August/September 2009: Healing Touch ... - Energy Magazine

Elder Wisdom
and were teaching before we even went to Level 5. Certification
was not in place until the summer of 1993 when, at the Annual
AHNA Conference, Janet and eight others were certified
as practitioners, and Janet and 5 others as instructors. I was
to receive my certification for both that fall with the certification
numbers of 11:11.
Looking back over those times, it was the adventure of a
lifetime. I was totally green behind the ears, so to speak, not
having the metaphysical knowledge of Anne or the nursing
and religious training of Linda. But the three of us supported,
pushed, pulled, and loved each other through to Level 6 in
seven months. We grew and obsessed and cried and shouted
with joy as Healing Touch and Janet herself reformed us into
healers. Each trip to a class was high adventure, learning
more, spending time with Janet, Sharon, Dorothea, and other
fabulous instructors. No question was left unasked. Things
happened in classes that blew us away and left us gasping.
We would be full and exhausted at the end of the class and
then, as helpers, have to clean up the room and put everything
away! I remember one Level 2 class in which I was on the table
for the back work demonstration. Janet did the Hopi and pulled
up and something hit the ceiling with a sharp bang. I was not
allowed to pick up anything heavy after that, and Anne had to
load everything into the cars by herself, including my suitcase.
(She has forgiven me!) The way we came down from those
weekends was Linda would curl up in the back seat to sleep
and Anne and I would come unglued in the front and laugh
wildly all the way home. (Linda has forgiven us, too.)
Above: Jane Hightower (on table) and Janet Mentgen in 1993.
At the 2008 Healing Touch conference, I was asked if I would
be willing to be part of an Elder Council of those who were
around in the formative years and would be willing to be resources
for others. I was astounded, thrilled, honored, excited –
how many words are there to express my feelings Being asked
also held up a mirror for me to look into with humility. The green
behind the ears is gone and the gray underlies the color I put
on my hair, that’s for sure! I think what I feel most is gratitude
for being a part of Healing Touch and being able to share what
I have learned and support those who are traveling the same
road. At the same time, I continually learn from them as I adjust
my belief patterns and hone my skills as a healer and instructor.
How much I have changed, but there is more work to be done,
and I keep myself in willingness to do that work.
Years have passed, and we have all continued to develop as Anne and I were asked to do the pinning ceremony for the
women, as healers, as teachers. For me, the most wonderful
Healing Touch Program Conference this year. New HTCPs and
part still is teaching Level 1 classes. I enjoy all the levels I HTCIs were pinned and 5-year, 10-year, and 15-year pins were
teach, but there is something about the bright eyes and great given to instructors. I think we both felt the enormity of this
“aha” you can see on a new student’s face as realization and fabulous organization and what it means to the world as healer
understanding come in – as the magic of the work makes itself after healer came up to be recognized and then were greeted
known. As Healing Touch has developed into the international as peers by Lisa Gordon, CEO; Cynthia Hutchison, Director;
offering it now is, more magic has happened in the coming and Sharon Scandrett-Hibdon, one of the Founding Elders of
together of healers from all over the globe to carry the light of the program. In the audience were Carol Komitor and healers
love and acceptance of different cultures, languages, religions, from Healing Touch for Animals and Linda Smith and healers
and races. All the colors of human differences come together in from the Institute of Spiritual Healing and Aromatherapy – the
one grand tapestry of love.
three programs having come together to go into the future in
close relationship. Dorothea Hover-Kramer and Myra Tovey,
The Present –
two other original core teachers of Healing Touch, as well as
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copyright © 2009 Healing Touch Program August/September 2009 | Energy Magazine 29