Intuitive
The worst symptom of the nasty bronchitis I just lived through was a headache that plagued me for six days. I tried everything to relieve the pain, copious amounts of Advil and allergy tablets, hot compresses, cold compresses you name it. I even tried my husband’s mantra when he’s in pain: “I am not my body. I am free. I am as God created me.”
The mantra worked temporarily but soon the headache would come back with a vengeance. A couple of nights the pain on the left side of my face was so intense I seriously considered lopping off that side of my face. Normally sleep would bring relief from even my worst headaches, not this time!
On the sixth day the universe sent me this amazing article “Burning Man” by Jay Kirk in GQ Magazine. The article describes the horrific burns and subsequent pain suffered by First Lieutenant Sam Brown after his Humvee blew up in Afghanistan. Lt Brown’s body overproduced scar tissue, scar tissue that had to be stretched and ripped to restore his range of motion. To say he was in a living, burning hell would be a gross understatement.
Lt. Brown was invited to participate in a test of a Virtual Realty game that was proving to be effective in significantly reducing pain. While the physical therapists worked on the scar tissue, Lt. Brown escaped into the Virtual Reality game. Afterward he stated that his observed pain had only been a level 6, pain that was normally on a 9-10 level. Also, the therapists told him they had gotten more range of motion than previously.
After reading the article I decided to create my own “VR game”. I imagined myself transported to my favorite island in the world, Santorini. I felt the warm sun on my body, the tiny, smooth black pebbles under my blanket. The scent of delicious grilled fish mingled with the salty ocean air and the seagulls screeched overhead searching for a tidbit left behind. The intense turquoise water shimmered and sparkled and I delighted in the laughter of children gleefully splashing each other at the water’s edge. I totally immersed myself in my “VR game”, experiencing it with every sense, enjoying all the details…AND THE PAIN WAS GONE! Not diminished, completely GONE!
As long as I gave attention to the pain – rubbing my head, swallowing Advil, thinking about how to get rid of it, the pain continued to grow. Hunter Thompson the creator of the Virtual Reality game observed that time spent thinking about pain is an inextricable contributor to actual pain. How giving pain attention meant giving pain meaning, and how meaning amplified the experience of pain. Yep, I can attest to that, as soon as I put my energy, attention and thoughts elsewhere the pain was gone.
In “Conversations With God”, Neale Donald Walsh tells us the laws are very simple: Thought is creative. Fear (or pain) attracts like energy. Can you see how I was creating more pain, with my creative thoughts? Do you understand that thinking about pain attracts more pain? And how relief could come from immersing my self in the beauty of Santorini?
I’m sure that you’ve experienced this at some point in your life. A very simple example often happens to me while out hiking. I am completely engrossed in the beauty of the red rocks, clear blue sky above, fresh air, warm sun…there is almost nowhere I am happier! Yet often I come home to find a nasty scratch on a leg or arm with no idea where it came from, even when I try to remember. I call that my meditative hiking state of mind. It’s extremely effective!
Healing Pain
Use the thought of peace and the realization of a Perfect Presence; know that in this Presence there is no tension, there is no struggle, there is no fear, there is no sense of conflict. Know this until there cmoes to your own consciousness a deep, calm sense of peace and ease, and until every thought of pain is eliminated. -Ernest Holmes, The Science of Mind
The next time you are facing pain:
- Create a new scene in your mind using all of your senses
- Imagine all the details of your beautiful new world
- Remember to passionately create the scene, fully immerse yourself
- Repeat if necessary, continue to turn away from the pain, do not give it attention
Why not give it a shot? The pain hurts! Imagining yourself on a beautiful, exotic tropical island, or skiing on perfect powdery snow can at the least take you away momentarily. You might be delighted to recognize the absence of pain as a big grin spreads across your face.
All thoughts are creative, use them wisely!
Namaste, BakeR
I am available by phone and Skype for private intuitive readings and Spiritual Life Coaching. C: 602.999.2493
Please join me at my next group reading, 10:00 am, March 31st at Peace Place Gifts, 355 Jordan Road in uptown Sedona. $11.00
Bring your questions for Mamacita. We will end around Noon with a short meditation.
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