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How Metaphysics Helps in Practice

Much has been written about spirituality in health care. Recently, I've seen metaphysics mentioned as well.

What is the difference and is metaphysical information usuful in OT?

Spirituality is the belief and acceptance of a power or energy beyond our physical selves. Meta means to transcend, or see behind, so Metaphysics is the science and laws of how that unseen power and energy works. The study of metaphysics is ancient. From the East reincarnation, meditation, I Ching, the concept of ying/yang emerged. From the West there is the Kabbalah, Christian gnosticism and the Earth religions of the Amer Indians, Norse, Greeks and Druids. The East tended to develop more passive ways to tap unseeen energies, while from the West emerged more active ones.

But in the West, after the development of the printing press and the publication the Guttenberg Bible, the strict adherence to the written word of the Bible turned the society against gnostic or metaphysical methods. It is estimated that 10 million metaphysical practioners were killed in Europe and America between the 1500 and 1700s. So much methodology was lost.

Modern metaphysics emerged in the middle 1800's. The father of modern metaphysics is considered to be Phineaus Quimby, followed by Mary Baker Eddy.

I consider Mrs. Eddy's contemorary Freud entered metaphysical realms as he "discovered' that the mind was different from the body, when it could not be located during autopsies. His concept of the super ego, through which we consider and relate our behavior to others also reflects his discovery. Freud's student, Carl Jung went a step further with his concept of the collective unconscious which connects and binds us to all people, all places, all time and all history. The emergence of his transpersonal psychology was an attempt to understand and explain both seen and unseen influences on and the broadness and variety of our beliefs and behaviour. Jung studied and used many of the ancient metaphysical modalities-- Astrology, tarot, I Ching-- all assesment and implementation methods to guide human behavior towards oneness with the universe. He also identified universal symbols, like the mandala, which when contemplated, has deep effects on thought and behavior.

Mandalas are designs within circles that represent man's connection to the whole. They can be found in cultures from Tibet to the Mayan. The circular stained glass windows prominent in churches and temples are also examples. Having clients design, color or paint mandalas can rapidly influence behavior.

For years I've used manadala designs with clients, directing the use of color--greens and blues to settle and calm, reds and oranges to perk up and excite, but all focused on our connecton to the universe.. There are more laws in metaphysics that I have space to write about. But the Law of One which states we are one with the Deity (God, energy, Force, power) and the Law of Mind which states there is only one Mind, of which we are all a part (whether we know it or not), are useful with our patients. Modern medicine and society have allowed the individual to ignore and give over our responsiblity for our own physical and mental conditions.

We are in the age where "victim" beliefs and behaviors pervades. What happens to us is credited to parents, the enviroment, circumstances beyond our doing. These beliefs cost us our power over ourselves, making us sicker because we believe we are helpless to control our conditions. An understanding of metaphysics can help clients identify the co-operation they make in perpetuating their own conditions, the responsiblity that they took in creating it.

Metaphysics correlates physcial and mental conditions to erroneous beliefs and thoughts. An awareness and changing of those beliefs and directed behavioral change can enable healing to take place. And, according to Mary Baker Eddy, healing is function, not form! The occupational therapist by learning how to prescribe and direct craft and activity through which the patient learns to help himself, and includes an understanding of the mental and physical effect of symbols, will elicit clarity and awareness in clients. It also puts the responsiblity of healing where it belongs. With your patient.