Kenneth Leeks, Spiritual Healer

Developing your Healing Gift

So you want to be a Healer? Perhaps you have already discovered that you possess the Healing gift and now wish to develop it further. But first, we should establish what we mean by 'Healing' and who may benefit from reading this information. Anyone who is providing treatment to the sick, disabled or infirm is a 'Healer'. Therefore, a medical doctor or someone involved in any branch of complementary medicine is in their own way performing the act of Healing.

This text is intended to give advice to those who want to develop the 'gift' of channelling Healing Energy. In fact, many of the so called Complementary Therapies are using this same energy in a 'controlled' manner following the principles of their particular discipline. For example, therapies which identify the meridians of the body such as Acupuncture, Acupressure, Polarity Therapy, Reiki, Reflexology, Shiatsu etc., are all directing Healing Energy along recognised 'pathways' to clear 'blockages' and to restore balance and harmony at all levels of being.

But in our title 'Developing your Healing Gift', we are not referring to a particular discipline which uses the channelling of Healing Energy. We are using the words 'Healing' and 'Healer' in the simpler context of aiding another person with the process of self healing. This may involve actual physical touch, which is often referred to as 'Contact Healing', also known as the "laying on of hands", but often the only connection made is through the 'Mind' to the 'Source' of this energy.

We have so far deliberately avoided any religious connotation in defining this Healing Energy. In point of fact, anyone can benefit from receiving Healing, or indeed, is capable of giving it. The fact that you may not wish to acknowledge the existence of a divine intelligence or 'God', but viewing 'Healing Energy' simply as a natural phenomenon, as real as magnetism, does not deny its true origin. It is available to everyone irrespective of their beliefs and no group of individuals can claim exclusive possession of it. This means that anyone can become a Healer because everyone has the 'potential' to access this energy source, and it does not matter if they prefer to think it has some scientific explanation, not yet fully understood, or comes from some Divine Entity which does not discriminate on the basis of colour, creed or religion.

Most Healers in the UK regard themselves as 'Spiritual' Healers. This means that they believe in a God or a divine creator as being the ultimate source of this Healing Energy.¹ To be a Spiritual Healer does not mean that you have to believe in 'Spiritualism', and that those that have died can communicate with us on a different plane of existence.

There are still many Spiritual Healers who do believe that they have Spirit Guides working with them, or through them, when they perform the act of Healing, but this belief is not a prerequisite to becoming a Spiritual Healer.

A Spiritual Healer can be from any religious background or, like myself, not follow any specific faith or doctrine, preferring to embrace aspects of many religions and philosophies which recognise true equality, and a respect for all of Gods creation; above all, demonstrating by their actions - UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

We have taken several lines to explain what being a Healer means. You will now need to examine your beliefs to determine if you wish to consider yourself as being a 'Spiritual Healer' who acknowledges the existence of Divine energies, or you prefer to regard yourself simply as a 'Healer' without, at least publicly, acknowledging its divine source.

We should also at this juncture emphasise that 'Faith Healing' is not the same as 'Spiritual Healing'. Certainly the Spiritual Healer has faith as previously defined, but there is a clear distinction as to the basis by which each is carried out. In one understanding of Faith Healing it is required that the patient must have 'faith' in God for Healing to be effective. Indeed, some Faith Healers will assert that when Healing is apparently ineffective, it is due to the patient's faith being incomplete or lacking. The second understanding of Faith Healing puts the emphasis on the patient having absolute trust in the ability of the Healer. Through marshalling the will and energy of the patient, their own self Healing capacities are stimulated. In other words, there is an interaction between the psyche and the physiology of the patient.

The remaining part of this text is devoted to explaining the options open to those wishing to develop as 'Spiritual Healers'. Before doing so it should be made clear that some Healers although accepting that the source of this Healing energy is Divine, prefer not to use the word 'Spiritual', since with some people this can be misconstrued. For example, there are parts of the Christian church which are opposed to Spiritualism and quite wrongly assume that all Spiritual Healers are Spiritualists. Others using their own version of Christianity seem to think that only God can, or should, heal. In fact, no true Spiritual Healer believes that they are the source providing the healing energy, but are merely using a channel to the Divine Creator. This is exactly the same channel used by all faiths and religions when they pray to their 'God'.

Since in the last paragraph we have made specific reference to 'Spiritualism' and 'Spiritualists', we must now explain the subtle distinction between a Spiritualist Healer and a Spiritual Healer. The Spiritualists' National Union (SNU) defines Spiritualist Healing as being: "a form of healing by the use of forces and energies from the world of spirit, channelled through the healing medium by the laying-on of hands, prayer or the direction of thought from a distance". Therefore, in simple terms a Spiritualist Healer is a Spiritual Healer who wishes to declare that they specifically believe that Gods Will and therefore, the channelling of Healing Energy, is carried out through Spirit (Discarnate) Entities. We will return to this aspect later on.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that Healing goes by several names and we have by no means mentioned them all. There are numerous other titles such as 'Magnetic' or 'Psychic' Healing but our purpose here is not to define all these differences. These titles can be more confusing than helpful and few Healers fit neatly into any category. This is another reason why some Healers prefer not to add any title or distinction to the type of Healing which they carry out.

