Meeting Aesclepius Exercise

The "Meeting Aesclepius" exercise is actually very similar to a meditation that I already do on a biweekly basis. I have a person that I visualize, and I merge myself with that person. Whenever I do this, I feel like there is another presence in the room with me. It does not feel like I am simply imagining it all, there is another element to it. I feel a tingling on my skin, and after the process is complete, I feel refreshed. Since I have been doing this particular exercise, which has been for several months, I have noticed physical and emotional ailments leaving me after the merging meditation

As for the other mediations, I will admit that this week I fell far short of what I should be doing. I did manage to meditate a few times, but two of those times I was so exhausted that I fell asleep. I do want to stick with this, because I have noticed improvements. Right now it's just a particular challenge because time to do it seems very hard to find.

To me, the phrase "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" means that to be able to help others, one must have firsthand experience with at least the technique being used if not the illness itself. I think that experiencing the technique helps the practicioner to have a stronger sense of its effectiveness, to have more "faith" if you will, in how well it works. It also gives the patient a greater sense of faith in the practicioner, because it fosters a sense of affinity betweent the two. It is like the practicioner is saying "I know, I've been there. But I got better and you can, too." I do feel that there is a certain level of obligation to develop ourselves while practicing healing for others. Someone who does not "practice what they preach" comes off as a hypocrite and untrustworthy. Developing ourselves also gives us the firsthand experience that allows us to better help others. Exploring different ideas and techniques in our own lives helps us to know what works for us and will gives us further modes of healing for our clients.