Demeter, Buddha and Demeter, Buddha and BearsBears

The Ancient Roots of The Ancient Roots of Contemporary Spiritual Contemporary Spiritual HealingHealing

Michael Samuels, M.D Michael Samuels, M.D Institute of Holistic Studies Institute of Holistic Studies San Francisco State University San Francisco State University Art as a Healing Force, Bolinas Art as a Healing Force, Bolinas

California.California.

Changing the Changing the Consciousness of a Whole Consciousness of a Whole

CultureCulture The Eleusian Mysteries was the The Eleusian Mysteries was the

most important consciousness most important consciousness transformative ritual in historytransformative ritual in history

The Artistic Emanation The Artistic Emanation Body of BuddhaBody of Buddha

The Buddha The Buddha Bodies were the Bodies were the high point of body, high point of body, mind, spirit mind, spirit technology for technology for thousands of years thousands of years

The Bear DanceThe Bear Dance

The Bear Dance The Bear Dance has healed the has healed the Chumash people Chumash people for thousands of for thousands of years years

Towards a Contemporary Towards a Contemporary Spiritual TechnologySpiritual Technology

These three rituals help These three rituals help us understand how we us understand how we can use spirit with can use spirit with patients in contemporary patients in contemporary medicine. medicine.

I am currently working I am currently working with all three forms to with all three forms to help develop a help develop a contemporary spiritual contemporary spiritual technology. technology.

My journey My journey

Brown: Research and YogaBrown: Research and Yoga NYU Medical School: NYU Medical School:

Immunogenetics research Immunogenetics research Hopi Indian ReservationHopi Indian Reservation Photography= art makingPhotography= art making Headlands clinic, holismHeadlands clinic, holism Guided imagery practice Guided imagery practice Art As a Healing ForceArt As a Healing Force Shamanism, Bear danceShamanism, Bear dance Eleusian Mysteries Eleusian Mysteries

My Lifelong skills from My Lifelong skills from educationeducation

RelaxationRelaxation MeditationMeditation Guided imagery Guided imagery Spirit Guides Spirit Guides Art and healing Art and healing Shamanism Shamanism

Some of Some of my Books my Books

with with Nancy SamuelsNancy Samuels

Books Books With With Mary Mary

Rockwood Rockwood Lane Lane

How do you actually use How do you actually use spirit to heal?spirit to heal?

We talk about We talk about healing the healing the whole patient, whole patient, body, mind, body, mind, spirit.. spirit..

But what do But what do YOU actually YOU actually do ???????????do ???????????

Why bother? Why bother? Anatomy and Physiology Anatomy and Physiology

101101 Body, mind, spirit are real and are our Body, mind, spirit are real and are our

anatomyanatomy 99% of cultures in Ford file at Yale 99% of cultures in Ford file at Yale

believe spirit heals; We are the only believe spirit heals; We are the only culture that does notculture that does not

Carl Jung- “You can’t prove there is a Carl Jung- “You can’t prove there is a God, but my patients who believe- do God, but my patients who believe- do better than my patients who don’t” better than my patients who don’t”

The research mandate- you have toThe research mandate- you have to

Spirit makes us live longerSpirit makes us live longer

Helm, H., Hays, J.C., Flint, E., Helm, H., Hays, J.C., Flint, E., Koenig, H.G., Blazer, DG (2000). Koenig, H.G., Blazer, DG (2000). Effects of private religious activity Effects of private religious activity on mortality of elderly disabled and on mortality of elderly disabled and nondisabled adults. Journal of nondisabled adults. Journal of Gerontology (Medical Sciences) Gerontology (Medical Sciences)

A random sample of 3,851 community-A random sample of 3,851 community-dwelling adults aged 64-101 years dwelling adults aged 64-101 years residing in the Piedmont of North residing in the Piedmont of North Carolina was surveyed Carolina was surveyed

During a median 6.3-year follow-up During a median 6.3-year follow-up period, 1177 subjects died period, 1177 subjects died

Persons with no disability and little or Persons with no disability and little or no private religious activity in 1986 no private religious activity in 1986 were 63% more likely to die during the were 63% more likely to die during the follow-up (HR [hazard ratio] 1.63, 95% follow-up (HR [hazard ratio] 1.63, 95% CI 1.20-2.21CI 1.20-2.21

Do you tell your patients to Do you tell your patients to wear seat beltswear seat belts

