Healing Arts

There is a long and colorful history of Pagans playing the role of local healers, whether they were called witches, witchdoctors, or shamans.  Starhawk states, "The practice of the Craft was always connected with the healing arts, with herbalism and midwifery" (page 51, Spiral Dance).  This trend continues in much of the available Pagan literature -- it is hard to find a beginning Paganism book without a chapter or more on herbs and channeling energies. If you want to incorporate herbs or any other natural elements in your regular practice it would be good to learn as much as you can about the biological and medicinal aspects of the organic material you plan to use.  Make sure you have or can create the best growing conditions for your herbs, or do some research to find the best supplier.

In The Healing Craft the authors, Janet & Stewart Farrar and Gavin Bone, draw a distinction between superficial "New Age" healers and Pagans.  "Pagans and Wiccans are realists, and see the importance of working in cooperation with modern medical science" (page 8).  "Paganism tends to be more holistic in its approach, balancing all the factors involved without excluding the physical, spiritual, mental or etheric" (page 25).

Alternative medicine is a hot topic these days.  Larry Dossey, a medical doctor and popular author, states that almost half of all Americans visit a practitioner of alternative medicine yearly.  Dossey cites a 1998 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, "Why Patients Use Alternative Medicine,"  in which the author, Dr. John Astin, reports, "Users of alternative health care are more likely to report having had a transformational experience that changed the way they saw the world."  Dr. Astin reported that patients found "an acknowledgement of the importance of treating illness within a larger context of spirituality and life meaning" that was comforting (page 227, Reinventing Medicine).

Areas to Explore

You can start your exploration with the Research Tools, searching under the following:

• Alternative Medicine

• Blended Medicine

• Complementary Medicine

• Holistic Medicine

• Integrative Medicine

You will find many topics to explore, such as Acupressure, Aromatherapy, Biofeedback, Breathwork, Essential Oils, Herbal Medicine, Massage Therapy, Meditation, Music Therapy, Reiki, and Yoga.  Take time to read not only the websites describing these methods, but also the websites for the various Institutes, Associations, and Societies supporting these alternative methods.  

Whether you would like to develop your skills as a healer, or whether you would like to be a client, please do your homework!  If you are looking for something general you can start with About.com's section on Alternative Medicine.  If you are looking for something more technical then check out the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health.  This site provides current information for both practitioners and consumers on everything from vitamin therapy to complementary cancer treatments. 

Make Informed Decisions

If you would like to try some of these therapeutic techniques as a client I would encourage you to find out as much as you can about the therapy and the therapist.  Does that individual have formal training, certifications, and/or experience?  *NEVER* allow a procedure that you are uncomfortable with.

If you would like to be a practitioner and healer, then do you part to get the proper training.  Use the Research Tools to find the best training centers.  As you enter the community remember that alternative medicines have a tainted reputation because of the charlatans out there.  We need you to do all you can to change that perception.