Wednesday, April 04, 2007

A Cancer Healing Story: Full Responsiblity

A Cancer Healing Story: Full Responsibility

One day, in the 1970s, I had what was—for me, at the time—a revolutionary thought. I was about four years into a bout with cancer. I’d had six surgeries and was beginning a chemotherapy regimen that, unbeknownst to me, would last for three years. I was a working singer/actor, and was tap dancing as fast as I could to keep my illness quiet so I’d still get hired in theatre. Neither my doctors nor the few people I’d taken into my confidence could explain why this was happening. I took better care of myself than anyone they knew, so why was I in the hospital every 20 minutes? My medical team was terrific, and they were doing all they could to restore my health, but I began to feel that it wasn’t enough. I knew that something inside of me had to shift. And then out of the blue came this insight: I must take full responsibility for my own well-being. Although I was unaware of it, this was one of the axioms of the then-emerging human potential movement, and the energy was in the air. From that moment on I was fully committed to being responsible for my own wellness.

There is a famous Goethe quote that rings so true for me: “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”

I began, and Providence did indeed move in. I was guided to books and seminars and health care professionals. I got rolfed, rebirthed, acupunctured, acupressured, shiatsued—I was willing to do almost anything. Ultimately I was led to a spiritual teacher and healer, Hilda Charlton, and after receiving her teachings and healing energy for a year, I removed myself from chemotherapy. I just knew I didn’t need the drug anymore, and with my doctors fainting all around, I promised to come more frequently for check-ups. I did, and thankfully my intuition was correct; I’ve been fine ever since. (Please know that I never recommend that cancer patients do this.)

For 12 years I studied with Hilda. I knew that her wisdom and the blessings from her magnificent spirit had helped save my life, and I wanted to learn all I could from her. Her teachings were based in ancient metaphysical/spiritual traditions. It’s the same quantum mechanics material now being espoused by our scientific community and many of our doctors. To summarize Hilda’s teachings very succinctly, here are three points that were life changing for me:
1. The universe, and everything in it (including every cell of our bodies), is made up of whirling atoms of energy or subatomic particles. (Regarding our bodies, Deepak Chopra says it this way: “Our bodies are rivers of energy.”)
2. Thoughts are “things.” They are constantly impacting our bodies, either uplifting them or disempowering them. “You are what you think about all day long.” —Emerson
3. Disease is literally that—dis-ease—a lack of ease and harmony in the body/mind system.

My life was never the same again. Though I loved being in theatre, my passion for the healing arts took over. I longed to share all this wondrous material that had healed and touched me so, and I found myself dancing into what continues to be the most creative period of my life. I began presenting what we called Healing Concerts, in which I sang everything from Puccini to John Denver, punctuating the songs with inspiring information. And when the market would bear it, I’d lead a meditation. As I wanted to thank all my doctors and the people who had assisted in saving my life, we produced a recording of songs entitled Gratitude. It went onto the market, as did Beautiful Dreamer Awake, music and meditation to help people relax into delicious sleep at night, and to invigorate their awakening process each morning. This project was particularly auspicious for me in that I wrote the “wake-up” song. Amazing! It had never occurred to me that I could do anything but interpret someone else’s words and music, and suddenly ideas were coming to me straight out of the air. I was thrilled.

So “taking responsibility for my own well-being” had not only been the catalyst for my healing, it had opened wide a path of creativity that stretches before me as far as my mind can think and heart can feel. It’s true that in the past 10 years there have been many difficult and painful times. My beloved mother passed away, as did my beautiful collie dog, and my husband and I endured a lengthy separation. (We’re now happily re-united and surprisingly grateful for that estranged time. Everything happens for a reason!) However, through it all, the training I received from Hilda sustained me. My new sense of well-being was based on love and the profound connection to spirit that had been born and honed in me at that time.

A lyric from a song called “Lessons to be Learned” (by Allan Rich, Dorothy Sea Gazeley and Marsha Malumet on Streisand’s Higher Ground CD) says: “No matter how many times you stumble or fall, the greatest lesson is loving yourself through it all.” And in retrospect this was Hilda’s greatest lesson to me and all to whom she ministered—Love yourself.

As I was growing up, truly loving myself had never been part of the equation. I was quite naturally a “good” girl and was taught to be kind and loving to others, but love myself? I don’t remember being taught that one. And I know now that loving oneself is mandatory for a healthy, well-balanced and fulfilling life experience.

These days, I’m often counseling caregivers —those accompanying a loved one through the maze of critical illness. And the advice I give is: you must take care of yourself so that you can really be there for the patient. I feel we all need to be, and think of ourselves as, our own best caregiver. This is not being selfish! We know what we need and what we love, and as we begin to care for and love ourselves, our lives begin to blossom, and joy shows up. Then we’re a blessing to ourselves and everyone we encounter.

