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STORIES AND
REFLECTIONS
Lessons about healing
From
Healing Dimensions Newsletter Vol 1:1
February 2001
When
I look back on my journey from nursing student to
midwife to bureaucrat, then teacher and academic to
healer, I am deeply thankful for the knowledge, and
understanding which each part of that journey has given
me. I realise that nothing was wasted. Out of challenge
and excitement, pain, fear, and frustration I was slowly
and gently being shaped and supported, and of course I
still am and always will be.
Now I look
back on it, people came into my life who taught me in
all sorts of ways. Many of my most profound lessons came
from my patients, clients or students.
Back in my
midwifery days, I remember one couple who taught me the
essence of being a midwife. They had prepared well for
the birth and as Henry coached Sandra, she moved through
her labour without seeming to need any help from me. I
felt a bit nonplussed. Well lets face it I felt a rather
lost and just a little put out!! However, when
questioned they said that my presence was vital to their
sense of safety. I did not have to do anything I just
had to be there.
Sandra and
Henry taught me that who I was as a person was
significant, and that by simply ‘being’ with them I
was also ‘doing’.
By sitting
quietly, with my attention focussed on supporting them
and my knowledge and skills available when needed, I had
provided a safe space. In that space they were free to
access their own knowledge and skills, and wonderful
ability to give birth.
Since then
I continue to learn about being a ‘midwife’ to the
healing process. This starts with my own life, and
taking time and space to be still. In my practice I
listen to what people have to share and allow the issues
and areas which need attention to become clear. Together
we work to bring their energy and their life into
balance.
HEALING
DIMENSIONS: PUBLISHED MATERIAL
Energy based healing
Dawson S and Hall J S (1998)
Therapeutic Touch: A healing modality for the 21st
century In Gawler I (Ed) Healing
spirit, body and mind pp 63-78 Melbourne: Gawler
Foundation.
Hall J S (1997) Therapeutic
Touch: A healing modality for the 21st
century Australian
Massage Magazine 21-24.
Hall J S (1998) Therapeutic Touch
a Midwifery Modality for the 21st Century Open
Line ACMI (Vic) Newsletter 6:11 2-13.
Hall J (2001) Therapeutic Touch
and Healing Touch In McCabe P (ed) Complementary
Therapies in Nursing and midwifery: From vision to
practice. Melbourne: Ausmed
Hall J (2001) Energy based
healing Diversity
: Magazine of the Australian Complementary Health
Association 2:
5 26-34.
Personal/professional
development and healing
Hall J (1996) Nurses as Healers Faculty of Nursing, Monograph Series, Deakin
University Press.
Hall J S (1996) Challenges to
caring: Nurses as wounded-healers Part A Australian
Journal of Holistic Nursing 3 2: 12-18.
Hall J S (1997) Challenges to
caring: Nurses as wounded-healers Part B Australian
Journal of Holistic Nursing 4 1: 11-16.
Hall J S (1997) Nurses as
wounded-healers In Ronaldson S (Ed) Spirituality:
The heart of nursing pp 23-44 Melbourne: Ausmed.
Hall J (2000) Healing Story In
Bulbrook M J (ed) Healing stories to inspire, teach and
heal . Carrboro North Carolina : North Carolina Centre for Healing Touch
Hall J (2001)
Perspectives of healing: combining mainstream and
complementary therapies in nursing Australian Nurses
Journal March
Hall J (2001)
Creativity in clinical practice for nurses and
midwives Australian Nurses Journal November 9:5
45
Birthing, midwifery and women’s
health
Hall J
1996 Summary of Evening Seminars - Midwifery in the
Future Code of Practice and Related Actions ACMI
(Vic) Open Line Newsletters (3 editions)
Hall J S (1998) Therapeutic Touch
a Midwifery Modality for the 21st Century Open
Line ACMI (Vic) Newsletter 6:11 2-13.
Hall J (1999) Midwives and
mothers as wounded-healers Birth
Matters; The Journal of the Maternity Coalition 3:3
7-10.
Seibold
C, Miller M, & Hall J (1999) Midwives and women in
partnership: The ideal and the real. The
Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 17: 2
21-27.
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