Of the subjects who attended religious Of the subjects who attended religious services once a week or more in 1986 services once a week or more in 1986 (frequent attenders), 22.9% died compared to (frequent attenders), 22.9% died compared to 37.4% of those attending services less than 37.4% of those attending services less than once a week (infrequent attenders). The once a week (infrequent attenders). The relative hazard (RH) of dying for frequent relative hazard (RH) of dying for frequent attenders was 46% less than for infrequent attenders was 46% less than for infrequent attenders (RH 0.54, 95% CI attenders (RH 0.54, 95% CI

This effect on survival was equivalent to that This effect on survival was equivalent to that of wearing vs. not wearing seat belts in auto of wearing vs. not wearing seat belts in auto accidents. accidents.

Do you tell patients to stop Do you tell patients to stop smoking?smoking?

This effect on survival was equivalent to This effect on survival was equivalent to that of not smoking cigarettes vs. that of not smoking cigarettes vs. smoking. Investigators concluded that smoking. Investigators concluded that older adults, particularly women, who older adults, particularly women, who attend religious services at least once a attend religious services at least once a week appear to have a survival week appear to have a survival advantage over those attending services advantage over those attending services less frequently. For more information, less frequently. For more information, contact Harold G. Koenig contact Harold G. Koenig (koenig@geri.duke.edu). (koenig@geri.duke.edu).

Now you have a Now you have a mandate :mandate :

If you tell people to stop smokingIf you tell people to stop smoking If you tell people to wear seat belts If you tell people to wear seat belts

You are now mandated by research – You are now mandated by research – to help people to heal with spirit to help people to heal with spirit

And, exactly how will you do that with And, exactly how will you do that with patients. Especially those who don’t go patients. Especially those who don’t go the church ?the church ?

The 100% Effect The 100% Effect As we move towards a As we move towards a

futuristic medicine that will futuristic medicine that will heal the whole patient- we will heal the whole patient- we will need to incorporate spiritual need to incorporate spiritual technologies such as art and technologies such as art and healing and guided imagery healing and guided imagery that can directly address spirit that can directly address spirit with intent. If spirit is not with intent. If spirit is not addressed, healing is addressed, healing is incomplete and not as effective incomplete and not as effective and patients may not live as and patients may not live as long.long.

Lee Kaiser: Health Lee Kaiser: Health FuturistFuturist

Associate professor, Associate professor, Health Administration, Health Administration, University of Colorado.University of Colorado.

We are at a breaking We are at a breaking point in medicine. point in medicine. Convergence of Arts, Convergence of Arts, spirituality, and Medicine spirituality, and Medicine

Take into consideration Take into consideration the contribution of the contribution of spirituality and art or spirituality and art or miss ¾ of patient caremiss ¾ of patient care

You have a body not are You have a body not are a body a body

The placebo effect The placebo effect = plus 100 effect = plus 100 effect

Most potent Most potent methodology= methodology= patients belief patients belief system system

Spirits vs. attitudeSpirits vs. attitude

What avenues of soul open What avenues of soul open to patientto patient

What we are doing is What we are doing is soul based- not body soul based- not body based- intuition as based- intuition as important as analysisimportant as analysis

Every caregiver has two Every caregiver has two dimensions dimensions

Vertical how plugged in, Vertical how plugged in, how access soul how access soul

Need connect in vertical Need connect in vertical levels levels

We need a healing temple We need a healing temple that merges science and that merges science and spirit with no prejudicespirit with no prejudice

Is illness a soul change Is illness a soul change opportunity? opportunity?

Cultural creatives want Cultural creatives want to be healed as well as to be healed as well as cured cured

We have a new kind of We have a new kind of patient who is a new patient who is a new kind of person kind of person

The future healthcare The future healthcare organization integrates organization integrates science, spirituality, science, spirituality, and business and business

Ceremonies make space Ceremonies make space powerfulpowerful

my job = patient becomes who he or my job = patient becomes who he or she is she is

open avenues of soul open avenues of soul call on genetic strengthscall on genetic strengths modify the environment modify the environment

Arts are the bridge between Arts are the bridge between inner space and outer spaceinner space and outer space simultaneous soul frequency simultaneous soul frequency

of patient and healerof patient and healer stimulate patient to stimulate patient to

simultaneous soul simultaneous soul frequenciesfrequencies

incorporate preconscious, incorporate preconscious, super consciousness symbolssuper consciousness symbols

