Spiritual Healing

I know I've talked about the importance of prayer, meditiation and calm in healing. I've recently been introduced to the works of  healer Bruno Groning and have found it refreshing simple and sincere. He did most of his healing after WW2, but among his "Circle of Friends" there are still many documented healings. If you're interested in finding out more, go to: http://www.bruno-groening.org/english/

Hindsight is 20/20 or Defense Before the Offense

I'm adjusting to moving back into my house. There's plenty on my mind. I have to clean up from my tenants, have a major porch repair, touch up paint, and prepare for the possibility of someone who will rent a spare room from me. It'll all come together of this I'm certain.

I've been considering all that goes into cleaning out our body systems. If I was to go back to the beginning of my Morgellons symptoms (not that I'd really want to), I would proceed differently. I feel our best approach to is build the bodies defenses before taking on the offenses (toxins).

At the base of all, I like the approach Mel (who also documented recovery with all related at: http://howicuredmorgellons.com/) mentions of his doctor from the start taking the approach of-- do no harm. I used some dangerous pesticides and meds at the beginning (I know many of us have/did). The do no harm approach is likely the best direction.

I know I've written much on pray, meditation, yoga, and other soft forms of exercise as being beneficial. This makes sense as it calms the endocrine system. This along with getting the body less acidic would be the best first steps. Initially I did some of this...but I'm finding it is something needing to become habitual. I am learning (aren't we all?).

If you haven't listened to Dr. Amin's radio/blog show with Pam Crane, I highly recommend it. He has a sensibility and understanding of this condition few do. His understanding is from someone who has been in the trenches from the start (or at least the mid-90s).

Reclaiming Your Internal Environment- Part 5- New Habits to Build into Healthier Living

Remember when I said I think of us as bouncing blobs of water? Of course, we are much more. We are body and mind but also spirit. So, in considering new habits to maintain and boost health, let's consider each of the three pieces which make us who we are.

Body- The body is a complex machine. It really is amazing when you ponder all it does constantly to keep us bouncing along. Key considerations in habit building (or you could say discipline) are: exercise, food intake, water intake, air intake and other. For exercise consider both internal and external exercise. Western approaches to exercise often focus on muscle building without consideration for all of the other systems the body benefits from proper functioning of including but not limited to the circulatory, respiratory, and endocrine systems. Given all my recent health challenges, I believe the endocrine system is hit especially hard by the toxicity issues related to Morgellons. I vary my exercise though I make walking an hour each day a minimal approach. I like to jog, swim (though I'm not so good at it), climbing (when I can), hiking, yoga, and now...have a growing interest in internal exercise as understood in association with Chinese health practices. We each have our likes and dislikes, but I would highly recommend something to work out your insides (yoga, tai chi, Chinese internal exercise, etc) and something to work out more externally. Find what works for you and fit it into your schedule.

Mind- It is kinda teacher-ese to be saying I think working out the mind is a necessary part of every day...but it is what I believe. For myself my minimal approach for some time has been one hour of writing and one hour of reading (though my writing sometimes expands greatly). I also enjoy tinkering such as building or renovation projects (I've been playing with the idea of getting into tree house building...but at present have no tree to build upon). I am a tactile learner and really enjoy learning combined with hand work. Again, it comes down to what works for you. Figure it out and do it!

Spirit- Sometimes we need to be reminded, a balanced and wholesome approach to your spirituality assist the body and mind as well. When I finally have a home again (which I am hoping happens sooner than later...the backpack life is getting old), I plan to invest in one of those fancy, heavy serious meditation pillows (you know what I'm talking about...they weigh a ton, are usually round and are comfortable to sit on). I want to build meditation along with prayer into my daily schedule. As a Quaker, I enjoy having weekly access to a Meeting and hope for this wherever I next land employment. Your own spiritual/religious life should be built upon those things which feed your soul and lend themselves to building yourself in spirit.

Building habits and discipline into your life will assist in recovery. Think body, mind and spirit. Think what you enjoy and what works for you. Think wellness and balance and all things good. Happy healing, Joe

Reclaiming Your Internal Environment- Part 3- Your Home

I have several entries already related to this post. I spent a large part of last school year on a sub list, as I cleaned out toxins from my house in Wellsboro, PA (a pre and post article appears in the archives of Natural Home magazine- go to http://www.naturalhomeandgarden.com/ and search for "Pennsylvania Pick Me Up"). Assuming you have taken care of removing/ managing toxins in your home, I recommend several other steps in making your home effective in assisting in reclaiming your internal environment; these include utilizing feng shui, creating a sacred space and making detox related tools accessible without being overwhelming. While I am not currently living in my home (in fact I have been living out of my backpack for almost 6 months now), I will share what I learned living in my home last year.

