Can Healing Harm the Healer?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 Jul 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Astraea	15 Jul 2003
Ruby Red Slippers started a thread on this forum having to do with members of Aeclectic who use various means of healing, and there has been some discussion on that thread about the need to allow energy to pass through us, rather than becoming "stuck." This has brought to mind a question I've had for awhile. In the mode of healing I practice, Jin Shin Jyutsu, it is said that neither the healer, nor the healee, can be harmed in any way by the process, for the healer is simply a "pass-through" for the Light. But prior to learning JSJ, I was always taught that anything which has the power to help, can also harm -- and that the healer, especially, can be harmed by the very energies he or she contacts in order to be a conduit for healing. And one of my favorite authors on the subject of healing, the late David Tansley (a chiropractor and radionics practitioner), died at age 54 as a result -- so it is said by his colleagues -- of his absorbing negative energies, in spite of all his knowledge and conscientious practice. My question is: can it really be true that a form of healing involves no danger whatever to the healer? And if such is not the case, how can we become effective as healers, without taking on the energies we seek to disperse? Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

Ruby Red Slippers	15 Jul 2003
Thoughts are things And words have wings Picking up energy or sickness form others..... Yes it is possible, but…your personal beliefs play a large role. If you believe it will happen then it is more likely that it will happen. And the reverse is also true! I have been a healthcare worker for too long, the wisdom I have learned is captured in the words from your post....Thoughts are things And words have wings That is why I believe that INTENTION is everything, no matter what you are practicing. Your thoughts are energy, so if you think it…….it will be, including negative energy. I too practice, Jin Shin Jyutsu. This is one of many types of healing methods, one of many "tools" in a healers bag. All healers have tools they use at different times. The trick always is too keep the ego away from the healing. That means that intuition and one's own spiritual path of "for the highest good" intention accompany all work. Therefore, I believe that the first rule of "harm no one" always applies. At the start of a healing session, it is important to start with a prayer or a strong intention to be a facilitator of the light. To surround yourself with the light of the archangel Michael. I also agree that that it is important to use a method to diffuse the "spiritual debris". That is why I use the Silver Violet Flame of St. Germain to envelop the person and transmute this from the individual. Since the universe does not like "empty places", I also fill the person with flickers of the silver violet flame of the ascended master St. Germain. I truly believe that working within the light of St. Germain and the light and universal love/help of the ascended masters in an intention of unconditional love does not allow for negativity to be absorbed by the healer/facilitator. I also believe that it is the "ego" that is the culprit where negativity is concerned. It is when we think of "it" as "our power". It is the universal power of unconditional love that heals. Many blessings, Ruby Red Slippers

wavebreaker	16 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Ruby Red Slippers I also believe that it is the "ego" that is the culprit where negativity is concerned. It is when we think of "it" as "our power". It is the universal power of unconditional love that heals. I agree. When I started with reiki a few years ago, I had no experiende whatsoever with healing methods, I was totally "blank" on that subject. ;) I was taught from the start that, when using reiki, it's not me who is doing the healing/providing the energy, but that I'm only tapping into the universal source of energy, and that the energy just flows through me, into the person I'm treating. I was also taught that, because the energy flows through you, you benefit from it as well, and instead of taking on negative energy when giving/sending someone reiki, you feel refreshed yourself. This is the way reiki works, and that's how I experience it too; I have never felt exhausted or experienced negative feelings after giving or sending reiki, on the contrary. ;)

Astraea	16 Jul 2003
Thank you, Ruby Red Slippers and Tarotlady, for sharing your thoughts. I agree with you that the healing comes through us and doesn't originate with us, but I'm wondering whether there might be a flow of energy that goes the other way, from the person who needs healing "backward" through the healer. On Ruby's other thread, a couple of healers mentioned this.

