ENERGY HEALING: Data, Angels & Magic Feathers

Abstract

For centuries, humans have struggled to validate, understand and explain the phenomena of healing. Healing obviously works, sometimes, in some circumstances, for some things-but how? and why?! Various theorists have invoked undiscovered "energies," non-material spirits, God(s), and quantum or magnetic forces to explain the mechanisms underlying the indisputable reality of healers and their impact on Reality. Ordinary science has been able to disregard healing effects for years due in part to the lack of a unifying theory of mechanism. In this address, ISSSEEM President Jerry Wesch offers a personal observation of the "state of the art" of understanding the healing phenomena that we have gathered to celebrate. Looking at both the scientific data and the traditional wisdom, the discussion ranges through "what we know for sure" and where we might not be so sure at all in our pursuit of the mechanisms or Realities behind the well-documented healing phenomena. Prepare to let go of your favorite scientific and metaphysical "Magic Feathers!" This paper is based on Dr. Wesch's Presidential Address made at the Thirteenth Annual ISSSEEM Conference, Return ofthe Sacred Science: Celebrating the Mysteries of Healing Qune 19-25, 2003).