METAPHYSICAL CAUSES OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)
“If you can imagine an electrical cord with insulation that’s frayed and worn away in places, causing a short in the wire and then shorting out the electrical system, then you can visualize multiple sclerosis (MS).” THE AUTOIMMUNE CONNECTION ~ Rita Baron-Faust
Before we start unraveling the emotional causes of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), I’d like to look at Louise Hay’s perception of this dis-ease, which she describes it as – “Mental Hardness, hard-heartedness, iron will, inflexibility”.
The many people I’ve communicated with, who have MS or inquired about it, were taken aback when they read Louise Hay’s description. They were hurt and upset at what she was implying. I’m not even sure if I totally understand her metaphysical reason for MS, but I’d like to try.
The people I know with MS are highly emotionally sensitive (empaths). As a result of being so open, stressful situations and people can override their nervous system causing them to feel overwhelmed and exhausted.
“Empaths are naturally giving, spiritually attuned, and good listeners. If you want heart, empaths have got it. Through thick and thin, they’re there for you, world-class nurturers.” Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself from Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life ~ By Judith Orloff
I’ve worked with some individuals, who counteract their sensitivity by developing a false persona. They ‘appear’ courageous or overconfident and in control, on the outside which means they’re holding back or numbing their true essence inside. They’ve disowned parts of themselves that they believe others (friends, colleagues, partners and intimate relationships) will see them as weak and needy. This form of false extrovert can create mental hardness, hard-heartedness, iron will, inflexibility, which actually conflicts with their inner-anxiety, insecurity and self-doubt.
FLEXIBLE/INFLEXIBLE
Flexible people believe in change, both in themselves and in others The rigid person, on the other hand, is fearful of any kind of change .. as things keep changing around them, they become more fearful and insecure.
Inflexibility creates rigid people, who are generally sensitive and nurturing, but also fearful .. a fearful person becomes more rigid as he or she hides their true identity through life. This creates as mentioned before, an artificial extrovert who finds themselves swinging between impulsiveness and rigidity.
The more fearful a person becomes, the more rigid he or she moves through life. This form of control is a result of insecurity and anxiety, creating tension and hesitancy which may show in their speech. Even when anxiety is intense, they may give the impression that they’re in control and to others appear normal. But inside they’re a mess!
Rigidity has been described as a static, stiff and strained position (self-depreciating) that interferes with body’s natural sway and limits the body’s ability to move at its joints, which link the bones together. Healthy, well-coordinated muscles receive and respond to a multitude of signals from the nervous system, which help them to move in a balanced way. But when the muscles are overused, misused, abused, disuse, disease or trauma, the smooth interaction between the nervous, circulatory and musculoskeletal systems is disturbed, movement becomes difficult, restricted, painful and sometimes impossible. These dysfunctional patterns affect the nerve fibers that are surrounded by a layer of insulation called the myelin sheaths.
As commented to an inquirer in the ‘About’ section of this blog, “Nerve signals cannot travel normally when the myelin sheaths breaks down. This causes the nerves to become inflamed. The more inflamed the nerves become, the more they begin to fail, short-circuiting the electrical flow, thus causing nerve inflammation. Damage to the brain and spinal cord is scattered throughout the Central Nervous System (CNS) causing sclerosis, which means ‘scarring’.
Normally, and through time the myelin has the ability to repair itself (remyelination). But with MS, the nervous system is continually and rapidly short-circuiting, not allowing the body’s natural healing abilities to catch up so healing can take place. Movements of the body may become impossible to control because the messages from the brain to the muscles fail to get through. Because each person experiences different patterns of scarring, no two people with MS have exactly the same symptoms.
“When our nervous systems shift into an aroused state in response to danger, and we cannot defend ourselves or flee, the next strategy the nervous system employs is immobilization. Nearly every creature that lives has this primitive response wired into its repertoire. Psychological scars from trauma are reversible but only if we listen to the voices of our body.” Waking the Tiger ~ Paul A. Levine
CREATING THE OUTER-MASK
“Who would you be without the thought that you need to make an impression?
