September/October 1998
Articles on the theme "Health Consciousness"
A Matter of Life and Death
by Sylvia Jackson
The writer, who is dying of brain cancer,
gives some advice concerning prevention and medical exams.
Magic Tea Plus
by Constance Felos
How an attorney and her client created an adventurous new paradism of health
consciousness. The recipe for a special herbal tea.
Health-Minded Living
by Bob Gonzalez
Some tips from the manager of a health
food store how to achieve and maintain optimum physical health.
Miracle Consciousness
by JoAnne Gregory
Miracles, fake or real? What is it
that makes miracles possible?
How's Your Subconscious?
by Patrick Plaskett
Habits and their effect on our health.
Changing bad habits. Creating a different future.
True Health Consciousness
by Carol L. Roberts, MD
A doctor talks about what you can do
to avoid visits to the doctor.
Becoming Health Conscious
by Dr. Audrey Craft Davis
The importance of our words and thoughts.
Becoming food conscious. Our attitude to things, especially money. Counting
our blessings. Awareness of others and the environment.
A Simple Clay Bath!
by Lauana Lei
How the writer, suffering from heavy
chemical/metal poisoning, recovered her health by taking a clay bath.
A Healing Education
by Barbara Bedingfield
An account by a Waldorf teacher of
the basic educational requirements for maintaining the health of a child.
Our Spiritual Source
by Rev. Pat Cross
On connecting with our spiritual source
to realize a true health consciousness. Using our spiritual powers to heal
ourselves.
Other Feature Articles
What's Newz?
by Dee J. Findlay
2000 and Beyond!
by David Findlay
Natural Health Q&A
by Dr. Scott Rubin
Parasites and allergies -- some natural
remedies.
What is . . . A Course In Miracles?
by Mary Barbara
How "A Course In Miracles"
came to be and some of its basic teachings.
Your Astro Guide
by Weiss Kelly
Mineral Kingdom
by Judy Power
Featured stones for September and October:
Labrodorite and Opalized Quartz
Miracle Consciousness
by JoAnne Gregory
The Cathedral of St. Anne-de-Beaupre in Quebec is a Roman Catholic shrine where miracles of healing are said to take place. As part of a historic tour of Quebec, my parents took me there when I was child, a very long time ago. I remember clearly my impression as we passed through the large oak doors of the entrance. The antechamber leading to the sanctuary was piled from floor to ceiling with crutches, eyeglasses and other remains of discarded infirmities. I was spellbound. Maybe there is magic in the world! Was it possible that we could change things in life that we didn't like? Maybe God did something besides demand to be worshipped. A church couldn't lie about something this important . . . could it? When I asked my father why he hadn't spoken of this before, he said, "Because it's fake." With just three words he had reduced the power and presence of God to the status of professional wrestling.
Generally, I would have taken my father's judgment at face value without question, but the evidence of miraculous healing was very substantial. "If it was fake," I asked, "then where did all the crutches come from?" He said, "People might think that they were healed when they left the church and drop off their crutches only to find out that they were still sick when they got home. They're probably too embarrassed to come back and get their things." OK, I could buy that explanation . . . sort of. But, if a person needed crutches to walk in and didn't need them to walk out, even if it's just for a short time, doesn't that qualify as miraculous? Somehow, I knew that my father was not the authority with whom to discuss the more subtle dynamics of faith healing. I filed these questions away for future investigation.
It's easy to dismiss the work of evangelical healers as bogus. We have all heard stories that reveal the financial motives of tent revival style ministries. The character played by Steve Martin in the movie Leap of Faith exemplifies many people's understanding of the exploitative nature of those in the business of selling miracles. Many people are equally suspicious of the motives behind organized religion - myself included.
So what about all those crutches and eyeglasses? What happens at places like St. Anne's in Quebec or Lourdes in France? If not miracles of healing, why do the faithful still pilgrimage to these places? Is it simply out of desperation or is there some basis for perpetuating the mystery that these places hold?
Father Francis MacNutt, a Catholic priest and healer, addresses the logistics of large healing services in his fascinating book, The Power to Heal. Father Francis states that he would expect as many as 200 people in a gathering of 1000 to be healed by prayer in a large group setting and many more will experience improvement. In his description of the large healing service, the consciousness of the group is essential to the fulfillment of healing. The service is carefully designed to engage each individual and draw him into the event as the group mind builds in intensity. There is no theological discourse or intellectual discussion to daunt the imagination or interfere with manifestation.
As the meeting progresses, with preaching, praying and revelations of previous healings, the heightened energy that is generated through the expectation of the group is palpable. Suddenly, the healer begins to get messages. "There's a man in the rear of the auditorium with a back brace on, the Lord is healing you." Invariably, someone will stand up, take off a back brace and declare that he is healed. This electrifies the crowd with the sense that God is actually among them. At these moments the expectancy of faith is raised to its highest pitch. The energy in the room is full of anticipation. Consciousness has moved from that of sickness and need to the possibility of perfect health. Pure creation is at hand. No longer is the individual subject to re-active thinking, she now flows with spirit in the re-creation of physical perfection. The consciousness of health is magnified to its full expression. Extraordinary things begin to happen. The collective consciousness of a group of people coming together for a creative purpose -- to attract health -- has done exactly that. Many people have left their crutches at the door.
Consciousness is at the root of all creation. Whether it is world events or physical health. Everything begins with a thought. The power of consciousness to create health or anything else that it truly desires would seem to be without boundaries. If your consciousness suggests to you that "miracles of healing" are fake and that discarded crutches are just someone's idea of emotional manipulation, then so be it! If you choose to find magic in the possibility that we can create our reality, then let that be your truth.
In the words of the Master, "As a man thinketh, so shall his world be."
JoAnne Gregory, astrologer, is a minister of Spiritual Science and a certified intuitive counselor. She gives astrological consultations and classes at Treasures Metaphysical Bookshop in Tampa, FL. (813) 287-2665
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