AN INTEGRATED CONCEPT OF HEALING AND NUTRITION by Chris Pringer ©9-92 "Will I ever be healed of this condition?" The question that first needs to be addressed in answering that is: "What is healing?" Then I ask, "How soon are you willing to do the process required to manifest that healing in yourself?" Or sometimes, I just shorten the answer to both questions to "That depends on you." Perhaps it is best to be stated here that the below definitions and descriptions allude to exceptionally ideal states and that this process of healing may be a never ending state. This is especially so when one considers the theosophical view that, simply put, no matter how "self realized" one becomes, there is always more to realize, or greater awareness to attain. A true master is a true student and a true servant. Healing has been defined in many ways, and I prefer the definitions which integrate the naturopathic and Gestalt (psychology) definitions with the theosophical. This provides the spiritually holistic perspective which considers all the levels of life, from the physical to the spiritual. I. According to this perspective "total health" can be defined as: a) alignment of all levels of our being -- total agreement and accord with the will of God; b) the will of the ego is virtually the same as the will of God without harboring any resentment or other emotional blockage to the flow of divine love whatsoever; c) the personality and mental body is a virtual channel for the Higher Self and manifests this mastery through the emotional and physical body as described in (e) below; d) the emotional body is fluid -- totally so, such that no attachments to emotions or emotional states, or to the lack of same, exist, and such that there are no judgments that restrict the flow or awareness to same; the present is experienced/felt as present (totally new) experience; feeling states and associated images of the past do not block or functionally impair perception of any relevant current data; e) the being is free, by choice, (including generally unconscious, soul-level decisions ), to be or experience whatever physical state, including sickness or injury or total physical health, according to the needs of God, such that the physical body acts in total unimpeded fulfillment of whatever service is required in this Light; f) all four lower bodies (physical, emotional, mental, etheric) and all the many components of each are in total and harmonious communication --there is no repression, blocks, "secrets," or contradictory momentums that can not be spontaneously resolved into a functionally integrated response when stimulated, etc. The being's system works as a perfectly efficient team, like an orchestra of the highest development, a myriad of individual talents successfully serving one loving purpose. II. From this view, any one level reflects the process of the other levels; i.e.: the physical is the out-picturing of one's life process on all other levels. In certain kinds of circumstances this will not be at all apparent until one takes into full consideration I(e) and its implications. Remember, these definitions and descriptions hold forth the ideal process of multi-level self-mastery which has rarely been observed to happen in a single lifetime. Given the above definition of healing, the process of healing then is a many-fold process but can be broken down into a relatively few basic principles: a) Building and Cleansing -- taking on healthful ways, thoughts, feelings, energies, foods, habits, etc. (building), and letting go of those that are unhealthful (cleansing). There are myriad methods and belief systems to consider as one likes, and for each individual there are specific ways that work best at any given time. b) Clearing Patterns -- attaining clarity regarding beliefs and motivations, habit patterns and related bodily patterns; contradictions in same as regards orientation, momentums, and goals; self-honesty with same and as regards fears, anger, sadness, and other "negative emotions. c) The Ego Process: in three basic concurrent yet overlapping phases: 1st -- developing the ego with self esteem; 2nd -- begin ego-detachment while still building self esteem; 3rd -- complete detachment from (ego's) need for separate identity, but NOT from the ego itself. Step-skipping (especially here and in (d) below) necessitates returning to any unfinished work. d) Balancing the emotional body -- becoming aware of and acknowledging one's own feelings, discriminating self's from others' feelings, processing stored emotions, developing integrity in dealing with emotions, then learning the art of detachment from emotions (eliminating emotional reaction; increasing feeling-response-ability and choice), then simultaneous disidentification with any emotional aspect and still retaining capacity for total empathy as consciously directed. e) Transcending attachments (obsessions, compulsions, addictions, etc.) -- including the attachment to being right, to knowing, to being enlightened or to having no attachments (spiritual egoism). f) Alignment 1) Realizing talents, current limitations, desires, needs, capacities, and goals. 