| Awareness & Healing With Guided
Imagery
by Dr. Karen MacKay
Imagine a way to
heal that doesn’t interfere with your everyday life, one that would lead you along a
path of self-awareness. What would you think? Would that appeal to you? Guided imagery is one of those paths that tap the
subconscious mind through a relaxed state. Being
guided in a direction of knowledge opens the mind to an awareness unexpected. Healing happens naturally.
Think of something
in your life that you would like to be different, your health, wealth, happiness, or
relationship difficulties. What is it that
stands between you and that thing you desire? Sit
a moment, quietly, with no distractions. Take
in a deep relaxing breath and let your mind wander over the issue. Gently ask yourself a question pertaining to it and
then take another slow, relaxing breath. By
allowing yourself to calm the mind without distraction, information will eventually rise
into awareness. The Aha! moment comes and the
way becomes clear. With enough practice and devotion to wisdom, it can happen alone.
Working with
someone who knows how to maneuver with guided imagery facilitates and expedites the
process of healing. Think about going
somewhere in unknown territory without a map or guide.
It can be confusing and getting lost is a given. Having a director can make all the difference in
getting where you’re going. Knowing the
direction and the terrain make the journey attainable.
Your mind and body
have the answers because you do remember everything somewhere. Often when life has been too hard or traumatic in
the past, the mind makes up a way to deal with it. Metaphors
or the stories take on a life of their own sometimes.
Truth can be distorted and the repression continues. Think how that could affect the body and health.
It’s a matter
of accessing the hidden information, stories or not, and bringing it to consciousness. Understanding and seeing the part you play in life
gives the opportunity to change thoughts, actions and perceptions. Forgiveness and compassion for self and others
sheds a huge burden and opens a place for healing. If
you are willing, guided imagery can lead you to wholeness and freedom and gives the
possibility of physical healing. ©2006 Dr.
Karen MacKay
Dr. Karen MacKay is a chiropractor, acupuncturist,
hypnotherapist, Feng Shui and wholistic health practitioner.
She has authored two books: Dear Sisters, Break Free From Domestic Violence,
and The Wisest, Healthiest Buffalo. Her website www.HotFlashQueen.com
and twice monthly Ezine, available at eZine@hotflashqueen.com
, are about healing and feeling good. She also
has Guided Imagery MP3 downloads to help the healing and awareness processes.
The
Power of Guided Imagery
by Dr. Andrew Weil
Premier Issue of Dr. Andrew Weil's self healing
Interactive Guided Imagery is
an updated version of visualization therapy, a remarkable creative and effective way to
take advantage of the mind-body connection. It's one of the natural therapies I
recommend most frequently to patients, because my family and I have had success with it
ourselves. I find the method so useful that I require all the physician Fellows who
train at the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson to
learn this technique.
Interactive Guided
Imagery is an empowering method because it assumes that you have the answers. It's
worth trying for a wide range of problems, from chronic infections to chronic pain.
It's my first choice as a mind-body approach for allergies, certain immune
conditions, skin and digestive disorders and any persistent or mysterious medical
problems. Guided-imagery therapy does no harm, is time and cost-effective, and can
often be fun. |
