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1. MAKE
(AND DRINK) FLOR-ESSENCE TEA
You can get this product from any health food store. It is also
distributed by FLORA, INC. PO Box 73, Lyndon, Washington 98264.
The phone number is 1-800-446-2110 and the website is www.florainc.com.
The suggested dosage is a minimum of 2 ounces in the a.m., twenty
minutes before you eat anything, then several hours before you
go to bed, on an empty stomach. This is very mild, soothing tea,
but it still may not agree with you. Read the directions carefully
as if you were cooking a stew. This is a program that I will do
for the rest of my life. It is known to be a powerful anti-cancerol.
2. GET
AN AIR FILTER FOR YOUR BEDROOM
You may also want a second one for the household. I like "Alpine",
and my company distributes them. You will get a special twenty-five
percent "survivor discount." They cost approximately
$250.00. An ozone regulator is another $100.00. This filter is
made by LIVING AIR. I have tried others. There is nothing else
out there like it. It is a powerful tool that rids the environment
of bacteria, dust, mites, viruses, and other airborne crap. Plus
the ozone makes you feel like it feels after a thunderstorm (which
baby, you have been through. You deserve all the positive perks
of your transformation).
3. HEALING
OILS
There are certain essential oils that can be applied topically.
Place a few drops of Frankincense on the bottom of your feet (get
diagram of where colon/liver/kidney is located), and massage gently
for one minute. Contact YOUNG LIVING (or have me place the order
for you). A drop of "Peace & Calming" for just that
(sleeplessness, anxiety, etc.) under your ears works great! "Peppermint"
works for upset tummy from Chemo. "Melrose" is for anti-radiation.
My three favorites are "White Angelica," "Immuno
Power," and "Joy." You can also get the diffusion
element, which I use to diffuse in my room. Some oils can be specifically
used during phases of your treatment and also just for fun.
4. MEDITATE
Focus on the positive stuff in your life for at least three ten-minute
periods per day. See if you can blast all negative thought to
outer space. Send all bad feelings back to their origin; stamp
"Return to Sender" on all the bullshit that has been
dumped at your feet.
5. DE-STRESS
& "GGG" (GO GET GOD)
For us thoughtful,
maybe artistically bent types, we still are perhaps too driven
to smell the roses we are painting. Nevertheless, despite our
darned busy-ness, there seem to be a growing number of 'cultural
creatives' who are on a quest to "cultivate a deep and connected
spiritual life while at the same time remaining a discerning participant
in the Twenty-First century." (Jane Katra, Ph.D.) Of course,
stress can get in the way. In order to combat my own cultural
addiction to stress, I, Devo Cutler, became a Certified Tibetan
Self-Healer, Level One.
Tibetan Healing
is a form of Spiritual Healing. "Spiritual Healing involves
a form of attention on the part of the healer that creates a spiritual
connection with the 'patient,' a connection that carries energy
that promotes physical and emotional healing." In the case
of Spiritual Self Healing -- you are the healer. And you can connect
through a number of processes to the healer within you and also
create a connection to the eternal, endless supply of healing
energy that is out there waiting to be tapped for your benefit.
I will not
go into the Tibetan Self Healing exercises in detail here, but
essentially, the meditation technique involves finding a quiet(but
you can do this anywhere, during chemo, in your car, etc but,
only if someone else is driving otherwise you might be so focused
on the healing light, you might forget to see that special red
light…you know, the one at the intersection.) When you do
this technique at home, you can start by sitting in a comfy chair
on your bed and just close your eyes and start breathing. Then,
begin to imagine a thin, moist tendril of white, blue, silver
or gold light coming through your sternum (middle of your chest).
As you breathe, try to take deep, relaxing breaths, and imagine
that you are breathing in the light through your chest, even though
we won't tell anybody that you're actually breathing through your
nose and mouth. If you can't imagine it, just think the words
as you do the following. Imagine this tender, delicate thread
that is an endless supply of healing light and nurturing love
and begin to fill up first your left leg then your right, then
your right arm, then your left, breathing in the light… then
the left side of your brain, then the right, then your trunk of
your body, all filling with this beautiful, healing energy. Then
hold it inside and go to where you need it most. Send the healing
light that has been gathered in your body (along with the continuing
light that continues to come in through your breath) to that place
that really needs it. Send extra dosages of healing light to the
spot where you believe the cancer was. Send it to that feeling
of hopelessness in your brain. Send it to the anger in your heart.
Send it to the sadness you feel in your body. Then imagine the
healing light 'healing' those hard things… dissolving it.
