Turner was sensitive to how her readers could react to the idea of physical healing due to one’s connection to a deeper (or higher) energy. Rather than label this as “God” or “Chi” she chose to describe it as “spiritual energy” which she allowed could be translated to “deep, peaceful energy” if preferred. Turner’s survivors and alternative healers describe spiritual energy as something they feel simultaneously as both a physical sensation and an intense emotion. It is typically described as a feeling of warm, peaceful energy that flows downward from head to toe, coating both the physical and emotional bodies with a blanket of deep peace and unconditional love. People describe this spiritual energy as “unconditional, universal love” which when experienced erases the sense of separateness and instead one feels merged with everyone and everything. Radical Remission survivors describe it as “the deepest love there is.”
One idea came up repeated in Turner’s research, that humans are primarily spiritual beings having a temporary, physical experience in a body. If you believe that we are only physical organisms, then you would only look for physical treatments. But if you believe the spiritual energy inside physical bodies needs just as much care as the physical bodies, then you will look beyond just the physical. Turner found among her survivors that while some may be lucky enough to experience an instant flood of spiritual energy, most of us have to work up to it slowly with regular, committed practice. There are many studies that demonstrate the efficacy of meditating on a regular basis. The fact that Karen and I have been doing so for some time now is definitely a strength as we negotiate the needs and demands of this journey.
We feel surrounded by friends and loved ones, spiritual beings whom we have gotten to know and love through Quaker circles, mediation practice or by sharing intimate connections at different times in our past. Most if not all would agree that some form of spiritual practice is critical for emotional and spiritual health but for physical healing as well. Being able to continue such practice, open to physical healing, is an important part of my treatment.
My goals:
Conscious company: spiritual reading, time at AHAM
Mindfulness practice
Update January 1, 2016
Responding to this physical crisis has definitely deepened my spiritual practices. Being confronted with one’s mortality and the uncertainty of the time remaining has called for a clearer sense of what’s important and making choices based upon what is most meaningful. Truly investigating conventional understandings of cancer and being open to the experiences of Anita Moorjani and others who have defied the odds is important. Being mindful in the present moment is key.