Healing, M.E.and the Shamanic Approach.

I have M.E, and I’m a Shamanic practitioner. What has one got to do with the other? Interestingly enough, a lot as it turns out.

Anyone who suffers from the dis-ease of M.E or Chronic fatigue Syndrome and associated Fibromyalgia, could tell you if they had the energy in the first place, that that is the biggest problem, no energy. The void that occurs when the energy is gone is filled with bone-crushing exhaustion, which is beyond most people’s imagination and this can last for weeks, months or even years with no respite. The worst-case scenario is becoming bedridden in hospital. Yes, it can get that bad; a life sucking, energy stealing, vampiric malaise of epic proportions.

This dis-ease is so subjective; it is difficult if not impossible for others to empathise with it.

So, I hear you cry, what has Shamanism to do with this? How can something that has its roots in indigenous culture up to 60,000years old heal these people?

The idea of fragmentation of the soul is found in quite a few spiritual belief systems, many illnesses in indigenous cultures are deemed to have their roots in a sickness of the Spirit. The physical illness is a manifestation of that sickness.

The Buddhists believe that the soul is separated at the time of birth, which is why we do not remember past incarnations – the part that holds those memories returns to the Universe, only those who are enlightened can retain these soul parts, as I understand it.

Again trauma is the key, the process of birth is possibly the first physical trauma that we face, and it can mark us in more ways than one. Personally, I feel that this can be extended even unto conception, some children are conceived in less than totally serene or permissive situations; or consider even the amnio centises, I have a friend, who is not given to flights of fancy, who told me of her son describing the needle used on her and how he was afraid of it.

If indeed Deepak Chopra is correct and all the cells in the body are eavesdropping in on each other and the mind controls the body, then what happens to the mother happens to the foetus. This is what the Psychologists would term a ‘significant emotional event’.

At this point the technical data about cortisol levels etc would come into play but this is not a scientific journal – let us take it as read that trauma in any form has a psychological impact inside the body. Which in turn has a physiological backlash and vice versa.

People who are experiencing the backlash of these traumas, physical, psychological, sexual, emotional even spiritual have symptoms that they describe, as being constantly tired, apathetic, depressed one minute and panicking the next, which then makes them tired, and being tired all the time is exhausting in itself. Something is missing in their lives, described at times as a void. A void that cannot be filled no matter how much alcohol, drugs or food is consumed; no matter how many abusive relationships they enter into. The void is constant, a black hole of negative energy sucking the will out of them every second of every minute of every day.

Constantly falling ill with viruses – or being accident prone, unable to function the way they used to, unable to complete the simplest of sentences, read a book, or watch Coronation Street. No joy in their lives, no life in their lives. Sleeping the clock round, then even too tired to sleep. Boughts of uncontrollable weeping, it is actually no wonder that on the surface of things the G.P will opt for the depression card, couple of Prozac and guess what? It doesn’t get better, there is just a better reason for being unable to walk, talk, socialise etc.

Like the Buddhists the Shamen believe that trauma causes the Soul to fragment. These fragments leave the body in order to protect the integrity of the Soul part.
By accessing an altered state, a light trance, the Shaman goes on a Journey to an alternate reality/ dimension where the Soul part is waiting to return and be reintegrated with the client.

Timing is – as with all things – everything. The Soul part will not necessarily return without assurance that the circumstances which prompted its departure in the first place, are no longer in play and will not be so again. The client has to be willing to take responsibility for their continued integration.

Hearts sore, heart sick, sick and tired of… how often does this occur, how many times do we hear it said? Our bodies are listening, as are our brains.

A. Melvin Ramsay M.D. describes M.E as “A baffling syndrome with a tragic aftermath. (www.meactionuk.org.uk/ramsey.html).

It goes back to the many different triggers for the onset of illnesses – the Chinese have a saying, Ko shan Ko Shu every mountain has it’s own people; or every problem has it’s own answer.

As I said at the beginning of this article, I have been diagnosed with M.E. finally – it took a while.

Since the diagnosis, I have found that it is mostly up to me to sort myself out. So I have.

Shamanic healing has kept me motivated and allowed me to function on a day-to-day basis. I have had Soul retrieval, three parts have returned to me in the past four years. It’s a work in progress!

Other things that have helped me to manage this beastie (I have relegated it to something that I can handle mentally) are reflexology, reiki, hypnotherapy and NLP.

This dis – ease affects the whole body, it is a holistic dis – ease. It can be managed by a holistic approach.

Tailor treatments to suit your needs and your system of belief. The scientific way or complementary therapies either way it’s what works for you.