This, perhaps of all the principles that are being discussed, is the most exasperating to deal with.

Western medicine (for wont of a better description) presents itself as the path, as opposed to a path. The individual in need enters a system that, to a large extent, negates the whole system that is a person. Any medical modality that focuses on symptoms and their control and loses touch with the person as a whole whose system is as much under the direction of psychological, emotional, and spiritual factors as any physical expressions of dis-order essentially deprives individuals of the perspective so necessary to achieve and maintain their own health and happiness.

The power of healing is, for the most part, in the hands of the individual. Of course most practitioners do say that, but then its and be sure to take this three times a day with meals, it will reduce your discomfort. The culture of typical medical modalities revolves around the practitioner and tools being the hub of the healing process; an outer source for the cure.

The healer who understands the power of intent also, at some point, must recognize that he or she does not have all the answers. Intent is more about how a desired outcome feels rather than the specifics of how it occurs. The more you work with intent, the closer you come to understand that the best you can do is offer your skills and experience as a gift to the individual, to use or not as he pleases, in the way that he sees fit.

Experience shows that people will heal themselves through the most unusual methods. Who is the practitioner amongst us who has not been completely floored by how a patient will identify and utilize an obscure, if not seemingly contradictory approach that does the trick?

Healers deal with the moment, and the effectiveness of that moment can only be determined within the context of the scope of the others whole life. The healer only gets a very, very finite glimpse into that life.

The real reason were there, in that moment, with that person, is often for a purpose that well never get to understand. Yes, it often appears were there to reduce suffering or to alleviate distress, yet can we really count on knowing how the ripples from the pebble we are affect the persons life as a whole?

By being fixated on one method or approach, and working under the assumption that if used a certain way it will be effective in a certain way, we replace the amazing miracle of the scope of healing with a form of certainty that just doesnt exist.

Without incorporating a sense of the individual and their relationship with their own health AND the modality offered, we take away an element of dignity that is so essential to the healing process.

Predicting how what you offer will affect the situation beforehand is almost counter-productive to the task in front of you, which is to be an agent of healing: To be an agent of healing means being open to the power of healing to work through you as it chooses to express itself.

Healers recognize that there are tools that produce specific results, but most important is how they offer those tools. Are they offered as a sure-fire cure, or are they offered as ends toward a form of personal empowerment for the recipient that leads toward increased vitality? There is a difference, and it is important for the healer to be open enough to see it.

A constant source of frustration for most of us can be found in our holding on to the idea that what we have to offer will produce a desired, predictable result. The more resistance we encounter and lets face it, theres tons of that going around the harder and colder and more insulated we become.

The truth is, the more we fixate on the resistance and do battle with it, the less likely are we to notice just how wise is the individual with whom were dealing, and how strong a force is healing.

The most important part is to be there for the moment as it unfolds, on the moments terms. The more you fixate on a specific desired outcome, the less likely you will be able to recognize when tides are shifting toward an even better route that may produce a more meaningful turn of events in the life of the person with whom youre working.

In its essence, its simply a matter of letting go and being open to the possibilities. You do what you can and let go of any investment you may have in an outcome that makes sense to you.

Recognize and acknowledge that your role, no matter how much or little time it consumes, constitutes nothing more than a temporary intersection with the life of the other. You are together for only a flash of time, and then, that persons only job is to get on with the life shes been given.

By all means, be the best vehicle you can to transport that person to her next phase. And then, grant her the freedom to use what youve offered in any way she sees fit. In the scope of her life, you are simply a temporary tool.