My Aesclepius, My Meditation, My Practice, My Growth

Complete the Meeting Aesclepius mp3 (located in the Doc Sharing area). Describe your meditative practices for the week and discuss the experience. Explain how mindfulness or meditation has fostered an increase in your psychological or spiritual wellness. How can you continue to apply these practices in your life to foster greater health and wellness?

Aesclepius, my mentor, my vision, is a she, my mother Theresa. My meditative practice was focused on her, my immediate go-to, life-long supporter and ruler. The speaker’s voice was soothing this time around, but why? Is it because I am adapting to the various practices or that I did focus and listen genuinely? Dacher refers to the river connecting to the ocean and its stillness, quietness, and stability yet the waterfall is noisy. I find the sound of a waterfall to be the opposite and quieting in my mind. Wise, individual, present, past, respect, honor, connection, it can be difficult to designate a person of such qualities yet we have the ability to imagine and create one of such reflection. I have stayed with my mother and have deepened the connection that meeting Aesclepius instructs. The white light, a beam of energy represents thoughts and images and is said to be in a way that we can alter to stabilize the mind as it soaks in purity and wisdom from my mother, Theresa. The waves are crashing but recede with a soft washing of any imbalances. The speech is to come of what the wise one (mother) had spoken and is being passed onto me so that I can continue to pursue wisdom and lovingness through my sensitive speech. The heart is purified by bathing in compassion and loving-kindness. I hear in the background what imitates a thunderous sound or the depth of the ocean, like the deep thoughts from my mind, words from my speaking, and the beating of my heart, all of which I was able to transform myself into self-guidance.

Mindfulness meditation has opened up my psyche to see life on a clearer path that has helped me to determine my purposes, go about reaching them, and continuing to strive for health, happiness, and wholeness. My mind, body, and spirit are trying to connect. Unfortunately, with all of my recent major surgeries it has been extremely challenging and continues to be that way throughout my self-healing process. I continue to apply optimism regardless of my situation and regardless of who is surrounding my atmosphere. In my home, in the street, in the store, in conversation, and deep within my consciousness I self-adhere and comply with the intent to flourish my psychospiritual health and wellness and foster only the positivity that life has to offer.

Describe the saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" (p.477). How does this apply to the health and wellness professional? Do you have an obligation to your clients to be developing your health psychologically, physically, and spiritually? Why or why not? How can you implement psychological and spiritual growth in your personal life?

I cannot guide someone in the direction of the unknown, a place where I have never been, seen, felt, heard, or touched. In the medical profession I cannot conversation with patients about their own level of pain or direct experiences when I, myself, may never have encountered similarity. Another saying, “you can’t lead a dead horse to water,” becomes clearer to me. This is something my mother has said to me repeatedly over the years and speaks that if we, ourselves, do not know where to find what is necessary to survive, then we cannot carry or guide life to the essentials required for that survival. I certainly do have an obligation to patients that I work with on developing my health psychologically, physically, and spiritually. How can I act, respond, prepare, or have intents that will provide quality care for people if I do not have self-awareness, a sound mind, loving-kindness, or that connection needed between the body, mind, and spirit. Personally, I am in control of all aspects of my human existence and as a result I can implement psychological and spiritual growth in my personal life. For example, a burning building, people are frantic and lots of chaos would be apparent like the sounds of people screaming, crying, the smell of fire burning, crackling sounds from wood burning, and everyone heading for the very same exit to save their own life. This scene imagined in my mind can be changed to a calm and collective exit for survival by eliminating the noises, concentrating on the purpose of finding the way out and to help others surrounding me to remain stable so that we can make it out together, all we can do is try.