… How do you react when you believe the thought that you can find love and approval by making yourself more likeable? If the person you are doesn’t seem to be attracting enough interest, it seems natural to make some changes, to modify your appearance and your personality until you hit the right combination and become more appealing. Most people begin with the physical, trying out dozens of variations of outfits, hairdos, makeup, diets, walks, and facial expressions. This progress to figuring out when to smile, when to make eye contact, when to laugh, when to talk, when to keep quiet and what opinions to have.
A built-in part of developing a personality that’s designed to please is constantly watching for signs that you’re succeeding. This can be a very stressful way to live. Anxiously focusing on the other person, checking for approval or disapproval, leaves nobody at home in yourself, nobody noticing your thoughts or taking responsibility for your feelings. This cuts you off from the source of real contentment. The outward focus also leaves unnoticed and unquestioned the inevitably painful thought that if you have to transform yourself to find love and approval, there must be something wrong with the way you are” I NEED YOUR LOVE – IS THAT TRUE? ~ Bryon Katie
CASE STUDIES
One of the case studies I’ll be doing in this metaphysical article on Multiple Sclerosis is Paul (not his real name), a young man of 31 years, who was diagnosed with MS at 27 years old. As a child, Paul lived in terror of his father. He often saw the atmosphere in his home to be intensely emotional, he wanted to either run away or fight back (yell, scream, throw things) but instead he fought to keep it all inside. He was afraid his intense emotions may anger his father; with his mom, he saw her as weak and powerless. This caused him to ignore his inner feminine qualities and create a false persona that appeared logical, analytical and cold (mental hardness); it was his means to gain worldly power and success.
Looking at Paul’s astrological natal chart, and sharing/communicating with him, it seems his alcoholic father displayed wide mood swings that frightened him, keeping him and his mother and siblings, in a state of constant fear. At times when Paul’s dad came home drunk, he beat up on the children to vent his frustrations. Feeling powerless toward authoritative people, Paul reacted (and still is reacting) with fear, suspicion and a lack of trust.
Defensiveness and rigidness harden into our character to protect us, especially when we feel threatened by others. When this defense mechanism is alerted, we either pull back or crawl into our shells at the first sign of trouble, or we rapidly boil with rage. Autoimmune and chronic disorders can become a crutch to hide behind when painful and difficult situations arise that you don’t want or don’t know how to meet head-on. Being in constant fear can take away our strength and immunity; it deteriorates bones, delays the mending of fractures, weakens the lower back and in extreme cases, causes paralysis.
Most of us learn, by the age of four or five, to hide, squelch, or camouflage our emotions in social situations. We catch on very quickly to the fact that most people are inauthentic with one another – they lie about their feelings, leave important words unsaid and trample unheedingly over each other’s obvious emotional cues. Learning to speak is often a process of learning not to speak the truth and attaining an uncanny level of pretense in most relationships. Every culture and subculture has a different set of unspoken rules about emotions, but all of them require that specific emotions be camouflaged, overused, or ignored. Most children – (empaths) – eventually learn to shut down on their empathic abilities in order to pilot their way through the social world. The Language of Emotions ~ by Karla McLaren
Paul did learn to shut down his feelings .. he pictured himself as a go-getter, full of physical daring and courage. He told himself: ‘be strong, be forceful, be independent, be brave’; and powerful. Inside he felt scared and insecure but hid it by building an armor of steel around himself. He kept moving in order to maintain his balance, but the effort required so much attention, he didn’t notice when he went speeding off the track. He was thrown off the football team at college and lost many a job because of this. It became hard for him to remain calm, because everything stimulated him. Nervousness and excitability were the price he paid for non-stop excitement. But it all came to a halt when he started waking up exhausted and felt out of sorts, even though he’d had a good night’s sleep. When his vision started affecting him, he thought it was from his fatigue. He took supplements known to energize the body, but he only became more lethargic. When he started suffering tremors, he knew something wasn’t right but was too afraid to see his doctor.
