upon the craniosacral system and how it could be
used to evaluate and treat malfunctions involving the brain and spinal
cord, including numerous other health problems.
Virtually unknown to most people until just a few years ago, CST is
quickly gaining acceptance, says practitioner Tsunenori Fujimaki -- Fuji --
of Belfast, Maine.
CST has proven effective for many stress-related and other
illnesses, such as chronic tension in the neck and shoulder, backaches,
headaches, fatique, sleep disorders and sinus problems, he says. "During
treatment, many people also get emotional release," he says.
Other health conditions that CST addressess are:
-- Infantile disorders
-- Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries
-- Migraine headaches
-- Chronic fatigue
-- Motor corrodination impairments
-- Scoliosis
-- Central nervous system disorders
-- Emotional difficulties
-- Temporomandibular joint syndrome -- TMJ
-- Post-traumatic stress disorder -- PTSD
-- Orthopedic problems
For more information about craniosacral therapy -- CST -- contact
the Upledger Institute, Inc., 11211 Prosperity Farms Rd. , D=325 Palm Beach
Gardens, Fla., 33410=3487, 1-800-233-5880, ext. 4536. E-mail:
upledger@upledger.com Web site: http://upledger.com"

The best of luck and may the blessings of Baha'u'llah and the
downpourings of guidance from the holy spirit set your daughter firmly on
the road to healing and health.
Lynn Ascrizzi

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RESPONSES TO THE SIX TYPES OF HEALING
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By Suzi Esser, Simi Valley, California, U.S.A

I have some scientific evidence to add to your recent article (June, 1999
issue) on healing through the Holy Spirit. Your article again focused on
the faith of the sick individual, which sounds to me more like the 3rd type
of healing. Healing through the Holy Spirit "does not depend on contact,
nor on sight, nor upon presence; it is not dependent on any condition.
Whether the disease be light or severe, whether there be contact of bodies
or not, whether a personal connection be established between the sick
person and the healer or not, this healing takes place through the power of
the Holy Spirit." (Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 256) It can be
accomplished regardless of whether a sick individual believes, and
regardless of whether that person knows they are being prayed for or aided
in healing. I refer to two scientific studies, cited in full below:

The first study assessed the healing of coronary patients after being
admitted to the hospital. Half of the patients names were given to a local
Christian church, and were prayed for whereas the other half were given no
additional treatments. Patients did not know which group they were in. The
group which was prayed for needed fewer treatments (such as antibiotics and
ventilary assistance) and had a lower severity score based on their
hospital stay after initial diagnosis (the groups were equal in severity of
initial diagnosis).

The second study was conducted at an AIDS clinic and included other kinds
of distal healing in addition to prayer. Again, patients did not know if
they were receiving this type of care. Patients in the spiritual healing
group had fewer new AIDS-defining illnesses, lower illness severity, fewer
doctor visits, fewer hospitalizations, and fewer days of hospitalization.
They also showed improved mood when compared to the group which did not
receive spiritual healing.

Both of these studies reflect scientific support for healing through the
Holy Spirit. There was no additional contact with a healthy person (type
one), no "laying on of hands" (type 2) and no knowledge of faith on the
part of the sick that they were being healed (type 3) yet healing was aided
without physical means. From a scientific viewpoint, it is good to know
that some research supports the existence of this sort of healing.

References:
1) Byrd, C. (1988). Positive therapeutic effects of intercessory prayer in
a coronary care unit population. South Medical Journal (UVH), 81, 826-829.

2) Sicher, F., Targ, E., Moore, D. and Smith, H. S. (1998). A randomized
double-blind study of the effects of distant healing in a population with
advanced AIDS. Report of a small scale study. West Medical Journal (XN5),
169, 356-363.

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Second Response to the Six Types of Healing
By Pati Wolfgang, Pennsylvania, U.S.A

I very much enjoyed Orvil H. Minney's article Six Types of Healing - Type 4
At one point the article (June, 1999 issue) states "Two healers I have
known, heal from a distance by invoking the Holy Spirit through meditation
and prayer, then they visualize their prayer as a flow of light to the ill
one. One caveat is, the ill one must be in a receptive mental state through
their own Faith so that the prayers of the healer, or well wishers, will
enable the Holy Spirit to use the
vibrations to excite the nerves of their innate healing system."

