| With the advent of new theories and medical | | | | exactly what you need to begin the healing process. |
| practices, the face of traditional medicine continues | | | | A good percentage of spiritual healers feel that their |
| to change in today's world. In addition to standard | | | | power to heal is a direct gift from the divine, and |
| medical practices, many people are discovering that | | | | refuse to take payments for what they do. You |
| there can be distinct health advantages in spiritual | | | | might be able to locate a healer nearby by talking to |
| healing practices. But just what is spiritual healing? | | | | your friends and acquaintances in various religious |
| And how can it help you to take a most holistic | | | | groups and societies. |
| approach to overall health care and well-being? | | | | The Internet has allowed many spiritual healers to |
| Spiritual healing is, by definition, the use of | | | | heal remotely, a service they call "distance healing" or |
| non-physical means to treat illness or affliction. | | | | "distant healing." You can find a number of web sites |
| Sometimes referred to as "faith healing," spiritual | | | | that offer this service. You simply input your |
| healing is a type of treatment generally considered to | | | | information in the fields provided, and you'll receive |
| be classified as "alternative medicine" or non-traditional | | | | instructions on when the healing session will take |
| medicine. Yet the roots of spiritual healing go back | | | | place and how you should prepare. Some of these |
| for centuries, and some form of this treatment has | | | | healing sites request little more than an e-mail |
| been shown to exist is almost every culture known | | | | address; others ask for more information. The |
| to history. | | | | amount of information you provide is up to you; if |
| At its core, spiritual healing involves channeling a type | | | | you do not feel comfortable giving out your personal |
| of energy from one person, the "healer," to another. | | | | information, you will likely be able to find another site |
| Practitioners claim that this energy can help to heal or | | | | that does not request this information. Many also ask |
| alleviate physical, mental or spiritual ailments. The | | | | if you'd like to be on their e-mail list; be sure to check |
| healer is generally thought to be a medium for the | | | | the appropriate boxes depending on your preference. |
| healing powers that are coming from a higher power, | | | | Some spiritual counselors also offer their services |
| or spirit. | | | | over the phone, in a one-on-one personal phone call, |
| Other forms of spiritual healing include prayer or | | | | or in conference-style calls. If you can't find someone |
| meditation healing, in which there is not a channeler, | | | | in your local calling area, you may want to try one |
| or healer, but the energy comes directly to the | | | | with a toll-free number. The sessions can last |
| person asking for the healing. | | | | anywhere from ten minutes to half an hour, so |
| What makes spiritual healing so unique from modern | | | | remember to keep the phone charges in mind when |
| medicine is that spiritual healing addresses not only | | | | you dial. |
| issues of the body, but of the mind and spirit as well, | | | | If you are truly interested in spiritual healing, it does |
| treating all three of these human phenomena as one | | | | not have to be a drain on your finances. With all the |
| cohesive unit. In fact, spiritual healing is based on the | | | | options available for free healing, counseling and |
| premise that no one can be truly healthy unless their | | | | spiritual support, there are several ways to find the |
| mind, body and psyche are indeed operating in one | | | | help you need at no cost. But do keep in mind that |
| sympathetic unit. It is not enough to alleviate physical | | | | almost all spiritual healers will accept a donation so |
| symptoms of illness or injury; to be completely | | | | their can continue their ministry. There is no |
| healed one must also address the mental and spiritual | | | | recommended amount; just give what you can |
| symptoms as well. And, conversely, spiritual healers | | | | afford so they can continue their healing work. |
| also believe that many physical problems are actually | | | | Many people today are searching for answers to life's |
| manifestations of illness or disorders within the mind | | | | important questions, and the answers can often be |
| or the spirit. Curing one without addressing the other | | | | found in spiritual counseling. Through various types of |
| will be futile and counter-productive, according to | | | | spiritual counseling, people can achieve both physical |
| these healers. | | | | and emotional healing to illness and affliction, as well |
| Many people claim that spiritual healing is a "New Age" | | | | as peace of mind and a greater understanding of the |
| phenomenon, but in reality that is not so. Most | | | | world around them. |
| organized religions invoke some aspect of spiritual | | | | So what exactly is spiritual counseling? Some describe |
| healing, through prayer, meditation or special | | | | it in informal terms, as a way to learn about the |
| intentions, and praying for the sick is a widely | | | | world around you, and how you relate to it. Others |
| recognized and respected tradition. | | | | lean toward a more formal definition; a form a |
| There are myriad methods for carrying out spiritual | | | | counseling that includes a good deal of exploration |
| healing. Some use a laying-on of hands to transfer | | | | and support regarding a person's religious and values |
| healing energy; others anoint the sick with special oils; | | | | beliefs. Most counselors will agree, however, that the |
| for others, special crystals seem to be the conduit | | | | aim of spiritual counseling is to increase awareness of |
| through which healing occurs. There are as many | | | | the spiritual nature of life, and use that awareness to |
| methods as there are religious and spiritual | | | | improve one's situation in life. This improvement is |
| interpretations, all with the ultimate goal of bringing | | | | often seen in health and well-being issues including |
