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THE CANCER WHEEL: A MULTIDIMENSIONAL TOOL FOR BALANCE by Jocelyn Elder, MA, RN, LPCC, LADAC The Cancer Wheel, a transformational tool for holistically healing from cancer or other severe illness, revolves around creating balance in the three dimensions of existence (physical, psychological and spiritual). Personal balance in turn positively impacts immunity and is an important aspect of healing from any disease. Returning the body, mind and soul to equilibrium hastens recovery and healing.
The Cancer Wheel contains six polarities, or opposite dynamics, which we primarily experience psychologically that become imbalanced in severe illness. These six polarities are characteristics of everyday life, yet are intensified in illness. Balancing these polarities in all three dimensions contributes to wellness. Creating balance with the wheel can also be used as a tool for personal growth by the physically well.
The six polarities in the Cancer Wheel are the following: Stasis / movement Uncertainty / hope Fear / trust Attachment / detachment Judgment / acceptance Powerlessness / empowerment
When all these polarities are in balance, illness tends to retreat since we have created a stable and healthy inner environment. A healthy, balanced and robust interior is incompatible with cancer and other serious illness. In addition, balance in the psycho-spiritual dimension attracts wellness in the physical dimension.
In the first polarity of the cancer wheel, stasis and movement, the individual’s task is to start movement in all three dimensions. Although the diagnosis of severe illness is a jolt, and the person will need time to absorb the shock, it is important to eventually start movement in the three dimensions. Stasis is the condition of not moving energy, creates blocks to healing and will likely contribute to a worsening of condition or a delay in recovery if not balanced.
Each polarity comes into balance by following keywords in the polarity and constructing one’s personal healing path around them. For example, the word “creativity” is a key word in the polarity of uncertainty/hope. The use of one’s creativity in painting, writing, or even walking in nature, talking or exercising, can give us a healthy respite from illness and also allows us to become more aware of our spiritual selves. We essentially create a two-way bridge between the self and spirit. This, in turn assists us to begin a perceptual shift on illness. In addition, expressing our creativity allows the soul to give us important information regarding our healing.
The third polarity, fear/trust, focuses on the journey through the dark night of the soul and into one’s personal brilliance by learning how to spiritually surrender and engage with illness. In the next polarity, attachment/detachment, a person learns to release unnecessary thoughts, fears and ideas regarding self and illness (such as victimology), and developing a detached perspective of how we want to engage with life and illness. In judgment/acceptance we focus on the unconditional acceptance of the self and others and the development of compassion for the self. Finally, in powerlessness/empowerment we form a deep connection with self, and the total balance and integration of the wheel, as well as how to maintain this alignment throughout life. We learn that we can attract wellness by creating a healthy and healed psyche. As we discover our inner abundance, we are then well prepared to be of service to others and help them learn to heal using the polarities of the cancer wheel.
During the process of creating balance, we uncover the most sacred and genuine part of the self, the authentic self, which is often slumbering and hidden from our consciousness. As we become aware of our authenticity, we are further invigorated to overcome catastrophe, as this inner part of the self becomes awakened and activated. Then our illness becomes more than a loss of physical health, but a summons to a more expansive awareness of the self’s capacity to heal.
All in all, the use of the Cancer Wheel allows one to journey deeper into the self, live in an expanded way, and have a helpful structure from which to create our healing path. Personal transformation from serious illness gives us a new perspective on life and more options for healing, especially when we consider the impact of the three dimensions on healing. This expanded view of self and illness has the potential to vastly improve the quality of life. The Cancer Wheel can help us maintain personal equilibrium amidst a challenging and stressful world. Instead of being viewed as a tragedy, we can now understand that our illness contains a seed of our healing, just as our darkness covers the brilliance of our authenticity.
© 2007 Jocelyn Elder. All Rights Reserved. Jocelyn Elder, MA, RN, LPCC, LADAC, Registered Nurse, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Author of The Cancer Wheel: A Tool for Healing through Catastrophic Illness. |