Many people use the words “healing” and “curing” interchangeably, yet they don’t necessarily mean the same thing. This leads to a great deal of confusion and unfortunately has also lead to people dismissing the powers of healing practices. Perhaps I can best clarify the differences between the two by giving an example. A few years ago a very dear friend developed gangrene in his foot. He was sent to a specialist who admitted him to hospital for treatment. When the treatment didn’t work the doctor said the only “cure” was to amputate the foot. My friend was horrified and said no way was this happening. The pain he was in was excruciating but he was prepared to endure it and even to die rather than lose his ability to walk. Taking off his foot would have “cured” or eradicated the disease but left him on a mental, emotional and perhaps also a spiritual level greatly damaged. I say maybe on a spiritual level because this man had a beautiful, loving and trusting relationship with God, he never blamed him for any of the many difficulties of his life but I’m sure we can all call to mind people who through adversity have become bitter and unforgiving of others and even of thenselves. The doctor knowing my friend to be a determined old farmer who said little and meant what he said performed another operation which restored better circulation to the foot and resulted in my friend eventually losing two toes instead of his foot and allowing him to return to farming his land. It took longer, cost him a great deal of extra pain and kept him in hospital longer but he was a whole person needing treatment, not just a diseased physical body and fortunately today more doctors are realising the importance of dealing with the whole patient. Unfortunately sometimes there is no other solution than amputation if a physical life is to be saved so it is really important to realise that when this takes place “healing” is needed on more levels than just the physical.

While “curing” a patient means to completely eradicate the illness or disease, “healing” can occur on many different levels and may or may not result in the person “living” in a physical sense. A very wise older gentleman who was conducting an Order of St Luke healing service once said “We all know that death is the final healing”, my mind at the time totally rebelled, it was not what I wanted and I couldn’t accept this as healing. If you were “healed you didn’t die or so I thought. He was right I was wrong, the person I was praying for “was healed”  but on a spiritual level which allowed them to pass peacefully into the spirit world.

I have come, over time, to realise that “healing” can manifest on any one or more of the various energy levels that make up the “whole person”.

A person can be healed on the physical level: This may mean the disease or illness is completely eradicated (or cured) totally. It may also mean simply that a person is physically well and symptom free for a period of time, perhaps years, before the disease returns in some form or it may mean that the symptoms, such as pain, are alleviated either for good (as in the case of another friend who passed with breast cancer) or for a time. So we can see that even on a purely physical level healing can take many forms.

A person can be healed on the emotional level: This could allow them to become calm, emotionally stronger,more positive in their outlook and unafraid. It can lead to them accepting the illness and moving on to enjoying the quality of life they have (however limited) and making the best of it. I’m sure we can all bring to mind people we have met or heard of who despite physical disabilities, mental or emotional problems or illness have reached out and helped others while rising above their own particular circumstances.One who comes instantly to mind for me is Christopher Reeves who before becoming a quadriplegic played the film role of Superman and after his accident showed amazing strength and determination to help others.

A person can be healed on the mental level: This could enable them to think differently about their illness or disease. Sometimes this can provide an understanding of the caustive issues such as stress, lifestyle etc and help lead to changes that facilitate healing on other levels.

A person can be healed on the spiritual level: This for me is the most important level of all. I work as volunteer in the palliative care ward of a local hospital and so often see people struggle on this level. Healing on this level can enable them and all of us as we approach our inevitable death to develop a more loving and forgiving relationship with others in our lives or even with ourselves. This can so often lead to a peaceful transition into death that can be as beautiful to watch as I’m sure it is to experience.

While healing can take place on each of these levels separately it is important to remember that all the levels interconnect and that what happens on one level affects the others. Those who have seen auras will be aware that the energy of each level merges into that of the next and there is no seperation between them.

There are many other more detailed writings on these different levels. One book I would highly recommend is “HANDS OF LIGHT, A Guide to Healing Through the Human Eneregy Field.” By Barbara Ann Brennan.(pub. by Bantam Books) . This book is a must read for anyone exploring or studying healing.  It has been aound for many years. I first came across it in the 1980s and its information and teachings are timeless and invaluable.  In finishing I would ask just one thing of you before you continue on your journey Please remember “healing” and “curing” are not always the same, so don’t place expectations on the outcomes, just trust that a higher power who created us knows best what we really need and is guiding the healing process in our earthly life.

May you find what you truely seek.