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traditions
Native American healing
psychospiritual approaches

definition

American Indian healing has its roots in ancient truths that predate any tribe, nation, or culture. All healing in the Indian way is closely connected with the Earth Mother. The relationship to one's environment (the earth, trees, animals, sun, and sky) is intimately involved in healing. Accordingly, whenever possible, healing is done in a natural setting. The Earth has an electromagnetic vibration that is able to assist the medicine man or woman in extracting the imbalanced energy existing within the person being healed.

All creation on this Earth contains a spirit, a life force. This includes rocks, plants, hills, trees, sky, and animals. The Mother Earth is a living, sensitive, breathing organism. The forces of all creation are dynamically interwoven into a harmonious whole. Physical and mental illness occurs when this balance is upset. The purpose of all healing ceremonies is to preserve or restore personal and universal harmony.

Although particular ceremonies, medicines and healing practices are used, the most essential aspect in the Indian view is one's relationship to the medicine and environment. Experiencing universal creative energies opens the doorway to the development of personal power, and this surrender leads to the discovery that we are guided by a force greater than ourselves. To become a medicine man/woman in the Indian tradition involves 20 to 30 years of study and taking on a complete way of life. Contrary to Western medicine, there is no split between a healer's life and one's healing practices. Medicine people spend as much time keeping their people healthy through dancing and singing as they do in healing diseases.

The relationship to the medicine is one of mutual respect and appreciation for its power. A dynamic relationship exists between the medicine man or woman and the tools utilized in the curing rites. For example when herbs are used, the plants are gathered and prepared in a definite way. Crystals are utilized in a respectful relationship (as teachers of power) for their electromagnetic attraction which is capable of drawing imbalanced energy out of the body. Color healing utilizes the particular effect of certain colors to increase vibrational resonance in the physical and etheric bodies, balancing the chakras and auras. Prayer is an integral part of all healing. A sacred relationship must be established in order for the medicine to surrender its power to the healer for use.
(Bliss, (John Amodeo and Sandy Newhouse), p. 48-53)

see:
attitudinal healing
Ayurvedic healing
compassion and healing
healing belief systems
healing power of humor
healing power of meditation
healing power of prayer
holographic consciousness
human energy fields: overview
Kahuna healing
mind beyond body
psychic healing
quantum healing
search for god
state-dependent learning
Sufi healing
Tai Qi as a healing art
the shadow and physical symptoms
transference and countertransference
yogic view of the human body


footnotes