Tremors are a common symptom of multiple sclerosis, experienced by around three-quarters of people with the condition [multiple sclerosis], and one that often makes sufferers feel quite self-conscious. For most, the tremors will be mild and occur infrequently, but for some, the tremors may be more severe. https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/2017/05/12/four-types-of-ms-related-tremors/
Along with the tremors, Paul started experiencing tingling in his legs and feet; his headaches were more frequent and he suffered pain in his abdominal area and bowel problems. Frightened he turned to a good friend, who advised him to seek medical help and gave him the address of an excellent clinic. We’ll explore this in later detail later.
Arlene (not her real name) age 44, also has multiple sclerosis (MS). She too, like Paul, is deeply sensitive, and intensely emotional. What differs between Arlene and Paul, is that Arlene was naturally born with a competitive spirit, where Paul changed his persona.(false extrovert) to forget his troubled past. Arlene’s parents loved her for her achievements, not for the person she was. This caused her to disconnect from her inner-self and her own emotions to focus intently on being recognized as a high achiever. Arlene worked hard to get A’s in school, and kept herself busy with swimming, dance, and gymnastics. No matter what she did, the love she craved for was never there. Deep inside she struggled with pent-up rage and hostility.
Arlene hated the constant go, go, go, she just didn’t know how to stop. Her nerves were frazzled, from turning herself inside out to win the love and approval of her parents and teachers. She often skipped meals, even though she was doing strenuous physical work. Her body became undernourished and she stressed about money, this further depleted her system. Too much adrenaline and cortisol ran amok in her blood, causing a tremendous drain on her immune system, and physical body. She developed an array of allergies and physical stresses, including intestinal cramps, memory loss, sleep deprivation and depression. With all this going on, Arlene developed mononucleosis at the age of twenty-one. Her blood tests showed, low levels of Vitamin D, hypothyroidism and she tested positive for the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV).
Epstein-Bar Virus (EBV) is a herpes like virus thought to be the cause of mononucleosis and Burkitt’s lymphoma. It is contracted through the cells in the lining of the mouth and throat, which means it can be spared by sharing utensils, kissing, and unsanitary habits. EBV symptoms are known to duplicate other conditions, including debilitating fatigue, fever, swollen glands, arthritic symptoms, multiple allergies and difficulties concentrating. As the immune system deteriorates, many people with EBV get strep throat, tonsillitis and chronic sore throats.
“EBV is a highly specialized parasite. It seems to strike humans exclusively, and its focus is the antibody-producing B cells of the immune system. [B cells amplify the immune response]. It is as if the very cells with the task of destroying viruses entice the Epstein Barr Virus in. As B cells carrying the viral genome begin manufacturing virus particles, the T lymphocytes try to stem the rising tide of nonself by secreting alpha-interferon and suppressing the B cell hosts. This is at best a questionable tactic, for it effectively weakens an already damaged immune system.” Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ~ Jesse A. Stoff, M.D. and Charles R. Pelegrino
PART II –
“Illness is more than a matter of imbalanced physiology. There are always psychological and emotional aspects to every health problem and unless these are thoroughly addressed no cure, from no matter how holistic or alternative a source, will ever be complete and lasting.” Burton Goldberg and the Alternative Medicine Guide
WHAT IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)
Trying to explain MS to friends and family can be frustrating because MS is known as an invisible disability or a hidden wound, that others cannot see. So even though pain, poor sleep, fatigue, depression and other symptoms stop you from doing what you want or need to do, the outside world sees you as perfectly healthy. Unfortunately, looking good on the outside and feeling awful on the inside can sometimes causes others (including your doctor) to over look the impact of MS on your life. However, as this disease progresses, it attacks your brain, spine and eyes*, causing problems with your balance, muscle control, vision and other bodily functions.