I've had some ongoing interest in feng shui. While I don't believe in all aspects of it, I do think the general philosophy of creating a space of health and good energy makes sense. Simple things like room color make a difference. Getting rid of clutter is a "no brainer". I feel best in a clean, crisp, comfortable atmosphere (you'll get a sense if you look at my home in the NHM articles). Take care of these matters and keep your space healthy. It'll help.

I think a sacred space for prayer and meditation is helpful. I have a labyrinth in my backyard to walk through and quiet my mind (it is found in one of my early entries). I also consider my hammock essential; it is where I go when I need to relax my body and mind. Sacred space is a personal creation based on beliefs, needs and desires. Create what works for you. It can be as simple as a seat or pillow in the corner or as elaborate as your own backyard church. Create what you can and keep it sacred. God knows you need this space!

Some of my tools for recovery include: hand massager, yoga equipment, jogging gear, climbing gear, and a sauna. I try to keep materials handy without getting in the way (although the sauna does take up part of the dining room). Keep it accessible, neat and logical- everything has a proper place.

Your home should be a calm setting. I realize this may be easier said than done. Understanding the framework you are living in and working with it will make a difference. Good luck, Joe

Reclaiming You Internal Environment- Part 2- Opening Detox Channels

There's plenty out there on detoxing to assist in healing. As I view Morgellons as a condition due to toxicity, I am keen on sharing some of the basic knowledge I feel is worthwhile. In general, I view our bodies as bouncing blobs of water. Our blobs are only on this world for a short time; it make sense for our time to be as healthy as we can make it.

Let's begin. We need to think about what we are allowing into our bouncing blob of water. Keep our intake of food, water and air as healthy as possible is essential. If you live near know toxic exposure, realize it has effects on your health...if you can, move (as I did. It ain't been easy, but I made the decision my health was more important than my income. I moved away from the power plant area of the Four Corners). Eat right--organic (when possible), avoid known junk foods, no GMOs,...you know, there are endless sources of information on this. For water, get it as clean as possible. I recommend filters on drinking water as well as showers (your body will absorb approximately 5 cups of water each shower). If you are in an area where historic mining has taken place, sponge baths may be your best alternative (I did this for an extended time when I lived in Teec Nos Pos, AZ. My levels of uranium exposure increase in urine test and I realized this was likely to waters coming down from mountains with uranium tailing piles). Air quality should be good if not great; my recent job/hell on earth position in Tanzania including my asking about air quality right off the bat (the head of schools told me, "...the quality is good". He failed to mention my needing to drive through diesel traffic for close to two hours each day). I will discuss/review more on air quality in the home in my next entry. Now that we've explored the intake for our blog, let's look at the outtake.

Toxins leave the body in three major ways--sweat, urine and feces (stress is also a form of toxin. Traumatic issues from the past may need to be confronted. Forgiving needs to happen...you need to forgive friends, health professionals who do not understand Morgellons (very, very important!), family, and even yourself. As I have made use of the 12 Steps for recovery (and suspect I will always need to make use of them), I recommend their use. For today's entry I will focus on matters related to the body and not the mind/spirit). The skins is the largest organ and sweating away toxins is helpful. I like sweats and saunas weekly (if possible). After getting to the point of sweating, you must wash off toxins before the body reabsorbs them; this can be done with a sponge bath, filtered shower, or rolling in the sand (as I did when going to traditional Navajo sweats).

Key to successful detox from heavy metals (such as mercury of course), is to have detox channels for passage out of body open. The kidneys and liver need to be functioning well. It is very important to not have toxins getting stuck along the way out. Though I have found it useful and having a huge impact, enemas (especially coffee which is good for the colon, intestines, liver and kidneys) need to be done with care. I recommend going into this slowly. There are also numerous herbal supports found at local health food stores; be cautious with these too. I use milk thistle for my liver. Lymphatic drainage is important (I have an entry on self massage and recommend looking at it). Regular massage is useful; if you cannot afford to go to a professional massage therapist, I would invest in a palm held massage device (found online for about $35).

Exercise and discipline are helpful. One hour of walking/jogging/yoga or what have you per day is good. I also find one hour of meditation/prayer helpful; stress produces toxins and calm opens the body to release. I recently found a copy of The Complete System of Self-Healing by: Dr. Stephen T. Chang at a yard sale; I have been working on internal exercise and can only say, "Wow! This is definitely beneficial!" In truth, I now know the best approaches to exercise for detox and general health includes both internal and external exercise.

