Its uniqueness lies in the fact that, should it break, any part of the hologram is capable of reconstructing the total image, but with reduced clarity. Like the holograph, the brain also stores information redundantly. Each part of the brain has some data on every other part. A shattered piece of the holographic picture can recreate the whole image; the brain areas left intact after damage have the potential for functioning like the missing parts The holographic model, as proposed by Pribram, does not contradict the traditional neuroanatomic description of the brain. People don't have much ability to establish healing patterns once they're diagnosed with serious illness.

If they don't believe in anything besides modern medicine, when that fails there is nothing else stored in the brain that has been rehearsed sufficiently enough, in the context of health, to effect physical change. Through many complex and varied processes, then, the filters that normally prevent direct mental access to the physical body can be lifted. Most of the ways have in common a means of either removing, or significantly altering, or even competing with, the demands the external environment makes on the brain. Torrey cites several characteristic factors that serve to engender trust in healers of all types: The esteem of the patient is increased by merely being in the presence of and receiving the undivided attention of such an impressive, important person All of these peculiarities tend to heighten his influence, and, by rendering his appearance impressive and suggestive of superiority, serve to increase his control over the people.

Distinctive behavioral changes have been noted in several species when they were confronted with a situation over which they had no control. The changes could be anthropomorphically described as "giving up," and are accompanied by evidence of physical deterioration. Helplessness in humans is normally associated with severe depression, apathy, and loss of energy, even before the clinical manifestation of disease The purveyors of hope, in this context, are offering a healing commodity.

The shamans, many of them, had come face to face with death before their vocation became apparent. No doubt their credibility was in part a function of some immunity gained through their illness. A physical therapist told me of a time in her life when she was about to finish her master's degree and was suffering from massive uterine hemorrage.

All the usual treatments had been tried: The only treatment left was hysterectomy She begged off her surgery for a week and went into seclusion. During this time she visualized a white light shining its healing rays into her uterus. At the end of the week, the bleeding had stopped completely. That was five years ago, and no similar problems had occurred since. She hadn't told her story to many people and, being in a medical profession, she was just a little embarrassed about the circumstances of her recovery.

And, as the mentally handicapped approach normal intelligence, their cancer rate increases also Tumors can change as rapidly as nightblooming flowers, growing, shrinking, perhaps changing shape. The symptoms were symbols, the symbols symptoms. The two words have essentially the same meaning—a concrete or tangible object that stands for an intangible idea.

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And they both deserve equal respect for influencing the course of lives Archetypal figures who fought for God and country and who were protectors of their people, such as Sir Richard, the knights of the Round Table, and the venturesome Vikings, were nearly always associated with a positive outcome. Animals with killer instincts such as sharks, bears, and mean dogs were sometimes, but not always, associated with good responses.

Some people tried to force these images because they thought they were the most likely killers, but at the same time, they got disgusted with the gore. Very poor responses were associated with vague, weak, amorphous symbols for the immune system such as snowflakes or clouds. More often than not, those with the worst prognosis just couldn't draw or describe anything at all related to the immune system, but had vivid images of their cancer A truly poor outcome was forecast when the cancer cells were seen as immutable, grasping, or ineradicable, when symbolized as lumps of coal, crabs, ants, or submarines; a better outcome was likely when they were described as weak animals or even as the actual cells as one might view them under a microscope.

Interestingly enough, the insect images are a grim omen of disease in the shamanic system as well. The power of the imagination makes warts go away My own daughter once had warts, so many of them that the dermatologist said freezing them or surgery would leave too many scars on her little hands. He said, "Maybe they'll go away. By then it was time to go visit her grandparents for the summer.

Tags: ‘Imagery and Healing: Shamanism and Modern Medicine’

What a treat was in store. They were keeping a big white horse for her to ride as long as she was there. A ten-year-old's veritable dream come true, and no one had ever seen her happier. After the first day, the wart infestation disappeared completely. She knew instantly that the horse was responsible They could even learn to fire long bursts that sounded like drum rolls when they came across the speakers, or short bursts, or patterns of their own choosing.

There has not been a body function that couldn't be controlled to some extent once it was adequately monitored and information provided to the subject through rapid feedback.

Imagery in Healing: Shamanism and Modern Medicine by Jeanne Achterberg

The immune system should prove no exception. Feb 18, Elizabeth Eiler rated it liked it Shelves: The early chapters had a lot of great information about shamanism in its varied forms and the history of healing with imagery. Much of the book is written as a very technical neuroscience and neuropsychology text with lengthy descriptions of laboratory studies.

I most enjoyed the portions with an anthropological bent, and was interested by the modern laboratory findings that demonstrate correlation between thoughts and images and the state of one's health.


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This was an interesting study of scient The early chapters had a lot of great information about shamanism in its varied forms and the history of healing with imagery. This was an interesting study of scientific findings. I wished that there had been more information readily applicable to the practices of modern-day healers who work with imagery.

Feb 03, Megan rated it it was amazing.

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Terrific book-can't put it down!

Connie Cox rated it it was amazing Jan 25, Shelley rated it liked it Jan 02, Tatiana Luna rated it really liked it Mar 01, Margel rated it liked it May 09, John Meagher rated it really liked it Apr 14, Stephanie Bolton rated it really liked it Jan 04, Deanne Quarrie rated it it was amazing Apr 16, Joseph Mullray rated it it was amazing Feb 25, Derek Healey rated it it was amazing Sep 23, There are no discussion topics on this book yet.

It was welcoming to see the statistical evidence throughout the book that supported the notion that we all have this healing power within us. However, imagery and positive thinking should not be utilized alone as a replacement for medical treatments. It would be naive to focus solely on beliefs, as the shamans did chapters 1 through 3 , without considering the benefits of scientific.

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