2) Liberating one's thoughts and imagination. 3) Gaining clarity, insight and vision. 4) Ego's choice with that of the highest loving will of God. 5) Realizing one's unique gift(s) to life (this is universally applicable, in case you doubted). 6) Allowing unconditional love to be the motivating force and most cherished feeling in and for life. g) Becoming the Love that one is (that one is inherently worthy of) while living everyday life on the earth plane -- self realization. A final note of loving caution: Ideals serve to motivate and maintain clarity as to the goal. On the other hand, if we make ourselves wrong for being less "realized" than our ideals, our ego will grasp to identify with "higher" states. This can serve to motivate but also creates blindness to the "Present Moment" -- the only "time" wherein self-realization occurs. The ego does this by using the mind to fool us into believing our dreams are here-and-now realities, while it denies that we still hold on to old patterns. The liberating implication therefore, is that there is no healthy reason to judge oneself, let alone punish oneself, for being where one is in the process. Or as I like to say, "Don't feel guilty, just do something!" BODY-MIND NUTRITION by Chris Pringer ©2-86 Let's see how this applies to something like nutritional awareness. You may ask, "What is more simple than basic nutrition?" And I may happily answer, "Nothing." "And what is so simple then, as healing?" I may ask. "It's not," you say, or maybe, "Well, that may depend on various factors, at best." So what is the relation of "simple nutrition" to apparently not so simple healing? And could there actually be a separation between what we take in and how we feel? I believe not, but lets look at some basic principles of nutrition and health. Nutrition is based on the proper functioning of one's capacities to do each of the following eight steps: recognition, acceptance, ingestion, digestion, assimilation, integration, and utilization of needed nutrients, and elimination of any unusable matter from the body/mind system. If anything from the environment is to be used, it must go through this process. I want to say that this -- and the rest of what I have to say in this essay -- applies to whatever level we conceive, including the emotional and intellectual (with stimulus/experience) as well as the physical (with foods, liquids, and gases; light, sound and touch). Nutritional processing is not only therefore continuous, it is multi-dimensionally interdependent. That is, intake on any one or more levels has some degree of effect on the intake and process on all the other levels. Furthermore, if the input gets stuck somewhere in the system it becomes a hindrance to body/mind's functioning. Health, here meaning more than just a lack of symptoms, is maintained through taking in only the needed nutrients that can be fully processed on the various levels. Seen in this light then, proper nutrition appears quite a bit more complex than we may be used to seeing it. But any complication(s) are actually dependent upon the individual and the degree to which s/he has strayed and/or been led away from the natural laws of health. These laws are basically very simple, but "civilized" societies have, over time, given priority to other matters, and our intakes have been influenced (read: complicated) by the conditions that have resulted. The difficulties with our intake sometimes come when we have to tell the difference between things which we can process easily and those which require unnecessary expenditure of energy. One of the primary sources of these difficulties is our early conditioning and role models. We are not always properly conditioned by parents or others in regard to nutrition on whatever level. Even our taste buds can be misled especially as to the sources of needed nutrients. Those things which do not provide needed nutrients or experience, are addictive, or bring on "expectations," also tend to bring on guilt over the past or anxiety as to the future. There are some intakes that require more energy to process. But more benefit is derived from them -- at least during some phases of growth or healing. Other times we feel as if we've taken in a problematic substance or experience, when in fact, a less recently ingested item has been causing "stuckness" and is actually being relocated or eliminated with the vibrant stimulus of the more recent intake. This is one example of what is called a cleansing or "healing crisis." Let us look at how it may appear on the experience levels. A troublesome memory might be made acceptable or even useful by a new perspective, but the introspection required to accomplish this might be temporarily painful, as the information being reorganized may cause structural cracks in the age-old belief pattern foundation, established in infancy and childhood. This is one instance where belief patterns can be appropriately restructured to