Holistic Health & Healing: Alternative Practice at Lothlorien

Health and healing based off the ontological caring competencies (self-reflection, cultivating stillness, receptivity, imagination and reverie, focusing attention, energetically creating space, recalling the sense of compassion or agape, and centering and expressing intention through touch/energy work)1 provide a base for creating a new reality, a refreshed world view. These unique realities and world views derive from Martha E. Rogers’ theory of the “Science of Unitary Human Beings.”2 The healing arts,3 as Doctor Cecilia Wendler calls them, (such as the ontological caring competencies) are enrooted in history, yet the connection of holistic healing and health to society is fractured and perplexing. Despite this there continues to exist a “holistic, unitary nature of human beings and their environment.”4

This research will investigate and analyze how the alternative community of Lothlorien, located in Bahia’s interior (Vale do Capão), supports the philosophy of the Science of Unitary Human Beings through its methods of practicing holistic5 health and healing. How does Lothlorien embody an alternative6 reality? In what ways does Lothlorien promote a distinguished world view? How are interconnections of health and healing made in Lothlorien’s coexistence7 with nature? A further focus will be upon the ways in which meditation, nature, communal living, and natural birthing8 are transformed as healing arts. Ethnographic methodology will be used throughout the research to conduct principally informal interviews (approximately 15 – including one group interview) with Lothlorien’s guests and leaders, participate in communal activities such as daily meditation and weekly natural birthing classes, and work as a volunteer for the community - fulfilling any farming and/or administration needs. Participatory observation will be used more than interviewing. No tape recorders will be utilized. When interviewing, interviewees will be asked why they chose to live in Lothlorien, how they view and experience health and healing at Lothlorien, and how communal living (with others and nature) has affected their (well) being.

Despite the worldwide existence of differing alternative communities, there is a need for a furthered academic vision encompassing the ways in which health and healing can be uniquely explored within these communities. This alternative outlet provides the potential for health and healing to not solely be medical, technological matters, but further linking them to nature and defining them as experiential, energy-requiring processes in which space is created through caring relationships in a process of expanding consciousness, resulting in a sense of wholeness, integration, balance, and transformation…9 As the increasing extinction of natural resources occurs, it is vital to learn how different communities are living with and amongst such resources in sustainable, peaceful ways – offering not only natural health alternatives but also emphasizing conscious connections with mind, body, spirit, soul, and earth to foment an alternative meaning for progress and an interesting contrast to everyday society.

-Ethical Issues: The primary ethical issues with my research regard community members’ boundaries, specifically dealing with respect for space. Since Lothlorien bases upon communal living, it will be important not to impose an overly-professional dynamic into the space – where people could feel they are not being recognized for the wholeness of their being. I will work to prevent this potential issue through my participation in community activities, as if I were an average guest. Informal interviewing will also allow greater flexibility that will acclimate to the mood of the environment as well as people’s needs and wants. Additionally, before attending the natural birthing class permission shall be received from each participant to allow my presence, and it will be voiced beforehand that I can be asked to leave at any time throughout the sessions if necessary. Prior to each interview and/or research interaction, participants will be informed of my study’s focus in addition to the goals I have set, allowing questions to be asked.

- ISP Format: The format to encompass the whole of my research will be a combination of art and formal writing (a formal paper). The method/type of art used will depend on what I experience and what resources I encounter at Lothlorien.

-Bibliography:

Cowling, Richard W., Smith, Marlaine C., Watson, Jean. “The Power of Wholeness, Consciousness, and

Caring: A dialogue on Nursing Science, Art, and Healing.” Advances in Nursing Science. Vol. 31,

No. 1, pp. E41-E51. 2008. Wolters Kluwer Health; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Dias, Maria Djair. “Histórias de vida: as parteiras tradicionais e o nascimento em casa.” Revista

Eletrônica de Enfermagem, v. 09, n. 02, p. 476 – 488, 2007.

http://www.fen.ufg.br/revista/v9/n2/v9n2a14.htm

Villoldo, Alberto. “The Four Insights: Wisdom, Power, and Grace of the Earthkeepers.” Hay House, Inc.

2006.

Villoldo, Alberto. “Shaman, Healer, Sage: How to Heal Yourself and Others with the Energy Medicine of

the Americas.” Harmony Books. 2000.

Wendler, Cecilia M. “Understanding Healing: A Conceptual Analysis.” Journal of Advanced Nursing. 1996,

pp. 24, 836-842.


-Timetable:

Week One:

--Activities: Settle in, explore Lothlorien and its surroundings, volunteer work 3 hours/day, 1 natural birthing class, daily meditation class

-Conduct five interviews (specifically one associated with the natural birthing class)

--Goals: Learn community history and philosophy from leaders, observe functioning systems of community (who does what, what are demographics of community members, how is daily rhythm, etc.), develop a personal base with community members

--Participatory observations will be recorded daily in the afternoon (for approximately 1.5 hours) and every other day records will be organized by the categories of: events, observations, feelings/thoughts

-Additional reflections of the day will be recorded before bed

Week Two:

--Activities: volunteer work three hours/day, 1 natural birthing class, daily meditation class, participation in any additional events offered visit surrounding community (weekend stay?)

-Conduct ten interviews – one of those being a group interview – (with guests, leaders, a different participant of the natural birthing class, and a gardener and/or farmer of the community)

--Goals: Learn a greater extent of community members’ life stories from their time at Lothlorien, come to deeper understanding and wider perception of how Lothlorien embodies the word alternative, explore various ways in which nature is used in healing (medicine, meditation, exercise, etc.)

-- Participatory observations will be recorded daily in the afternoon (for approximately 1.5 hours) and every other day records will be organized by the categories of: events, observations, feelings/thoughts

-Additional reflections of the day will be recorded before bed

Week Three:

*All interviews finished

--Activities: volunteer work 3 hours/day, 1 natural birthing class, daily meditation class, participate in any additional events offered, complete any unfinished obligations/wants, wrap-up conversation/s with (advisor) Sônia

--Goals: Spend much time with specific community members whom I have most connected with throughout prior two weeks, compare and contrast answers from research/interview questions – look for patterns

-- Participatory observations will be recorded daily in the afternoon (for approximately 1.5 hours) and every other day records will be organized by the categories of: events, observations, feelings/thoughts

-Additional reflections of the day will be recorded before bed