In making the decision that you want to become a Spiritual Healer you have made a profound commitment and one which should not be entered into lightly. People are brought to Healing through various experiences and circumstances and sometimes it can appear to be due to divine intervention. Whatever has brought you to this stage in wanting to develop your Healing gift, you must be sure of your motives. Whilst I have clearly stated that everyone has the ability to channel Healing Energy, very few of us realise our full potential in this respect, and many Spiritual Healers believe that our capacity to tap into this energy source is only restricted by the level at which we have each developed as Spiritual Beings. This means that when we can truly practice the meaning of 'Unconditional Love' we will be as one with God and there will be no limit to the effectiveness of this healing power.

It is for this reason that we use the expression 'gift'. This is not to denote any form of superiority but simply indicates that one has reached a level of spiritual enlightenment whereby we can receive the 'Light', and use the Universal Life Force to replenish and revitalise. There will of course, be those who will dispute this understanding or question its over simplification but this only emphasizes that Spiritual Healing is not an exact science and there are numerous opinions as to the basis of how this Healing Energy is, or can be, best channelled.

Here therefore, lies your dilemma in progressing as a Spiritual Healer. There are several conflicting views as to the best way of developing the Healing gift. Many Healers have reservations about the necessity to undergo any formal training or the need to attend courses. The belief is widely held that the Healing gift should be allowed to develop 'naturally' and a Healer should follow their own instincts or intuition to determine the most effective method which is right for them. By receiving specific instruction on how to channel the Healing Energy, the developing Healer may experience within themselves conflict between the formal training they have received and what they have been 'impressed' to do - thus impeding the effectiveness of the Healing process.

On the other hand, there can be little doubt that a Healer will benefit from an association with other Healers, or any group who are seeking to develop their 'spirituality'. Only by such interaction can the Healer develop and have a greater appreciation of the Healing process. It is probably advisable therefore, that any developing Healer has an understanding of the basic elements of Healing, particularly those of 'Grounding', 'Attunement', and 'Protection', always provided that each Healer is allowed to reach their own conclusions as to how these elements should be incorporated within the process of channelling Healing energy.

There are, of course, numerous books, CD’s and audio tapes available on 'Healing' and you would be advised to read or listen to a selection of these to give you as broad and balanced an understanding as possible of how others view the Healing process. Do not be satisfied by reading just one instructional book on the channelling of Healing Energy - you will find that there are many variants in approach and emphasis. Some Healers do not feel the need to join any Healing Organisation and are nevertheless very successful and competent. Often patients will be drawn to a particular Healer by reputation. Most patients are less concerned if the Healer is registered than the effectiveness of the treatment which they receive. Therefore, joining any Healing Group, Union, or Federation, does not mean that you will become a better or more successful Healer. So what advantages does joining such an organisation offer?

The main benefits can be summarised as follows:

1)
Most of the recognised Healing Organisations provide their members with insurance cover for public Liability at Law for claims for breach of professional duty when giving Spiritual Healing, as defined in their Constitutions and/or Code of Conduct. This Insurance may only indemnify its members when Healing is carried out within the confines of the organisation’s own property, for example a church. However, the insurance cover provided by most major Healing Organisations permits its members to carry out the act of Healing outside the restraints of a particular building or venue.

2)
Healing is recognised by the National Health Service (NHS), and doctors are permitted by the General Medical Council to refer patients for this form of treatment. Healers may also be allowed to attend hospital inpatients. In practice, doctors or hospital medical personnel will not permit Healing to be carried out to patients under their care unless they are fully satisfied as to the Healers credentials. This means that only registered Healers belonging to a recognised Healing Organisation such as the The Healing Trust (NFSH), who can produce a valid membership card as proof of their competence and integrity as Spiritual Healers, are permitted to attend NHS patients. Furthermore, membership of such a Healing Organisation assures the medical profession of being free of incurring any liability for the consequences of Healing or of a Healer's acts.

3)
Many people take for granted in the United Kingdom that they may receive and practice practically any form of complementary health treatment which includes Spiritual Healing. What is not so widely known is that many of these therapies in other EEC countries have in the past been either severely restricted or illegal. There was a great fear in the UK that the European Parliament was about to impose laws which would either outlaw or severely restrict the practice of these forms of complementary/alternative treatments. Those that would be allowed to remain would have to satisfy strict criteria. Naturally, these rumours caused great consternation within the complementary health community and led to the formation of several organisations to lobby both the UK Government and EEC officials to protect the rights of individuals to receive and practice these forms of treatment.

Although the threat has now largely subsided, due at least in part to the efforts of these organisations, it should not be assumed that this threat has gone away for good and these support organisations need to remain vigilant. However, out of these fears has come good in as much as it has led to stricter standards of professionalism being imposed by most of the bodies controlling the recognised forms of complementary health care. There can be little doubt that joining a healing organisation that operates to a recognised standard of competence and ethics must be in the best interests of the member in order to protect them from any future legislation which could jeopardise their ability to practice as a healer.