Core spiritual values Core spiritual values complement marketplace complement marketplace values currently driving our values currently driving our industry industry

Spiritual DNA, mental DNA, Spiritual DNA, mental DNA, emotional DNA emotional DNA

call on ancestors call on ancestors use arts to stimulate ancestors jumps use arts to stimulate ancestors jumps

generations brings past produces healing generations brings past produces healing Ceremony, song important to someone Ceremony, song important to someone

coded into spirit DNA unlock power coded into spirit DNA unlock power holographholograph

healed from past healed from past drumming drumming ancestors coded in healing from the ancestors coded in healing from the

illness you have frees it and heals illness you have frees it and heals

Inscription found at EleusisInscription found at Eleusis

"Beautiful indeed is the mystery "Beautiful indeed is the mystery given us by the blessed gods: death given us by the blessed gods: death is for mortals no longer an evil, but a is for mortals no longer an evil, but a blessing."blessing."

Eleusis: the most important Eleusis: the most important art and healing ritual of all art and healing ritual of all

timestimes The Eleusinian Mysteries were the most sacred The Eleusinian Mysteries were the most sacred

of all the ritual celebrations of ancient Greece. of all the ritual celebrations of ancient Greece. They were conducted in the Eleusis, fourteen They were conducted in the Eleusis, fourteen miles west of Athens, for about two thousand miles west of Athens, for about two thousand years. The Mysteries were based on a legend years. The Mysteries were based on a legend about Demeter, the goddess of life, agriculture about Demeter, the goddess of life, agriculture and fertility. Demeter's daughter Persephone and fertility. Demeter's daughter Persephone was gathering flowers when she was kidnapped was gathering flowers when she was kidnapped by Hades, the god of death and the underworld by Hades, the god of death and the underworld and taken to his underworld kingdom. Demeter and taken to his underworld kingdom. Demeter searched for her daughter and goes to Eleusis. searched for her daughter and goes to Eleusis.

Demeter causes a drought and Zeus Demeter causes a drought and Zeus asks Hades to release Persephone to asks Hades to release Persephone to bring back rain. But on the way up, bring back rain. But on the way up, she ate pomegranate seeds and had she ate pomegranate seeds and had to remain in the underworld for to remain in the underworld for three months of the year. The three months of the year. The Eleusinian Mysteries were given to Eleusinian Mysteries were given to the people of Eleusis by Demeter to the people of Eleusis by Demeter to celebrate Persephone's return. celebrate Persephone's return.

The celebration of the Mysteries at Eleusis The celebration of the Mysteries at Eleusis took place over nine days in the month of took place over nine days in the month of September. For each day, there was a September. For each day, there was a series of rituals that initiates followed. series of rituals that initiates followed. First there was the invitation, then the First there was the invitation, then the purification and sacrifice. Next the purification and sacrifice. Next the procession from Athens to Eleusis. Then, procession from Athens to Eleusis. Then, the initiates would rest, purify themselves, the initiates would rest, purify themselves, and fast. They would break their fast by and fast. They would break their fast by drinking "kykeon," meal and water mixed drinking "kykeon," meal and water mixed with fresh pennyroyal mint leaves. with fresh pennyroyal mint leaves.

What next happened remains a secret. There What next happened remains a secret. There may have been a ritual reenactment of the may have been a ritual reenactment of the story of Demeter and Persephone, including the story of Demeter and Persephone, including the abduction by Hades; Demeter's grief; her abduction by Hades; Demeter's grief; her search and the famine and death that followed.. search and the famine and death that followed.. There was finally, a sudden blaze of fire and There was finally, a sudden blaze of fire and light, the joyous moment of Persephone's light, the joyous moment of Persephone's rebirth as she came back from the underworld rebirth as she came back from the underworld and returned to her mother. The intensity of and returned to her mother. The intensity of this ceremony with drumming, music and this ceremony with drumming, music and chants was said to be awe-inspiring and life chants was said to be awe-inspiring and life changingchanging

The Mysteries may have led the initiates The Mysteries may have led the initiates through dark infernal regions with horrible through dark infernal regions with horrible images and frightening shapes to recreate a images and frightening shapes to recreate a foreshadowing of what awaits the death for the foreshadowing of what awaits the death for the uninitiated then, light represented a blissful uninitiated then, light represented a blissful afterlife in the company of the goddesses with a afterlife in the company of the goddesses with a sense of great relief and spiritual rebirthsense of great relief and spiritual rebirth

Yet with all that has been written, the truth Yet with all that has been written, the truth about what happened in the Mysteries remains about what happened in the Mysteries remains secret of the oath of secrecy and the capital secret of the oath of secrecy and the capital offense of telling anyone what occurred. offense of telling anyone what occurred.

