The 12 stages of healing

[Guest guest]

 

The  12  stages  of  healinga network approach to  wholeness

 

by; M Epstein  D.C.founder and developer of network chiropracticwith iel Altman

 

Stage  One:  SUFFERINGDifferent from pain, suffering is marked b a profound awareness that  " something is wrong. "   Parts of our being have been separated from our Inner Self-- the core of our being.  This especially occurs when we are confronted with  a traumatic or chaotic event  or loss. the lesson  of this stage is the acceptance that  nothing  works at this time;  we are presently  helpless.

 

Stage 2:  POLARITIES AND RHYTHMSThe awareness that  suffering involves cycles, polarities, and patterns is the essence of this stage.  It begins with  the search for the  " magic genie " who will save us from our distress, pain , or crisis. We try to  gain power over our helplessness through external authorities, procedures, and treatments. Eventually,  as we heal, we see that  our genie is not  so magical. We become aware of our rhythms and polarities,  and discover that we are partially responsible for our distress.

 

Stage 3: STUCK IN A PerspectiveThis  stage of healing involves the recognition that  our distress is associated with  being stuck in a perspective.  Our concepts or our physiology have been fixated. We don't need to know who we've been stuck, or what  to do about  it. We just need to have the simple awareness that  we've been stuck.

 

Stage 4: RECLAIMING OUR POWERThis stage of healing is one in which we realize that  the  " script " determined by  the above three stages is no longer desirable or no longer works. Initially, we are angry that  we have lost  our power and we are determined not  to  let  it  happen again.  As we progress through  this stage, we no longer choose to dishonor ourselves.

 

Stage 5: MERGING With  THE ILLUSIONThis  stage is associated with  having a strong enough sense of  self  to merge with  the illusion which keeps us from our " light "   or our " shadow " .  With merging, the part of our nature we have  alienated, disliked, or ignored  is integrated  into  the rest of our being to create  more wholeness.

 

Stage 6: PREPARATION FOR ResolutionIn stage 6 we build momentum and flexibility. the alienated  traumatized, denied or redirected consciousness or energy is being prepared for discharge and resolution. We feel the tension building within ourselves as this process advances, and find ways to create change and improve flexibility to continue the process.

 

Stage 7: RESOLUTIONThis stage may involve a discharge of the muscular system, such as movement  of the extremities, or processes such as fever, coughing, sneezing, crying, screaming, and laughing. When the discharge occurs after the previous 6 stages, and a sense of accomplishment, peace, and inner strength accompanies the process, then resolution has been achieved.

 

Stage 8: EMPTINESS IN CONNECTEDNESSAfter  the resolution and discharge we are emptied.  this is not  a space of nothingness, but  instead a place of possibilities.  We enter into a state of gratitude, vulnerability: connection with our external rhythms, and alignment with events around us.  We expect serendipity to be available for us as a natural way of life.

 

Stage 9:  LIGHT  BEHIND THE FORMFrom  our place  in emptiness and gratitude we become aware of our fullness of light and energy.  We experience that we are more than our physical body, and actually become aware of the flow of life force through and around us.  We may even experience our energetic connection to  others.  this occurs in conjunction with awe and joy for the process.

 

Stage 10: ASCENTThere is an awareness of Being-- not  as an intellectual being, but  as intelligence itself; not as housing a Spirit, but as Spirit itself.  We experience our union with  the creative force of the Universe.  We transcend all limits, boundaries, language, judgment, and our existing sense of self.  We receive the gift of knowing the oneness of all creation, and gain immense wisdom during  this stage.

 

Stage 11: DESCENTWe are renewed beyond our limits and sense of self and enter  into the world again.  We know that we are part of all we percieve and responsible for what  we know. We live without being attached to our situations.  We love and serve life and others.  We communicate with  ourselves and others through our wounds instead of  from  them.

 

Stage 12: COMMUNITYWe experience our involvement with humanity and recognize that wholeness comes from bringing our gifts of individuality into community. We recognize that all of our choices are spiritual ones and affect  the entire globe of beings. Eventually we realize that  the limits  of what  we can bring to community stems from our own lack of wholeness.  therefore we seek to re-experience the rhythm of the earlier stages.