provide a more resilient foundation -- especially if "core" belief patterns are involved. In healing the cause (or core) as well as the effect, clarity and efficiency and transformation is brought about, whether it be in regard to physical matter, an emotional or mental energy, or an attitude that may be held on to for some reason. Some, including myself, would say that the "attachment" on one level is necessarily indicative of holding on all the other levels, that everything exists to some degree on all levels, however imperceptible to the human senses. Modern physics is revealing and exploring this multi-dimensional existence -- heretofore only spoken of by mystics and yogis -- and is opening up a whole new path regarding what could be called Body-Mind Nutrition. Today's path to health seems to be primarily concerned with "cleansing out" so much garbage or stuckness or rearranging misplaced data. Hence, "transition diets" and "transpersonal therapies" are devised. These allow certain discretions in the earlier stages while implementing essential principles that initiate the aspirant onto the path of quality existence (without suffering). Body-Mind Nutrition does not emphasize life-longevity as its goal, although that may very well be a side-effect along with joy-filled health. Each individual has a different life process or path, and each is a multi-dimensionally integrated and continuously changing being. Therefore, our healing processes need be individually devised and revised according to our transition(s), so that we be freed of our "natural aging process" as we have come to call it, and be able to choose to age without internal organ ailments, arthritis, senility and the like. To do this generally involves a new, "holistic" understanding of the basics -- and the simplicity -- of nutrition and health. <========= Open Window This Wide For Best Results Reading the Below ==========> _____________________________________________________________________ ¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤ AUTHOR INFORMATION, COPYRIGHT REGULATIONS/POLICY & DISCLAIMER [4'08] Chris Pringer, Reiki Master Chalice Productions * Specialist in Energy-Body-Work (Integrative Art & Writing) * Personal Coach in Mind-Body By Appt Only: 206-286-0899 Preventative Health Awareness Seattle, WA 98119 * Ordained Minister Chaliser@iinet.com Chalice Bridging Ministries: Body-Mind-Soul Integration for a Healthy Planet =========== ///\\\ ============= Essays, Art, Professional Info, Links, FTP via: Body-Mind-Chalice Integration Website: http://www.chalicebridge.com: Essays, Poetry, and Art for Bridging the Mind-Body Connection, "Body-Parenting", Psycho-Spiritual Self-Healing, Consciousness, Theology, Practical Emotional Intelligence, and Psycho-Social Trends & Ideas for Evolving. http://www.chalicebridge.com/Chalice-Integration-Index.html: (Chalice Art, Mandalas, Sacred Geometry, & Related Philosophy: via http://www.chalicebridge.com/4C-Publishing.html: Chalice Creations & Concept Charting - Desktop Publishing for Vibrant Greeting Cards, Logos, Display Ads, Promotional Presentations, Charts & Web Books, Mandala & Prayer Cards __________________________________________ COPYRIGHT REGULATIONS/POLICY & DISCLAIMER: REPRODUCTION: I welcome my writing/artwork being reproduced, provided that it is in it's original and complete form (or an editing or excerpt by agreement with the author), and contact info are intact and readable ("Chris Pringer, chaliser@iinet.com, www.chalicebridge.com"), and so long as the following conditions are applied: a) Hardcopy reproduction is ok so long as it is for personal or non-profit organizational use only; b) Distribution and posting on web pages, blogs, and forums with my permission (mostly because I want to know where it's been put, and I'd be most honored to be asked). c) Any distribution of my writings or artwork must be w/o charge unless with prior agreement in writing with the author. d) The only exception to that regards the World Healing Prayers (at http://www.chalicebridge.com/WorldHlgPrayrOnSacredGeo.htm), which I encourage people to make all the copies they think will be used effectively - without obligation to get my permission or even contact me. DISCLAIMER: None of my writing, chalice art, or PolyPsyArt is intended to be, to replace, or discourage the appropriate use of, medical attention and/or treatment, but as educationally informative for the purpose of overall health enhancement and preventative maintenance. So far as I know, I have not quoted any other person without saying so. I have emulated a number of writers and teachers, so I wouldn't be surprised if many of my statements have very similar words and meanings as they. In any case, I have always tried to say what I believed. If you find that I have plagiarized anyone to any degree, please let me know -- by noting the complete published reference, and including the full quote and a few sentences of text before and after). This given, I will duly correct the writing. AUTHORSHIP: Unless otherwise noted under