I am a Reiki practitioner and have a slightly different perspective than
the one presented here. I, too, practice long distance healing. Whenever I
can, I ask the recipient to select a time when he or she can be lying
comfortably, and ask that they meditate or relax. I do this not because it
is necessary, but because it is optimal. The Spirit will do the right
thing at the right time, but as with just about anything involving
receiving, if we are calm and open we are able to receive more.

There is also a very slight chance that if caught unaware, the influx of
energy can make you dizzy. That happened to my husband once, when I had
agreed to send Reiki at a specific time. I missed the appointment, and sent
it an hour later. He was dizzy, in a meeting, just for a moment. Since
then, I try to let people know when I am sending, and be on time!

But I have had a myriad of times when I feel Spirit is guiding me to send
Reiki to someone without them having to lay down and relax. There have
been times when I don't even know the person, but a face will flash in my
mind, or a situation.

I have had many experiences with loved ones who I felt asked me to send
Reiki. For example, last week I was emailing a family member who sees me
for Reiki, and I got the message to do a long distance session. I wrote
down in my email what I was perceiving, and what I saw Spirit doing, and it
turned out she had come down with a case of shingles (I saw gnats around
her midriff.) and the itching had stopped while I was typing, and by the
next day the rash was completely gone.

I was also able to be "present" for the birth of my granddaughter through
Reiki, and the Grace of God, many miles away. I was able to watch Spirit
help my daughter-in-law in labor, and later when checking in with the proud
papa, what I was seeing was exactly right, and she sure wasn't relaxed and
meditating!

When someone asks me for long distance healing, I do ask for them to be
quiet. But that is what is optimal, not necessary. Of course, I can't
speak for the healers you know, but I hope you don't mind me giving my
perspective on the matter.

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REIKI TREATMENT
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By Lynn from Luxembourg, Germany

A friend has asked me to write about Reiki, an exceptional
laying-of-hands energy healing technique which I’ve been practicing for
three years. The name comes from Japanese: Rei, meaning Universal, and
Ki, meaning life force (chi in Chinese, prana in Sanskrit). Although
western cultures do not recognize this concept, ki energy is pure and
limitless. It is the very energy that animates life.

Reiki is a technique of channeling ki energy into the body of a human,
animal, plant, or, into oneself for healing or self-healing purposes.
Because it is a channeled energy, nothing of the healer’s body or personal
energy is passed to the receiver. Neither, in fact, is anything new added.
All living beings contain ki energy; Reiki simply give us more from the
abundance of the universe.

Reiki is not the only laying-of-hands healing technique. Indeed, the
ancient world had numerous such practices. But this particular technique,
discovered by a Japanese, Mikao Usui, during a meditation retreat in l914,
is unique in several vitally-important ways. Most energy healing is
dependent on the skill of the practitioner. This person must know both how
to raise the energy in the hands to the appropriate frequency and how to
direct it to its healing work. Reiki energy, however, is already channeled
at high frequencies, and it is the receiver’s body (subconscious and higher
self) which directs the energy to the most vital tasks. I have been taught
that Reiki cannot violate the freewill of any being and have had numerous
experiences where this teaching has been confirmed. Nothing will be healed
that the receiver does not want to heal. Reiki is also perfectly safe in
any and all situations. It is impossible to harm another living being
using this energy. Neither is scepticism an obstacle as long as the
receiver is not completely closed to the possibility of healing.

A full Reiki treatment takes about one hour and leaves the receiver
feeling peaceful and relaxed. The giver of the treatment is not drained as
she/he has lost no personal energy. Often, some of the energy stays in the
healer's body, healing anything which needs healing during the treatment.

What can Reiki do? It is impossible to promise someone that Reiki will
heal a certain ailment. Not all ailments are curable through energy
techniques. But the energy will go where it is needed most, and will do
the work it can do. In the short time I have been working with Reiki, I
have seen it do things ranging from eliminating heahaches, knee and other
joint pains to stopping degenerative blindness! It can shrink tumors and
aid the immune system. Everyone with experience of it has seen marvelous
results.