wavebreaker	16 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Astraea I agree with you that the healing comes through us and doesn't originate with us, but I'm wondering whether there might be a flow of energy that goes the other way, from the person who needs healing "backward" through the healer. On Ruby's other thread, a couple of healers mentioned this. I think that too is a matter of believing. If you believe that you will pick up the negative energy of the person to be healed, you will subconsciously be open to that energy, whereas if you believe that you will not be affected by it, you will subconsciously protect yourself against it.

zorya	16 Jul 2003
there are methods, such as reiki, that 'pour' healing energy into an area. they do not take in any negative energy, so there is no worry of harming the healer in that manner. other methods, such as used by peruvian or slavic shamans to name a few, first remove the negative energy, energy blockage or disease, before putting in healing energy. the later methods can injure the healer if the negative energy is not properly disposed of or released. i do believe that all healers have karmic responsibilities. misuse of their gifts, such as greed or carelessness, can come at a hefty karmic price. so in that way, i think even reiki practitioners can cause themselves harm.

Astraea	16 Jul 2003
Quote: originally posted by zorya: i do believe that all healers have karmic responsibilities. misuse of their gifts, such as greed or carelessness, can come at a hefty karmic price. so in that way, i think even reiki practitioners can cause themselves harm. This is something I have suspected. It has never seemed logical to me that the healer could be in no danger from the imbalances which he or she seeks to address, even when light is poured into an area. In JSJ, where light is projected through the hands (and via intention) in certain patterns, one is still in contact with unbalanced force -- namely, the disorder for which healing is sought; the light is said to "flush" the healer in a continuous flow, but presumably the vibration of disordered force could attach to the energy of impure motivation or carelessness in the healer, and cause harm. Thanks to all for helping me to think this through.

Alissa	16 Jul 2003
My experience in a type of body work that I do (it's actually a type of physical therapy, neuromuscular reeducation) I have to watch out for absorbing what my pupil releases during a lesson. A conduit, yes, I love that term. I see myself that way as well, in many way, in the best of times. However, I'm still susceptible. I imagine I could do more blocking and shielding, but I prefer staying "open" (despite the risk) while working on a pupil. I have seen (both first hand as the pupil, and then as the teacher) some amazing energy releases that can happen when a body pattern that's been held too long in the body suddenly releases. I've seen and experienced spontaneous weeping when one particular tension "security blanket" lets go. It's usually a blockage that's caused from a past trauma (emotional, physical, spiritual, doesn't matter what kind of trauma) and once released, the emotions stored are also let out. My teacher is a wise old woman , literally (thank you Jo) who warned me first hand about this. She's seen it for ... about 40 years herself now. It can be the most dangerous, and most fulfilling, part of teaching a pupil though.

bec	16 Jul 2003
What I read here is that the one healing another would have to believe that the heal could hurt or transfer the injury on any level to the healer. I don't actually know how to put it the way I mean it. So bare with me and ask if you don't understand. I am no exsperienced healer, nor have I been taught, initiated or introduced in how to use souch powers. STILL I find my self using them - the wrong way. I use my own life source to heal others which is causing me headaches and short of breathness. I also have a vague hurt in the area that needed healing in my client. These symptoms I had BEFORE I even knew I was healing. That should discharge the "believe factor". What I read in Sayonaran's post on the other healing thread was that she too had been drained by healing others. I don't see the powers of healing as something GIVING to you from a master or teacher, I see it as them letting me OPEN up to them - in other words learn how to make use of universe rather than your self. Back to what is asked, can healing hurt? YES it very well can - WHEN you don't know what you are dealing with it can. My believes are grounding in many hours of headaches. Can healing hurt the healer? NO when the person healing is a HEALER the flow will run its course where it is needed. Then it is no longer the healer that is healing but the individual healing it self. I feel strongly there are 2 angles to this. a) a person healing b) a healer DOING healing Hope I make my point of view clear...

Umbrae	16 Jul 2003
IMHO: If the healer believes it can – it will. Western mysticism is filled with the protect and shield yourself. Shamanism is not. Both handle essentially the same energies and realms.

The Can Healing Harm the Healer? thread was originally posted on 15 Jul 2003 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.