3 Bodies of Buddha3 Bodies of Buddha

The first is the Truth Body, which is The first is the Truth Body, which is the experience of wisdom. the experience of wisdom.

The second is the Beatific Body, The second is the Beatific Body, which is the experience of bliss. which is the experience of bliss.

The third is the Emanation Body, The third is the Emanation Body, which is the way bliss and wisdom which is the way bliss and wisdom are communicated to others are communicated to others

The Emanation body is The Emanation body is divided into three bodiesdivided into three bodies

The first is the Supreme Emanation The first is the Supreme Emanation Body of the Buddha’s to help others. Body of the Buddha’s to help others.

The second is the Incarnational The second is the Incarnational Emanation body of teachers to help Emanation body of teachers to help others. others.

The third is the Artistic Emanation The third is the Artistic Emanation Body made up of anything that Body made up of anything that represents enlightenment. represents enlightenment.

The Artistic Emanation The Artistic Emanation BodyBody

Is made up of all the sacred art and Is made up of all the sacred art and the artists who create it. the artists who create it.

Literature, visual arts, sculpture that Literature, visual arts, sculpture that represent the sacred life of the represent the sacred life of the Buddha are all crucial in helping Buddha are all crucial in helping people attain liberation people attain liberation

Art is crucial to the whole Art is crucial to the whole structure of Buddhismstructure of Buddhism

It is nothing less than the way a It is nothing less than the way a person can see, hear, listen, person can see, hear, listen, understand, and know how a new understand, and know how a new reality of enlightenment is possible reality of enlightenment is possible for them in their life. for them in their life.

Art is the way wisdom and bliss are Art is the way wisdom and bliss are communicated to others.communicated to others.

Your life is healing artYour life is healing art

Your Artistic Emanation Body is the Your Artistic Emanation Body is the most powerful art form, the most most powerful art form, the most powerful artistic emanation. powerful artistic emanation.

For your life to be healing art, you For your life to be healing art, you must live with the intent to heal in must live with the intent to heal in every breath every breath

The second most important art is literature. Songs, epics, The second most important art is literature. Songs, epics, poems, tales, and legends, are believed to be a direct path poems, tales, and legends, are believed to be a direct path to your imagination, a way to let you picture to your imagination, a way to let you picture enlightenment directly. enlightenment directly.

Next in importance is music. Tibetans believe that Next in importance is music. Tibetans believe that harmony and vibration affect your heart directly. Chants harmony and vibration affect your heart directly. Chants are believed to open the heart, to heal and inspire. are believed to open the heart, to heal and inspire.

Architecture is also important. It can create sacred Architecture is also important. It can create sacred geography, sacred space. It designs mandalas which geography, sacred space. It designs mandalas which convey delight, security, and exaltation. Deities are seen convey delight, security, and exaltation. Deities are seen at precise places within the architecture, the sacred at precise places within the architecture, the sacred building serving as their home. Of course, the most building serving as their home. Of course, the most elaborate structures that can ever be built are those we elaborate structures that can ever be built are those we create in our minds with guided imagery. They are create in our minds with guided imagery. They are incredible intricate and exact representations of heavenly incredible intricate and exact representations of heavenly abodes.abodes.

Sculpture is a way to Sculpture is a way to embody yourself as a god. embody yourself as a god.

As you picture the icon, As you picture the icon, you energize the mental you energize the mental image until you are merged image until you are merged with it and become it. with it and become it.

The Tibetan Buddhist first The Tibetan Buddhist first pictures the deity in his or pictures the deity in his or her mind and then in the her mind and then in the icon icon

Buddhists visualize Buddhists visualize themselves being themselves being made anew, being made anew, being born, as it were, as born, as it were, as the deity. the deity.

It takes the utmost It takes the utmost discipline and discipline and practice to manifest practice to manifest as an enlightened as an enlightened being being

In Tibetan Buddhism, art is a direct In Tibetan Buddhism, art is a direct flowing out from the enlightened flowing out from the enlightened spaces of Buddha. spaces of Buddha.

