Tag Archive for: spirituality

Health happens when the mind, body and spirit are connected and clean. Health is accessible to everyone through God-given natural means, but requires far more intense and continuous efforts than most people realize. Disease is a warning that the conditions for health are missing. Disease is not the sign of a missing surgery, medicine or pharmaceutical product. Health can be achieved through low tech natural means, that create freedom and independence. Humans do not have to depend on corporations, large businesses or pharmaceutical companies to enjoy health. In fact, if one is dependent on such entities they can be sure that they are only suppressing the root cause of the disease, not actually curing it. Even in the cases where a medicine resolves the original illness, the deeper emotional and spiritual root cause remains untouched. Success is only superficial and suffering will return in some form or another at a later date. The body will continue to warn the individual that health is missing.

Understanding the law of karma and it’s logical solution, unconditional love, is the first step towards re-establishing holistic health. Practices that help connect the mind, body and spirit will stimulate an emotional and spiritual cleansing. Some of the most important practices that have helped me are: regular meditation, positive affirmations, fasting, physical exercise, exposure to nature, a fresh whole foods diet, meaningful hard work, random acts of kindness, forgiveness and investing in high quality relationships (by being selective with my friends and maintaining personal integrity in my life).

When I realized the importance of these practices, I immediately stopped using alcohol and did my best to limit my exposure to any chemicals, such as pharmaceuticals and agro-toxins present in food. I also realized that it’s important to embrace the symptoms of an illness when they manifest (they are just a messenger) and invest more energy in the previously mentioned holistic health practices as opposed to focusing on the messenger. As a result, illnesses happen much less often (I have stopped getting my seasonal sore throat and occasional migraines) and when the do happen, they pass much faster.

Occasionally I have been challenged by severe symptoms, such as a 3 month episode of intense, exploding right leg and buttocks pain that made it impossible for me to stand up straight and tormented me through out every activity I performed, including limiting my sleep to just 2-3 hours. Even in that case I recognized it was futile to fight with the symptoms or try to suppress them with pain medications. I carried on life as usual, just much slower and focused only on my most critical daily activities. I asked God if there was anything I needed to change in my life and the answer in this case was: no, everything is okay. This was an intense spiritual cleanse and all I needed to do was stay strong and allow it to pass. Indeed that was what happened and the benefits that followed in the wake of that storm permeated through all of my life. I may write more details about this in another article.

I’m writing this now because I see so many people confused about what it means when we get an illness or disease. I see many who intuitively know that everything happens on purpose. I see many people who are hesitant to use modern medicines and vaccines, but they are missing strength in their conviction. They have forgotten the big picture. Now more than ever there is an intense social pressure to convince us that we must rely on these man-made chemicals (and the companies that make them) in hopes to achieve health. It’s easy to forget that our body’s are highly intelligent and the symptoms are simply a “messenger” that something inside is out of balance. Now more than ever, it’s important to remain strong.

When people are suffering, it’s tempting to reach for the “quick fix” that yields some sort of immediate results, but with unknown long-term consequences. It’s easy to fight with the disease or suppress the symptoms, but at best this leaves the root cause unaddressed and leaves the individual with a false sense of security. At worst it intensifies the illness. All diseases are an attempted spiritual cleanse, if not interfered with they will pass and leave life better than before. And I believe deeply that death (no matter how it comes) is the final most sacred cleanse, where spiritual freedom can be experienced.

In a culture where death is treated as a mistake. Where we are taught to fear death, illness and suffering. Where we treat our bodies as our identity, instead of a temporary home. It’s easy to get convinced to fight with illnesses. It’s easy to count death tolls and point fingers. It’s easy to waste energy trying to “stop the spread” of disease. It’s easy to find ourselves fighting with others, even our friends and loved ones, as long as we wrongly perceive that our health is a result of other people’s actions. It’s easy to get caught up in the superficial events and leave the inner work unaddressed.

I challenge everyone to see through this illusion. Remember that health is a personal responsibility. Remember to be mindful of your thoughts, words and actions and orient them in a loving way, no matter what happens. Remember to take time to care for yourself. Take time to be alone with God and nature. Honor the sacredness of the mind, body and spirit and allow the spirit to change you for the better. Help others learn this truth, not by preaching, but instead through your actions. Health speaks for itself.

Wyoming Skyline

Wyoming Skyline

This is an account of a powerful experience of forgiveness. As with many of my life lessons, it occurred at work. The conflict started because of my attempt to introduce holistic principles while caring for a patient. I felt called to speak a hard truth to a patient and the family who was going through some very intense life experiences. They were dealing with loss on a big level. I had learned in the past when tough, but loving advice pops up into my head, to be at peace with myself, I must speak that truth. I often hesitate, because such advice goes deep and can sometimes trigger an intense rejection. For example, I sometimes give advice about marriage, relationships or job choices. I’ve told a cattle rancher to start eating vegetarian and a girl that she needed to end a toxic relationship. Whatever advice I give, I do my best to present the idea in the most gentle way possible, but even then it can still trigger hurt feelings and rejection.