| healing and wellness in mind, spirit and body. | | | | recovery from illness or affliction. |
| Spiritual healing takes many forms, including a | | | | People turn to spiritual counseling for any number of |
| self-healing regime that has been used in many | | | | reasons. Some are looking for philosophical answers, |
| religions for centuries. And it is becoming increasingly | | | | while others are seeking relief from the plagues of |
| popular outside of organized religion, too. In addition | | | | our society, including stress, anxiety, depression, |
| to prayer, many people are turning to meditation, | | | | addiction and other bodily ills. The common thread |
| journaling, and other forms of introspection to | | | | through the counseling stresses that the mind, the |
| connect with a higher spiritual power. This connection, | | | | spirit and the body all work in tandem to create a |
| they say, enables them to absorb the healing power, | | | | healthy person, and any treatment that neglects one |
| become aware of things they can do to help improve | | | | or more of these three things is not a complete |
| their own condition, and ultimately take charge of | | | | therapy. Take for example, the mental issue of |
| their own well-being. | | | | depression. Widely thought to be caused by a |
| In addition to traditional religious healing, there are | | | | chemical imbalance in the brain, depression can also |
| several other recognized types of healing including | | | | manifest in physical aches and pains, as well as |
| Reiki (a type of massage), cranio-sacral therapy, | | | | serious emotional and spiritual issues like hopelessness |
| healing touch, and a range of other healing programs. | | | | and unbearable sadness. Treating just the physical |
| The topic is a popular one for scientific study, and | | | | symptoms alone may offer some relieve, but |
| more and more doctors and scientists are beginning | | | | ultimately will not offer a complete holistic treatment. |
| to validate that spiritual healing in many of its forms | | | | A spiritual counselor can often help patients dealing |
| can be an effective tool in creating a healthy and | | | | with serious physical problems, like depression or |
| whole human being. | | | | serious illnesses like cancer. One of the ways a |
| Are you interested in spiritual healing but can't afford | | | | spiritual counselor can help is by teaching you skills to |
| to pay for a professional healer or spiritual counselor? | | | | manage your stress and anxiety about the illness. Not |
| You'll be happy to learn that there are many options | | | | only will you feel better mentally, but the effects of |
| out there for free spiritual healing, in many forms. By | | | | lowered stress on blood pressure, digestion and other |
| taking advantage of these free sources you can help | | | | bodily functions can be quite dramatic. |
| begin to heal your mind, your body and your spirit | | | | Spiritual counselors may hold many titles, including |
| into a cohesive and healthy unit. | | | | hypnotherapist, imagery counselor, pastoral counselor |
| The most easily accessible free spiritual healing can | | | | or Reiki master. There are a number of different |
| be found in religious organizations in every town and | | | | types of spiritual counseling; the one that works for |
| city. Most organized religions do include some sort of | | | | you pretty much depends on your value system, |
| spiritual healing, either through prayer, anointing, | | | | your comfort level, and how well you relate to the |
| laying-on of hands, or other means. Religious | | | | counselor on a personal level...the latter of which |
| ceremonies are generally free and open to the public, | | | | being the most important; there truly needs to be a |
| although some organizations do ask for free-will | | | | connection there. |
| donations. Some also have membership restrictions. | | | | While most earthly religions have an aspect of |
| The most common of this type of spiritual healing is | | | | spirituality, most spiritual counselors are not affiliated |
| prayer. Mainstream religions often offer special | | | | with any particular religion. Their services are generally |
| prayers for the sick, both for their members and for | | | | non-denominational and available regardless of your |
| non-members. Visit a local religious facility and ask | | | | religious background, or lack of one. There are |
| about their healing policies. | | | | exceptions, of course; many churches and other |
| Prayer can also be used as an aid to spiritual healing | | | | religious organizations offer pastoral counseling, which |
| on an individual level. There are many books and | | | | is not the same as true spiritual counseling; pastoral |
| resources available on the subject of prayer and | | | | counseling is based on the Bible for the most part, |
| healing. Start by visiting your local public library and | | | | and true spiritual counseling requires you to look |
| reading up on the various types of prayer and | | | | within yourself for the answers you're seeking. |
| meditation healing. Many people report significant, if | | | | To find a spiritual counselor, you might want to check |
| not nearly miraculous, results from prayer, and many | | | | with your local religious organizations, and local |
| health care providers are also becoming increasingly | | | | business directory. You can also find a large number |
| aware of the power of prayer and meditative | | | | of spiritual counselors online. Many of these |
| reflection to improve healing. | | | | counselors are willing to work remotely, either via |
| In addition to organized religion and private prayer, | | | | e-mail or by phone. You can also check several |
| there are a number of spiritual healers who offer | | | | organizations dedicated to spiritual counselors and |
| their services for free. Many professional spiritual | | | | healers to help you find someone you can work with. |
| counselors have web sites that offer a wealth of | | | | To get the most out of your counseling session |
| information on spiritual healing, what it is, how it | | | | though, it's important that the person you choose is |
| works, and how to get started. Some even offer a | | | | personable and makes you feel comfortable. |
| free personal consultation, designed to determine | | | | |