Healing with the Light
I am a clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety and mood disorders. I work with a range of presentations. The cause of anxiety can be multifaceted; one method of treatment does not fit all. Although my specialization is Ericksonian Hypnosis, the Utilization Approach, not everyone is willing to overcome their fears of ‘being turned into a chicken with its head cut off’. Of course I do not engage in stage hypnosis but the public is unaware of the difference between clinical approaches, medical or stage hypnosis and new age non clinical trance work. However, meditation is a terrific introduction to teaching people how to use their unconscious resources.
Trained extensively in Acutonics, a TCM based model of sound healing and use of tuning forks, and other Sound Healing (SH) approaches, I have found SH to be effective in symptom amelioration and cure. Specially calibrated pairs of tuning forks are placed on specific meridian points. The marriage of Acutonics and Hypnosis make formidable allies. As Dr. Wong, Ming Tat, Master Herbalist and Acupuncturist, once said to me 'Hypnosis is the link between Chinese and Western medicine".
The following is the account of a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of fertility issues of a 30 year old female. Western IVF, Acupuncture, Clinical Hypnosis and Pan Gu Shengong healing were the primary modalities in treating this young woman.
Sandra came to my office in late Fall after her third unsuccessful IVF in two years. She and her husband of 10 years had been trying to have a baby on their own the year prior. She was worried she’d never have a child, described herself a failure and admitted she became "very jealous when she saw pregnant women and moms with infants". She was completing another IVF cycle. Sandra was intelligent, working full time in her chosen field for which she had an advanced degree; driven to achieve. She was married for ten years; she described the relationship as solid and supportive.
Of significant concern was the pacing at which she underwent the IVF cycles, two months apart, and the information she was given by one specialist that ‘stress did not play a part in getting pregnant’. Her focus was on the product, as if the ‘baby were the prize’ and less about the process. She and her husband had started a successful new business during the previous year when they initiated IVF. She had tried acupuncture a year ago, “I went a few times last year but it did not help.” Advising her that a ‘few times’ with acupuncture is not a fair trial, I encouraged her to return to acupuncture treatment, which she did.
Our plan was to meet weekly for anxiety management and shift internal perceptual changes. One goal was to transform competitiveness with others to providing the nurturing environment needed to carry to term a child. We would also focus on increasing her ability to ‘look inward’, pay attention to her body, undo self defeating behaviors and trust her unconscious mind with the communications it offered.
The next cycle Sandra became pregnant but miscarried within a couple of weeks. Her doctor encouraged her to try again in a couple of months. Both the acupuncturist and I suggested she wait until spring. Given her IVF doctor was leaving, Sandra began looking for another practice. This would be a third specialist; I suggested she consider one of the major hospitals known for fertility issues. She decided on the city hospital which is an hour from her home. Acupuncturist, Lynne Deschenes M.Ac. focused on balancing Sandra’s system and gave her herbs which she tolerated well. Sandra considered a ‘cycle’ a few months away but waited until late Spring. Below is a synopsis of Lynne’s work with Sandra.
The purpose of the treatment strategy with Sandra was to rebuild her Yin energy. The herbs were prescribed based on the stage of her cycle, follicle, luteal and menstrual. Each formula was designed to support her energies at different stages of her cycle. The herbs were tonifying in nature for her Yin and Blood and helped to regulate her Yang Qi providing her with greater physical energy and emotional balance. Many women who undergo fertility treatments will find their energies are deficient as a result of the hormone treatments. Beyond the physical implications there are emotional stressors that affect the woman negatively. Stress is one of the main contributing factors of infertility. Stress of this type stagnates the energy of the body and mind, it's all the woman can think about. Acupuncture and herbal medicine increases energy levels, moves stagnant energy in the body bringing better flow of Qi and blood. Increased flow of Qi and blood will nourish the mother and a growing fetus.
Bringing balance to women who have a history of failed IVF cycles can take several months of treatment. I have been treating women with infertility for 12 years with Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. I conclude that women increase the likelihood of a successful cycle or become pregnant without IVF procedures as a result of using holistic therapies including; Chinese medicine, proper diet and exercise routines. Depending upon their diagnosis, treatment can last from 1-2 cycles or as many as 9-10 cycles.
Lynne Dechenes, M.Ac.
Sandra continued to work with me during that winter. Our sessions focused on defining Sandra’s ‘job’ as providing an optimal nurturing environment for a baby. I evoked the presence of Quan Yin- deity, or goddess, of compassion and protector of children and families, to guide Sandra and give advice. During my trip to China that winter, I had been advised by a Taoist Tai Chi Master, that ‘all the other Buddha’s are too busy, but ask help of Quan Yin and she will be there.’ Thank you Master Shan Guei Wen.
