Scripture ~ Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him [Jesus] and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. Then Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; for I noticed that power [energy] had gone out from me.” When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” Luke 8: 43-48
Spiritual Focus ~ “To touch can be to give life.” Michelangelo, Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance period
Breath Prayer ~ Energy flows where intention goes
Devotion ~ Today many understand Healing Touch as an “energy therapy” that uses gentle hand techniques to help re-pattern a person’s energy field and accelerate healing of the body, mind, and spirit. Healing Touch is based on the idea that human beings are fields of energy that are in constant interaction with others and the environment. Many healing touch practitioners are people of faith and believe their healing hands are gifts from God and that God’s energy travels through them as instruments of healing. Our scripture depicts two interesting aspects of healing touch: one is the woman’s belief that just touching Jesus’ robe had the ability to heal her, and secondly, that Jesus noticed the touch as “energy” leaving his body and healing hers.
Of all the things that have challenged our connectedness during the pandemic, physical contact, such as a hug or a handshake, has probably been missed the most. This tells us something about the healing ability of healthy, healing touch. Recently, a yoga instructor addressed this challenge by encouraging a variation of eagle pose that included hugging oneself instead of intertwining the arms. At Yogadevotion retreats we have done self-healing touch as guided by Lisa Ender, Healing Touch practitioner and business manager for Yogadevotion.
In his book, Prayer Notes for a Friend, Edward Hays suggests we can experience the very presence of God in the following way, “The Koran says that God is closer than the vein in your neck. … Begin by placing your first and second fingers on your throat’s jugular vein. … What better way to be mindful of the nearness of the Presence than to actually feel it pulsing on your fingertips? To gain the attention of God, your intimate Beloved, does not require bellowing prayers, clanging bells, or thunderous pipe-organ
