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HEALER MEDICINE
(Under Construction)
Becoming a physician was not training in becoming a healer (one who is able to heal, to make sound or whole). Medical training was all about being a curer (one who is able to end a disease condition or problem by treatment or appropriate action). Curing and healing are overlapping concepts that often, but not always, travel together.
Both healing and curing is wonderful powerful work to be involved in. I am not placing a negative connotation on either one and see both as fantastic accomplishments. It was my medical training that allowed me to see the distinction between healing and curing. It was during this time that I met people that were cured but not healed, and others that were healed but not cure.
I met many individuals who were cured of serious medical conditions through the application of modern medical practice. There were people who were considered critical and walked away cured. There were others with serious tumorous masses that were cured. I came to realize that while many of these people were cured, it was also true that many of these people never healed, never became "more whole" in a broaders sense. Some were angry intolerant individuals who had horrible relationships with their family and everyone else (including their caregivers).
Becoming more sound and whole (i.e. healing) refers to more than just the physical. That is why someone can be healed but not cured. I had the good fortune of meeting many individuals that lost their battle with a terminal condition and died. Yet I am here to testify and voice to you that they had great healings before their death. Through the process of facing their mortality the healed. They healed relationships with family and old lost friends. They expressed kindness in their every action. They forgave themselves and others. They brought wholeness to their family life. They healed big time. They were not cured, they died.
I came to appreciate that I was both a physician and a healer. I went through the process of becoming a physician. Then I became a physician who was also a healer. Currently I know myself as a healer who is also a physician.
HEALING MEDICINE CURRICULUM VITAE
Here are aspects of my life, with comments, that I directly relate to major teachings I have had about Healing and becoming a Healer. I did not always appreciate this at the time but with the benefit of years it is clear to me what how these events affected me. These are aspects of my life I feel were significant factors in continued learning as a healer.
1968 First class in Hatha Yoga taken from Grace Stern at her suburban home on Surrey Lane, Havertown, PA.
First chanted Aum.
Grace Stern was my first yoga teacher. I grew up in a baby boomer middle class jewish suburban neighborhood of Philadelphia. Grace was a beautiful Italian woman who had married an intense jewish man, Sid Stern, who ran United News. Grace had "gone over the edge" according the the gossip in the neighborhood. Grace was shifting rapidly along with the times and had become a yoga teacher. At age 15 I took my first Hatha Yoga class from her and first followed my breath and chanted Aum. I dabbled in these things minimally through high school and seriously engaged them the summer outside of high school.
Grace's yoga was styled after Swami Satchidananda whose wisdom I continue to find inspiration in. Grace held safe space for me to see things differently. Thank you so much!!
1968 First experience with sacred plant medicine.
1970 Dismemberment Experience. First learn about shamanism.
1971 First read and use Be Here Now and The Psychedelic Experience.
1971 First Healing Circle at Mr N's hippie farm on the Sassafras River at the Chesapeake Bay, many hours chanting
krishna to the stars.
1971 Meteor Shower baptism.
3/1972 Initiated into Meditation, begin Bhakti Yoga practice.
6/1972 Move to Divine Light Farms, 5 years of learning earth work and medicine.
First healing herb garden.
First exposure to Energy Medicine.
11/1972 Spend 6 weeks in India (4 in ashram, 2 traveling)
1976 Farm is sold, I return to and experience college as a spiritual path
1976, 1977 Assistant manager of health food store while in college.
1979 My mother, Jolyn, dies and I realize she was a true healer of community and families.
1977,78,79 Frustration in entering my chosen lifepath (trouble getting into medical school)
1979 Enter Osteopathic Medical School (Osteopathic Medicine) and meet my MENTOR J. Gordon Zink, D.O.
1981 Attend my first birth, see my first 'first breath'.
1982 Start one year predoctoral fellowship in Osteopathic Manipulation spending time working with physicians
who are healers (e.g. John Upledger, D.O., Viola Frymann, D.O.)
1984 to 1989 Five years of postgraduate clinical training.
1989 Start medical practice in Atlanta.
1990 Resumption of interest in sacred plant medicine.
Study of world literatue on power plants (natural hallucinogens) leads to the study of
cross cultural shamanism.
1991 Several study sessions in shamanism led by Ed Anderson in Atlanta.
1992 First formal course in shamanism is introductory course from Foundation for Shamanic Studies.
My teacher was Dana Robinson who did a great job.
1993-2003 First study with Oscar Miro Quesada leading to 10 years of regular training with him in
Pachacuti Mesa Shamanism (eclectic cross cultural approach to north coastal Peruvian san pedro shamanism).
1994 One year Inca Medicine wheel training with Alberto Villoldo.
1989-2001 Ob-Gyn practice delivering 1800 newborns and operating out of 3 hospitals.
1995 Marraige falls apart beginning 5 years of 'dark night of the soul'.
1998 New friends teach me to play again.
1999,2000,2002 Sacred pilgrimages to the holy land of BURNING MAN with brothers Steve and Chip.
2001 First Georgia Reunion leading to new social and spiritual circles.
2001 Start working with Peruvian Jungle Shaman 2-3 times each year.
2003 Attend my first Beltaine Celebration, opening my heart to community.
2004 Fall in love with dearheart Sara Evans.
2001 - 2006 Working at Millennium Healthcare. Temple of Health Radio show for 6 years total.
ARTICLES ON HEALING
Article on Healing Partnerships
Home Intro Medicine Pages Moontime & Menopause Medicine Wheel
Ritual & Ceremony Temple of Health Radio Show Links & References
Events Divine
Light Farms