Well, we've covered a lot of ground. I know there is plenty more which could be discussed and look into. Please share what you have found useful along your own path. Of course, we are all individuals and need to find what works for us. A good health professional working with you on all health matters (including detox and opening detox channels) is, as always, recommended. Happy healing, Joe

Dave Wilcox- Show the Way

I hope this link works. I sometimes get fuzzy brained when trying to do cyber- activities. Anyhow, the lyrics say it all.


http://youtu.be/cy0LBGTYyfg

Comparing Tribes: HIV/AIDS and Morgellons Part 1

If you follow my blog, then you know I've spent much of this school year in Africa and returned to the US after becoming ill. I've struggled through some bad symptoms which seem to come in waves.

Two weeks ago I remembered an incident which took place in Arusha, Tanzania. I had purchased a hair trimmer from a street vendor and, after finding it didn't work, went back to get my money returned. I got angry and started shouting at the man and, as seems to be common in Africa, a crowd circled around. One of the men told me he would get me to a barber (though it sounds strange, I believe he had "bewitched" or hypnotized me. I cannot remember has face...only his hand gestures and voice). I ended up at the local market which is as dirty a setting as you can imagine. Knowing one in six is estimated as infected with HIV in Tanzania (which is actually lower than much of Africa), I would never have freely chosen to go to such a setting where blood could easily be transferred.

Anyhow, the memory of this incident flooded my mind as my health recently worsened and had symptoms characteristic of HIV. Once again, I felt I would have to confront a condition considered incurable. I set up a date to get tested and assumed the worst. I won't leave you hanging. I was tested yesterday and, thank God, I do not have HIV!

One of the HIV/Aids online support groups uses "Welcome to the Tribe" as their motto. I like the idea of a tribe. It is a comfort to those suffering, I am certain. A Morgellons tribe needs to form. In my next entry, I plan to compare the tribes; I think we could learn much from understanding each other.

The Power to Forgive

I know I have said it before, but I'll say it again. I think we are on the verge of understanding Morgellons for what it truly is. I know that ever day without answers to those suffering can feel like an eternity. Let's consider answers are near at hand. What can we expect?

If we suddenly are given the absolute answer of what Morgellons is about, the first shift would be one away from understanding cause and towards designing a best and most affordable route to health for sufferers. This needs to happen quickly and sensibly.

If the issue is found to be toxicity, I suggest sufferers make health and not anger priority number one. I am not suggesting anger isn't justified. What I am suggesting is anger will not help in healing. Everybody deserves to heal.

If the cause is found to be mercury, as I believe, can we approach the future as a challenge? Can we forgive the doctors, researchers, dentist and others for questioning, labeling, and degrading? It would be an enormous challenge for Morgellons sufferers as a whole, but also as individuals.

I know there is a power in forgiving. There is also a power in asking to be forgiven. I believe peace can be found. Whatever your beliefs, bring forgiving into the formula towards wellness.

Sanctuary

The problems we encounter in life seem magnified when dealing with the symptom set called Morgellons. If life is simply a spiritual obstacle course, then it is important to understand The Creator would not give you a hurdle you cannot overcome. My last entry had to do with faith; simply said, have it. Along with faith I recommend another tool of importance—sanctuary.

My current setting and situation required me to establish some peaceful place I will call sanctuary. Sometimes it is not the easiest place to find. In hindsight, I am glad I took up the space in my backpack for my hammock as I packed for Tanzania some six months ago; this is one of my primary sanctuaries.

In interviewing for my current work position, I was told there was “plenty of hiking” and “The air quality is good”. Of course, as one cleans out their system of toxins, they do not want to replace with other toxins. So, I wanted assurance I would have clean air to breathe; instead I’ve been inhaling diesel fumes and smoke from burning trash. Hiking is a key piece of who I am. If I can go for an hour long hike each day, I find I feel much better than without. While I have found some dirt trails to hike along the river, I have been told it can be a very dangerous setting (not exactly what I had in mind for my hiking addiction). Add the stress of a several layered dysfunctional situation and you have severe stress. It hasn’t been pleasant.

Besides swinging in my hammock, I have relied heavily on my background of using the 12 Steps of A. A. utilized in the A. C. O. A. meetings I’d attended for many years. In fact, I had a coin given to me at one meeting with “To thine own self be true” on one side and The Serenity Prayer on the other. I carried this with me and repeated the prayer at least a dozen times each day until I lost it last month. I have replaced my lost coin with a pebble given to me by a new friend which she called a “Gratitude” reminder. Both have been helpful tools.

I mention my sanctuaries as examples; yours may be different. You know what they are.

So, in assisting to take on this hurdle in life, I list some suggestions which are likely repeated somewhere else in my writing.

