“What Are You, Crazy?” - A Detour into Conventional Wisdom

Even within the unconventionality of mystical circles, a certain conventional wisdom applies. I have mentioned this massage marathon to a number of healers.  Responses include:

• “So how is that going?”
• “If somebody came to me to do 20 sessions in 2 months I would say, ‘No’!"
• “What are you crazy, girl!”

And of course, even as the one getting all the massages, I might have said ‘no’ too if I were my client. Fortunately, for my path at this time, I am not my client.

This is not to say that the instinct to say ‘no’ is wrong.  It is based on training as well as a desire to act responsibly, model healthy boundaries and avoid putting a client’s health at risk.  It is a good thing for everyone that all of this is within the job description of the ethical healer.

What I am saying is that conventional wisdom is sometimes just that.  As a friend of mine likes to say, all rules of thumb aside, “if it works, then it is right.”

Nonetheless, my colleagues have a point.  In answering their questions I have been forced to dig deeper to understand why the massage marathon – in all its intensity -  is working to make me stronger when conventional wisdom might predict the opposite.  (After all it is not unusual for deep healing work to trigger emotional and physical reactions that can be fragmenting in absence of proper psychological and emotional support - one very good reason for taking it slowly or at least not at full speed!) 

On a personal level, one purpose of this marathon is to show me that I can handle more than I think I can.  It has the purpose of building strength and discipline.  And of course, it is not intended for my benefit alone.  Our paths are intertwined.  The hope is that in my experience others will find support.

Having said this, one contributing factor, already discussed, is that I have training in working with and managing transformative spiritual energy, for myself and others.  I am committed to self-care.  Likewise, the massage therapists at The Center for Well-Being in Monroe,Washington are licensed and many have professional training in more than one modality. Another factor is that I am working with several therapist as opposed to a single one.

And yet, no amount of technical or spiritual training can erase the fact that I am still human and therefore still vulnerable. The growth process whether slow or fast will bring surprises.  It will ask us to confront our fears and move into new territory.  It is the nature of the beast.  Thus, in guaranteeing the safety and positivity of awakening and sacred transformation there is another important factor at play: a sense of community, connection and compassion. By this I mean, Love.

In these 13 massages, the therapists have sometimes conveyed spiritual or energetic messages they have gotten for me and sometimes, I for them.  In one session, we talked about higher love, its nature, and whether Love is enough.  The message in this case was:  “Think of Love as fascia – as the connective tissue of the cosmos, that which binds all in a working system of life.”

In these 13 massages the role of fascia in the body was often discussed.  To these massages and discussions each therapist brought skill and training.  They also brought themselves, a sense of purpose, connectedness and a natural care for humanity. Importantly, they seem to believe in their ability to make a difference and, as a rule, are balanced and centered while working.  When in meditation I asked the spirits for a visual describing the situation.  I saw these therapists configured in a spiral of compassionate energy supporting the process of growth and health for others. 

It is both simple and complex. It is a simple fact that we need each other and that we heal in relationship to each other.  It is complex as the loving connections necessary to sustain the best of life, growth, authenticity and freedom are something that as a culture we have largely forgotten how to nurture and must now work our way back into, one interaction and relationship at a time.

In my case, I suppose that it is no surprise that these caring therapists and their willingness to create a web of connection and support - that Love - has made the difference.