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Healing Silks Company Supporting Articles

::Circle in Pink – Prayer Circles

::The Power and Symbolism of Giving a Prayer Shawl (click here to download article in pfd)

By Cathy Chapman, Ph.D., LCSW

Giving a prayer shawl to someone, even to you, is a symbol of heartfelt caring and love. When wearing the shawl, the receiver is not just wearing a piece of silk, as beautiful as that is. The individual is wrapped in the prayers, blessings, good wishes and love of the giver.

Prayer shawls are integral to prayer in the Jewish community. The elder women, the crones, the wise women of the Sikh community wear their shawls especially when praying. In the Christian scriptures Jesus suggested praying in your inner room or closet (Matthew 26:30). When wrapping yourself in a prayer shawl, you create your inner room wherever you may be, even in a crowded room.

Today, many women and men, when connecting with their spiritual core, have begun to cover themselves with a prayer shawl before meditating or praying, They create around themselves a sacred space, a heart-centered space as they raise their minds and hearts to God or whatever name they use for their spiritual connection.

When you present a Healing Silk prayer shawl to a loved or to yourself, you are giving the sacred space to connect with the divine within you. When you enclose a note or card with your blessings and prayers for the individual, especially if you hold the shawl in your hands next to your heart while saying the prayers, your love and blessings are transmitted to that person each time the prayer shawl is worn.

Healing Silks has prayer shawls of different sizes, shapes and patterns. When choosing one for yourself, hold your hand over your heart and feel which pattern resonates within you. When choosing for a loved one, hold the image of that person in your mind, and then choose the prayer shawl that “speaks” to you.

Enclose a card with your prayer shawl, even if the shawl is a gift to yourself. If you have a talent for elegance with words, you need no suggestions about what to write. However, if you need some recommendations, enclose one of the following sentiments.

My prayers, hopes and blessings for you (add a specific intention if desired) fill this scarf. Please know, each time you see it, each time you wear it, that I often think of you and hold you in my heart.
Wear this prayer shawl knowing the love and caring I have for you. You are in my thoughts and prayers often.
May you wear this prayer shawl knowing that each time you pray, I am with you.
When you feel alone, wear this prayer shawl and know that I am with you in spirit and heart.
Each time you enfold yourself in this prayer shawl, know that I am enfolding you in my love and care.
May this prayer shawl remind you that you are loved and supported.
Each time you wear this prayer shawl, know that you are being enfolded in the arms of God, even when you feel so alone.
May this prayer shawl remind you that you are loved.
I have placed within this prayer shawl the following blessings:

o May you be filled with love.

o May you be filled with healing.

o May you be filled with strength and courage.

o May you be filled with the knowledge of how precious you are.

Add your own blessings. When presenting a prayer shawl with blessings you are gifting someone with your presence, no matter how many miles may separate you.

::How to Help Your Loved One Through Breast Cancer (click here to download article in pfd)

by Cathy Chapman, Ph.D., LCSW

I was attending a workshop out of state when I received a phone call. Standing in the hall I heard the words, “Suzanne has been diagnosed with breast cancer.” I literally almost collapsed. My knees buckled and I had to catch myself or I would have been on the floor. Hearing that a dear friend had breast cancer was such a shock I didn’t know what to do but wander around the halls for a while.

Any of us, when we hear a friend or family member has been diagnosed with cancer, are in a state of shock. If we are in shock, can you begin to imagine the state of shock the one diagnosed feels?

The immediate question for me and I suppose, for anyone, was, “What can I do?

Below you will find suggestions for help and support. I would like to preface them with a few short paragraphs.

We human beings are wondrously made. We consist of body, mind and spirit. Each aspect of ourselves affects every other aspect of ourselves, and radiates out to affect those around us.. When someone becomes ill physically or emotionally, that person needs to find ways to bring themselves back into balance. A diagnosis of cancer immediately affects the mind and spirit. Fear surges from the pit of the stomach and engulfs the person. The ability to think, hear and process information seems to disappear. The thought “I can die,” which we all know is true, stares our loved one in the face. “She can die” stares us in our faces. The specter of death perches on everyone’s shoulder.