*The optic nerves (optic neuritis) and parts of the brain that control eye movement can be affected by MS, causing blurred or hazy vision and sometimes temporary blindness. Occasionally, pain around the eyes will happen before the eyes are affected, sometimes within an hour or even up to a couple of days.
“Optic neuritis is linked to multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease that causes inflammation and damage to nerves in your brain and spinal cord. Signs and symptoms of optic neuritis can be the first indication of multiple sclerosis, or they can occur later in the course of MS. Besides MS, optic neuritis can occur with other infections or immune diseases, such as lupus”. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/optic-neuritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354953
MS affects both the immune system and the nervous system of the body. The immune/lymphatic system, is composed of white blood cells that move rapidly and specifically through the bloodstream protecting the body from attack by bacteria, viruses, and cancers. MS is an autoimmune condition in which an overactive immune system attacks the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves in the Central Nervous System (CNS). This flux of energy is called demyelination, and causes disrupting signals between the brain and the body – similar to an exposed electrical wire. MS can be really frustrating because the symptoms are often unpredictable, sometimes flaring up for no particular reason and always at inconvenient times. A large variety of symptoms may include: blurred or temporary lost vision, spasticity of muscles, loss of sensation, incontinence, loss of balance, extreme fatigue and memory problems. Eventually the myelin sheath repairs itself, but often scarring remains (sclerosis), which continues to impair the function of the CNS. When there are multiple scars, it is known as ‘multiple sclerosis’.
The lymphatic system is like a sewage system for toxins in the body. The primary function of the lymphatic system is to transport lymph, a clear, colorless fluid containing white blood cells that help rid the body of toxins, cellular waste and other unwanted materials.
Emotions contain patterns of memories that are stored in the body. Anxieties, worries and fears can make us feel trapped in a situation. The stomach area can become inflamed, along with the duodenum and colon.
“The valves of the lymph system move the waste-filled fluids to be flushed and filtered. But since there is no pump as there is with the heart, lymph circulation depends solely upon our breathing and muscle movement. Physical exercise and diaphragmatic deep breathing are critical to lymph cleansing and to a healthy immune response.” Linda Page ~ Detoxification: Programs to Cleanse, Purify & Renew
Deep abdominal breathing and exercise are all ways to support lymphatic circulation. Every time we contract a muscle, the muscle rubs against numerous lymph vessels, stimulating them to contract. This is another reason exercise is so good for us!
“The lymph glands are a part of our immune system as they help purify the blood, keeping it healthy and strong. They also “clean up” garbage in the body (such as dead cells in the blood) for removal. Their relationship to the blood implies that the lymph glands are intimately connected to keeping us in an even emotional state, constantly purfiying our emotions. Swollen glands or blocked lymph nodes can therefore imply an emotional blocking or a denial of emotions, leaving us unprotected and vulnerable to invading poisons, or to the effect of poisonous feelings.” (Debbie Shapiro The BodyMind Workbook).
In regard to the immune system, a large percentage, about 80% is located in the gut. So the foods you eat, do have an impact on either strengthening or weakening your immune system. If you have an autoimmune disease, you may have a gut imbalance known as “small intestine bacterial overgrowth” (SIBO) which can lead to leaky gut. When leaky gut is present and the liver is over-stressed, the door is open for toxins to reach the brain via the bloodstream. When inflammation in the brain gets out of control, you might notice yourself feeling exhausted, forgetting things, feeling confused and unable to formulate words in a sentence.