Over the course of the next few months I taught Sandra to ‘go inside’ and talk to Quan Yin, to look at what she needs to do for womb preparation, stress management and to integrate the concept of ‘doing nothing’ while preparing. Staying in the present, not engaging in ‘what if’, establishing priorities and internalizing the nature of her present job as womb preparation and sustaining a pregnancy to term were the foci of the internal work. Progressively she went into deeper states of relaxation, was able to communicate externally while dialoguing internally with guides. She was able to describe her journey, as I journeyed with her. She listened, I commented and guided further. I shared with her what I ‘saw’, and she reciprocated. In the school of hypnotic work I do, contrary to Freud’s premise, it is the therapist who free associates; not the client! We follow our own intuition, paying attention to the images, thoughts, feelings we get while attending to the client’s process.
Assuming we have all the internal resources necessary to live happy and fulfilled lives, I understood the energy of Quan Yin represented the aspect of Sandra’s self that was able to prepare and nurture the environment to conceive and carry to term a child. But it required a resetting of Sandra’s default system, internally, metaphorically and neurologically. Her way of being was in a state of transformation- to develop a holding environment. Or as one might say, become more Yin. She was learning to trust her unconscious. It was also around this time Sandra disclosed she was ‘seeing’ Mother Mary. There is no blasphemy in blending multi-cultural icons.
As planned, Sandra started another IVF cycle in late May and the herbs were stopped. She continued with acupuncture a couple more months. By the end of June, egg recovery and implantation took place, she had three viable eggs. During the course of pregnancy Sandra received regular sonograms to monitor the development of the fetuses. In order to personalized the experience of early pregnancy, I suggested we provisionally name the fetuses, rather than refer to them as the larger or smaller one, or child A or B. She agreed. At 5.9 weeks, a heartbeat was heard on one twin, by the next sonogram, both were heard. At 8 weeks, the end of August, the sonogram indicated a borderline thickened neck, nuchal lucency, on the smaller fetus which could be problematic. Gender was confirmed; two boys. As in previous session, we ‘talked’ to Quan Yin, asked for guidance for healing. The next sonogram indicated no issue with the thickening.
However, at the end of September, a sonogram noted a heart and brain abnormality in the smaller fetus. Every sonogram that revealed a problem, or possible problem, we addressed it hypnotically and energetically to heal whatever anomaly was present. Pacing her into the future, what did she see? She always saw healthy children going through normal developmental milestones but was able to note temperamental differences in each child. Each time, the next sonogram indicated the previous issue was either non existent or mending.
The first of October, Sandra expressed fear for the smaller child. The sonogram noted abnormalities which could result in a still birth or the child would come to term but die shortly after birth. The medical community discussed terminating the smaller fetus with Sandra and her husband. Amniocentesis was recommended, which could also prove dangerous to the fetuses. Our session focused on "talking" to Quan Yin and Mother Mary and Sandra regaining her equilibrium. We also requested healing which she saw happening during the session.By the next week, the sonogram indicated the smaller fetus ‘had a growth spurt of four ounces; the boys were the same size’. There were no noted abnormalities in the heart or brain of the smaller child.Sandra had been advised that sonographers tend to err on the side of caution when reading the films, which leaves the mother very anxious. The MD now referred to the fetuses as ‘real babies’. Discussion of Amniocentesis was dropped. Given the apparent stability of the fetuses, she and I discussed changing to monthly sessions.
I remember saying to myself how much I would love to know a healing technique that could have greater physiological effect. I am a Usui Reiki Master, but as a psychologist I do not do ‘laying on of hands’. As mentioned above, I am trained in Acutonics- tuning forks placed on Meridian points, but I did not want to risk compromising what was being accomplished by the acupuncturist who has a specialty in fertility issues. Too much movement of Qi could abort the babies. To my synchronistic good fortune, I had just rejoined my old Tai Chi School and was informed of a workshop in Pan Gu Mystical QiGong- Pan Gu Shengong (PGSG). PGSG was developed by Master Oh, it is a method for channeling Healing Qi energy. The Metaphysics come from the channeled voice of Pan Gu, the Chinese Creator of Ancient Times. PGSG has been researched and demonstrated effective for treatment of Fertility issues, cancer, addictions and other maladies. On October 16, 2010, I began the journey of PGSG, practicing the moving form daily; up to three times a day.