1) Find sanctuary- You know what this looks like for you. Whatever this place or action is, as long as it doesn’t harm you or another, do it!
2) See symptoms as symptoms- I know how the symptoms feel. I know they are all consuming. I do believe they are primarily the result of toxins. See them as simply symptoms and nothing more.
3) Exercise- Whether it is a walk in the park or some simple yoga stretches, exercise has significant effect. I highly recommend at least one hour of walking each day. Quiet stretching exercise is good in assisting the body with removal of toxins, so yoga, tai chi, and such are great pursuits.
4) Jump the hurdle in front of you- Just like anything, if you don’t visualize it happening it won’t. See yourself healing.

As always, I wish you peace and good health. Happy trails, Joe

Morgellons Spirituality

(This was written several weeks ago when I went on a camping/climbing adventure in West Virginia. I thought this might be a good home for it. In a sense it is a condensed version or alteration of the A.A. 12 Steps)

I’m twisted to the side in my sleeping bag. It is early morning at a campsite near Coopers Rock, West Virginia. Birds are calling across the fields and between trees and I’m admiring the nylon fabric patterns and stitching of the tent. I’m with a group of friends to go climbing for the weekend.

Why am I contorting with pen in hand to write you? I’ve been trying my best to compose a piece on spirituality in Morgellons; it’s an important topic. I can’t possibly explain the significance my beliefs, my spirituality, and my faith played in my own recovery. I’ve made a couple of drafts on the topic, felt they were decent and then looked at them the next day and decided they weren’t quite right. Here’s another attempt (let’s hope I find the right words and don’t run out of scrap paper).

First let me confess. I’m not a saint…never have been, never will be. There were many times when I was suffering from Morgellons symptoms that I was convinced I was making payment for past sins. It’s possible. Looking back now though, I think it was a hurdle, a problem, a challenge to overcome—that’s all.

In a recent conversation about Morgellons with a friend, she said, “It seems very spiritual”.
My response was, “When you feel like your body has been taken over and you’re loosing your mind, what have you got left?—your spirit”. At least that’s how it was for me.

Maybe it is different for you. Maybe it is possible to find a way to health without building on your spirituality. Maybe.

The sensei for a karate class I took many years ago used to have us meditate forming a triangle with our thumbs and forefingers—the corners representing body, mind, and spirit—and constantly reminded us to “Bring your spirit to class!”. The triangle is the strongest form when creating architecture. A tripod is infinitely more stable than a bi-pod. The Celts, my ancestors, considered three a sacred number (and this transferred nicely when St. Patrick came along). In healing, consider the three. Body. Mind. Spirit.

My recovery relied greatly on skills I’d built over my years of attending twelve step meetings (Adult Children Of Alcoholics…as one friend put it, after finding out about my situation with Morgellons, “You’re a survivor and then a survivor again!”). Without going into what I believe or what I think you should believe (I’m not into proselytizing…and this may be the greater part of the reason I’ve had difficulty writing about this topic), I also follow the Quaker faith. Those pieces being presented, let me share what I think was useful in my coping and recovery.

1) Know what you believe- I think The Creator (God, The Light, Nature, Collective Conscience, The Force or whichever name you give your Higher Power) image for each of us is personal. Even those who label themselves atheist or agnostic carry some impression of a “Higher Power” (I had a saying from a high school teacher, and former army sergeant, coming back to me when I first suffered from Morgellons; he’d often say, “There’s no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole”. If Morgellons isn’t a foxhole, I don’t know what is!). The Morgellons Sufferers are of every shape, size and faith. Let your faith comfort you.
2) Build on your faith foundation- Prayer and meditation calmly connect us to our Higher Power. I am certain calming helps in healing. For some this connection is formal, such as going to church services, for some it is not (maybe just a walk in the park). You know what works for you—let it help you heal.
3) Expect miracles- Einstein once said, “There are two ways to live your life—one is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as though everything is a miracle.” Consideration of the interconnectedness of perception and miracles helped me. I suppose we all self-define miracles. Along my path to health, there were many miracles. Whatever you perceive as a miracle, acknowledge it as such…and give thanks.
4) Give thanks- I had to say it again. When I was deeply suffering, I found myself waking with exhaustion but started my day by mentally listing and giving thanks for the little things—the sunshine, the bird songs, the beauty of this world, and other things that came to mind. Simple pleasures of life became more meaningful. Three years later, I am more thankful of my life than ever! Life is a gift and the little things (bills, confrontations, and telemarketers for example) that used to consume me have little power.

There is something that needs to be said, but I’m not certain I can say it correctly. Faith, hope and love are every bit as important as any managing or healing protocol. The tides are turning with this condition. People are reclaiming their lives. I hope and pray the medical community will soon share answers and all of us will be on the path to wellness.

I’m off to spend some quality time with some big rocks. I’ve thought about some clever analogies of climbing and faith, but I suppose all of them go without saying. May your spirit grow along with your health! Peace, Joe