The Healer Within By Ellen Hitchcock “Love is the flame that once kindled burns everything,
and only the mystery and the journey remain.” —Angeles Arrien, PhD
T
here are many paths that lead us to healing. While every culture has ways of maintaining health and
wellbeing, most traditions recognize that the “power of love” is the most potent healing force available, a path to person- al growth and healing in the world. The archetype of the Healer is uni-
versal, a mythic construct that all human beings experience. Its guiding principle calls us to “pay attention to what has heart and meaning.” When we learn to express this principle through attitudes and actions that keep us healthy and support our environment, we begin a lifelong journey toward wholeness. Love with wisdom—that is, nurtur-
ing ourselves to the same degree that we nurture others—promotes mental, emotional, physical and spiritual healing and vitality. This empowering love comes from the trusting, balanced heart.
The simple practice of extending the “arms of love” can support effective healing and wellbeing. The first arm of love is acknowledgement—acknowl- edgement of each other’s skills, character and appearance, and our impact on each other. The second arm of love is acceptance—letting go of judgment and responding to ourselves and others with
dignity and respect. Acceptance is not agreement, but it often requires that we open what has been closed and soften what has hardened. The third arm of love is validation and recognition—celebrat- ing our own accomplishments as well as those of others. The fourth arm of love is gratitude, which can be transformative, changing our way of seeing ourselves and the world.
Most world traditions recognize that the “power of love” is the most potent healing force available.
Through the active practice of ex-
tending the arms of love to ourselves and to others, we awaken into a lighter, open- hearted way of living, one that promotes harmony and healing. Another empowering and effec-
tive healing practice is to spend time in nature every day. Indigenous peoples throughout the world recognize the connection between nature and heal- ing. When we observe nature, it is much easier to see that love—true love, un- conditional love—flows through life. The joyous vibration of life at sunrise, the rest and deep contentment when sunset falls, and everything in between can ignite our creativity, imagination and passion.
It is this conscious connection to all
life that moves us into transcendent mo- ments of love and healing. Stay attuned to the natural world, acknowledge its impact on our lives, and embrace it with a grateful heart. Create a path of inner healing; bring
the mind, body and spirit into harmony. The practice is simple. The path is clear. Pay attention to what holds heart and meaning for you, open to the healing power found in the arms of love, and spend time in nature every day. This is the way of the Healer.
Ellen Hitchcock is a life coach, psychotherapist, workshop/retreat facilita- tor and author of Nature’s Magical Moments: Reflections on Nature and Self. Her teachings focus on multi-cultural wisdoms for personal and professional growth. She can be reached at
CreativeMentor.net or
EHitch@comcast.net. See ad, page 15.
Ellen Hitchcock
Ayurvedic Consultations and Treatments Massage Therapy and Psychotherapy Services Yoga, Tai Chi and Ayurveda Classes
665 Emory Valley • Oak Ridge • 482-0981
www.AyurvedaCenterTN.com
July 2011 17
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