the titles, all essays, artwork, prayers, pages at my web site (as at my previous site at AOL), and with exception of some of the solid color and cloudy-sky color backgrounds and logo/headers for others' sites as noted) has been composed, rendered, and/or web-authored © by myself, Christopher Pringer, practitioner in Body-Mind Integration since 1984, and ordained minister (Chalice-Bridging Ministries) since 1987. Most of the personal health-oriented essays at this site were written in the early 90's, and tend to use a more generalized in approach than I would when working with an individual. ________________ Professional Bio I began my studies in multi-level self-healing when in the service, in Thailand in the Winter of '73. The focus then was on self-help psychology, consciousness, and eastern and western mystical perspectives. This continued through my university studies in Norman, OK '74-'79. 1980 took me into naturopathic studies, primarily nutrition and herbology when I lived in Oklahoma City. Not seeing the naturopathic doctor route as affordable at the time, I found direction via a five-evening massage course, Fall '83. That led to a six month professional practice, followed up with the training in Sante Fe, NM, '84-'85 (described in the next paragraph). Since then I have practiced massage and/or healing facilitation for others, initially in Santa Fe, NM (during/after my training), then San Louis Obispo, CA, and Seattle, WA. This includes exploring personal challenges and self-healing methodology. A session may include various energy work modalities, Body/Energy-Awareness based Preventative Health Maintenance Instruction, or only Reiki or relaxation work in total silence. A client chooses based on whatever stress, pain, or concerns are present at that session. A client may request a "Body Pattern Reading," as well as various massage/bodywork therapies, all of which techniques are listed & described in my brochure. Individual, program, and 3-6 week interval-based rates are available. My interests have primarily centered in three areas: 1) Body-Centered Psycho-Spiritual Process (as in "Hakomi" style of) counseling and bodywork, including as assessing an individual for the most efficient means of addressing connective tissue injury, short and long term, and the most efficient application of the results of that assessment (on physical and/or emotional levels); 2) in The Basic How's And Why's Of Psycho-Emotional Storage In The Body-Mind, and in the related fascia memory storage dynamics - referring to the technical aspects of neuro-physical interface between connective tissue, emotion, and the brain); 3) "Chalice-Bridging" style chakra balancing - based in the perspective that the chalice, far more than just a cup in this interpretation, is about the human embodiment of Spirit into the three "lower bodies" (mental, emotional, and physical) which compose the "Body-Mind". Which is also a "cauldron" for the balancing and integrating of Humanity with the Divine - individually and communally. My training includes over 1370 hours of classes and practicum, including with the New Mexico Academy of Massage and Advanced Healing Arts in Santa Fe, NM (1984-85), and with various accredited bodywork and therapy workshops (`86-present), as well as 100 hours training with the Alchemical Hypnotherapy Institute (1989), over 100+ hrs apprenticeship with healing practitioner Robert "Mitra" (`85-`86), and 150 hours apprenticeship with Silena Heron in Herbal Studies (`83-`84). For the detailed version my training, you may go to the latter half of my Reiki Therapy Practice Brochure. Which also includes (and relates context for) links to essays elaborating on aspects of imbalance and injury, assessment, and healing. ________________________________ Some Body-Mind Quotes From Chris BODY-MIND AWARENESS, at the core of preventive health awareness, is one of the most simple, efficacious, & cost-effective forms of HEALTH INSURANCE there can be. Hence, massage is far from just "a luxury item," and bodywork therapies can be indispensable for the healing of certain conditions. MUSCLES RELATE TO ATTACHMENTS - to what we use to take our stance, to hold our place, to perceive and respond to our environment, and to extend who we are and/or want to be. Or used to be (in too many cases, perhaps). That speaks not only to the body's condition and function, but to how it communicates awareness of where one is along one's path (of becoming who one truly is). THE BODY IS . . . among other amazing things, a unique communications system --intimately linked with one's TOTALITY. Establishing rapport with one's body can be a PATH to self realization. ONE OF MY DREAMS is a society where/in all children are taught how to feel/see/read their own body-mind communications such that preventive health maintenance eventually becomes second nature. And actually, for the most part, they would be encouraged to re-awaken and build upon what I believe to be a NATURAL INCLINATION - conscious self-healing and continuous expansion of awareness.