It gives a person a way to be It gives a person a way to be embodied as an enlightened one, embodied as an enlightened one, and that is how healing occurs.and that is how healing occurs.

As you are enlightened, you are As you are enlightened, you are healed. healed.

Healing was not always Healing was not always curingcuring

This did not always involve curing, This did not always involve curing, since everyone dies, including since everyone dies, including Buddha and the Dalai Lama. Buddha and the Dalai Lama.

Death in Buddhism is a doorway to Death in Buddhism is a doorway to enlightenment and the gateway to enlightenment and the gateway to the next reincarnation so it is not in the next reincarnation so it is not in itself frightening or a thing to be itself frightening or a thing to be avoided. avoided.

The Bear DanceThe Bear Dance

Probably 10,000-80-Probably 10,000-80-000 years old in 000 years old in EuropeEurope

Thousands of years old Thousands of years old in Americain America

Held by several tribes Held by several tribes 3 times a year3 times a year

For healing the people For healing the people

The explanation The explanation

Illness goes from the Illness goes from the personperson

To the bearTo the bear To the eagleTo the eagle To the fireTo the fire To Great SpiritTo Great Spirit

The Dancer is bear The Dancer is bear spirit for the dancespirit for the dance

Who is the Bear Dancer? Who is the Bear Dancer?

a healer who is uses a healer who is uses spiritual and visionary spiritual and visionary tools. tools.

Mircea Eliade, defined Mircea Eliade, defined shamanism as shamanism as the the technique of ecstasytechnique of ecstasy. .

Eliade defines Eliade defines shamanism as going shamanism as going into a trance to heal into a trance to heal

Characteristics of sacred Characteristics of sacred space space

Sacred space is visionary spaceSacred space is visionary space non-ordinary realitynon-ordinary reality space that is full of meaningspace that is full of meaning pregnant with power pregnant with power

To be a shaman is a choice To be a shaman is a choice of commitment and life of commitment and life

sacrifice sacrifice MindfulnessMindfulness Being fully present Being fully present Intention Intention Focus Focus

Art and creativity as Art and creativity as shamanism shamanism

The first healer and the first The first healer and the first artist were one person, the artist were one person, the shaman. shaman.

The first art was The first art was transformative, the cave transformative, the cave painter made art to bring painter made art to bring animals to them in the huntanimals to them in the hunt

The artist uses writing, art, The artist uses writing, art, music, dance to change realitymusic, dance to change reality

Lewis Mehl-Madrona, Lewis Mehl-Madrona, M.D. M.D.

Only the creator, the spirits, and the Only the creator, the spirits, and the patient take credit for healing, the shaman patient take credit for healing, the shaman is only with them. Native Americans won’t is only with them. Native Americans won’t say they are shaman or they do the healing, say they are shaman or they do the healing, we need to be humble or the spirits leave we need to be humble or the spirits leave us. The patient does 70% of the work to us. The patient does 70% of the work to get well, the creator does 20%, I do 10% get well, the creator does 20%, I do 10% which is barely worth mentioning. Most of which is barely worth mentioning. Most of what the patient does to get well, is make what the patient does to get well, is make the firm decision to the firm decision to bebe well well

Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madonna Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madonna

““The underlying ideas of complementary and The underlying ideas of complementary and shamanic medicine are identical. Native shamanic medicine are identical. Native American healing uses herbs, manipulation, American healing uses herbs, manipulation, and massage, but the most important part is and massage, but the most important part is spiritual healing. The shaman uses spiritual spiritual healing. The shaman uses spiritual energies to facilitate the healing of the body. energies to facilitate the healing of the body. True healers express and live out heartfelt True healers express and live out heartfelt compassion. They prepare properly for compassion. They prepare properly for ceremony. Relationships are key to healing, ceremony. Relationships are key to healing, healing grows out of change of relationship to healing grows out of change of relationship to patients own self, relationship with healer and patients own self, relationship with healer and with spirits.with spirits.

Enhanced Practice Enhanced Practice

LovingLoving MindfulMindful PresentPresent CaringCaring

Demeter, Buddha and Demeter, Buddha and BearsBears

The Ancient Roots of The Ancient Roots of Contemporary Contemporary Spiritual HealingSpiritual Healing

Michael Samuels, M.D Michael Samuels, M.D Eleusian Mystery PilgrimageEleusian Mystery Pilgrimage Guided imagery For patients Guided imagery For patients

with life threatening illness with life threatening illness Bear Dancer Bear Dancer