It’s truth time. I’m fascinated by cults and by the psychology of the people who belong to cults. How do otherwise intelligent, caring people fall for something that seems obviously wrong and dangerous to outsiders? Having had fringe contact and brief involvement with at least 3 cults, how was I able to spot the red flags and remove myself while others remained? I can speculate on the appeal of a cult—the desire to belong, to be valued, to feel empowered—and my ability to resist, but that’s for another time. Now I want to acknowledge the cultish behavior and rabbit-hole conspiracies that have been adopted by some in the wellness community and make my position clear to my clients and potential clients.
The therapies that I offer fall into the category of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Major emphasis on “complementary,” less on “alternative.” I do not believe that Western medicine is inherently bad. I believe that treatments and drugs are developed in good faith to benefit patients. Yes, there are problems with corruption and greed in Big Pharma and among some doctors, but that is a separate issue from the efficacy of Western medicine. I would not use alternative treatments alone for anything but minor ailments unless there was a good reason, such as a drug allergy, for avoiding conventional treatment.
I trust science, understanding that its nature is to experiment, discover, and change accordingly. I see the shifting and somewhat confusing guidelines from health officials as a positive sign that they are learning about the virus that has caused our current global pandemic and are adjusting how to manage it. From my perspective, the CDC recommendations (masks, social distancing, washing hands, etc.) are sensible guidelines meant to save lives, not tools of oppression to demoralize and enslave us. Vaccines are extremely beneficial, although they are not 100% perfect. Even a healthy immune system improves when a vaccine stimulates it to create antibodies against a particular disease. Vaccines are not a means of depopulating the world, altering DNA, asserting mind control, or implanting microchips. I can not view the world through the lens of paranoia. There’s no denying that evil exists, but there’s a lot of good as well; unfortunately, when that good appears in ways we find unpleasant (e.g., “tough love”), an immature but understandable response is to call it evil instead and retreat into stubborn resistance, seeing enemies in everyone who doesn’t share their delusion of righteousness.
Adding to the division within the wellness community is the availability of “research” to support practically anything one believes—or wants to believe. When people find “evidence” for their personal beliefs or leanings, they often stop searching, certain that they are right, that they know the truth. It doesn’t matter that for one supporting study, there are 100 that contradict the findings. It doesn’t matter that the expert they trust has been discredited, changed his or her mind with further study, or been misinterpreted by others pushing an agenda. It doesn’t matter that there’s no actual proof for the “truths” they assert, only anecdotes, tradition, rumor, correlation without causation, or the word of a charismatic “visionary” who often has a product to sell (“Trust me. Only I know how to redeem the planet from the Forces of Darkness. Of course, you have free will and don’t have to do as I say; you’re free to return to a state of blindness and ignorance with the rest of the sheep.” < insert eye roll >).
I began this post by mentioning my fascination with cults and psychology. That interest recently led me to the Conspirituality podcasts. (I’m a year late finding them, and although I’m trying to listen to them in order, I admit that I jump randomly to intriguingly titled episodes. I recommend them to anyone who is troubled by or curious about the melding of extreme conspiracy theories with modern spirituality.) Thanks to the Conspirituality podcasts, I’ve questioned my own beliefs about the healing services I offer. I’ve questioned the scientific validity of what I have been taught. I’ve questioned the credentials and reputations of my teachers. I’ve questioned how many things I have accepted as real or true because I want them to be real and true.
I have never intended to promote pseudoscience as real science, although in my enthusiasm and desire to help my clients, I may have done so. When it comes to CAM, I have always tried to emphasize that each person is unique, and so what works for one may not work for another. Here’s what I want my clients to know about my approach to the healing therapies I offer:
- These therapies are ones that I’ve gotten good results from personally. Although I could supply studies—which may or may not follow strict scientific processes—for all that I do, I rely on my experience. Thus, the primary support I have for Reiki/energy clearing and balancing, therapeutic sound, vibroacoustic therapy, voice analysis, and vibrational essences is anecdotal, backed by tradition and historical use.
- Because I believe these treatments have affected me positively and contributed to my personal healing and wellness, I am excited to share them. However, I recognize that each person will react—or not—in his or her own unique way, so I can not promise specific results.
- I work intuitively. Intuition defies scientific explanation. That doesn’t mean that I discount science and conventional medicine, as some CAM practitioners seem to do. CAM and conventional medicine should support each other to create holistic healthcare. While Western medicine excels at healing the body—and, in some cases, the mind, when there is a biological component to mental illness—the CAM therapies I use focus on healing the energetic and emotional aspects. Scientific, quantitative measurement of CAM’s effects is elusive, if not impossible. From a scientific standpoint, the only acknowledged results of my CAM practices are stress reduction and the placebo effect, both of which can have positive influence on our health.
- I don’t always follow the rules. Some things I have been taught in theory don’t hold up in practice. My training gives me a framework, but I continually monitor my client’s response and modify the standard protocol as I work. Discernment and honesty are crucial; I will not force any treatment, teaching, or traditional interpretation on a client if it does not apply to him or her.
So there’s my truth: I believe that Western medicine and CAM work together to provide the best holistic healthcare. It’s not one or the other, it’s one and the other. I have developed and honed my intuition and psychic abilities throughout my life, and I have never regretted following my inner wisdom, even when it led me to a “mainstream” conclusion. For example, I know that vaccines do not cause autism. How do I know? From soul-level communication with an autistic child. The fact that science agrees reinforces my knowing. In 2002, I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. My doctor recommended surgery to remove the affected tissue, followed by a 6-week course of daily radiation. I was hesitant about the post-surgery treatment, so my surgeon set up an appointment for me to talk to the radiologist. While he was describing the procedure, I saw a spirit guide partially materialize next to the doctor and point repeatedly at him, as if signing to me “do this, do this.” So I did. Some people were disappointed in me because I opted to follow the “evil” conventional medical program, but was I going to ignore such dramatic spiritual guidance? No way! Of course I also got plenty of Reiki and Healing Touch during that time, and three weeks after my surgery, the technician prepping me for the start of radiation asked me when I’d be having surgery—I had healed so well that she didn’t realize that I’d already had it.
When my intuition tells me that wearing a face mask is a good idea or that going out in public tomorrow would be better than today, I listen. I’m not living in fear. I’m living in a love that wants the best for me and my fellow human beings—a love that guides me toward what I need for my highest good, not always what I want. I do not need to adopt paranoid fantasies in order to cope with the negative aspects of life on Earth in 2021, nor do I need a cult to reassure me of my specialness. I don’t assume ill intent of any person, organization, authority, etc., unless I read it in their energies. My inner wisdom has served me well so far. I’m sticking with it.