An integral aspect of our wondrously made selves is the body-mind connection. I prefer to say the body-mind-spirit connection because I work from a spiritual foundation as well as the mind-body connection. When a crisis occurs in the physical aspect of ourselves, we need to bring the mental and spiritual parts into balance. That balance will assist in bringing the physical back into balance.

When a loved one is diagnosed, the first reaction is a sense of helplessness. You may want to scream, yell and fight the universe, or God, for your friend. You feel powerless. You don’t think there is anything you can do to assist her healing. The truth is, you can. What you do can be just as crucial to her healing as whatever treatments, allopathic or complementary, she utilizes.

Research in the field of mind-body psychology, or psychoneuroimmunology, is progressing at a rapid rate. Very simply, we know that giving support to the mind, the emotions the spirit has a direct, not indirect, effect upon the immune system. Healing from cancer requires the immune system to be in top notch shape. If it had been, cancer would not have shown up. You can assist in supporting her immune system. Your support and love works in a synergistic manner with what her doctors do.

Following are some very simple things you can do to assist in your loved ones healing.

Take care of your own emotions first

You know the saying, “First, put the mask on yourself and then place it on your child.”

What I mean by this is, talk to someone else about your feelings about the diagnosis before you talk to your loved one. Your loved needs support and hope, not fear. She is already battling fear. She doesn’t need yours. If you have no one to talk to, write it down. Write down all your fears, everything you want to say in your panic. Write it down. Get your feelings out...NOW.

Then call your friend.

Form a Healing Circle

Tell your friend that you would like to form her personal Circle in Pink Prayer Circle. Gather together friends, loved ones and anyone else (co-workers, etc) who want to be a part of the circle. You will bless and pray for your friend. A format for a healing circle is found at www.healingsilks.com

Part of this circle can be scheduling time each of you can bring food, pick up the kids, and even provide rides to appointments.

Write notes, Send cards

When my friend was going through treatment, I wanted her to know I was thinking of her. I wanted to do something. At least once a week, and often more, I sent her a card or note. She later told me how important they were to her. She could read them repeatedly or just see them gathered together and feel the love and support.

When faced with recovery, there are times your loved one will not want to talk or visit with anyone. You will not always know when that time is. Set aside time to send cards and notes. She can read them when she has time and energy.

And, yes, email is a way to communicate. Some will be able to connect with the support they see in a stack of envelopes, others will feel more connected, when looking at messages via email at their computer or text messages on their cell phone.

Pray while seeing her whole

We are learning so much about prayer through the scientific method of research. There is some evidence that praying for someone while imaging her whole, well, and complete is more effective than thinking of him or her as ill.

Why? Isn’t prayer, prayer?

With the studies of quantum physics and what we are learning about consciousness, vibration, frequency and energy, we are able to understand part of what happens in prayer.

Our thoughts and feelings produce energy. Each of us has had an experience where we just know someone is angry or sad, or a place is peaceful or chaotic, just by being there. This happens because the feelings produce an energy that emanates from the individual. When a place is filled with peaceful people, that peace fills the room. When you are sad, angry, happy or peaceful, you send out that energy.

Know that I’m not telling you that the way you pray is “wrong.” Please pray in the way that fills you with the greatest comfort and love.

If you don’t know how to pray, here are some suggestions:

In whatever way you use to pray, form an image of her whole, healthy, joyful.
Ask God, or whatever name you use for your Higher Power, to fill (name) with all the love she needed today but did not receive. “See” love pouring into her and filling her.
Form an image of you with your loved one. See you holding your palms out facing her. From your heart, see a beam of energy, your love, flowing from you to her.
Hold her picture in your hand and, from your heart send of beam of energy to her, filling her.

