10.07.2015 Views

An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

CHAPTER EIGHTLAYING ON OF HANDS8.1 IntroductionThis chapter examines <strong>the</strong> concept „laying on <strong>of</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s‟ as an approach to using touch astechnique in <strong>spiritual</strong> healing. Laying on <strong>of</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s (LH) is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> three activities (alongwith prayer <strong>and</strong> music) observed during <strong>the</strong> data collection for this study which can beanalysed in terms <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>ory <strong>of</strong> health promotion. Like prayer it is a specific activitywhich can be measured in terms <strong>of</strong> how many times this is done, which in principlesuggests we could carry out outcome studies on how many times it is successful. Howeverit is difficult to assess its effects in isolation as it operates in conjunction with prayer, faith<strong>and</strong> music. It is also somewhat arbitrary to differentiate between <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>rapeutic touch in anon-religious context <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> laying on <strong>of</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s. In <strong>the</strong> medical/nursing field touch is<strong>of</strong>ten used a healing gesture especially for patients with skin conditions <strong>and</strong> patients whobelieve <strong>the</strong>y are contagious or wretched. Touch provides a human to human contact <strong>and</strong> isreassuring to <strong>the</strong> person receiving <strong>the</strong> gesture <strong>of</strong> touch in a <strong>the</strong>rapeutic/healing situation. Itindicates that ano<strong>the</strong>r person, <strong>the</strong> healer cares. Therapeutic touch has always been amedical/nursing skill that contributes to <strong>the</strong> healing. For example when a patient hasextensive eczema or HIV or AIDS, <strong>the</strong> doctor or nurse may make a point <strong>of</strong> touching <strong>the</strong>patient to reassure <strong>the</strong>m that <strong>the</strong>ir condition is not contagious.259

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!