Today’s blog
Lynn Murphy Mark
A healing service
Yesterday my Unity church held a half-day healing service. Judging from the remarks I overheard, we could have scheduled a full day and people would have been OK with that. As it was, the people attending were enthusiastic about what was offered them in four short hours. The only glitch in the arrangements was that the Reiki teacher had to cancel at the last minute because she tested positive for COVID19.
The other healers did not disappoint. We featured speakers on Yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, crystal bowls, drumming, nutrition and immunity, and affirmative prayer. After the speakers, people chose three modalities to attend, and spent almost half an hour with each presenter for a hands-on demonstration.
The day was organized by Prayer Chaplains from the four Unity churches in the area. Together we are a positive manifestation of New Thought principles. The term, New Thought, was described by William James in 1902: “It is an optimistic scheme of life, with both a speculative and a practical side…The leaders in this movement have had an intuitive belief in the all-saving power of healthy-minded attitudes…the conquering efficacy of courage, hope and trust.”
Unity was founded in 1889 by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, devoted believers in spiritual healing and students of the teachings of world religions. They were a part of the transcendentalist movement, studying the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mary Baker Eddy and other practitioners of metaphysical thinking. The Fillmores founded a prayer ministry that prays with people of all faiths worldwide, 24/7, and has been doing so for over a century of uninterrupted service. Silent Unity is a ministry available to anyone who needs prayer. Access is a phone call away and the caller will have their prayer request honored by a Unity Prayer Chaplain.
Given this background, it’s no coincidence that Unity churches would sponsor a day of alternative practices, some of which are gaining a foothold in the practice of Western medicine. My contribution was to be available to pray with anyone who asked for prayer. After my session I went to the crystal bowls demonstrations and felt the vibrations and sounds of seven different bowls. Listening and feeling the musical notes of each different sized bowl was both relaxing and calming. The sounds appealed to different parts of my brain and were felt in different parts of my body. Each bowl was designed to represent one of the Chakras, the various energy centers in our bodies. The crown (head) chakra bowl was huge and emitted a low, powerful tone that reverberated in my whole brain and caused me to relax immediately.
Next I went to see the aromatherapy demonstration. I once read that the sense of smell is capable of instantly bringing a memory to mind. I know that’s true from my experiences of, for example, smelling a scent and immediately remembering the person who wore it. The practitioner used plant-based essential oils to trigger different moods and sensations. Aromatherapy is now described in an article from the Cleveland Clinic as helping to boost mood, improve sleep, reduce anxiety, reduce inflammation and nausea and headaches, and even kill some bacteria and viruses. The presenter passed around little vials of oil – some pure and some blends. I was attracted to the woody oils and some of the floral, especially the lavender scent. I remembered that as a school nurse, I had an infuser in my office to which I would add drops of lavender oil, hoping to make the nursing office as calm a place as possible among 750 middle school children.
I was sorry to see the event come to an end. I would have liked to attend the drumming session and one of the Yoga sessions. As people gathered in the sanctuary to close out the day, I felt positive energy all around me. People were talking excitedly about their experiences. I definitely think we should do this again next year. I know I’ll be there!