“The gut’s function is to absorb and break down food nutrients for assimilation. It also functions to keep harmful things from leaking into the bloodstream where they can harm. Imagine a barrier/wall between the gut that resembles “a net” (called the intestinal gut barrier). When there are abnormalities in the ‘intestinal barrier,’ the permeability of your “net” increases, (the holes in your net get bigger), so things that normally can’t pass through this net into your bloodstream are now able to, causing a negative immune reaction. These things include undigested proteins like gluten, bad bacteria, undigested foods particles and toxic waste. The newly introduced particles can cause health issues such as food sensitivity, IBD, IBS, autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, inflammatory chronic diseases, thyroid problems and even skin conditions. This new permeability called “Leaky Gut Syndrome” can be caused by an unhealthy diet (low-fibre, high saturated fats, sugars and alcohol), over-consumption of Lectins (proteins found in un-sprouted grains), chronic stress, imbalances in the good and bad gut bacteria, fungal and bacterial infections, long term use of conventional NSAIDs and stomach acid-suppressing drugs.” Nutrition House Nutrition House – Glutamine – Leaky Gut
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
An EXCITED nervous system forces your body to produce an excess of the stimulating and stress producing hormones adrenaline and cortisol, to prepare your body for fight or flight. The adrenals release cortisol in preparation to heal damaged tissue and stimulate your immune system, but too much adrenaline and cortisol can raise your stress levels higher.
Cortisol has a huge impact on the liver, which has an important role in regulating blood sugars and removing toxic substances from your bloodstream. If the liver can’t function at its best, it gets weary and tired. Not only is it the breeding ground for negative thoughts and feelings, it physically affects the blood, the immune system and your ability to fight infections.
“The functioning of the liver is very involved in addiction behavior, whether the addiction be to food, alcohol or drugs, as it is the liver that removes toxins from the blood and deals with the excess fat and sugar intake. The emotional tension that gives rise to the need for release through an addiction is felt here, as this tension may be based on anger and resent (towards the world, or towards specific individuals). Often the toxins are ingested through the addiction as a way of hiding from those toxins already in our system: hate, frustration, rage, incompetence, self-dislike, hurt, greed and a need for power. By taking in external toxins we do not have to admit to, or face up to, what is already inside us.
The liver is closely connected to the third chakra, that which focuses on power and self identity. By transforming these qualities we are able to rise above them to the highest levels. But it can be just as easy to become a victim of these energies as it can be difficult to transform them. The liver then reflects the anger and confusion experienced in trying to find ourselves and our purpose.” Deb Shapiro The BodyMind Workbook
The constant release of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol can sear the body in a way that is similar to acid searing metal. Even hours after the output of these chemicals, they still remain high in the body, elevating blood sugar levels, causing damage to the immune system, decalcifying our bones and thinning our skin. Long term emotional stress can reach chronic levels with the production of these hormones. This is when toxic emotions become deadly emotions. This powerful ongoing infusion of chemicals injures tissues and organs, resulting in many different autoimmune dis-eases.
The predominant emotions of the nervous system is fear and/or anxiety which can constantly keep us in the fight/flight/freeze response. For example, you may feel restless, unable to sit still or be at peace; feeling hot during the day or sweating at night; reckless or lack of fear; lack of ambition or purpose; lack of drive or lack of will; low libido, inability to maintain erection or reach an orgasm; feeling cold and exhausted; fear of making any move because “it could be the wrong move”; feeling powerless; overrun by the will of others; frequent or urgent bladder problems; incontinence; holding in guarded secrets; money problems; premature aging; weak bones; bad teeth.
“Immune System – This system is in charge of keeping you safe – keeping foreign invaders out. Symptoms that show up in the immune system are often linked to defensiveness and protection. Do you feel angry and defensive? Do you feel vulnerable and defenseless? What or whom do you feel like you need protection against? (Others, or maybe even yourself? Or do you feel like you have no protection at all? The immune system is your protector. If you feel unsafe being vulnerable, have no way to protect yourself, or feel defensive all the time, it can wreak havoc on this system.” How to Heal Yourself When No One Else Can ~ Amy B. Scher
Revisiting Case Study #1~ Paul
Looking at his astrological natal chart, Paul is extremely sensitive emotionally, but he’s careful not to show it. Instead he presents a solid facade to the outer world, giving the impression that he’s quite cool, and even invulnerable. “I feel I have always worn a mask around people. I pretend too much which causes me anxieties about myself and the world around me. I never asked of anything from others yet I constantly bend over backwards to please the people around me. The image Paul’s words showed me was of him being an emotional pincushion to others. He was misusing his personal power for others.
