October 2018 President Communication

Kekaha Beach, Kauai, HI    Photo by Joel Anderson

October 2018 President Monthly Ezine

Where does the time go?! No, really, where does it go? You may have been wondering why you've not received an ezine from me since July. Well, a new academic year started for me in August, just as we were finishing up final preparations for our annual conference in September. So the months got away from me and we find ourselves in October. Yikes!

As you know, I've been having online Zoom sessions throughout the year as a way to connect with you and learn more about what you're doing. Oftentimes, the conversation touches on research and I wanted to share with you some of my thoughts on some recent research that gained a lot of media attention. This recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported the results of a retrospective analysis of patient medical records for individuals undergoing treatment for cancer. While the research findings were more detailed, the big headline in the media was that people who use "alternative therapies" for treatment of cancer die at higher rates than those who do not.

Buried in so many of those stories and, quite frankly, within the research article itself were a few key points. These results referred to those individuals who had made the choice, for whatever reason, not to undergo conventional treatment for cancer and were using non-pharmacological treatments as alternatives. As Healing Touch students, practitioners, and instructors, this is not what we espouse, focusing on integration of complementary and holistic approaches to care.

Another key point was that the difference in mortality of this group disappeared when the researchers took other factors into account, namely those individuals who had forgone treatment and were not using "alternative therapies." When those individuals were included, the statistically significant difference was null.

There are many more flaws in how this research was reported in the media, as well as how the actual study itself was conducted. John Week's as done an excellent job of reporting that information on his blog. I think it is important reading and knowledge to have as we interact with those who may have been influenced by the media coverage of this research.

Member Spotlight

Got a story to share? Let me know! If you'd like to share what you're doing in a member spotlight, please use this form to let me know what you're up to! I'll then incorporate these stories into Perspectives in Healing and future ezines to share with our global community.

For example, Sue Peck used the form to let me know about an article she had published in the December 2017 issue of Integrative Medicine on Healing Touch at end of life. Sue and her coauthors Gail Corse and Der-Fa Lu report on a case study of a patient dying. The article describes the patient's energy field changes as she passed and includes the energy changes in observed during the death process of this individual.

Quarterly Group Read

Our new read for the last quarter of this year is Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet by Roshi Joan Halifax. I eagerly awaited the release of this book in May and was not disappointed by Roshi Joan's insight and wisdom. I tagged many passages and quotes throughout the book and hope that you will find it as inspiring, thought-provoking, and wonderful as I have.

Bimonthly Zoom Sessions

In July and August, I had two more online Zoom sessions to provide a space for support, connection, dialogue, and understanding. As I described above, in July we talked about energetic patterns and Alzheimer's disease. In August, we talked about the annual conference and opportunities for professional development. The last of these Zoom sessions are scheduled for October and December. If you would like to participate, you need to sign up so that I can send you the connection information. Follow this link to sign up and get information about the dates and times. I will posting dates for 2019 in January.

Meditation for October

Recently, the BBC aired a documentary on the state of our oceans with regard to our increasing use and misuse of plastic. Titled Drowning in Plastic, the film gives a stark look at the results of consumption and disposal of this man-made material. We are well aware of the health of oceans, as well as the vital role a healthy ocean plays on our planet for all of life. This month, I would like for us to meditate on the oceans, to focus on the healing of our planet through its most prominent, blue feature. The music and images in this video may support you.

Become an Evergreen Supporter

Join me in becoming an Evergreen Supporter of Healing Beyond Borders in this our 22^nd year. I've pledged to support the mission and vision of Healing Beyond Borders through an automatic credit card deduction each month. For more information, including giving levels, visit the store on our website and click on the Evergreen Support tab.

Online Store

And speaking of our store, have you seen all of the new products in our online store? There are quite a few new resources, supplies, and gifts that can support your learning, practice, and teaching. Profits from the sale of products from our online store directly support Healing Beyond Borders.

In light,
Joel G. Anderson, PhD, FGSA, CHTP  

President, Healing Beyond Borders Board of Directors