During the course of living with U.C. for 8 years, and subsequently healing from this dis-ease, I learned a tremendous amount about Ulcerative Colitis.  In some cases I believe this dis-ease, and other digestive issues (such as irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bowel disease, and Crohn's disease) can be cleared up by changing one's diet and lifestyle.  In many instances, however, U.C. is an imbalance of emotional energy being stored in the body.

There is a systematic approach for uncovering the root cause of these types of imbalances.  By beginning with nutrition and lifestyle changes, and continuing into the subtler layers of energy (thoughts and emotions) we can rule out possible areas of imbalance, ultimately finding the root cause of dis-ease.

The process of healing, whether it's U.C., or another physical disease, is about taking greater responsibility for our own thoughts, emotions, and physical behaviors.  When we return these areas of ourselves into loving balance, healing occurs naturally.

No one else can heal for you, yet those who are walking the path of self healing can serve as guides throughout the process.  There are many techniques and tools to be utilized along this path, and it is always wise to follow your intuition about which healing modality is most appropriate for you.  The idea is to bring yourself back into balance in all areas of your being.  By systematically bringing awareness to your physical, mental, and emotional patterns, you can begin uncovering where you are not in balance.  I offer counseling in person, over the phone, and via skype to help guide a person along this path.   In the blog section of this website I offer more tools specific to healing ulcerative colitis.

 

Areas of Focus for Healing

Diet, Nutrition, and Physical Considerations- Overall intestinal health, Candida, parasites and other pathogens, vitamin and nutrient deficiencies, food allergies, gluten intolerance, antibiotics and other medications, environmental toxins, stress levels, physical care (getting enough exercise, rest, and relaxation).

Mental Patterns- Recurring thoughts of judgments towards self and others, comparing self to others, compulsive thoughts, negative self talk, thoughts of non-acceptance, thinking you're not good enough, anxiety over meeting other people's expectations, fear of not being liked or loved, thoughts of separatness, thoughts of hopelessness or dread.  

Emotional Patterns- Recurring feelings of anger, jealousy, anxiety, unexplained fear, depression, worthlessness, unresolved trauma, repressed emotions, overly emotional, examining what triggers emotional reactions.

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Techniques and Tools 

Meditation

Developing a regular meditation practice is important for gaining greater self awareness.  When there are no external distractions we have the opportunity to see how our minds operate, and how habitual and compulsive thinking effects our emotions, motivations, and the decisions that we make in our lives.  Two of the most healing meditation techniques are also the simplest: watching the breath, and feeling the heart.

Watching the breath.  Find a comfortable position, close your eyes, and bring your awareness to your breath.  You can either focus on the air moving in and out of your nose, or the rise and fall of your chest as you breathe.  Do not try to force or control the breathe.  Simply pay attention to your breathing, and whenever your mind wanders, bring your attention back to the flow of breath.

Feeling the Heart.  Find a comfortable position, close your eyes, and bring your awareness to the center of your chest.  It can help to first focus on the rise and fall of your chest as you breath.  When you are able to keep your attention focused on your breathing, begin to notice any sensations in this part of your body.  Every time a thought arises, bring your awareness back to the center of your chest.  The more you practice keeping your attention on your Heart, the more you will begin to feel sensations of love and peace flowing through you.  It is quite amazing how simple this technique is, yet it can take much practice to keep your attention on your Heart, and not allow yourself to be distracted by the thoughts in your mind.

Mindful Awareness Practices

Another powerful daily meditation that will greatly increase self awareness and healing is to stay in a state of open awareness.  This means that you begin to pay very close attention to what is going on within you in any given moment, and to stay in a "watchful" state.  This means that you are withholding judgements about what you are observing, and simply watching your thoughts and emotions.  Begin to study yourself; how you think, feel, and act in any given moment.  Become more aware of habitual behaviors, which are often motivated by subconscious thought.  Begin to notice when and how you try to please other people, when and why you compare yourself to others, when you feel sadness, when you feel joy, and what thoughts and emotions precipitated each experience.  Watch the nature of your thoughts.  When are they negative? Anxious? Joyful? Loving? Peaceful?  By staying in this space of heightened awareness you can learn a lot about your own conditioned behaviors that do not actually serve your highest good, but instead keep you feeling limited, stuck, and unhappy.

Making Appropriate Dietary and Lifestyle Changes

Often our diets and lifestyles are contributing to imbalances within our systems.  Changing this part of ourselves can sometimes seem like a daunting task, and yet when we bring more awareness to our habitual behaviors, often we begin to see quite clearly that the way we are living is not actually bringing us more happiness and peace of mind.  By gaining this self awareness it becomes quite easy to make changes in our diet and lifestyle...It is not so easy if we are trying to change from a place of "should"...."I know I should start eating healthy, but I just can't seem to make the change."  Watching all of the "should" thoughts is an important step in the mindful awareness practice.    

Movement Therapy

Our emotional energy can sometimes be better accessed through moving the body.  As we learn to store painful emotions in our body, energetic blockages develop in our Chakral system.  Consciously moving the body while holding the intention of healing can be a powerful way to help get this energy moving, and allowing stuck emotions to surface.  Movement and dance have played a powerful role in my own healing, and the work that I do is informed by many years of ecstatic dance, 5 rhythms, and contact improv.  This process is about the freedom of release that happens as you let go in a safe space, learning to trust ones own intuition, and knowing that your higher self and your body know how best to heal.  I provide the space and guidance for this process.

Sound Therapy

Sound interacts with emotional and mental energy in amazing ways.  There is a growing body of evidence supporting the healing effects of sound on the body and emotions.  When certain sound frequencies interact with the frequency of our emotional and mental energy, it can change our mood, release blockages, and create new pathways in how we channel our energy.  We can use chanting, singing, as well as tuning forks, singing bowls, and other sources of tone to interact with emotional and mental energy.  The science of Cymatics is shedding light upon this phenomenon, one that indigenous cultures have known for thousands of years.

Art Therapy

Another great modality for accessing unconscious emotional energy is art making.  Sometimes when feeling stuck or uncomfortable with certain thoughts and feelings, it can be beneficial to express ourselves through the process of making art.  When we quiet our critical mind, and allow our creative mind to emerge, we gain greater access to subconscious parts of our mind.  This can be extremely healing and cathartic.  As always, trusting ones intuition is key, and knowing that your higher self and your own body know how best to heal.

 

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