Aspects of Spiritual Healing

By Daniel J. Benor, MD, Contributor to Energy Medicine on Allthingshealing.com

Aspects of Spiritual Healing and the Spiritualization of Matter ~ Part One
Editor’s Note: This is Part 1 of 2

In our reductionistic Western world we are taught that reality is “objective.” We are led to believe that there is a constancy to the world and that it is consistently measurable by reliable scientific instruments. I will address these beliefs from the perspective of more than a dozen years of research in psi healing (commonly termed spiritual, mental, faith, shamanistic, bioenergetic, subtle energy, vibrational, psychic, divine, unconventional or paranormal healing).

First, let me define what I mean by psi healing and add a few words about the obvious confusion in terminology, a clear indication that there has been a lack of clarity in considering these phenomena.

Psi healing is the intentional influence of one or more people upon one or more living systems without utilizing known physical means of intervention. It is commonly practiced in two major ways: 1. With a laying-on of hands – the hands lightly touching or held near to the body, often combined with visualizations; and 2. With meditation, prayer, or other focused intent, again often combined with visualizations. The two are often used simultaneously. I shall use the term healing to mean psi healing, not to be confused with physiological process of healing.

Lawrence LeShan pioneered the investigation of healing, and laid the groundwork for scientific approaches to the study of healing. He points out that a common denominator amongst healers is the visualization of the healer being “one with” the healee and with the “All.” His book, The Medium, the Mystic and the Physicist is highly recommended for a discussion of the second type of healing. Dolores Krieger pioneered the application of laying-on of hands healing, and her books on Therapeutic Touch are also highly recommended. My own books, Healing Research, Volumes I – IV, consider these matters through the eyes of research.

I mention all of these because healing is, above all, an individual and subjective phenomenon. It is from the realms of experience we label noetic or ineffable. This means that we can know aspects of healing through inner awarenesses that are clearly perceptible but very difficult to describe in words. This is especially true in Western society, where our language is heavily biased towards the material aspects of experience. From that vantage point, we are led to believe that whatever is not perceivable by the outer senses and measurable with mechanical, electromagnetic or particle physics instruments is considered “non”sense or “im”material.

I shall return to some of these difficulties following further descriptions of what healing is – from clinical and research perspectives.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Dale O.

8:24AM PDT on Jul 31, 2012

Fascinating article, there are so many concepts that the Western mind often ignores.

July 31
send a green star

Yulan L.

5:25PM PDT on Jul 7, 2012

There are many things we encounter nearly everyday where we think, it cannot be explained. It's a funny world.

July 7
send a green star

f. s.

6:28PM PDT on Jun 23, 2012

scientists are always the last to discover anything... they recently 'discovered' that acupuncture really works.. well duh! the chinese knew that for 3000 years... etc etc...

June 23
send a green star

Past Member .

9:11AM PDT on Jun 23, 2012

I would also like to recommend the book Quantum Touch The power to heal by Richard Gordon.
It is a phenomenal book easy to understand and very fast to implement

Joanna M.

8:53AM PDT on Jun 19, 2012

I dunno. My basic nature tells me not to believe in this sort of thing, but then again, having had serious medical problems for the past decade, which traditional medicine is at a loss as how to help, I'm thinking there's nothing to lose in trying.

June 19
send a green star

Silas G.

12:11PM PDT on Jun 18, 2012

Interesting insights. I have put a lot of stock in healing, as you call it, and have to grapple with my Western world view at times, but the results really do speak for themselves.

June 18
send a green star

Sian R.

10:17AM PDT on Jun 18, 2012

Comprehension is obviously not one of your skills, Jane.
Spiritual healing does NOT depend on faith. Nor is it guaranteed - just as conventional medicine is not guaranteed. Often enough, it works. And often in cases where conventional medicine has given up. That's good enough, I think, to add it to our 'bag' of methodology..

Vicky P.

6:06PM PDT on Jun 17, 2012

don't really believe in it..but thanks

June 17
send a green star

Sheila C.

9:20AM PDT on Jun 17, 2012

scientific fact is that I am learning, by observing my own healing (western vs eastern), that this eastern influence is more scientific, gentle and healing than that of the 'scientific' western that mask they symptoms and drains the pocket book: the proof is in the healing of my boody from chronic disease. I highly reccomend alternativie medicine!

Abbe A.

5:30AM PDT on Jun 17, 2012

thanks