The healing arts involve creativity, intuition, openness, awareness

Statesman Journal Newspaper, Total Health Insert, August 6, 2000

by Toni Gilbert, MA

The healing arts, like all artforms, involve a creative process. The artist-healer is sensitively aware, improvising as the situation unfolds. Artist-healers have developed the uncanny capacity to pursue an inner knowing---an intuition---which guides them to do what will be most beneficial. They focus their skills, training and techniques with intent to facilitate healing. Artist-healers do what they do…and trust the process to unfold as it needs to and in its own time.

I believe the client "knows" (i.e. has information at an unconscious, or soul, level) about the healing that needs to happen. The challenge, for the artist-healer, is to draw this information to the surface, to the conscious awareness of the client, where it can be utilized. The healer knows the art of being present---it's like waiting for a birth. This waiting, and the acting upon one's intuition in the moment, is essential. It is impossible to decide ahead of time what will be needed. The process must be unstructured, allowing for the wholeness of the individual to be gradually, and creatively, born into health.

Sensitive healing artists are open to who they really are, and have learned to trust this creative process to guide them in their own and others' healing. One person can never really heal another person, because the true healer resides within each of us. A healer only helps to guide the one who needs healing to their own unique path of health. The foundation for this healing relationship is a special bond of compassion and trust which occurs when two (or more) people join to bring forth the latent healing potentials that are held in common. In truth, they have come together to teach and heal each other. In a true healing relationship, both heal and both are healed.

Illness and injury are not entirely understood and are, therefore, not fully appreciated. The need for healing brings us a unique opportunity to learn about ourselves. We often begin by learning what we need to stop doing. The healing process then guides us to discover other dimensions of our lives, such as spirituality. From this perspective, illness and injury have great value. They may tell us to rest, not to work so much. They may give notice that our time on this earth is precious, and fleeting. We might just discover what is most important to us, enabling us to spend our time doing that which makes us most happy and healthy. In the process, we often make a more loving connection to those around us, and to the earth itself.

Most of us could use help with our mental, physical and spiritual health. We need not be ill or injured to benefit from healing arts techniques. These tools (e.g. guided imagery, visualization, meditation, energy work, etc.) are useful to anyone interested in achieving personal satisfaction through honest and authentic self-discovery. In some circles, this is known as prevention.

Health is the harmony of mind, body, and spirit. It is my belief that maintaining health is all about learning to tune into ourselves and being open to our potential. Disease occurs when we spend too much time focusing our attention upon what is wrong with us. Everything we do, think, feel and believe has an impact upon our health. When we are in alignment with who and what we are, we are also in harmony with the universe; we feel better, feel more joy, and are healthier.

The healing artist can help initiate the healing process. The first step is to be open to the searching and the inner knowing. The Universe/Spirit/God/The Divine will assist in this very important healing journey. We can find evidence of this sacred help everywhere as we learn to tap into and trust our inner knowing, our inner wisdom.

In the healing process, we can relax past the intellect, into a deeper place within ourselves. Inevitably, we become more open to loving ourselves and others. Love, compassion, forgiveness, and self-responsibility are key elements, necessary for the full understanding and attainment of health and the authentic self.

Toni GilbertC, is a certified holistic nurse with an education in psychology and transpersonal studies. Toni teaches at Chemeketa Community College, and has a private practice in Jefferson where she offers an array of healing arts techniques to enhance wellness and prevent illness. (541) 327-7749; tgilbert@dnc.net and a web site www.tonigilbert.com.