In my own personal cosmology and organization of the way things are, there are three main spheres of being that people work within. One of those is The Healer. The others (which will be discussed at a later date) are The Warrior and The Searcher.
We all have at least a little of the Healer nature in us. Without it, we stand little chance of being able to truly help others or keep ourselves stable enough to make it far along our chosen path.
When most people think of Healers, they immediately think of medical doctors. Those old sawbones and modern magicians of health technology most certainly are Healers. But so are psychiatrists. And clergy. And a good bunch of normal, every-day people on the street. Even a mechanic may be a healer.
The defining aspect of a Healer is his or her ability and desire to, above all else, fix thing. Usually those “things” will be directly related to other living things–their bodies, their minds or their spirits–but there is no reason someone with a particular affinity for non-living things (or, at leas, things that aren’t traditionally considered alive) can’t fall into the realm of the Healer, too. I know many a computer tech or mechanic who sees their technology of choice in such a personified way that it may as well be another member of the family.
Every time you honestly listen to a friend talk about a problem, you are exhibiting your Healer nature. Every time you let your compassion for another moderate your actions, that is your Healer nature being exercised.
Healers help people. They figure out what’s wrong and then try their hardest to either fix it or find someone else who can. An active Healer will find himself again and again picking up the pieces of bad situation. But he’ll also get the pay off of having a loyal group of friends there to help him when he falls on rough times.
Thing is, Healers don’t fall on rough times a whole lot. At least not that they let other people see. Much like the Warriors, they can become preoccupied with keeping a stiff upper lip regardless of what is actually going on inside themselves. Unlike the Warrior who may do this to maintain an appearance of strength, vitality and readiness, the Healer does so because she doesn’t want to hurt or inconvenience others with her own problems. She knows all too well that things go through cycles and that, in the big picture, her own problems aren’t really that important.
Except they are.
The problems of a Healer are just as important as any of the people she helps. Sometimes, Healers have to be reminded that they’re people, too, and they’re allowed to say no–to take time off–to get sick and have to get better. A dead Healer isn’t good for anyone.
Healers make good use of both the Warrior and Searcher natures. Sometimes the act of healing can be seen as a battle: the doctor versus the disease. The fire and persistence of the Warrior nature comes in very handy. Healing can also require much deep thought and research–bringing two of the key Searcher qualities into play.
The path of the Healer is a difficult one, but one that has many rewards. The gains are obvious in the healthy and happy faces the Healer is surrounded by. The price? The afore-mentioned tendency to put oneself last can lead to bad burn out.
Celebrate the Healers you know in your life. And if you are one, take care of yourself first–you can help more people when you’re happy and healthy.
Thank you for this. I myself have healed and am healing others (or trying to) all the time. This is what you meant.