This has been shown to be very effective. It helped me stay cool
and collected just before doing my stand-up. Okay, I lied. But,
it did make me more alert and more relaxed, especially when the
drunk in the back started heckling me -- "Yeah right, breast
cancer. Now, that's funny!"
In the case
where you choose to work with a spiritual healer (other than yourself)
most people believe that the healer-person does not herself/himself
"do" the healing. "Rather, through attunement with
the patient, the healer allows her/his body/mind to become a transmitter
of organizing energy or information." Very often, this connection
in consciousness with the healer greatly decreases the patient's
pain, and "appears to help reactivate the patient's immune
system to boost their own healing capability. Although people
challenged with dis-ease come to a healer(s) seeking help in terminating
pain or physical illness, they also receive direct connection
with their higher self and an affirmation of their spiritual nature."
This very contact -- touching down on your spiritual healing side
with the help of another's touch or healing techniques -- "can
often initiate an amazing transformation of consciousness"
and self awareness.
Are there
any sick Tibetans in the room?
See, it works!
6. COMMUNICATE
We may have learned how to talk, but many of us have not learned
how to communicate. During this time of healing, awakening and
challenge, it is easy for you to lose it. So, I find this article
below, a helpful reminder of what good communication is. In fact
I keep a file of all the inspirational images, prayers, thoughts
and feelings that have helped me. Even little sketches that I
may have drawn myself of happy faces circling my heart…
Don't forget
to communicate with your God or its equivalent. I believe that
illness or any challenge is actually there so we can bring ourselves
closer to God…bring us closer to our 'higher power'. But,
if you are a non-believer, it is still helpful to pray to "the
all knowing one who has my best interests at heart" -- the
Great Spirit (ala the American Indians)… But in speaking
and prayer, even if we do not believe, it connects us with a healing
consciousness that helps us recover more quickly. This has been
scientifically proven. Below is also a sample of one beautiful
prayer that has been helpful to many as was used on 2001 World
Day of Prayer…
The light of God surrounds us;
The love of God enfolds us;
The power of God protects us;
The presence of God watches over us.
Wherever we are, God is!
Pretty cool, huh?
Reprint which
deals with "How do I express those feelings so I get heard?"
THE INNER
BONDING JOURNAL
"I'm Only Telling You My Feelings"
by Margaret Paul, Ph.D.
*If you are
newly diagnosed, you will perhaps soon see the new challenge you
face and having good communication is always helpful, soothing
and usually in need of repair.
For years
we have been told by health-care professionals to tell our feelings.
"Don't keep your feelings in. If you are upset, tell the
person about your feelings." Individuals have spent years
learning to express their feelings and then are left wondering
why their relationships are not going well - why their partner,
friend, child or parent does not respond well to their expression
of feelings.
The confusion
about telling our feelings centers around the issue of intention.
We can tell our feelings from an intent to protect against our
pain, or from an intent to learn about what we are thinking or
doing that is causing our painful feelings. When we tell our feelings
from an intent to protect, we are telling the other our feelings
in an attempt to control the other person - to get him or her
to feel guilty and responsible for our feelings.
For example,
you say to your mate, "I feel hurt that you spent this evening
on the phone instead of with me." What is your intent in
saying this? You might just be offering information that you mate
didn't know and wants to know. He or she might love knowing that
you want to spend evenings together and will make sure not to
be on the phone anymore in the evenings. But what if this keeps
happening over and over and you keep telling your mate your feelings
and you get angry? Are you hoping he or she will feel wrong or
guilty and stop doing the thing that is hurting you? If this is
the case, then your telling your feelings is an attempt to control
your mate, and your mate might react with resistance, pulling
away and spending even less time with you due to the discomfort
of feeling controlled. Or, your mate might give in and spend the
time with you, but be withdrawn and uncommunicative. In either
case, you will not end up feeling loved and connected with each
other because you are covertly asking your mate to take responsibility
for your feelings.
If you are
willing to take responsibility for your own feelings, then you
can dialogue with your hurt Inner Child, exploring why your Child
is taking your mate's behavior personally. Are you not spending
enough time with your own Child, leaving your Child needy for
time with your mate? Are you telling your Child that he or she
is unlovable and that is the reason your mate doesn't want to
be with you? Once you have resolved the issue within yourself,
then you could approach your mate with an intent to learn: "Honey,
you have been spending a lot of time on the phone in the evenings.
I miss you. I know you must have a good reason for it and I'd
like to understand. Could we talk about it?" Be aware, however,
that even this could be a set-up to control - getting your mate
to talk with the hope of getting him or her to change. You are
in a true intent to learn only if you are not invested in the
outcome of the conversation. If you are invested in a particular
outcome, then your wanting to explore is an attempt at control.
