Healing Myths, Healing Magic: Breaking the Spell of Old Illusions; Reclaiming Our Power to Heal

by Donald M. Epstein, Janet Mills (Editor)

Book Description
Even as healthcare technology makes great strides, studies show that the attitude of a person suffering from chronic illness may hold the most sway over the healing process. This book shows that the first step in adopting a positive attitude toward health lies in dismissing harmful myths. "I must forgive before I can heal." "I am sick because God is punishing me." "If it doesn't feel good, it must be an effective medicine." These are outdated concepts that can slow healing -- or make an illness worse. Donald Epstein divides these myths into four categories: social, biomedical, religious/spiritual, and New Age. He discusses each myth individually -- from "healing is expensive" to "every condition can be traced to a demonstrable physical cause" -- and offers replacement myths, or "Healing Magic," to be both meditated upon and declared out loud by the reader in order to create an opportunity for healing.

Synopsis
The author of "The Twelve Stages of Healing" examines the deeply ingrained myths that are commonly held about how our bodies heal--myths that may actually inhibit healing.

Reviewer: Dr Pierre Bernier from Hull Canada
This is a book that will be useful to both health practitioners as well as patients. The book challenges us to look at our body, mind and spirit in a new way. I discovered that what I was thought in school and what I had learned in life through countless hours of studying and post doctoral work can be repositioned in a new way. This book is a shift of paradigm on many levels.

Reviewer: Midwest Book Review (see more about me) from Oregon, Wisconsin
In Healing Myths, Healing Magic, Donald Epstein examines the deeply ingrained stories and myths we commonly hold about how our bodies heal. Some these myths may actually inhibit healing. These myths have a powerful, magically suggestive effect on the way we interpret our symptoms, the way we heal, and the quality of life we experience. Epstein argues that our capacity to heal is more often affected by society's collective myths than by our personal circumstances, symptoms, or disease. Our myths can create the magic of healing in our lives, or they can stop the magic completely. Healing Myths, Healing Magic is a seminal, breakthrough treatise that divided healing myths into four categories: Social, Biomedical, Religious, and New Age. He then exposes each myth individually and suggests an alternative statement or "Healing Magic" to help the reader reclaim his or her own body's natural ability to heal. Healing Myths, Healing Magic is important, highly recommended reading for students of alternative medicine, traditional medicine, and mind/body metaphysics.

An important, fascinating, informative, analytic survey. March 3, 2000
Reviewer: Midwest Book Review (see more about me) from Oregon, Wisconsin
Myths and stories surround the healing process - myths which can inhibit healing. From circumstances where healing is difficult or impossible to choices not followed, Healing Myths Healing Magic examines healing myths and exposes and religious, social and medical frameworks for their origins. An important survey.

Reviewer: Greig Andrews from Boston, MA
Dr. Donald Epstein, in his third book, illustrates how we can effortlessly extricate ourselves from the many illusory traps constructed by our culture, by simply recognizing and declaring, "The Emperor isn't wearing any clothes!" Dr. Epstein elucidates with compassion, insight, and wit how we can use the Magic of our true nature, our inner wisdom, to break the evil spells, to dispel the myths which disempower us and impede our own healing. This is such a precious gift at a time when much of society has grown weary of the old paradigm ("Biomedical Myths") of placing more trust in the power of technology than in the power of Life, and is skeptical of a newer paradigm ("New Age Myths") which puts more faith in exotic treatments outside of us than in the profound genius inside of us. Healing Myths, Healing Magic is a magical antidote to the veil of enchantment lowered over our eyes by late 20th century social and
religious institutions. Dr. Epstein gently and respectfully clarifies many areas in which we have interpreted certain ideas and precepts in ways which do not serve us or empower us ("Social Myths" and "Religious Myths"). Every page, every brief, simple yet profoundly illuminating chapter, finds the reader feeling more validated and empowered, as each new gem sparkles with the simple yet brilliant truth of common sense. You'll find yourself exclaiming, "YES! I've always felt that way inside! Thank God someone else finally has the courage and vision to call illusions, illusions. Now I can live my life according to my true nature. Now I can trust my body, and my SELF, again." Read this book and set yourself free.