This weeks meditation exercise, was probably my favorite so far. It is called "Meeting Asclepius". Asclepius is the Greek God of Medicine. This meditation process is one that helps bring out your inner healer, or your guide on the journey to integral health.
Meeting Asclepius is a guided visualization meditation. You begin by sitting in a comfortable position, close your eyes and begin by visualizing a person who is wise and has a kind heart, it can be someone you know or you can make someone up. For me I had spent some time looking at pictures of Asclepius the Greek God, and this was the face that kept appearing when I did the exercise. An older man with white hair and a beard wearing a long white robe, I had thought that I would visualize my grandmother, but the face of this older man would not leave my mind, so I went with it.This was my inner healer. Once I was able to keep this individual in my mind and focus on him, the exercise became much easier.
Now that my mind was focused on this figure, I then visualized a white beam of light shining from the crown of his head, this lite was bright and I could visualize it shining from his head to my forehead. Think of the light shining as one that enters into your mind, the light will bathe and purify your thoughts and transforming your mind to a still mind. This was easily visualized by me and I could feel myself becoming more relaxed and my mind stayed focused without wandering and thinking of other things. From here I began to visualize this same white light now it has moved and is shining from the healers throat towards my throat. The light is purifying my speech, making it loving, wise and sensitive, one that does not speak harsh words towards others. The final visualization is the light shining from the healers heart penetrating my heart purifying it to be filled with love and kindness.
When the process was finished I felt a sense of peace and my heart felt light and very loving. Throughout the week, when ever I would want to speak a negative word or began thinking negative thoughts, I would immediately bring the face of this healer to mind. I can't say that it always made me stop, but it has brought more awareness to my words and thoughts and it is lessening the frequency of negativity. I believe if I continue to practice these types of meditation exercises it will eventually become easier to always speak kind words and to eliminate the negative emotions that can clutter my mind.
The statement "One can not lead another where one has not gone himself" (Dacher, 2006) Is a statement that I completely agree with. This is why I take everything that I am learning within these classes so serious. I can not teach others the importance finding balance without taking the appropriate steps to find balance within myself. It is a journey that although will not be complete as I work with clients, it will be one that I will continually pursue and as I learn I will be able to teach others.
Laurie
Hi Laurie,
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you’re saying about getting closer to your inner healer. We are all learning the path to integral health and I feel this is an important step toward becoming great healers. Once we are able to master the steps then we can re teach them to others.
Laurie,
ReplyDeleteAlthough my experience with this week’s exercise was completely opposite yours I am glad to have read it. I may to go back yet again to try and make it work for me if I can get over the whole as you said “Think of the light shining as one that enters into your mind, the light will bathe and purify your thoughts and transforming your mind….” I want to achieve integral health but have control issues of some “unknown healer entering my mind.”
So very often what come out of our mouths is not uplifting and encouraging. I can always hear my mother saying “if you have nothing nice to say don’t say anything at all”. Oh boy we would live in such a peaceful word if we could all follow that rule.
Thank you for sharing your experience with Asclepius.