Posted by Regina Huelsenbeck on Mon, Mar 29, 2010
I am no longer afraid of mirrors where I see the sign of the amazon, the one who shoots arrows. There was a fine red line across my chest where a knife entered, but now a branch winds about the scar and travels from arm to heart.
Green leaves cover the branch, grapes hang there and a bird appears. What grows in me now is vital and does not cause me harm. I think the bird is singing.
I have relinquished some of the scars.
I have designed my chest with the care given to an illuminated manuscript. I am no longer ashamed to make love. Love is a battle I can win. I have the body of a warrior who does not kill or wound.
On the book of my body, I have permanently inscribed a tree.
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These are the words of cancer survivor and poet Deena Metzger...If you haven't read any of her books, I highly recommend them.
Healing is unique. Metzger's path to healing was intense, fierce and some might say radical, but it was Metzger's unique path. No one else could have dreamed it.
Every human being who traverses serious illness or trauma is tasked with finding a way through the darkness. It's beyond chemotherapy. I am talking about listening/seeing/experiencing and respecting the truth inside. It has been and continues to be the best guide through healing and transformation. Learn to listen...
How do you listen? The first session of "The Integrative Oncology Lounge" is Tuesday March 30th from 4 to 5pm. We will learn mindfulness meditation attitudes/benefits and practice listening/seeing/experiencing.
Location: The Pacific Oncology and Hematology Associates 477 North El Camino Real, Suite D200 Encinitas, CA
Cost: Free to all oncology patients (you do not have to be a "pacific oncology and hematology" patient). The group is supported by a grant from the Wings of Care program
Questions/RSVP/Comments: Regina@Ritualsofhealing.com or 858.880.0145
Posted by Regina Huelsenbeck on Thu, Mar 11, 2010
Many years ago, Integrative Medicine may have seemed "alternative". Today, it has gained acceptance in mainstream medicine because it works.
Integrative Oncology is a branch of integrative medicine (if you're into Andrew Weil his first book in the integrative medicine series is about Integrative Oncology). Integrative Oncology is a philosophy of healing which "focuses on the complex health of people with cancer and proposes an array of approaches to accompany the conventional therapies of surgery, chemotherapy, molecular therapeutics and radiotherapy to facilitate health".
On Tuesday March 23rd, Oncologist Dr. Steve Eisenberg and I will be discussing Integrative Oncology, engaging in treatment, healing, and your life. Expect to learn about Integrative Oncology and experience the benefits of mindfulness meditation. The talk is open to patients, family and loved ones.
This discussion will be held at Pacific Oncology and Hematology Associates in Encinitas. Tuesday March 23rd, 2010 3:30pm-4:30pm.