Wounded Healers
In my course of practice, I have been asked why I provide so many other multidisciplinary practices and integrate into my usual TCM practice. Now just to keep things simple, whatever I have offered and used as my tools have been tried and tested on myself through the journey of my own healing. And I know how it feels like and the process of recovering. And I know they work, that’s why it is on my list of offerings for you.
In North America and some areas of North Asia, there is a term called ‘Shaman’ which has a short and straightforward definition known as the ‘wounded healer’.
I think it is interesting to talk about this as in my practice, there is no doubt I get to connect and know many other practitioners and healers, both in conventional big hospitals or formally regulated clinics and also in small practices that can be found on a mountain top or hidden village. Talking and knowing these practitioners and healers at a personal level, I find that almost all of them have past circumstances that led them into seeking help to heal themselves or for their loved ones. They then got healed and chose to offer what they learned and experienced on their journey to others, because they now know they can rise above and be the torch for others who are in dark places where they have been before. Some are still in the process of healing and being able to offer their time and space to help others became part of their healing journey as well.
Quoting from one of my mentors,
“For all that we cure in ourselves, we carry the medicine later, to help others.”
That definitely explains why some healers do what they do and choose certain paths that seem illogical to the conventional world of business and money making. Having said that, one should also understand that healers are human and not God whom we can wave a magic wand and clear all your problems and sufferings. We are not obliged to make you whole. You are. But we offer our experience, skills and existence to aid you in your healing, whatever form it may come to you.
Healers and practitioners are not rubbish chutes and servants to you. Simple respect for their time, space and energy is the basic advice I can offer to set you on your smooth healing journey with whoever is guiding and assisting you to recover. I do hear many stories of highly experienced healers and practitioners rejecting clients and patients if they sense that these people are not ready to be healed or hold too much negativity within them.
Healers and practitioners are normal humans who have been hurt before but strong enough to recover and brave enough to offer. We carry the medicines for what we have cured in ourselves. And maybe one day just one day, you may switch your role as a patient to a practitioner. So stay strong, have faith that everything is going to be alright, because many have trudged your path and they have come out stronger and more beautiful than ever.