Perhaps the most miraculous part of all is that Reiki channeling can be
taught to anyone in a day or weekend workshop! This is because there is no
real skill to teach--the teacher uses a short series of movements to open
the channels of the student. It is a quick and painless process.

There are no catches. This energy is a gift to humanity. Though many
organizations and religious groups have adopted it , it is not inherently
part of any group and requires no specific religious beliefs for healers or
healees. There is however, a spiritual side to using the energy. After an
attunement (the process of opening the channels), the body does go through
an adjustment period which can take some months, during which physical or
emotional blocks are released. Although this can be briefly unsettling, it
leaves the person feeling somehow more balanced and mature, often
strengthened in religious feeling.

I suggest that interested individuals check alternative bookstores for
books on this subject (keeping in mind that people with many beliefs have
written about it). To find a Reiki Master (teacher), inquire at the
bookstore, health food stores, or where other alternative therapies are
found. Prices vary but should be roughly comparable to other workshops
since some people do charge excessively high prices, so look around until
you find the person who is right for you.

[For Energy Healing in the Niagara Region of Ontario, see Laura Canal's Miles of Smiles Foot Massage, Reflexology, Energy Healing, and Reiki in the Niagara Region. (-J.W., 2015)]

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BAHA'I WRITINGS - "FRIENDS WILL BECOME PHYSICIANS"
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Abdu'l-Baha repeatedly advises that we all become physicians for every
soul. There is tremendous potential and power contained in the Holy
Teachings to heal ourselves and others. These quotes are examples:

"It is my hope that the breaths of the Holy Spirit will so be breathed into
your hearts that your tongues will disclose the mysteries, and set forth
and expound the inner meanings of the Holy Books; that the friends will
become physicians, and will, through the potent medicine of the heavenly
Teachings, heal the long-standing diseases that afflict the body of this
world; that they will make the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dead to
come alive; that they will awaken those who are sound asleep."
(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 275)

" O Ye lovers of God! The world is even as a human being who is diseased
and impotent, whose eyes can see no longer, whose ears have gone deaf, all
of whose powers are corroded and used up. Wherefore must the friends of God
be competent physicians who, following the holy teachings, will nurse this
patient back to health. Perhaps, God willing, the world will mend, and
become permanently whole, and its exhausted faculties will be restored, and
its person will take on such vigor, freshness and verdancy that it will
shine out with comeliness and grace." (Abdu'l-Baha, The Divine Art of
Living, p. 151)

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"ASSISTING THE TRAUMATIZED SOUL"
***************************************************
By Phyllis K. Peterson, Illinois, U.S.A.

The title of the book "Assisting the Traumatized Soul: Healing the
Wounded Talisman" published by the Baha'i Publishing Trust is a welcome new
addition to the literature on health issues. This important new book
reaches out to the survivors of trauma and to those who wish to assist
them. With open and inspiring honesty about her own painful experiences as
a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, the author tells how she learned to
overcome her own trauma by delving into the healing words of the Baha'i
Writings. Ms. Peterson shows how the loss of power over one's self, that is
the essence of abuse, greatly hinders progress and personal well-being.
Offering her own perspective, and relying extensively on the teachings of
the Baha'i Faith, the author shows what a traumatized soul can do to heal
and regain a sense of self-empowerment, and what a Baha'i community or
individual can do to help.

Here are the comments of two other early reviewers, printed on the back cover:

"I found it deeply moving and most illuminating...it is a tremendous help
to be able to read a book such as "Assisting the Traumatized Soul," written
by someone who has suffered and who also has acquired a profound knowledge
of the Teachings and their application to the situation." Ian Semple,
Member of the Universal House of Justice

"Assisting the Traumatized Soul" will bestow upon many the spiritual tools
necessary to make the painful journey "out of the dark cave" and into the
light." Dr. Michael Penn, author of "Desecration of the Temple" which is
about violence toward women world wide...."

