2005-06-28

ruminations about spiritual healing and ME/CFS

I've not been great these past couple of days and I'm really glad I pushed the publication of this month's emag forward.

Ever since I've been taking the supplements Lesley gave me to release the toxins from my cells, and to drive them out - I've really felt them do their work. There is definitely a virus that hasn't shifted for years, in my body - and so this current nutritional supplement plan is meant to deal with that.

Lesley has made sure that the supplement program she has me on is not too harsh on my body, and I am meant to take less of my 'normal' supplements if I feel a lot worse (in case I'm overloading my body).

Anyway, ever since I've been taking this new stuff (or moreover, the 'chemex' homeopathic remedy she prescribed, which is meant to release the toxins from my cells) I feel I've been fighting what feels like the flu, with sore throat, achey 'cloudy' ears, swollen glands, thick head, aching body, and sneezing , sneezing, sneezing...

It's not fully blown flu though thank goodness - just feels like what you get when you're developing it - so I'm still fairly functional...

... well, with respect to my 'lower' PVFS standards anyway!

Alas I have insomnia too, which isn't helping matters. So yes, I am feeling rather icky and ill.

Still, I can get out of bed, eat, and manage to write an email or two (or a couple of posts on the forum) before I need to go back to rest.

So anyway, once the emag was rolled out, I decided to just take it easy.

After hours of trying to get to sleep, I decided I'd just read until my eyes and brain couldn't take it.

I don't read much because the energy I have is spent on the computer or doing research for sleepydust. But every now and then when I do to take a break from all things 'sleepydust', I like to spend those few precious hours catching up on a spiritual or business book - I know - how opposite can you get topic-wise?

So these last couple of days I have spent my time reading a book by a recovered CFS sufferer.

For me, it's a book that has been challenging deep rooted beliefs. I don't think everyone that reads this book would stick to reading it unless they were very open minded. It goes along the premise that our illness 'serves us' and that we can heal ourselves spiritually.

Do I believe it?

I really can't say. I don't know! And that means I don't disagree with it, but then I don't agree with it either - because I don't know!

It's simply because, despite my extensive reading to date, the whole area of metaphysics, spirituality, and its effect on health is still largely baffling to me. I need many more years of learning I think. At least thats how I feel right now.

It's an amazing area to learn about...

I've been listening to a CD by the amazing healer Matthew Manning, who tells about how it's been proven that cancer cells can be healed (in a controlled environment) by the power of mind.

I don't feel educated or knowledgeable enough to write a piece about spiritual healing with authority, at least not right now, because I am still baffled myself.

And writing something where I would be unable to write with conviction, would probably put me at risk of unintentionally implying that ME/PVFS/CFS is psychosomatic, or psychological. And I don't believe it's any more psychosomatic, or psychological than other physical illnesses such as cancer or AIDS.

Nevertheless, if all manner of physical illnesses can be overcome (or at least lessened) using spiritual healing techniques, then that's a different matter.

Perhaps my reservations are because of our way of thinking in today's modern western world...

... splitting the mind from the body and spirit...

... splitting the body from the spirit and mind...

...splitting the spirit from the mind and body...

Yet surely as a living human being, you are 'one' - a combination of mind, body, and soul!

And perhaps it is for this reason - until I understand it more fully myself; to be able to recount it to other 'sleepydusters' in a way I feel comfortable, that I would prefer to learn more first.

I certainly don't want to imply in any way that ME/CFS is any more psychological or psychosomatic in nature than other physical illnesses. Yet for some reason, I feel it's important to acknowledge the huge effect our emotions and spiritual state have on our well-being.

Just thinking out loud...

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