Alternative Therapies

The BBC in collaboration with the Open University is currently airing a mini documentary series on Alternative Therapies. Kathy Sykes, professor of Public Engagement in Science and Engineering investigates the evidence for and against various established alternative therapies. In the programs screened so far Sykes has covered hypnotherapy and reflexology. In that remaining she will look at meditation.

As a scientist Sykes, unsurprisingly, begins from a skeptical point of view. But on both topics both covered she has concluded with the admission that there may be something in it after all. (more…)

A healing meditation

I'd jut like to share the following variant of an exercise I recently heard described in the hope it may bring some comfort.

Sit comfortably. Close your eyes and relax.

Cup your hands together in your lap. Visualize a tiny point of white light in your hands. As you breathe so the light begins to get bigger and glow brighter.

Keep breathing as it continues to grow. You are now joined by your guides standing behind you, adding their breath to yours. Your loved ones in Spirit join you too, also adding their breath to the ball of light.

The ball grows and grows and also changes color. First red, then orange, then yellow, green, blue, purple and finally back to white. Its light now shines out from your hands, filling your whole body with light. It shines around the room and beyond. Around your neghborood and beyond. Finally, it extends all around the world. Bringing healing and comfort wherever it is needed.

Hold that imge for a minute or two. Then the light starts to get smaller, and smaller, until it becomes point size and fianlly disappears.

Thank your guides and loves ones and slowly return to full waking consciousness feeling refreshed and energized in the certain knowledge that your thoughts have had a positive effect on the world.

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Trust me - I'm a healer

Over the past few weeks English BBC TV has been running a series of documentaries on alternative healers. Healers featured include Stephen Turoff, and John of God. The shows have adopted an objective approach being neither too credulous nor unreasonably hostile.

A commonality of those featured is their denial that the healing is done by them. Instead they claim to channel entities from the Spirit world. One healer even claims to channel Saint Paul of Tarsus.

Something, somehow leaves me unconvinced by the near-celebrity status of the healers shown. Perhaps it's the amount of money they take by way of fees.

I've no doubt that alternative therapies can produce some amazing results. I've also no doubt the body itself has tremendous healing powers. Much "healing" results from the stimulation of the body's own self-repair mechanism triggered by faith (a variant of the so-called placebo effect). But Spiritual intervention does occur too.

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