By Marguerite Jill Dye
The “HEAL” documentary on Netflix, which I wrote about in last week’s Mountain Meditation, and my own pain experience 10-14 years ago and, unfortunately now, have taught me we have more power than we realize to set our healing ability in motion.
Food as medicine is nothing new. It’s been used worldwide for thousands of years. To heal, it’s vital to eat foods and herbs that promote health, but also food sources that starve diseased cells so they can’t thrive and spread.The microbium in the gut protects us from pathogens, builds vitamins and our immunity. But stress, medications, and a poor diet compromise our gut microbiome and can kill off so much of it that it can make holes in the intestines, “leaky gut.” By replacing the offending sources with a nutrient rich plant based diet, the immune system is stimulated and the body is able to heal itself—in less time than it took to become ill.
When the source of an illness is “cause unknown,” as in the case of autoimmune disease, a toxin or pathogen is the underlying cause. It can trigger MS, lupus, fibromyalgia, CFS, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylosis, AS, and other autoimmune disease symptoms.
Thoughts, beliefs, and emotions are scientifically proven to affect our bodies’ physiology, chemistry, and biology. That is the mind-body connection.
The placebo effect demonstrates this when a patient’s belief shifts their biology. Their autonomic nervous system actually replicates the chemicals in the medication that they believe they’re taking! The placebo effect is extremely powerful. It can be positive, but also, negative: the “nocebo” of negative thought can cause any illness to flourish, and is so strong, it can even cause death.
The key is to not give your power away to an authority figure in a white coat. “Don’t become a victim twice: to the condition and to the diagnosis,” Dr. Michael Beckwith warns.
“Don’t fall prey to the prognosis,” Dr. Joe Dispenza tells his audience in lectures on our healing ability. He describes alternative options: to make new choices, try something different, overcome limited thinking, and resolve emotional issues. By setting our intention to heal and by replacing negative with positive beliefs, synchronicity, magic, and miracles occur. That is the formula for healing ourselves.
I’ve been putting it to the test because I’m experiencing intense pain from a recent injury that’s pushed herniated discs into a pinched nerve and bundled nerves of “chronic arachnoiditis.” Thank heavens, I know from last time, that in spite of “an incurable, untreatable spinal condition,” healing is possible. It’s for certain. As happened before, against all odds, I was healed through the my friend’s loving hands, a nurse practitioner and massage therapist who used many healing modalities (cranial sacral, acupressure, Reiki, polarity, and other energy work). She guided me through the spiritual work which gave me hope and renewed my faith. Over several months, my pain declined from a level eight to none at all. I know my is here now to remind me to connect with the Spirit within, and to learn to heal my pain myself so I can help others heal themselves.
We’re packed for Cuba and were ready to go, but I can barely get out of bed. So I called Southwest and asked if we could possibly reschedule our Havana flights. I was amazed when Jackie asked, “Would you like to reschedule or prefer a refund?” SW has won two new fans for outstanding flexibility and customer service.
I’ve yearned to go to Cuba for years because the Cuban people we know are truly unforgettable. They’re full of energy, charismatic, caring, generous, and filled with joy. They’re warm and welcoming, industrious, innovative, and above all, they have big hearts.
My husband Duane and I planned to meet our Camino friend Sandy in Havana. He served in the Peace Corps in Paraguay when I was a mission intern and social worker for a church agency in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
“When people ask me what I like about Cuba, I’m often at a loss for words. I can only say that I am drawn to the place… It’s a matter of the heart,” Sandy said.
“I love the mix of culture and the language, art, and music that result: Taino, Black, Mestizo, Spanish, Caribbean, and European, to name a few. I like the history, sometimes even the macabre… People seem to be looking for concrete reasons, but that’s abstract stuff of the head, rather than the stuff of the heart.”
Cuba’s a land of people with heart. As I’ve experienced in other Latino cultures, they share their love with open hearts, welcoming “Yanquis” and other strangers like long lost family, friends, and neighbors. I look forward to discovering Cuba soon, when I can walk and move about, pain free in wellness and excellent health. As my friends are telling me, “Cuba’s not going anywhere. When you’re ready, she’ll be there.”
“Cuba or bust!” is my healing mantra.
Marguerite Jill Dye is an artist and writer in Vermont and Florida.
