Listening to our Healing Intuition: A Lesson from the Ancient Temples of Asclepios

by Laura Strong, PhD

Most major cities offer a growing abundance of modern medical options. When we are ill, choosing from amongst this ever-expanding selection of traditional and alternative therapies can be overwhelming. With so many treatments at our fingertips, it would seem that most people in this day and age should be relatively healthy. Yet, the growing stress of our fast-paced lifestyles is taking an ever-increasing toll on our health. We search for quick fix-it-all cures that require little thought or effort, cures the corporate medical business is glad to provide as long as we can pay the price. Perhaps, what we really need is to slow down a bit, to reconnect our bodies with our minds, and to listen to the intuitive healing ability that exists within us all, the same ability that was brought out in the ancient temples of Asclepios.

The majority of us in the United States and Europe were brought up under the care of doctors that practice "western medicine" or allopathy. This modern method of treatment, which gets its name from the Greek words allo or "other" and pathos or "suffering disease," has been around for less than four hundred years. Since it is the generally accepted mode of medicine in our society, most of us never think to question its methods. Allopathic medicine is based on treating illness and injury by "using remedies that produce the 'opposite' effect of the disease symptoms. For example, a medical doctor might prescribe a sleeping pill to treat insomnia, suggest an alkaline for acid indigestion, or apply a cold compress to reduce fever" (Epstein 15). This seems strange to anyone who has ever taken a homeopathic remedy. Cost is another downside of Allopathic medicine, because of its "increasing reliance on technology and highly sophisticated scientific procedures for both diagnosis and treatment of illness" (Monte 51). Allopathy is also blamed for treating our bodies separately from our minds and for ignoring our personal environment's effect on our health. The growing dissatisfaction with modern American medicine has set many people in search of "alternative" healing methods from other cultures. However, perhaps it's time we stopped looking outside ourselves for all the answers, and learned how to listen to our own innate healing wisdom.

The ability to heal our own bodies exists in each of us. We are all created from the same combination of body, mind and spirit that together can provide many of the answers to our illnesses. We all possess the power of intuition, whether we use it or not, that can help us see the healing signs and signals all around us. Yet, many of us lead such frantic fast-paced lives that we miss out on this subtle form of information. By ignore the warning signals, we pass up many opportunities to treat our symptoms before they become burdens. In order to take advantage of the intuitive abilities of our bodies, we must first learn to slow down and listen to them once again.

Up until the fifth century of the common era, the Greek temples of Asclepios provided an ideal environment for listening to our intuitive healing messages. These temples, which "thrived for nearly a thousand years," were named after the Greek god of healing, Asclepios. People traveled from near and far in hopes of finding a cure to their otherwise incurable illnesses. These sanctuaries were known for their restorative surroundings, which included beautiful buildings, shaded groves and sacred springs. The healing environment was accompanied by "a retinue of priests, attendants, athletic trainers, massage therapists and other skilled practitioners" who "fostered a therapeutic atmosphere so that healing could be promoted" (Skafte 115-16). While the relief from daily pressures and supportive environment all had beneficial effects, these were not the only reason people visited these temples.

People journeyed to Asclepios to participate in the ancient rite of incubation. The priests of the temple were there to provide guidance, but the real cure came from the patient's own intuition in the form of a miraculous healing dream. C. A. Meier explains that once a patient had received "the call," "certain rites of purification and ablutions had to be performed." This began with a ritual bath. "In the ancient world the bath was thought of as having a purifying effect on the soul as well as the body, since it freed the soul from contamination by the body and thus set the soul free for communion with the god" (50). After the proper preparations were made, the patients were led to the "innermost sanctuary" or abaton, where they slept.

The cure always came at night "in a dream," or as a vision in the "waking state" (Meier 53). It was often delivered by Asclepios himself, or one of his healing snakes or dogs. Sometimes the patient would report that as soon as the animal touched the source of their illness, it immediately disappeared. Some came away with newfound knowledge about how to treat their illness although others never had a dream at all. This was not looked down upon, but it must have been a big disappointment. There were only a few obligations for anyone who did receive a cure. First, they were required to record the event, which is why we know so much about Asclepios today. Then, they provided a "thank offering," and a payment that was appropriate to their wealth. Thousands of people left the temples of Asclepios completely cured of the illnesses that had brought them there.

While these ancient-healing temples may be gone, there is much that we can learn from them. We can begin by creating our own healing environment in our homes. Surrounding ourselves with beauty, or appreciating it in nature, can be very therapeutic and need not be an expensive endeavor. We must also make the time to enjoy it, time away from computers, phones and TV sets, time for us to leave our work and our worries behind. Wayne Muller offers many suggested methods in his book Sabbath: Restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest. Once we have slowed the pace of our lives, then we can really begin to listen to our bodies.

Contained within each of us is much of the information we need to heal ourselves from our ills. In the past it may have been necessary to visit an official sanctuary of a god like Asclepios for a cure, but today there are many other ways to enhance our connection with the "divine." In Woman's Bodies, Woman's Wisdom, Doctor Christine Northrup explains that: "Our bodies are permeated and nourished by spiritual energy and guidance.  Having faith and trust in this reality is an important part of creating health" (610).  She also offers many suggested methods, including an Asclepios-style "Dream Incubation," designed to connect us with our own "inner wisdom." Learning to listen can be difficult, but the rewards are well worth our efforts. We can all lead healthier, happier lives by learning to trust the power of our own healing intuition.

Affirmation

The following is a little affirmation I would like to share from Donald Epstein's book, Healing MYTH Healing MAGIC. It is designed to be an aid to overcoming the false myths that "The days of prophesy are over" and that the "messages from the divine are not available to me."

" God [or your own form of higher power] communicates with me in many ways. I receive divine messages through my dreams, intuition, and relationships with others. Divine messages may appear as sound, light, images, and emotions. In faith, I receive messages that are broadcast from the Divine. I rejoice in the communication I am given, and celebrate the gifts received through experiences that deviate from my usual patterns and routines" (138).

Works Cited

Epstein, Donald M. Healing Myths, Healing Magic: Breaking the Spell of Old Illusions: Reclaiming Our Power to Heal. San Rafael, CA: Amber-Allen, 2000.

Meier, C. A. Healing Dream and Ritual: Ancient Incubation and Modern Psychotherapy. Ancient incubation and modern psychotherapy. Einsiedeln, Switzerland: Daimon Verlag, 1989.

Monte, Tom. World Medicine: The East West Guide to Healing Your Body. Editors of EastWest Natural Heal. New York: Putnam, 1993.

Northrup, Christiane. Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing. Completely rev. and updated. ed. New York: Bantam, 1998.

Skafte, Dianne. Listening to the Oracle: The Ancient Art of Finding Guidance in the Signs and Symbols All around Us. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1997.