Paul did not feel safe in his home or with his family. Because of his unstable home life, Paul was never able to enjoy a carefree childhood, he repressed his youthful spontaneity and lowered his expectations because of his father’s drunken stupor. As an adult, Paul had trouble with relationships due to a resistance of becoming too emotionally involved with someone. But he also had a huge fear of being rejected.
“Rejection: Feelings of rejection can stay with a person for many years – to the detriment of their relationships and well-being. Often people take rejection personally, thinking that they are not good enough, that there is something wrong with them. So instead of going forward and changing, they give up, close down, and feel sorry for themselves.
Fear of trusting, opening up, or getting too close to people can also occur when a person has experienced extreme rejection. Most people fear rejection, and as a result, many fail to pursue their dreams and enjoy life.
Feelings of rejection contribute to many diseases and dysfunctions, such as anorexia, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, endometriosis, paralysis, numbness, cold sores, frigidity. Such feelings can also create breakdowns, stress, nervous anxiety and tension”. THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF YOUR BODY: The Essential Guide to Health and Wellness ~ Inna Segal
We all want to feel safe, protected and cared for, it’s a place where we truly belong. But as a child, Paul suffered betrayal and a lack of trust/security…he also suffered rejection… the thought of being rejected crippled him. In Paul’s chart, it showed he was born with a strong emotional hunger and need for security. His mother, who had her own problems couldn’t fulfill Paul’s need for security, he interpreted her reaction as rejection and in turn rejected her when she wanted to be warm. I explained to Paul that he was very difficult to approach when hurt, and has a tendency to emotionally withdraw for long periods of time. He wrote back and said it was true.
Unknown to Paul, his severely limited childhood, although long past has been intensifying his loss of confidence and inner conflict. What’s happening here is not just the lack of support from his parents, it’s also his own feelings of self-rejection and guilt because of his mixed emotions towards his family.
Paul was under a lot of anxiety which he kept to himself. As noted earlier, he created a false persona around others so as not to rock the boat. And this was the image given to me during his distant-healing, Paul in an unsteady boat in stormy seas. He was so afraid of making mistakes or being misunderstood he’d created his own form of self-paralysis. He literally took on jobs, he loathed, so that others would thank and appreciate him. Paul was doing things to be loved, instead of doing what he loved. Deep within he felt so inadequate about who he was, he didn’t have a clue about his life purpose.
PAUL’s DISTANT-HEALING
Truth can be hard to find when it’s been hidden from us during our early childhood development.
Reiki is a healing energy where the healer acts as a catalyst for your healing. In other words, I (the Reiki practitioner) do not heal you, you do! Reiki allows your body to relax, allowing the healing process to start. The distant-healing is complete when your body tells me it has amassed enough energy to start the healing process. How you heal, depends on you.
With Reiki and distant-healing Reiki, we are moving to a deeper region of the inner self, becoming aware of the symbolic messages of your body from within. Here, we are trying to understand what your illness looks and feels like, symbolically. We are listening to the messages of your body.
This is only a portion of Paul’s healing, as the bulk of his distant-healing was confidential offered him a different perspective of his upbringing and newfound wisdom, inspiration and guidance of his spiritual purpose in this lifetime.
Your body serves as a barometer created from the inner-communication of your trillions of cells. This means your body helps show how you look at life and how this affects you inwardly. Changing your programming starts by shifting your perspective .. just one tiny attitude can turn your world around.
In regard to Paul’s battle with MS, it’s forcing him to slow down so as to change his direction in life and realign his goals on a more spiritual basis. It’s very possible that Paul is on a new path which is challenging him to heal his deep-seated fears of failure and success. It’s important that he works through his emotions so that he can clearly assess his future in the light of his true purpose.