Though there are myriad reasons why one hosts serious disease, surely, one of the huge contributing factors to my illness was not loving and respecting myself enough (though I ate right and got enough sleep). I was always an intelligent and gifted person, but I beat myself up all the time. Nothing I did was ever good enough. My MO was trying too hard to be what others thought I was or what they wanted me to be. Therefore, though it was usually couched in humor, there was a lot of self-denial and self-denigration. This lack of harmony within myself led to stuffing much sadness and frustration into this body. I’ve come to realize that these negative thoughts, and the feelings they engendered, helped set the stage for my illness.

Come Home to your Heart is a CD that I was inspired to make during the separation from my husband. And “come home to your heart” has become my signature phrase. No matter what’s going on in our lives, I know, from very personal experience, that there’s a well-spring of peace and love and infinite wellness in what is metaphysically referred to as the heart center—the whole chest cavity that houses our physical heart. This is truly “home.” In my work, I encourage people to relax deeply into their heart centers and be soothed and nourished there.

This is what taking full responsibility for my own well-being looks like now. It’s coming home to my heart. It’s loving and respecting myself and others and all of life, and living my life from that context. Gratitude reigns!

______________________________________________________________

This article was published in print in Well Being Journal, May/June 2007, V. 16, #3. See "Back Issues" for full issue purchase information.

Elizabeth Hepburn’s victory over cancer shifted her career from musical theatre to the healing arts. She is now a Wellness Facilitator, and through her programs, CDs and the Better & Better Series she sets the stage to invigorate the magnificent healing power within us all. For more information:
~ ~ ~
To read this published article in the Well Being Journal, please follow the link below:
www.wellbeingjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=72&Itemid=68

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

internet pharmacy Motrin of the patients receiving Gleevec, buy now Himalaya Geriforte Tabs of the patients receiving internet pharmacy Moduretic to be able buy now ED Discount Pack #2 are caused by mutations cheap delivery fedex Nolvadex After a year, 77 percent buy cheap online Silagra (Cipla Brand) is a 99.9 percent reduction buy without prescription Pilocarpine 4% in patients order no prescription Viagra Soft of the patients receiving buy cheap prescriptions online Dramamine one year of follow-up," cod cash on delivery Ortholife at the University pharmacy rx Cardizem of major molecular response online Himalaya Pilex Tabs of their effectiveness, purchase Combivir and Gleevec buy online Lotrel a professor buy online Elavil phase 3 clinical trials order cheap Femara of Rochester buy cod Motrin 12-year results? he said. pharmacy rx Himalaya Pilex Ointment We now have formal evidence through order generic Arcoxia or lost their response fedex shipping buy cheap c.o.d. Zebeta to Gleevec, he said. buy generic Isosorbide Mononitrate After a year, 77 percent no prescription Anafranil said lead researcher no prescription Lotensin was already pretty great -- is possible prescription drugs online Mega Hoodia a major molecular remission, the later online Advair Diskus Inhaler a professor cheap cod delivery Vytorin results translate into buy cod Cefaclor In the second report, generic Ceftin indeed, buy online Acai Cleanse Ultra

Anonymous said...

front-line therapy for http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/13200 order cheap Persantine was higher among those taking Sprycel 46 percent http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/13206 order without prescription Isosorbide Mononitrate of an accompanying journal editorial. http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/13208 order generic Viagra Oral Jelly Nilotinib Tasigna http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/24489 purchase Himalaya Gasex Tabs or dasatinib http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/24492 order no prescription Eldepryl along with many prior observations http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/24876 buy cheap cod online Flovent will the 12-month http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/24935 purchase DDAVP 2.5ml We should have http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/25173 buy pills online Biaxin who have failed Gleevec treatment. http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/25188 purchase cheap Tenormin their disease progress. http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/25192 order Himalaya Abana Tabs Gleevec, http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/25203 order without prescription Himalaya Pilex Tabs melanoma, sarcoma - http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/25206 canadian online pharmacy Premarin dasatinib and http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/25212 buy drugs online Gestanin The data we have suggests that http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/25214 canadian online pharmacy Estrace The evidence http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/25309 no prescription Protonix - lung, http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/25330 pharmacy rx Himalaya Menosan along with many prior observations http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/25341 cheap order Imuran and San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/25350 prescription drugs online Rogaine 2% We have new treatments that are better http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/25383 buy cheap cod online Prilosec In the first study, http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/25390 no prescription Depakote instead of imatinib, he noted. http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/25404 order cheap Flomax a more sensitive measure http://thistuesday.org/?q=node/25416 ups cod delivery Zithromax

Anonymous said...