Don’t ask “what,” offer something specific

Asking, “What can I do for you?” is too general. She or her family may not have something specific they can think of at that moment. They may not want to impose. Offer something specific.

If she has children, offer to shuttle the kids to and from somewhere.
Offer to take her to the doctor or another appointment.
Offer to stay with her at home if her husband or partner needs to get away...or even just take a shower without worrying if she is going to be alright.
Find out what food sits well with her now and bring it. Ask her when would be the best time to drop it off.
Offer to do the laundry, clean the house, or walk the dog.

Visiting guidelines

Visiting can be a tremendous support. There will be times that she needs to know through physical presence that someone cares. There will be other times when she just doesn’t have the energy or emotional stamina to have visitors other than select family members and close friends. You will know if you are one of these select people because you have been an on-going part of her life.

Some guidelines for visiting:

Call first.
Good friends have more latitude than acquaintances. Even good friends need to be aware when the greatest support is to not come or to leave.
Keep it short unless you are invited to stay longer.
Bring humor to your visit. She may not have any interest in discussing what is happening with her treatment. She may want to be distracted.
If she broaches the topic of her fears, listen.
When you are upset or despondent, don’t visit and don’t call.
Don’t be offended if she doesn’t seem interested in your visit.
Don’t talk about your or anyone else’s illnesses or disasters.
If there is any hint that she is tired, leave graciously.

Remember that your friend and her family will be on a roller coaster of emotions. The closer you are with her, the more your emotions will join her on the roller coaster. You want to give her support and hope. You do not want to feed her fear. Take care of yourself.

Your gentle and loving support can assist her in knowing she is cared for and loved. Those feelings will cause a biochemical reaction in her body, which strengthens her immune system. A stronger immune system will assist her recovery. You can do something to help.

Cathy Chapman, Ph.D., LCSW has a degree in Mind-Body Psychology and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has been working with prayer and the mind-body connection for 30+ years.

Cathy is a member of The Healing Silks Company and works with Diana Wesley to create articles to support the use of the Healing Silks.

::Prayer Shawls have been used for centuries (click here to download article in pfd)

"Prayer Shawls have been used for centuries as a universal symbol, embracing the receiver with unconditional love. They wrap, enfold, hug, cover and give comfort symbolic of a mother’s love.

Those who have received these Healing Silk shawls have been spiritually lifted, as if given wings to fly above their troubles…” Diana Wesley

Life’s transitions can be eased through the use of Healing Silk Shawls. Wear, touch or look at the Healing Silks Shawls while undergoing medical procedures and recovery from an illness. Wrap the Healing Silk Shawl around you when needing to be enfolded in comfort after a loss or during bereavement. Form your own scared space during prayer or meditation. You can gift a Healing Silk Shawl to symbolize commitment in marriage ceremonies, a bridal shower gift, the joy of birthing and nursing a baby. They are beautiful accessories in and of themselves. Wear them for pure joy and delight.

Whenever you wish to express your compassion and caring, you can minister to others by gifting a Healing Silk Shawl. Personalize your gift through prayers and blessings. A group may hold a circle of prayer and support, pouring their blessings upon the shawl and gifting it to an individual. The shawl will be a reminder of your love and support. When the one receiving the shawl cannot be present, write notes or cards with your personal blessings to accompany the shawl.

The shawl you receive has been created with care and love. Diana Wesley begins each new design with prayers for all who will receive the scarves. Loving intentions continue throughout the creation of the shawl. When the Healing Silks are received from the manufacturer, they are carefully examined and blessed. A final blessing is offered before the shawl is sent to its new home.

This care and love, combined into prayerful blessings, reaches out to touch those in need of comfort and solace, and increases the joy of those who are in happier circumstances.

The love and blessings within the silk continue to increase when some people purchase one or more silks to pass to an unknown person in need through the Healing Silks Click It Forward campaign. These blessed donations are sent to hospitals or other care facilities to give support to someone who otherwise would not have it.

The blessings of Healing Silks ripple outward from person to person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the embrace of unconditional love.