SCANNING THE ENERGY-BODY
Scanning a person’s body before the distant-healing helps to determine where Reiki energy is most needed. Physically or remotely, the scan works on the person’s energetic field, where it’s possible to sense imbalances before they manifest physically. Remotely, I visualize myself standing alongside your energy-body. Visually, I note if there are any areas around your field that look dark or muddy. I also look for any energy leaks or holes in your aura.
Then, with my hands 2 or 3 inches above your subtle energy, they move slowly along the length of your energy-body from head to foot. I pay close attention to the sensations in my hands as they gently move over your body. I note if I feel tingling or prickling in a particular area. I also notice if your etheric body is giving off heat or feels cold, the latter usually indicates an emotional energetic block.
When I connected with Paul’s energy, I was shown how hard he worked and the high standards he always wanted to achieve (security and recognition). In fact he measured his level of self-worth with the quality of work he did. This created a lot of pressure in his system, especially chronic tension held in his solar plexus, which houses our stomach/spleen meridian, liver and gallbladder meridian. When these organs and their meridians are out of balance, we can experience so much anger and frustration, we cannot rest or relax. Hence the image of Paul in an unsteady boat in stormy seas…
LIVER/GALLBLADDER MERIDIAN
When we are frustrated, and angered, unconsciously, our fascia stiffens and our meridians kink like a garden hose, obstructing the free flow of Qi. When this happens, our brain becomes jumbled and we cannot ‘think’ clearly. Anxiety and stress cause an increase in Paul’s out-put of adrenaline/epinephrine, affecting his bladder/kidney and liver/gallbladder, meridian, increasing muscle tension and feelings of fatigue.
When imbalanced the liver can affect our self esteem and cause doubt and uncertainty about our life, and even lean us more to the past then to the future. When the liver meridian is blocked we are usually clinging to something that is no longer good for us…it also has to do with excess bile or bitter emotions, entering our blood. (The liver meridian can cause pain in the muscles around the ribs, neck and shoulder pain, side of leg, knee, outer ankle and sciatica.)
Anger is a natural catalyst and you can use it to propel yourself into action. In its healthy active state, the liver loves to move and be active, and welcomes any catalysts to keep it in motion.
As the distant-Reiki flowed in this area, I asked Paul to start noticing when something or someone caused him much anger. If he felt the anger rising within him, to watch it closely, observe it, instead of feeling it and reacting to it. . Note what you see. Give thanks to your anger as it’s a call to action, to your deepest path. Once your anger has expressed itself, let its remnants be swept away .. and let yourself fall into the comfort of your breath .. feel enveloped in a sense of trust and lightness and balanced. Allow your liver to be renewed and refreshed.
KIDNEY/BLADDER MERDIAN
The Kidneys and their Meridian are connected to the adrenal glands and to adrenalin, which is released when we experience critical and stressful moments .. the fight/flight syndrome. This is why the Kidneys are associated with Fear: fear of relationships, fear of negative expressions, and fear of self-survival.
Fear and the Bladder
Paul’s energy had been stagnated from fear, which was also accompanied with internal panic/anxiety and raciness. Many times he had frozen in fear, imagining himself alone, isolated, beyond help and facing an unknown future.
Fearing the worst and avoiding these fears; a go, go, go mentality, working hard, drinking lots caffeine, sugar; all cause our adrenaline to rise. Coffee and sugar don’t give us energy, instead they squeeze the stored qi reserves in the kidneys to fuel your body/mind. When we use stimulants for energy, we’re effectively squeezing the reserves in the kidneys, that we may need for a long and balanced life.
HEALING
During the distant-healing, I remotely placed my hands on Paul’s solar plexus and together we connected peacefully and quietly for a couple of minutes, absorbing the silence and the peace.. His consciousness flowed with the steady beat after beat, tuning in even deeper to his personal rhythm bringing energy to his heart. After the distant-healing Paul wrote he ‘felt’ a newfound balance and the release of the overdrive feelings he’d been having. I warned him not to overexert himself and to just relax and allow the distant-healing Reiki to integrate within his bodily system.