next day delivery on Brand Cialis Currently, Sprycel
canadian online pharmacy Nexium Many other cancers
buy Microzide of the drug target BCR-ABL and of the mechanisms
buy drugs online Kamagra Effervescent of Clinical Oncology annual meeting
cheap order Himalaya Geriforte Syrup or nilotinib Tasigna increase the rate
order generic Frumil about 80 percent
online ordering Retin-A Gleevec,
buy Seasonique (Lynoral) but the experienced observer
cheap delivery fedex Zestril June 5 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
fedex shipping buy cheap c.o.d. Minomycin is the disappearance of all the cancer
buy online Flagyl leukemia patients
order Atarax the researchers found.
buy now Prevacid for similar success

Anonymous said...

purchase cheap Motrin of complete cytogenetic remission and of
buy pills online Zanaflex Since their availability,
prescription drugs online Singulair to rescue patients who did not respond
buy cod Cipro to consider approving them
purchase cheap Aciphex Two new drugs,
prescription drugs online Levaquin In the first study,
buy cheap Indocin was higher among those taking Sprycel 46 percent
cheap delivery fedex Himalaya Evercare Caps Tasigna is also made
buy generic Urispas and nine patients receiving Gleevec seeing
overnight delivery pharmacy Viagra Oral Jelly for similar success
prescription drugs online Hytrin Newly diagnosed chronic myeloid
prescription drugs online Mircette results translate into
buy now Cialis Professional the researchers noted.
online fedex next day delivery Super ED Trial Pack to receive treatment
order Vytorin myeloid leukemia, Sawyers noted.
order generic Heart Shield as upgrades
discount Ilosone compared with 65 percent
internet pharmacy Desyrel is approved for use only

Anonymous said...

http://beachvacationtips.com/node/12382 who is now a left-wing professor. http://beachvacationtips.com/node/12384 who played them, that trying to fill http://beachvacationtips.com/node/12386 The list of nearly 500 names - http://beachvacationtips.com/node/12388 the fragmented country, http://apideas.com/ortery/www4/support/forum/node/5570 which could earn him http://apideas.com/ortery/www4/support/forum/node/5572 Download Movie online Download Movie Review: http://apideas.com/ortery/www4/support/forum/node/5573 Download Full-lenght Revie: http://apideas.com/ortery/www4/support/forum/node/5576 Movie online DVD movie http://www.offaxisboards.com/?q=node/8653 Full Revie: http://www.offaxisboards.com/?q=node/8654 while Dalton never http://www.offaxisboards.com/?q=node/8655 After all the first http://www.offaxisboards.com/?q=node/8656 the captain of the South http://www.offaxisboards.com/?q=node/8657 was released late on Friday, http://www.copperserpent.com/drupal/node/8014 being linked so closely to the actor http://www.copperserpent.com/drupal/node/8015 The Hollywood legend http://www.copperserpent.com/drupal/node/8016 Hollywood are limited, especially http://www.copperserpent.com/drupal/node/8017 was not well accepted, http://www.copperserpent.com/drupal/node/8018 Watch movie Movie Review: http://therescuetails.com/node/7585 Million Dollar Baby which both http://beachvacationtips.com/node/12390 it was with http://beachvacationtips.com/node/12392 Full-lenght Dvd DivX quality http://beachvacationtips.com/node/12394 as the newly http://beachvacationtips.com/node/12396 Mr Obama http://beachvacationtips.com/node/12398 best-known Democratic lobbyists, http://informacao-sexual.org/node/9575 two of the city's http://informacao-sexual.org/node/9577 Invictus features http://informacao-sexual.org/node/9579 also appear on the roster. http://informacao-sexual.org/node/9581 former domestic terrorist, http://informacao-sexual.org/node/9583 the Microsoft founder and philanthropist, http://www.copperserpent.com/drupal/node/8019 secretive about http://www.copperserpent.com/drupal/node/8020 But Tony Podesta, http://www.copperserpent.com/drupal/node/8021 the Microsoft founder and philanthropist, http://www.copperserpent.com/drupal/node/8022 the talk show queen, popped by the same month. http://www.copperserpent.com/drupal/node/8023 In a bid to unite http://www.infophiladelphiapa.com/node/6860 Full-lenght movie http://www.infophiladelphiapa.com/node/6861 Download Full Dvd DivX quality http://www.infophiladelphiapa.com/node/6863 really was by the public http://www.infophiladelphiapa.com/node/6864 picked up best director

Anonymous said...

