I like to go to other groups who practice healing together, to see how other healers practice, and to share in the loving energy.
Last month I was at a group, and afterward a woman came up to me and said: "What do you do?" and I said, "I'm a healer."
She quickly responded: "I'd never be so arrogant to call myself a healer."
"Well," I replied, "I hope you don't think I'm arrogant!"
When I got home, my feelings were hurt. How rude! But then I began to see her comment as a gift. I'd had the same reaction over the years from many sources, and so it was clearly time to examine this in the spirit of moving forward.
In our Code of Conduct, we are referred to as Healers. In England, there is a Doctor-Healer network. Five NFSH members work in hospitals there with the job title "Healer."
As half-Brit, half-American I'm used to cultural discrepancies. So could we be stumbling across one here? My American friends say: "I'm not a healer - the energy only flows through me." Yet a writer knows the words flow through her, and a composer knows he doesn't own the music. Both are comfortable describing themselves with a noun.
I think the true difference lies in our heritage. In England, we have Celtic roots, and these roots are still celebrated. The Healer is an archetypal role in Celtic mythology.
In America, we have predominantly Puritan roots if we are not Native American (my Native friends have no problem with the word "Healer"). But when we call ourselves "Healer" some people think: "only Jesus can heal."
It's as if you're comparing yourself with Him. With these glasses on, it can be easy to make the jump that someone who calls herself a Healer is arrogant.
It's very important to me that my job title reaches people, and doesn't alienate them. So I mulled these ideas over for many days. In meeting this problem before, I'd already gone through several job titles that seemed to fit like a badly-cut suit: Energy Worker, Energy Healer. Even Spiritual Healer didn't seem as inclusive for my clients as I'd like it to be.
One of the wonderful things about our organization is that we can call ourselves by all these titles, and more. But the one I've chosen for now is Healing Practitioner. When I introduce myself in future, you'll hear me saying: "I'm a Healing Practitioner for Healing in America." Then the question becomes: "What is Healing in America?" Or "What kind of healing is that?" rather than focusing on whether I have the right to call myself a healer.
As you can see, my journey is a constant evolution, and I hope that it's a help on your journey too. -Cynthia
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Boost Your Practice!
As we waited for people to arrive at the meeting, we brainstormed ideas as to how to increase your practice if you have access to a venue with foot traffic.
- Put up posters! Talk about the benefits of what you do, and any special offers
- Display your brochures
- Put out a bowl with a draw for a free session. People put in their email addresses. Then, load all the emails into your database and send people an announcement of who won. Offer all of them sessions - for instance, a special 'spring package' with a discount if they book the initial 3 recommended sessions.
- Offer bi-weekly healing circles. Get everyone who comes to sign in with their email addresses. Add to your database. Make sure your brochure and business cards are on the chairs of all the guests.
- Advertise - commit to 6 months of on-going advertising in a target-market magazine.
- Advertise your healing circle on the Clintonville Market's community calendar
Healing in America, April 09 Newsletter
New Mexico's good news
This month Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico signed New Mexico's "safe harbor health freedom bill", HB664, the "Unlicensed Health Care Practice Act. Health Freedom activists from across the state and around the country celebrated New Mexico's success which will protect New Mexico health seekers' rights to access traditional, cultural, complementary and alternative health care therapies and remedies freely.New Mexico now joins seven other states in passing safe harbor bills to protect consumer access to these practitioners and to ensure that these traditions and practices are preserved for generations to come. Those other states are Minnesota, Rhode Island, California, Louisiana,
Arizona (for Hahnemanians) , Idaho, and Oklahoma.
More information at www.nationalhealthfreedom.org
Business Heart
If you wonder about questions like: how much do I charge? Is it healthy to give away sessions? How do I get clients to 'yes'? Then I'd encourage you to take advantage of the free advice given out weekly by Mark Silver at Business Heart. He also has a free book to download, as well as free teleseminars. Join up:
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/
What's up with the energies already?
If you have this question, and want to take a detour into the land of possibility, you may be interested in some of the channeled websites. But beware: they can be more addictive than Facebook! Some of the people who track planetary energies are at: www.kryon.com, www.lightworker.com, www.emergingearthangels.com, www.nvisible.com. Have fun!
(I am sure we will Cynthia, thanks!)
Insure Your Success
As a Healing Practitioner, it is important to have the proper insurance coverage. Recently, I chose to switch to the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) for my coverage, and am pleased to say I will definitely be renewing my membership in July. They also provide business management and marketing support, as well as free tools including newsletters, your own website, and downloadable forms. Some items are massage specific, but not everything... and their tagline is "We're ABMP, where you can always expect more." So, I'm sure that as more Healing Practitioners join and make requests for more support, they will come through! The custom newsletter is very professional, and is so easy to create. You can find them online at www.abmp.com and feel free to mention that Diane Fisher sent you :)
A Moment of Gratitude
I would just like to take this opportunity to again thank all of you for sharing your wonderful healing gifts with us. Roger and Kim, thank you for traveling the world for us. Cynthia and Nancy, thank you for for rooting us in. Fellow students, thank you for all that you are. Namasté
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)