The ageless wisdom

d) Alternative medicine and health

The fourth group concerns more forthright healing, physical techniques and ways of health for mind and body. The more physical-psychical methods include e.g. Hatha Yoga , eurytmi, Qi Gong, Tai Ji and the Alexander Technique. The healing methods comprise with all their incredible varities the immediate physical, such as Rolfing and Hawaii Massage, Shiatsu, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Osteopathi and Bio-Energic exercises as well as the more gentle forms of healing massage, Reichi Healing, chinesiology, acupuncture, crystal healing, Hemi-Sync music and energy exercises. Furthermore, we have all the many facilities and diagnostic methods, as Bach’s flower therapy, homoeopathy, Iridology, chiromancy and radionics. To that we can add food philosophies and holistic medicine, biodynamics and ecology, natural cosmetics, fast cures and vegetarianism in various forms. Very often more methods are used together, just as therapy and health generally belong together. The various areas are seen more as interactions than separate ways of health and a better life.

The artistic and musical areas have for a long time experienced growing activities influenced by alternative ideas. Sculptors, painters and composers create in a holistic-spiritual inspired way. Many theatres in the world teach the actors esoteric and hold a new consciousness of the performances, not only as entertainment but also as psycho-spiritual dramas. The many variations of the New Age music in connection with relaxation, help for athletes and meditation have been known for a long time. An increasing number of movies includes paranormal phenomena and metaphysical themes, which also facilitate the acceptance of these subjects. All over the world festivals, conferences, hearings and other discussion increasing activities are held, with focus on spiritual topics. There are magazines informing of alternative values, radio transmissions and newsletters displaying “positive news” and presenting lectures and interviews. Children's books are written with spiritual themes, and television programmes and videos are produced covering near death experiences, angels, miraculous healings and arts of living. In the research field scientists are working all over the world with parapsychology, research in alternative ways of healing, ecological techniques and renewable energy sources.

Teaching and education are performed in many alternative ways as never before. The Waldorf schools inspired by Rudolf Steiner have existed for a long time, and many educationists and teachers include holistic themes in their work. A growing number of health workers and doctors works in various areas with alternative or integrated medicine, anthroposophical medicine and psychotherapy. There are pioneer groups helping with holistic preparation for birth, just as the hospice movement makes progress, so that dying persons can prepare for death and the death process in a good way. People are working for animal welfare, nature conservation and green values. Certain groups have specialised in conflict solution, handling of racial conflicts, help for minorities and support for criminals who fight to regain a normal life. An incredible flood of organisations constitutes the basis for new communities concerning human values and free, spiritual ideas. Around the world a growing number of more or less known local communities are practising universal ways of spirituality. Among the known ones are the Findhorn Community in the Northern part of Scotland, Damanhur in the Northern part of Italy and Auroville in India. Furthermore many gurus and spiritual teachers have ashrams (locations for teaching), which are visited by many interested persons.

But which common denominators are evident within this enormous field of activities? Is it possible at all to find something that unites all these currents? Even though there is no coordination between the many initiatives and sources of inspiration it is actually possible to maintain certain headings, which to a large extent are prevailing in all the groups.