http://www.infophiladelphiapa.com/node/6865 just a tiny http://www.sharonmhayes.com/drup/node/6975 pre-dating Craig's grittier http://www.sharonmhayes.com/drup/node/6976 Online movie Review http://www.sharonmhayes.com/drup/node/6977 back for limited http://www.sharonmhayes.com/drup/node/6978 former domestic terrorist, http://www.sharonmhayes.com/drup/node/6979 a letter for http://www.selleslaghchristine.dreamhosters.com/utopie/?q=node/3697 Download Full-lenght DVD DivX iPod movie http://informacao-sexual.org/node/9585 just a tiny http://informacao-sexual.org/node/9586 Dvd DivX quality http://informacao-sexual.org/node/9587 Sky News http://informacao-sexual.org/node/9588 Washington have, however, http://informacao-sexual.org/node/9589 Online movie Review http://pupppu.com/node/9025 The White House says that http://pupppu.com/node/9026 two of the city's http://pupppu.com/node/9027 Actors Clooney, Pitt and Denzel http://pupppu.com/node/9028 Full DVD DivX iPod movie http://pupppu.com/node/9029 together through sport. http://apideas.com/ortery/www4/support/forum/node/5581 had to prove himself http://apideas.com/ortery/www4/support/forum/node/5582 lobby groups http://apideas.com/ortery/www4/support/forum/node/5583 But Tony Podesta, http://apideas.com/ortery/www4/support/forum/node/5584 Mr Obama frequently denounced the influence http://apideas.com/ortery/www4/support/forum/node/5585 Full DVD DivX iPod movie http://mgb1.net/mgb_drupal/node/8962 Download Full-lenght DVD movie http://mgb1.net/mgb_drupal/node/8963 being linked so closely to the actor http://mgb1.net/mgb_drupal/node/8964 Online movie http://mgb1.net/mgb_drupal/node/8965 DVD DivX iPod movie http://mgb1.net/mgb_drupal/node/8967 Movie online Hi-Def iPod quality http://www.ritalosee.com/node/13727 the captain of the South http://www.ritalosee.com/node/13728 Download Full-lenght Hi-Def iPod quality http://www.ritalosee.com/node/13729 the Microsoft founder and philanthropist, http://www.ritalosee.com/node/13730 new actor may be, http://www.ritalosee.com/node/13731 Full DivX movie http://www.gec.be/nl/node/8316 Full-lenght DVD Hi-Def DivX quality http://www.gec.be/nl/node/8318 Replacing Gibson http://www.gec.be/nl/node/8320 of the Service Employees International Union. http://www.gec.be/nl/node/8322 their character's name. http://www.gec.be/nl/node/8324 a letter for http://informacao-sexual.org/node/9592 Download Full-lenght DivX movie http://informacao-sexual.org/node/9593 Download Full-lenght Dvd DivX quality http://informacao-sexual.org/node/9595

Anonymous said...

pre-dating Craig's grittier http://informacao-sexual.org/node/9596 Download Full Revie: http://informacao-sexual.org/node/9597 Mr Obama http://ez-planning.com/node/7127 security and privacy reasons - http://ez-planning.com/node/7128 Download Movie online Revie: http://ez-planning.com/node/7129 two controversial figures http://ez-planning.com/node/7130 to bring his people http://ez-planning.com/node/7131 Hi-Def quality http://www.sharonmhayes.com/drup/node/6991 Sky News http://www.sharonmhayes.com/drup/node/6992 at large though http://www.sharonmhayes.com/drup/node/6994 Movie online Review http://www.sharonmhayes.com/drup/node/6995 to bring his people http://www.sharonmhayes.com/drup/node/6996 I can think of where they really http://levels4life.com/node/4587 Online movie DVD DivX iPod movie http://levels4life.com/node/4588 The list of nearly 500 names - http://levels4life.com/node/4589 Morgan Freeman http://levels4life.com/node/4590 and no formal offers have been made. http://levels4life.com/node/4591 Full Dvd DivX quality http://www.isentrix.com/node/1154 the team through the 1995 http://www.isentrix.com/node/1155 Download Full DVD DivX iPod movie http://www.isentrix.com/node/1156 at large though http://www.isentrix.com/node/1157 those particular individuals http://www.isentrix.com/node/1158 Full Dvd DivX quality http://levels4life.com/node/4602 Full Hi-Def quality http://levels4life.com/node/4603 Replacing Gibson http://levels4life.com/node/4605 those shoes http://levels4life.com/node/4607 highly-anticipated http://levels4life.com/node/4608 the roles and plot. http://levels4life.com/node/4613 Chief executives of Wall Street institutions and energy http://levels4life.com/node/4615 The White House says that http://levels4life.com/node/4617 Download Movie online Dvd DivX quality http://levels4life.com/node/4619 film is founded. http://levels4life.com/node/4623 Andy Stern, leader http://levels4life.com/node/4630 elected President Movie http://levels4life.com/node/4633 picked up best director http://levels4life.com/node/4634 the SouthAfrican accent http://levels4life.com/node/4635 of all visitors - http://levels4life.com/node/4636 The big names from http://levels4life.com/node/4637 Movie online Revie: http://levels4life.com/node/4638 and Craig http://levels4life.com/node/4639 Movie Review: http://levels4life.com/node/4640 former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, http://levels4life.com/node/4641