The Amazing Effects of Pan Gu Shendong (Pan Gu Mystical Qigong) Healing
Rather than wait a month as planned, Sandra requested a session due to the results of the latest sonogram. The smaller child was observedwith a 'flattened back of head' and the choroid plexus, responsible for making cerebrospinal fluid, was ‘dangling outside’ normal placement. Amniocentesis was recommended again.
Sandra's request came the week after my PGSG training, which I explained to her; she agreed to try the healing. While repeating the phrases, I also walked her through a journey of forgiveness and reparation of the child’s brain area. (Phrases: Take kindness and benevolence as basis; take frankness and friendliness to heart.) She was asked to meditate at home, using the phrases while ‘talking ‘to the boys and visioning healing.
She had a sonogram the next day, it revealed that the brain was healing and the dangling parts, choroid plexus, were going back to where they were supposed to be, though incomplete as yet. Sandra noted that each time there was a problem, “I come here, we work on it and the next sonogram is much better.” A week later, another sonogram and an MRI were done at the children’s hospital, ‘nothing is wrong’ and no need for amniocentesis. We ‘spoke’ to the boys, who indicated they did not like the ‘compression feeling of the MRI. They noted that growth was suspended during the MRI but were doing well now.’
In mid November, a sonogram revealed an incomplete development of the cerebellar vermis, which could affect learning or result in ‘mental retardation’. Following a few sessions of deep relaxation, inward journeying and PGSG, the next sonogram revealed ‘no issue with the cerebullar vermis. It was determined that the now larger boy had no corpus collosum. This was not considered a problem since the brain compensates easily. However, there was concern that his right ventricle was borderline enlarged. An MRI at six weeks of age was recommended in case repair was indicated. By the next sonogram, the right ventricle had reduced to within normal limits. Energetically, Sandra ‘saw’ the corpus collosum and felt confident that he would be ‘fine’. Despite her propensity to worry, Sandra maintained the level of confidence even when she was not in a deep state of relaxation.
For the next two months, we addressed her ‘need to get things done, resistance to ask for help, keeping score as related to favors accepted or owed and improved self care. She noted she no longer craved chocolate, her marriage improved regarding her husband’s willingness to take initiative and her own self image related to being ‘huge’ due to carrying the twins. We also discussed ways in which she could improve the self nourishment factor, and reduce the number of tasks at work. The PGSG work was now focused on personality issues that she wanted to tweak. Sandra practiced the meditation at home. She noted that with increased practice of the meditations I had developed for her, as well as the PGSG phrases, she was increasingly acceptant of her physical limitations and immediate circumstances and making gains on the previously stated goals.
For the remainder of the pregnancy, PGSG was an integral part of the therapy, both on site and distance healing. By January, she and her husband had decided on names for the boys; we now referred to them by their given names. Sandra was concerned the boys would be born premature- we focused on a reasonable birth date. She went inward, addressed Quan Yin who nodded, “She never talks to me, just nods or shows me the twins at birth.” I commented she ‘knows you don’t speak Chinese.’- they were born exactly at 35 weeks, induced labor.
The boys were born healthy; one had four days in the NICU, the smaller one 12 days. Both were noted to go through milestones quickly and appeared to have advanced motor skills. The medical staff referred to them as ‘miracle babies’ and the younger one ‘a real fighter.’ At the time of this writing, the boys are approximately five weeks old. Last I spoke with Sandra, she and her husband were reluctant to put the boys through another MRI- ‘They are doing so well and I don’t want them traumatized again.” When the boys were five months old, Sandra introduced them to me. We got caught up; early intervention was coming to the house. The boys were doing well, no sign of any neurological distress; the pediatrician told her 'they were fine' and still referred to them as the 'miracle babies'.
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Sandra and her twins during this time. Although I had been warned about doing Qigong with someone who was pregnant, and most certainly a high risk pregnancy, I had full confidence that the work I was doing with her and the boys was exactly what was needed. The sonagrams gave us the information as to where the energy needed to go. She became calmer and more confident. I ‘knew’, and still ‘know’, the authenticity of Master Ou’s teachings and his work; I have full confidence that PGSG does not overload or over stimulate. As students, we are advised not to ‘direct’ the Qi. However in this set of circumstances, I feel the sonagrams gave us information, her ‘contract’ was to provide the ‘nourishing environment’ and prepare her for being a mom- the Qi went where it was needed. Perhaps it was Pan Gu’s design for both Sandra and I that we learn and validate the effectiveness of the mysticism of Pan Gu Shengong.
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