The Modern Practice Of Spiritual Healing

In a world driven by science and technology, the value of our spiritual health is rarely recognized or appreciated these days, yet it is an essential aspect of our holistic health and well-being.

The truth is that spiritual healing has been practiced since the beginning of time to promote physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. Our ancestors were much wiser in this regard. They had a holistic view of health and wellness that not only focused on the physical and mental, but also honored the spiritual or metaphysical aspects of our existence.

In ancient Egypt, for example, illness was treated as a battle between good and evil, and magical remedies were used in addition to herbal medicines. In ancient Greece, holism underpinned everything, and the soul, mind, and body were considered one.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, a holistic system practiced for at least 23 centuries, healing is achieved by balancing the yin-yang life force energies that permeate everything in the universe. In the indigenous healing traditions of Native America, holistic health is represented by the four quadrants of the ‘medicine wheel’ or ‘sacred circle,’ namely the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual states of being.

In Christianity, spiritual healing is documented with many references to the healing power of faith and prayer. The Bible also refers to the spiritual gift of healing, and there are several accounts of Jesus performing miraculous healings. In Hinduism, Ayurveda is a five-thousand-year-old Vedic system of medicine that seeks to restore the balance between the body, mind, and spirit.

In Buddhism, it is believed that true healing can only be achieved when a disease or ailment is not only treated with medicines for the body, but the cause of the disease, which originates in the mind, is also addressed. Compassion and the process of karmic healing are necessary to promote physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.

Spiritual healing occurs as we begin to consciously reconnect with our essential being – the wise, loving, powerful, creative entity that we are at our core ~ Shakti Gawain

Fortunately, the wisdom traditions of the ancients are not lost to us. Spiritual healing is still practiced today by many spiritually conscious people as an adjunct to modern medicine.

Spiritual healing is the metaphysical practice of restoring, harmonizing, and balancing our spirit or soul. It is based on the belief that we are all connected to a higher power, or universal life energy, and that this energy can be harnessed to promote healing, balance and well-being in our lives. Spiritual healing basically seeks to restore our holistic health or wholeness.

The philosophy underlying most spiritual healing traditions is that our health and well-being suffer when we are disconnected from the divine. It is based on the idea that we are all energetic beings and that when our energy is blocked or imbalanced, we experience illness or disease. God, Source, Spirit, the Divine is the source of our energy or life force, and when we are disconnected from it, our health and well-being will suffer. Spiritual healing is therefore a transcendental process of reconnecting with our true divine nature or higher self.

There are many different approaches to spiritual healing, but most modern practices tend to focus on cleansing or clearing negative energy, identifying inner blockages, channeling positive, healing energy, and various spiritual and metaphysical practices to promote and maintain spiritual connection, alignment, and balance, including prayer, meditation, visualization, ritual, and so on.

However, it is important to keep in mind that not all modern approaches to spiritual healing are necessarily effective, safe, or healthy. It is important to exercise discernment and caution, and use common sense. Always consult a licensed health care professional in all matters related to your mental and physical health. Avoid practice or modalities that you do not resonate with intuitively and ask spirit for guidance in the matter.

To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another, the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing ~ 1 Corinthians 12:8-9

Four of the most popular spiritual healing modalities practiced today are:

Reiki Healing

A system of energy healing in which the practitioner channels or directs universal life energy through the palms of their hands to the patient, to remove energy blockages (similar to acupuncture or acupressure) and bring about healing. Reiki can be administered in person or remotely.

Crystal Healing

Crystal Healing uses gemstones and crystals as energy conduits to cleanse, activate, heal and protect the flow of energy. This healing philosophy is derived from various Asian traditions, including the Chinese concept of life energy, chi, or qi, and the Hindu and Buddhist concept of the chakras, which are the energy centers for our life energy. Each type of crystal or stone is believed to have a unique energy signature or frequency that stimulates, directs, or channels the flow of positive, healing energy; releases stagnant energies in specific areas of the body, aura, or energy field; and absorbs and neutralizes negative, unwanted energies.

Sound Healing

Sound healing uses music, sound and percussion to improve physical, emotional and spiritual health and well-being. It is based on the idea that all sounds are vibrations and can therefore affect the energy frequencies of the body, mind, and spirit in various positive ways. Sound healing can takes many forms, including listening to music or sounds produced by singing bowls, tuning forks, or other instruments, as well as singing or chanting specific sounds in a meditative state.

Shamanic Healing

Shamanic healing is the oldest healing tradition and is still widely practiced in indigenous cultures around the world. Shamanic healing typically involves a ritual or ceremony performed by a shaman, tribal elder, healer, or medicine man who acts as a channel or conduit for healing. The shaman accesses the spirit realm or connects with the wisdom of the ancestors and other helping spirits who guide and assist in the healing process.