Humor And Other Healing Ways

Author's Note: I was at a training yesterday and discussed methods in general and specifically on Native American healing methods. A traditional healer friend told me that what I got from Reiki, my spirit animal, my colors, physical, emotional and spiritual healing that all would have came from our ceremonies. We didn't get religious freedom until 1978, when I was 24 years old and it has taken years to come above ground. And some things never will. So, I talked about what I know personnally and no more.

Reiki is a Japanese method of healing. It is energy

and a non-invasive healing technique that is given tenderly

with little to no touch, in much the same way as healing touch

I began Reiki in 1994, and in 1995, the level two gave so much

more. Level three happened in 1998, the teacher level

or Master level. I tell people they don't reach the top-level

until they are very sure of themselves and what they can do

with Reiki. Our people do something similar, as I saw it and knew

it was similar, like Christians praying with their hands on,

and being slain in the spirit at some church services I had gone

to as a child. A church or tent meeting, my mother would attend

I had no interest, I was scared, and could never pretend

it was something for me, but I couldn't do this, it couldn't be

something for me, until I learned Reiki, then I thought maybe.

~

Laughter yoga is my way out of SAD

Smile ups, laughter breaths, accupressure clapping, I am glad

I found this in the early 2000s. Laughter is our second

medicine, as tears are first, as we cry when we are born.

Laughter comes around four or five months that is the norm

As Native American people, our humor has saved us.

Working in the community, humor was a big plus

Working for the state meant you were not working and off

the job when you were laughing. Either that or people would scoff

about those damn "Indians" who are always laughing about something

or they wanted in on what we were laughing about

but the humor wasn't the same, so there was doubt

we weren't really sharing the funny stuff with them.

~

Our people are artists, and when they come in to

the mental health crisis shelter, I noted, they do

not use their art, instruments, dance, singing, painting,

writing, clay work, everything was put down during

their crisis. First assignment - pick up your art, take

back what you have dropped. Every day, it is important to make

something, write something, paint, sing, dance, create

If you don't have an art, learn one, try several, and use it for a date!

~~~~