4)
I have already stated that it will be to the Healer's advantage in developing their gift, to associate with other 'spiritually minded' people. By joining a healing organisation, this will give them the opportunity to take full advantage of all sorts of support services. The NFSH produces the quarterly magazine, 'Spiritus', which is free to its members and is packed with articles and information on all aspects of Spiritual Healing as well as other forms of Complementary Healthcare. The Healing Trust is the working name of the NFSH Charitable Trust Limited. The abbreviation 'NFSH' stands for the 'National Federation of Spiritual Healers' and was founded in 1954. It is the largest organisation in the UK dedicated specifically to Spiritual Healing The new working title, The Healing Trust, was introduced in 2009. Registered Healers with the Trust are entitled to use the letters 'MNFSH' after their name signifying that they are a Healer Member of NFSH.

Having decided that you want to become a Spiritual Healer and to join a Healing Organisation, you now have to decide which one will be the most suitable for you. There are indeed, many to choose from and most are of a high standard, but smaller associations may not be represented in certain parts of the country - their memberships often being concentrated near the localities of their main centre(s). There seems therefore, little point in recommending to you a Healing Organisation which does not have national coverage and in consequence may necessitate you travelling long distances to receive training or support. For this reason only, I am recommending you consider joining The Healing Trust which has the largest coverage of any healing organisation in the UK and offers comprehensive training courses through Licensed Tutors.

I have described under topic Who to go to for Spiritual Healing some of the requirements for becoming a registered healer. With the larger organisations, such as The Healing Trust this will necessitate you attending a series of healing courses. The Healing Trust is split into thirteen regions and each have their own Licensed Tutors. Further information on training through The Healing Trust is given on their website: www.thehealingtrust.org.uk.

If you would like an informal chat with an experienced healer about your options, why not call in to one of The Healing Trust's healing centres? To find the one that is nearest to you, click on ‘Our Healing Centres’ on their website given above and then click ‘read more’ for further information about a particular centre, which will include opening times and contact details.

It should be pointed out that becoming a registered healer may require a not insignificant financial commitment. For example, The Healing Trust will require that you attend their Foundation Course Modules 1 to 4 before you can be considered for full healer membership.

You are advised to contact

The Healing Trust Central Office
Telephone: 01604 603247
Email: office@thehealingtrust.org.uk

for details of their current fees for these courses.

Alternatively, you may contact a Licensed Tutor directly in your region. On The Healing Trust website, go to ‘Regions and Centres’ then ‘Find a UK Tutor’. Training in The Healing Trust’s four modules is also now available in several other countries. Click ‘Healing Overseas’ on The Healing Trust website.

Although I have recommended the NFSH because of their larger national membership, if financial considerations are preventing you from training as a healer, then you should certainly consider looking at what is on offer from one of the other healing organizations which belong to UK Healers or BAHA. Links to their respective websites are provided under topic Who to go to for Spiritual Healing.

If one of these organisations is active in your area, then there is no reason to believe that they will not be able to provide you with training to a fully approved standard, and possibly at a much smaller financial outlay.

Finally, earlier in this article I mentioned the SNU - who incidentally are one of the founder members of UK Healers.

If you wish to develop as a healer using Spiritualist principles then the link below will take you directly to the page on their website which gives full details of what is required and how to apply for training: www.snu.org.uk.



¹Postscript
Much of the above text is taken from a leaflet which I wrote for a healing group in 1996 with appropriate updates. In more recent years there has, unfortunately, been a tendency to deny the divine origin of Spiritual Healing and merely describe it as ‘Natural Energy’ or ‘Universal Energy’ or ‘Life-force Energy’. The word ‘Spiritual’ has many definitions but first and foremost it means ‘of the soul’ – relating to the soul or spirit. Everybody has a right to make their own determination as to the source of healing energy but it is my assertion that they should not call themselves a ‘Spiritual Healer’ if they wish to deny or hide the origin of this energy as coming from a divine source.

The distinction between Spiritual Healing and other complementary therapies which attempt to regulate or control ‘healing energy’ has become more obscure with the increasing trend to practice Spiritual healing using Hindu or Buddhist yogic principles and in particular, the belief in ‘Chakras’ or vortices. These are believed to penetrate the body’s aura and through which various energies including the universal life force are received, transformed and distributed. There are believed to be seven major etheric chakras from the crown (just above the head) to the root (at the base of the spine). These are represented in the images heading the chapters above. Many healing courses now base much of their teaching on these Eastern beliefs which were largely unheard-of in the West until the 1970’s.

In my view, Spiritual Healing is all about ‘going with the flow’. The healer’s role is primarily to act as a channel or conduit, and once the connection is made with the source of the healing energy, then the function of the healer should become largely passive. Some healing organisations still follow the traditional methods of performing Spiritual Healing rather than embrace ‘Eastern’ techniques. Under the topic About Myself, I discuss this matter further and give an insight into my own beliefs.

CONNECTING WITH THE SOURCE