Healing Our Bodies
Our body is the temple of the most high living God..
Concept from Christian scriptures
If we are talking about embodying our divinity, how can we expect to accomplish this if we do not consider the health of our physical bodies? Our bodies are the vessels through which we can sensorily experience God and bring this experience into the physical world through expression. The clearer and stronger our vessel, the clearer and stronger is our channel. The clearer and stronger our vessel, the more easily we can allow our divinity to flood through us and transform our experience. I will discuss this process in greater depth in the section titled "Embodying Our Divinity", these sections on healing are more about laying the foundation.
I will not delve deeply into this topic of healing our bodies as it is an immense subject. There is much information from many different perspectives and approaches available to the reader elsewhere. My intention here is simply to highlight the importance of considering also our physical well-being and provide a brief overview of some possible avenues to explore. I may blog about this topic from time to time as I feel inspired to do so. Additionally I will add some links of other people's work in the "Health" section of "Be Inspired" as I come across things that I find helpful or inspiring. I am not a medical professional or an expert in the field of physical health. I offer what I have learned over the years through my studies and my own journey as things one might choose to explore more deeply on their own. I recommend that you seek out the teachings and support of the many professionals who do specialize in the areas that most resonate with you.
In general, there are many schools of thought on any topic. There is no right or wrong way with anything. There is only the way that you choose to pursue. We are all incredibly unique and it is not particularly useful to compare our journey with that of another. Yes, it can be useful to learn from others. But it is critical that we trust our own sense of resonance of what feels right for us at any given time. And what feels right for us can, and likely will, change over time. So it is a process of following that which piques our interest then exploring and trying and learning from our experience and seeing where that then takes us. Whether we are talking about healing our past, healing our physical health, or developing our spiritual practice, it is always a journey. Life is a journey.
Professional Guidance
There is a wide array of professionals and areas of expertise that you could seek out or access for guidance and support in your journey to optimal wellness. Take wherever you are at now and work to expand that. If you are experiencing symptoms of illness then of course seek the help of medical professionals. This might be your general M.D. (allopathic doctor) who deals with prescription medication and medical procedures. Or you may choose to work with an integrative physician - also a medical doctor - who looks at your system as a whole and who will use regular medical tests as well as more non-standard tests and will prescribe a combination of allopathic treatment (prescription medication and medical procedures) as well as naturopathic treatments and changes in diet and lifestyle. You may see a naturopathic doctor who may be able to prescribe prescription medication depending on where you live and works largely with alternative treatments such as dietary supplements, herbal treatments, and other non-medical treatment modalities depending on their training and areas of specialty. A naturopath will also use non-medical assessment techniques such as muscle testing, iridology, live blood analysis etc. You may choose to work with a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) who typically will ask questions about your symptoms, diet, sleep, bowel movements etc. and will look at your tongue and feel your pulse. A TCM will often treat using acupuncture and other traditional methods and prescribe traditional teas and advise on diet.
Diet
Diet is another immense topic that one could write volumes about. Again, there is no right diet for everyone. We all have different preferences, physiology, cultural heritages, backgrounds, geographical locations, access to various foods etc. So, again, we must find our own way through the journey of identifying the optimal diet for our health. Some people grow old being healthy on a culturally traditional diet while others are continually adjusting trying various things seeking a diet that works for them. Many people in modern western society have become sensitive to foods typically consumed. We all know people who have gluten sensitivities, lactose intolerance, various food allergies. Some people eat whatever they like while others go to great lengths to tailor their diet to suit their specific needs. There has been an explosion of dietary trends as evidenced by various conferences, workshops, books, websites, youtube videos, social media etc. There is so much information available in fact that it can all become overwhelming rather quickly. Vegetarianism and even veganism are fairly common place nowadays. Smoothies and juicing are becoming rapidly very popular. Other trends are eating raw, eating local, eating organic, food combining, various forms of fasting, a myriad of cleanses, or special diets such as Paleo, low carbohydrate, low fat, and many others. Additionally, there is rampant promotion of various super foods and 'must have' supplements all over the place. There are so many different options that it is not difficult to see how this can all become very confusing. There are professionals who are skilled in such areas. A naturopath or TCM could help you get started in your exploration. Once you have some ideas of a starting direction or particular areas of interest, you could learn much by simply googling and doing youtube searches. Then again, it becomes an ongoing journey.
Exercise
Rest
Our Inner Environment
Micro-biome
Acid Base balance
Our Outer Environment
Being in Nature
Nourishing Our Soul