Unit 7 Blog: Meeting Aesclepius

Hello Everyone,

Complete the Meeting Aesclepius mp3 (located in the Doc Sharing area). Describe your meditative practices for the week and discuss the experience. Explain how mindfulness or meditation has fostered an increase in your psychological or spiritual wellness. How can you continue to apply these practices in your life to foster greater health and wellness?

The meditative practice for this week was focused on the “Meeting Aesclepius” exercise. I was able to close my eyes and visualize my mentor which is my Grandfather who had passed on 17 years ago.  Tears were streaming down my face because I was in his presence and I could embrace him and tell him how much I miss and love him.  Being in close proximity to him I could felt his body permeating my entire being, and erasing all sense of isolation, confusion, and pain, by giving me the profound gift of health and happiness.  Mediation has definitely fostered an increase in my psychological and spiritual wellness by improving my mental health as well as giving me a peace of mind, and allowing me to love myself more. I will continue to apply these practices in my life to foster greater health and wellness by implementing meditative practices and retraining my mind.

Describe the saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" (p.477). How does this apply to the health and wellness professional? Do you have an obligation to your clients to be developing your health psychologically, physically, and spiritually? Why or why not? How can you implement psychological and spiritual growth in your personal life?

Personally the saying: “One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” (Schlitz, Amorok & Micozzi, 2005), means that a person cannot give another an advice about anything if that person has not experience or undergone the same thing, and for the health and wellness professional advice can’t be given based on opinions.  Yes I do believe that I do have an obligation to my clients by developing my health psychologically, physically, and spiritually because a sick person cannot provide healing to another sick if they are both suffering from the same ailments.  One must be whole before administering assistance to another.  I can implement psychological and spiritual growth in my personal life by memorizing scriptures from the Bible daily, listening to uplifting music, practice meditative exercises such as prayer, yoga, Qi gong, physical activities such as playing soccer, riding a bike, running etc., and playing mind bubbling games.

Reference:

Schlitz, Amorok & Micozzi. (2005). Consciousness & Healing: Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine.