I so recognise the “must take notes” instinct. Honestly, for me, it’s a way of opting out of taking stuff like this too seriously. I do wonder if I weren’t such a cynic whether this stuff would have more of an effect. Although apparently, even if you know the placebo effect is at work, it still works. That kind of blows my mind.
The biggest mind-blowing moment for me though, Amy, was your Queen lyrics gifs. My entire life, instead of “Bismillah”, I’ve been singing “Miss Miller”. What the--?! I always wondered who Miss Miller was.
And thank you so much for the mention. You’re awesome, Amy. 😘
The placebo effect is definitely mind-blowing! The mind is so fascinating in that regard. I remember one time, I had an uncomfortable skin condition for several months. No doctor could figure it out, and they tried various remedies. Then I went to one who looked at it, said, "pshah - you're just a sensitive redhead, it'll go away." The next day? GONE.
Thanks for taking us on this strange trip with you. I had a lot of favorite lines, but I laughed at and could really relate to this one! And you were right!
"(I did, however, think, “this is going to make for a great Substack post!” and I immediately opened my Notes app to capture what was happening 🤭)."
Hi Amy, This post reminded me of an instance that happened to me years ago — 1994, at my first post-law school job.
I was the first employee of a new non-profit civil rights law firm designed to do class action cases on behalf of people with disabilities.
For a few months, it was just the Director and me, so I did everything from setting up phone service in our donated office space to taking court papers over to the court clerk’s office to be filed.
I was all dressed up in a suit (which wasn't necessary), using my mobility scooter (which was necessary.)
When I got up to the window, the woman took one look at me and said, “What happened to you?!” Wildly inappropriate, but not atypical. I gave my canned answer: “I was born with this skin condition. I get blisters on my feet when I walk.”
She said, “Oh. Can I pray for you?” I get this question every so often. Even though I am agnostic at best, I feel that the praying made them feel better, so I said, “Yes.”
What I didn't realize was that she would do it right then and there! With all these lawyers and lawyers’ flunkies milling about. I couldn't leave because she hadn't processed my paperwork yet.
When I got back to the office, I told my boss about it. He cackled about it before saying something pseudosensitive like, “You're not upset, are you?”
I wasn't upset; I knew I was going to get a lot of mileage out of the story.
Oh, brother! It is indeed a story worth re-telling. Prayers on the spot, no matter what the circumstances around her are? That's definitely commitment 😂. And I love how you agree to prayers because it makes the person praying feel better. That's both very kind of you and a healthy dose of irony!
So, that was 1994...I'd like to think that you're not getting as many, "what happened to you?" questions in 2023, but maybe you are? That is indeed wildly inappropriate.
Lol, I would have thought the same about taking notes for my newsletter! 😂
And honestly, being part witch, part Buddhist and part realist I never knew what to make of Dr. Joe. My gut feeling kept saying to stay away from his offers. 🤷♀️ On the other hand I have done the first Reiki grade what feels like a million years ago and I can feel different sort of energys like in crystals, but also generally at places, from people etc. I wear crystals every day and believe they can support me - but not heal me. Same goes for Reiki: it is a great support, but I wouldn’t rely on it for healing. ME/CFS and Long Covid is such a complex disease, that one needs complex healing. So, if any sort of energy helps in the process, it is great! But it shouldn’t be the only thing one tries for healing, if that makes sense.
But hey, you had something great to tell for your newsletter! 😉
I am so loving that common theme in the comments section for this post - that most of you are saying you would have taken notes too 😂😂
I hear what you're saying re: things like Reiki and crystals. I do believe certain people have the kind of energy that is healing to others. I have tried with the crystals, but I don't really feel anything. However, my sibkid (gender neutral term for my sister's kid) swears they can feel the differences in them, like you can. And I tend to agree with you; these healing things are all part of the menu, not curative in and of themselves but nice additions if they provide relief.
This was fascinating Amy! I love how open you are to new approaches. I have experience with something called centering prayer (kind of combining prayer with meditation) and I have also experienced the benefits of Reiki (just a bit). I love hearing about your journey. ❤️
Thanks for reading it, Paula! I feel like I am not a super open-minded person about stuff like this by nature, so I definitely work to come out of my comfort zone. I've never done Reiki though and am curious about your experience with it?
Of course! My people (COVID long haulers) really need tools for soothing our nervous systems and your work is brilliant. Loved your reading of Frost too.
As I'm a witch and energetically sensitive, you're going to have to try a lot harder to get "wacky" on me. Happy to compare notes with you anytime. I will take notes myself after I work on someone to share my impressions/messages.
My take on Dr. Joe: not doing himself any favors with what sounds (to me) like a whole lot of ego-tripping. The whole "disease reactivation" thing is a total Falsehood in New Age thought and needs to be jettisoned At Once.
Amazing post as per. I love the documentary Heal - watched it by accident on a flight over Xmas just before my 40th (couldn’t sleep). Also read Bruce liptons “the biology of belief” and listen to his podcasts on YouTube, I love that guy! (I’m hugely interested in our beliefs system and the part this plays in our wellness, or lack thereof).
Like you, I got sick and tired of feeling sick and tired (back in 2018/19). I got so desperate, I started doing yoga (the complete opposite of exercise for me or the way I saw it back then). Only to discover that yoga (in its original context), is healing. It’s how I got into breathwork (incl nostril retraining) and deeper into meditation. I also started having regular (deeply healing) bodywork sessions - still do and trained in it myself (helping others heal themselves too - i don’t see myself as a healer. I hold space for healing to happen but client heals themselves).
Over the lockdowns, I had nothing else to do (was completely on my own) so I meditated ALOT. Some joe dispenza inspired meditations on YouTube (all free!) - received LOADS of healing to my brain during this time (brain abnormality is one root cause of migraine disease). Meditation has been a huge part of why I am where I am now (alongside all other big pieces of the jigsaw).
I’ve received distance healing from someone once which I connected to.
In the early days, I kept being told I was on this journey which I didn’t get at all (I thought I was doing what anyone else in my crazy f*cked up situation would be doing).
Until I read “you can heal your life” by Louise hay and realised I was healing, (I feel like) we’re all healing.
You and I have so much in common re: migraine history and also our former beliefs about what constituted exercise. I shunned yoga for years. Now it’s the only thing I can really do for any form of movement. And even when my ME/CFS instructor offers more intense modifications, I often don’t take them even though a lot of times I probably could. I just love the calming/grounding aspects now.
I added that Louise Hay book to my Amazon wishlist! I think you mentioned it or others have here.
That’s the only and exact reason I got into it. Any form of exercise triggered attack. Haven’t done a right lot else since. People stilll ask me how I look after myself physically, how I got so strong. It’s all yoga, walking and healing. Would never step foot in a gym again.
Can’t wait to see what you think to heal your life 💜
Meant to mention Becoming Supernatural by joe dispenza too. He doesn’t own spirituality in the same way Bruce Lipton does but it’s an incredible read. you can’t deny the brain scans and I’ve experienced the white light healing all the way up from the lower back up the body.
I so recognise the “must take notes” instinct. Honestly, for me, it’s a way of opting out of taking stuff like this too seriously. I do wonder if I weren’t such a cynic whether this stuff would have more of an effect. Although apparently, even if you know the placebo effect is at work, it still works. That kind of blows my mind.
The biggest mind-blowing moment for me though, Amy, was your Queen lyrics gifs. My entire life, instead of “Bismillah”, I’ve been singing “Miss Miller”. What the--?! I always wondered who Miss Miller was.
And thank you so much for the mention. You’re awesome, Amy. 😘
The placebo effect is definitely mind-blowing! The mind is so fascinating in that regard. I remember one time, I had an uncomfortable skin condition for several months. No doctor could figure it out, and they tried various remedies. Then I went to one who looked at it, said, "pshah - you're just a sensitive redhead, it'll go away." The next day? GONE.
Miss-Mill-ah, NOOOOO! We will not let you go! 😂😂😂
Amy,
Thanks for taking us on this strange trip with you. I had a lot of favorite lines, but I laughed at and could really relate to this one! And you were right!
"(I did, however, think, “this is going to make for a great Substack post!” and I immediately opened my Notes app to capture what was happening 🤭)."
Ha ha! Thanks David! I’m sure everyone with a Substack newsletter can relate to that feeling 🤭
Hi Amy, This post reminded me of an instance that happened to me years ago — 1994, at my first post-law school job.
I was the first employee of a new non-profit civil rights law firm designed to do class action cases on behalf of people with disabilities.
For a few months, it was just the Director and me, so I did everything from setting up phone service in our donated office space to taking court papers over to the court clerk’s office to be filed.
I was all dressed up in a suit (which wasn't necessary), using my mobility scooter (which was necessary.)
When I got up to the window, the woman took one look at me and said, “What happened to you?!” Wildly inappropriate, but not atypical. I gave my canned answer: “I was born with this skin condition. I get blisters on my feet when I walk.”
She said, “Oh. Can I pray for you?” I get this question every so often. Even though I am agnostic at best, I feel that the praying made them feel better, so I said, “Yes.”
What I didn't realize was that she would do it right then and there! With all these lawyers and lawyers’ flunkies milling about. I couldn't leave because she hadn't processed my paperwork yet.
When I got back to the office, I told my boss about it. He cackled about it before saying something pseudosensitive like, “You're not upset, are you?”
I wasn't upset; I knew I was going to get a lot of mileage out of the story.
Oh, brother! It is indeed a story worth re-telling. Prayers on the spot, no matter what the circumstances around her are? That's definitely commitment 😂. And I love how you agree to prayers because it makes the person praying feel better. That's both very kind of you and a healthy dose of irony!
So, that was 1994...I'd like to think that you're not getting as many, "what happened to you?" questions in 2023, but maybe you are? That is indeed wildly inappropriate.
Lol, I would have thought the same about taking notes for my newsletter! 😂
And honestly, being part witch, part Buddhist and part realist I never knew what to make of Dr. Joe. My gut feeling kept saying to stay away from his offers. 🤷♀️ On the other hand I have done the first Reiki grade what feels like a million years ago and I can feel different sort of energys like in crystals, but also generally at places, from people etc. I wear crystals every day and believe they can support me - but not heal me. Same goes for Reiki: it is a great support, but I wouldn’t rely on it for healing. ME/CFS and Long Covid is such a complex disease, that one needs complex healing. So, if any sort of energy helps in the process, it is great! But it shouldn’t be the only thing one tries for healing, if that makes sense.
But hey, you had something great to tell for your newsletter! 😉
I am so loving that common theme in the comments section for this post - that most of you are saying you would have taken notes too 😂😂
I hear what you're saying re: things like Reiki and crystals. I do believe certain people have the kind of energy that is healing to others. I have tried with the crystals, but I don't really feel anything. However, my sibkid (gender neutral term for my sister's kid) swears they can feel the differences in them, like you can. And I tend to agree with you; these healing things are all part of the menu, not curative in and of themselves but nice additions if they provide relief.
This was fascinating Amy! I love how open you are to new approaches. I have experience with something called centering prayer (kind of combining prayer with meditation) and I have also experienced the benefits of Reiki (just a bit). I love hearing about your journey. ❤️
Thanks for reading it, Paula! I feel like I am not a super open-minded person about stuff like this by nature, so I definitely work to come out of my comfort zone. I've never done Reiki though and am curious about your experience with it?
Thank you for sharing my work here, Amy!
Of course! My people (COVID long haulers) really need tools for soothing our nervous systems and your work is brilliant. Loved your reading of Frost too.
That is very kind - I’m so glad the music can help soothe. That is certainly my intention, and it means a lot that you can find some comfort in it.
As I'm a witch and energetically sensitive, you're going to have to try a lot harder to get "wacky" on me. Happy to compare notes with you anytime. I will take notes myself after I work on someone to share my impressions/messages.
My take on Dr. Joe: not doing himself any favors with what sounds (to me) like a whole lot of ego-tripping. The whole "disease reactivation" thing is a total Falsehood in New Age thought and needs to be jettisoned At Once.
Ha! Wacky is definitely a relative term, isn’t it? And Dr. Joe ego-tripping feels like a spot-on assessment.
Amazing post as per. I love the documentary Heal - watched it by accident on a flight over Xmas just before my 40th (couldn’t sleep). Also read Bruce liptons “the biology of belief” and listen to his podcasts on YouTube, I love that guy! (I’m hugely interested in our beliefs system and the part this plays in our wellness, or lack thereof).
Like you, I got sick and tired of feeling sick and tired (back in 2018/19). I got so desperate, I started doing yoga (the complete opposite of exercise for me or the way I saw it back then). Only to discover that yoga (in its original context), is healing. It’s how I got into breathwork (incl nostril retraining) and deeper into meditation. I also started having regular (deeply healing) bodywork sessions - still do and trained in it myself (helping others heal themselves too - i don’t see myself as a healer. I hold space for healing to happen but client heals themselves).
Over the lockdowns, I had nothing else to do (was completely on my own) so I meditated ALOT. Some joe dispenza inspired meditations on YouTube (all free!) - received LOADS of healing to my brain during this time (brain abnormality is one root cause of migraine disease). Meditation has been a huge part of why I am where I am now (alongside all other big pieces of the jigsaw).
I’ve received distance healing from someone once which I connected to.
In the early days, I kept being told I was on this journey which I didn’t get at all (I thought I was doing what anyone else in my crazy f*cked up situation would be doing).
Until I read “you can heal your life” by Louise hay and realised I was healing, (I feel like) we’re all healing.
You and I have so much in common re: migraine history and also our former beliefs about what constituted exercise. I shunned yoga for years. Now it’s the only thing I can really do for any form of movement. And even when my ME/CFS instructor offers more intense modifications, I often don’t take them even though a lot of times I probably could. I just love the calming/grounding aspects now.
I added that Louise Hay book to my Amazon wishlist! I think you mentioned it or others have here.
That’s the only and exact reason I got into it. Any form of exercise triggered attack. Haven’t done a right lot else since. People stilll ask me how I look after myself physically, how I got so strong. It’s all yoga, walking and healing. Would never step foot in a gym again.
Can’t wait to see what you think to heal your life 💜
Meant to mention Becoming Supernatural by joe dispenza too. He doesn’t own spirituality in the same way Bruce Lipton does but it’s an incredible read. you can’t deny the brain scans and I’ve experienced the white light healing all the way up from the lower back up the body.