Remotely we moved our attention to the mid back area, near Paul’s kidneys and saw a warm, bright red cloud of energy swirling around and in this area … his adrenals hungrily drank this red energy as though they’d been thirsty for a very long time. This energy has the vibrational area of a warrior or fighting spirit and are always available when Paul needs them. All the Kidney asked in return, was that when Paul needs them, to give out only what he needs. Relaxing to this knowledge, Paul’s energy-body was bathed in Reiki’s liquid healing light.
As the healing came to a close, I asked Paul to take a few deep breaths, imagining a warm, watery wave working its way through his body from head to toe. This wave spiraled and cleansed all the water held in his body, moving from the outside of the kidney into the inside and flushing through the kidney tubules. Paul also visualized this water swishing through his bladder, clearing it from anything that appeared unhealthy. Paul watched as streams of water travelled down his legs and through his feet, letting all the toxins pour out of his body through his feet and into the earth beneath you.
He felt relaxed, yet invigorated after the healing …
Paul had more Reiki distant-healings as he felt he needed them, learnt to journal and discovered the Art of Mindfulness in an online community and also found ways to nurture and heal his body after visiting a Naturopathic and taking an online course.
I love your blog. 💕 This is an insightful article which serves to remind everyone that illness has many aspects, not just the physiological but the psychological too. Such a shame this wisdom is not adopted by ‘modern’medicine. Often even the ‘alternative’ approaches fail to heal when underlying emotional causes are not addressed. That’s not to say dealing with any chronic disease is simple, because it isn’t. But, your posts highlight aspects of disease which could turn around lives by a truly holistic approach which is totally patient centred.
Hi Angela,
You are spot on!
“Holistic medicine is an approach to health care that addresses the entirety of the individual affected and his or her life circumstances. If we look at someone in a holistic, nonjudgmental way, we can observe four level of existing [the spiritual level, the mental level, the emotional level, the physical level]. Jesse A. Stoff M.D.
I really appreciate your kind and uplifting comment regarding this article and the many articles on this blog. As you and Dr. Stoff point out, all chronic illnesses, need to integrate the holistic mind-body approach with traditional and alternative medicines.
We know that eating properly, daily exercise, and taking appropriate medicine(s) are actions that support the physical body. However, what makes each of us truly unique is our Spirit and our feelings and emotions. Often we don’t have a clue how harshly we judge ourselves or ‘appear’ insensitive to others. We have no idea our problems, are actually locked in old patterns, old beliefs, old ways of thinking and doing things. These old wounds, and old memories waste energy and unconsciously undermine our desire to be happy and healthy.
We are all healers and at times we need others to help us when we’re sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. Touching people in a gentle, caring way, encourages and motivates them to find and follow their own inner wisdom. The most powerful catalysts for health and vitality is to shift the mind (180 degrees) to heal your body. Often I will hear my own words to another and realize, “I really need to hear this too”. I have learned so much from the many people who have contacted me. They’ve helped me gain new and useful insights to support and guide others and I’m healing too.
Thank you for writing and sharing your spirit’s clear perspective on chronic illnesses, Angela. You’ve obviously been on the spiritual path for some time, your role as a healer is important and special.
Hugs,
ravenstar
Is there any way I can get in contact with you?
Hi Sita,
You can write me at ravenstarshealingroom@gmail.com, I look forward to hearing from you ..
Warmly,
ravenstar
One of the best writers of autoimmune diseases I’ve ever read. Thank you for your generosity if spirit and knowledge!
Hi Farah,
Thank you for your energizing and delightful message regarding the metaphysical blog(s) on autoimmune diseases. Receiving your support and valuable feedback is humbling to me and I am grateful your soul/spirit took the time to write and share this.
Hugs,
ravenstar