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The Power Of Meditation during Cancer
By
Jane Rosalea Booth |
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The Power of Meditation
If I ever had any doubts about the power of meditation, I don’t have any now. I began to meditate years ago when it was a hip ‘zen’ thing that I saw the Beatles doing so meditation isn’t new to me. But when a cancerous tumour was found in a mammogram last May, meditation took on an even more important role for me. At this time, my brother Bob was in the last stage of cancer and I went to stay with him after my surgery as he was a bachelor, living alone with only weekly visits from a cousin and a community care nurse. Although I had taught mediations classes for over fifteen years, Bob had never shown any interest in it and was never responsive when I suggested he try it.
However, it was during his last three months, when Bob’s body was weakening more and more each day, that I saw how profoundly meditation assisted both of us. It provided something that none of the pain killing drugs that we were both taking could do. It allowed us to quiet our minds, to relax our bodies and to be calm in spite of what was happening. It provided a place of peace. Bob was now open and willing to let me guide him through relaxation techniques and creative visualizations for inner peace. As I taught my brother breathing techniques, he was able to relieve his pain in his body, to ease his headaches and to really quiet his anxious moments. We did simple breathing. As he was breathing in he would think, “I am” and breathing out, he would think “relaxed” and repeat this several times. As his body relaxed, he would go into his silence and then often say, “This is so beautiful” as beautiful visions came to him. This brought him a lot of comfort during the most difficult time of his life.
Joy versus Sadness
For me, I was going through my own challenges of healing from two surgeries, but while I meditated I felt that I was healing as I visualized my self as well and healthy and thankful that had my lumpectomy surgery had protected me. I felt blessed that the cancer was removed before spreading. I began to view cancer as another wake up call to really appreciate my life and my blessings. It wasn’t something that I was “fighting”. So many people say they are “fighting cancer”, but I experienced it as something that I was releasing from my body and moving into a healthier life. I knew if I feared cancer that my anxieties would increase and manifest. Instead, I saw it as part of my life journey that would give my life new meaning.
Meditation gave me a place to release my anxieties about cancer and move into a more peaceful place that helped me cope with caring for my ailing brother. Bob’s mood seemed to lighten and he began to laugh more and to tell me stories of his life adventures that I had not heard. This time became special to both of us and we lived very much in the moment which meditation helped us to do by focusing and going into our stillness. Small things like a piece of chocolate cake became a real treat and we shared our love of golf watching the tournaments on TV.
My brother died peacefully in a hospice where I did guided meditations with him each day. Although his body was failing, his mind was alert and he knew how to move within to relax and calm as much as he could. I believe it prepared him for his passing and gave him support, comfort and an inner knowing.
Exploring the mystery
For years I found when I meditated I could go in silence to a place within that was quite, still and mysterious. It was mysterious because I would hear a voice or see a vision of an unknown place or person. Sometimes I just saw beautiful colors. This place within was just for me and yet it expanded my view of myself as I slowly began to realize that I was connecting to a greater dimension that enlarged my world view. I had an outer, everyday view of the world which often was very frightening, and an inner view that was peaceful while teaching and guiding me to create a better outer world for myself. But I still made mistakes, had failed relationships and continued to seek more about my self. Then I began to write after my meditations and I really was shocked by what I wrote. It was as if someone else was writing wonderful thoughts. Sometimes I understood what was being written, but often the messages were “out there”, out of my comprehension and these were the most fun to receive. The great thing was that usually in a few years or so, something would happen or someone would speak and I would think ‘Ah Ha, I was told that in my meditations’ or I’d get a glimpse of a deeper meaning to a message.
A Spiritual Connection
So for years my meditation time helped me to relax and to find a place of peace within and I began to teach others how to meditate. Without meditation, it is difficult to have a holistic approach to life where the body, mind and soul meld. Meditation allows us to know our inner being. Bob and I felt our spiritual connection to one another and this gave hope to us that life had a greater spiritual meaning and purpose.
Moving Ahead
After healing and recovering from radiation treatments, I am feeling very well. I am passionate about sharing with others the benefits of meditation that are being noticed in the medical world. My debut book, IN SILENCE, Discovering Self through Meditation was at the publishers when my cancer was discovered. IN SILENCE has even greater meaning to me and I am excited about sharing it with others. Studies continue to show the benefits of meditation to reduce blood pressure, reduce anxiety, increase sleep, and to allow people a place to have a spiritual experience within. We are all facing huge challenges in our world, but by finding our inner peace through meditation we can move through our life with ease…even when experiencing an illness like cancer.
Author's Bio
Author's Bio
Jane Rosalea Booth is an author and Holistic Workshop and Retreat Facilitator who created a program for holistic living and meditation called The Peaceful Path. Through The Golden Light Centre for Well-Being Inc. she is dedicated to assisting people to find new solutions to create harmony, well-being and peace in their lives. For over 18 years, Jane has presented meditation and holistic workshops, in the Region of Waterloo, Ontario, to community and health organizations. In 2004, she became an Ordained Minister of Spiritual Peacemaking and holds a Masters of Divinity. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Development Studies and a Certificate of General Social Work. She is a Certified Sound Energy Dynamics Practitioner and Reiki II Practitioner. Visit Jane at www.goldenlightcentre.com for her workshop and retreat schedules, peace projects, services and The Golden Light Shop. Jane lives in Waterloo, Ontario. Visit her Official Author site: www.in-silence.net
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