When your
mate feels invited to let you in, rather than attacked and blamed,
he or she might be more than willing to explore the issue with
you. The intent to learn with ourselves and others is what opens
the door to sharing, caring and resolution of inner and outer
conflicts.
7. DO A RITUAL
Prayer is wonderful. I also came up with my own ways to release
troubles and worries. For instance, I made a "lifetime of
wounds" list -- everything and everyone I could remember
that hurt me. I then cut them into little pieces, took a wonderful
bubble bath with the pieces of paper, then watched them stick
to the sides of the tub as the water drained out. Finally, I collected
them and buried them. It's recyclable! You can also burn them,
but I tried that and coughed a lot, and also nearly burned down
my house ("chemo brain" strikes again!).
8. PUT
IN A GURGLING WATER FOUNTAIN
Place it somewhere near your side of the bed. It promotes creativity.
(it can also keep you awake if it is too noisy… so check
that out. Maybe just put a flower in a vase of water nearby. I
also put COPPER under my bed, because I heard that I needed metal,
and we all know copper conducts electricity. Okay, maybe this
was a bit too out there. Some people use crystals. I designed
a healing bracelet with an artist friend of mine. It is offered
on my web site! Hey, and declutter your space. Feng Shui is fun!
I had a very colorful front room, and I decided that during my
recovery that I had to calm things down a bit. So into the closet
when the pink and bright green pillows.
9. OUT
WITH THE BAD, IN WITH THE GOOD
**ALSO, IF
YOU ARE BEING BUGGED BY TOXIC PEOPLE OR SOMEONE YOU JUST WANT
TO "REJECT,"GIVE THEM THE NUMBER FOR "THE REJECTION
LINE" (212) 479-7990. IT IS HILARIOUS!
THE SEARCH
FOR THE MAGIC BULLET -- You are going to be overwhelmed and inundated
with everyone's ideas for a CURE. Everyone will give you a book,
or a name of their favorite healer-person. Don't get frantic.
There are many roads to Rome. The main thing is not to tolerate,
accept, or endure ANYTHING that is counter to your happiness,
NOT FOR ONE SECOND! This is extremely hard. But think of it this
way: you are at war with a heavy adversary. YOU WILL WIN. HOLD
STRONG. DO NOT LET ANYONE OR ANYTHING STAND IN YOUR WAY OF HEALING.
YOUR POSITIVE OUTLOOK, OR YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR. AND REMEMBER TO
FORGIVE YOURSELF WHEN YOU FALL DOWN FROM YOUR INTENTIONS. I have
to struggle not to beat myself up when I don't accomplish as much
as I used to, or just not following through the way that I think
I should, but I am getting better at forgiving myself. Remember
that you are in process. Knocking away the negative thoughts is
the hardest thing to do. Just put one foot in front of the other
in gratitude, appreciation, acknowledgment and love.
Oy vey! Does
it get any harder? I don't think so.
Here is another
technique I have found helpful: whenever I am thinking (or doing)
something I know is compromising my immune system and my well-being,
I just say, "Ooop! There's that thing I'm doing again."
Then I put an imaginary hand over my face to remove "the
alien" that is keeping me from being happy, and I put it
on my shoulder and say, "There's that thing that I do again."
It allows you to breathe, recognize your relationship with those
thoughts, and opens up the possibility for oxygen to get into
the whole process. Also, sometimes just taking a breath as you
enter and leave a room, helps get that oxygen moving into your
thirsty body…
Meanwhile,
know that all your friends are praying for your absolute and complete
well-being. I asked strangers to pray for me (I admit that is
a bit extreme). YOU DESERVE A GOOD LIFE, A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE
LIFE AND A GOOD MAN (OR WOMAN) AND A SUPPORTIVE FAMILY AND ENVIRONMENT!
And trust that you are learning more about how to do this each
day. I know I am.
PLEASE NOTE: These techniques and other
suggestions on this site are
intended as complementary suggestions to
whatever your primary physician has
suggested that you do for your health and healing. These suggestions
are
not intended to replace your doctors' and other healing practitioners'
advice. The BC Tool Kit's suggestions are intended to be supportive
on your
self-healing journey, and are based on my own personal experiences
and
antidotal data. They are steeped in my belief that it is important
to take the
power back once you have been diagnosed with cancer. These self-help
techniques can be used to reinforce usual medical treatment --
techniques
for learning positive attitudes, relaxation, visualization, goal
setting,
managing pain, exercise, and building an emotional and healing
support team
Diagnosis
Protocal | Pre-Surgery
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Post-Op Healing
Everyday
Recovery | Empower
Yourself | Poetry
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