After giving such advice one day, I felt a huge wall of tension between me and the family member of my patient. We went our separate ways, but a month or two later I discovered that a complaint had been filed against me. I was asked to meet with the hospital administration as they read me the letter. It was clear that this person was deeply hurt. It was also clear in the letter, that they intended to damage my reputation. I felt that my job was being threatened and my work is the cornerstone of my spiritual path. This letter of complaint was attacking the heart of my spiritual path. If felt every bit of this attack.

Fortunately the staff that was handling this issue, was well of aware of the extra efforts I took to care for my patients. They were able to step back and understand that the letter was written by a person trapped in a very rough life experience. They could see how that was fueling the words in the letter as much as or more than the advice I had given. I was comforted by them that my job was safe. They planned to call the person and let them know they were aware of the dissatisfaction and that I was sorry for having caused it, but that my intentions were only to be helpful.

Despite this positive feedback, I was disturbed. My mind worried that this could happen again. I was being forced to face a big hidden fear. Now that it was brought to the surface, I could see that I had been fearful that speaking my truth would jeopardize my spiritual path. When I thought about this rationally, I could see the fear made no sense. How could being true to my spiritual integrity, jeopardize my spiritual path? If I lost a job because of speaking the truth, then I was just working in the wrong place and being let go would be a gift. This self evaluation helped me to see through the fear, but the feeling didn’t go away that easily.

When I returned to work from the meeting, I felt myself cringe inside. The inner reaction was one of fear and shame. I allowed myself to be with those feelings while holding my head up. I did my best to be confident, caring and kind. None of the people who worked with me, knew about the complaint. It was up to me, and how I behaved to either give those feelings life, or let them dissolve from neglect. Later this very day I got a little nod of support from the universe. A doctor saw me and mentioned that his patients always say good things about me and that he appreciated the work I did. The negative emotions where still alive inside of me, but they were finding less and less to cling to.

After work, I went on a long meditative nature walk. I noticed very spiteful thoughts popping up towards the person that filed the complaint, now that I had no distractions. Whenever this happened, I imagined that I was face to face with this person and was given the chance to reconcile. I only choose to think thoughts that I would be comfortable voicing in this situation. Over a period of days, my mind relaxed about this matter and life went on.

As it turns out, a month or two later while at work, I discovered that the patient was hospitalized again, and the family member who I had upset was in the room. I could feel myself cringe inside at the prospect of having to face that person. I let that go. I wouldn’t let fear control my actions. In fact I considered walking in the room to face my fears and seek reconciliation, but then I thought my presence would be disturbing to them. I should give them their space.

Later that day, I found myself by a flower shop and immediately the idea popped into my head that it would be nice to buy some roses and pass them out to strangers. I purchased a couple red roses and walked along the street. As I walked, a new idea popped into my head. I should bring the roses to the patient and their family member. I hesitated. I feared being thrown out of the room and looking like a fool. But after thinking about my options, I decided it would be easier for me to handle rejection, knowing I was doing my best, than it would be to live with regret the rest of my life for passing up on this chance for forgiveness and reconciliation.

I walked up to the door of the room, knocked and as I entered I mentally bowed my ego with the intention of letting my guard down and being humble. When my “adversary” saw me holding the flowers, I quickly sensed a feeling of acceptance. I apologized for causing hurt feelings and offered the flowers. That person responded that they understood I was just trying to help, and that they were okay with me. We shared a long, gentle hug at which time I noticed both of our bodies relax even more. During this exchange my new friend had silent tears flowing. I felt both of our hearts had softened. After spending some time in the room, I walked out feeling very light on my feet. Instead of having to avoid a room in the hospital out of fear of losing my job, I now felt at home, surrounded by friends.

Sunset Casper Wyoming

Sunset Casper Wyoming

Cloud Formations over Casper Mountain

Cloud Formations over Casper Mountain

 

The Healthy Spirit Blog is devoted to providing resources which promote spiritual wellbeing.  It is the author’s goal that this blog touches on many different aspects of life and living, and in doing so truly offers a holistic approach to health and happiness.  For example this blog will cover the following categories and possibly many more:

  1. Holistic Medicine (natural remedies, healing techniques and alternative therapies)
  2. Alternative Lifestyles (sustainable living, permaculture, integrating life with nature, alternative energy and natural building ideas)
  3. Food (diet recommendations and recipes)
  4. Organic Gardening (composting and cultivating herbs, fruits and vegetables)
  5. Spirituality (spiritual principles and practices)
  6. Relationships (marriage, sexuality and love)
  7. Jobs (spiritually oriented businesses, jobs and career ideas)

Life on earth is meant to be enjoyed.  Yet everything in this physical world is temporary and meant to be used as a tool for spiritual progress.  The quality of our life experiences which naturally flow into our day are equal to the quality of experiences we bring to others.  Use everything in your life to nourish yourself and to become a better source of happiness for others.  As you learn to share love in deepening ways, you will also come to feel God’s presence in your life.  This is the most precious gift.  It can become a constant source of security and happiness, when in contrast you can expect to lose everything else in this physical world one day.

It is the author’s intentions that all who study and apply the content of this blog, as well as the other resources he offers, enjoy a real and palpable spiritual connection.  He hopes that all become more aware of God’s presence in their life’s and become uplifting members of their respective communities.