The cost of the book is $16.95 and it can be ordered by calling USA Baha'i
Publishing Trust at 1-800-999-9019 or Unity Arts in Canada at
1-800-465-3287. They will also accept orders through e-mail at:
BDS@usbnc.org

In addition, below is the web site of Phyllis K. Peterson for her company,
Skylark Publishing, which contains many items that concern anger,
boundaries and women's issues: http://members.aol.com/skylarkpp/web1.html

 

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LAUGHTER ROOM
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The "Laughter Room" is a new and regular feature which will appear in each
issue of the 'Healing Through Unity' newsletter. We need your
participation to help decorate the "Laughter Room". Please send your jokes,
funny stories, information and experiences about laughter, etc. to:
-- .

"...the Master (Abdu'l-Baha) reached for a bunch of grapes and dropped them
into my glass of water. I looked at them, and He laughed as He saw that I
was puzzled as to what to do. I felt it would be rude to put my hand into
the glass to take them out, but I ate two grapes which hung over the rim of
the glass and sadly left the rest. During the luncheon Abdu'l-Baha would
lean over, look at me, and laugh; and so did I. He conversed with others at
the table, but I was too overwhelmed to remember what was said."
(Ramona Allen Brown, Memories of Abdu'l-Baha: Recollections of the Early
Days of the Baha'i Faith in California, pp. 45-46)

**************************

"Take a guess how many times the average four-year-old laughs a day."
"Who knows?"
"I do, three hundred. Now guess how many times the average adult in our
society laughs in the course of a day."
"Fifty?" I tried.
"Try fifteen," Julian said."
(Robin Sharma, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, p. 129)

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How can we learn to laugh?

Abdu'l-Baha loved laughter and always asked His friends 'Are you happy?' To
learn how to laugh, we can encourage ourselves even when we do not feel
like it, to laugh out loud every day. Or, we can look in the mirror and
laugh for a couple of minutes. Do this each day until it becomes a natural
habit. An analogy would be; How can one learn more trust, confidence and
love? The answer is to act with trust, confidence and love, and you will
become trusting, confident and loving. It is similar with laughter, we can
act with laughter and become happy beings.
- Frances Mezei

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HEALTH HABITS
******************************

Here are some essential elements for our spiritual and physical health
provided by a physician who has practised for more than 35 years under the
guidance of the Baha'i teachings.

Trust in God
Consult a skilled physician and follow his instructions
Practice detachment from all save God
Practice moderation
Pray and meditate daily; read the Creative Word morning and evening
Be happy always
Simplify
Focus
Practice patience
Cleanliness
Eat simple, natural plant foods
Drink adequate pure water
Evaluate progress daily, summarize weekly

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QUESTION OF THE MONTH
****************************************
A reader asks us this question:

One thing I would really like to address are the issues of wealth,
prosperity consciousness and the Fund. I firmly believe that the same
feelings of fear and unworthiness that contribute to physical and emotional
illnesses also keep us in poverty. We each deserve physical health,
emotional health and financial health. We say healing
prayers so that we can serve the Cause without our physical
limitations getting in the way, but when was the last time any of us
asked God to make us wealthy enough that our financial limitations
would not get in the way?

We consider healthy food and exercise part of a spiritual lifestyle,
but we consider healthy profits and financial exercises part of a
materialistic lifestyle. But both our bodies and our money are just
tools for the spirit. I would like to hear your views on this issue.

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PURPOSE OF THE NEWSLETTER
********************************************

"Healing Through Unity" is published for the purpose of sharing thoughts,
comments and experiences on how the teachings of the Baha'i Faith are being
applied to our physical and spiritual health. Other than the quoted Holy
Writings, the material in this newsletter represents the thoughts and
opinions of the writers and has no authority. You are free to copy
articles, provided you indicate the source of the article. If you have a
change of e-mail address or wish to unsubscribe the newsletter, please
inform me. There are 10 issues per year; it is not published during July
and August. The newsletter is produced in Ontario, Canada.

WEB SITE
You can visit the website and obtain back issues and the Healing Through
Unity Course at: http://www.healingthroughunity.org

Please send your stories, comments, suggestions or "Question for the Month"
ideas to Frances Mezei by e-mail: -- .