Other Practices for Healing the Spirit Around the World

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What is spiritual healing? If we talk about regular healing as remedying the body, we can talk about spiritual healing similarly as remedying the soul. Although “healing” indicates some hurting or wounding has occurred, spiritual healing is much, much more than that. It is also a practice of reconnecting with our souls.

For the millions who practice it, spiritual healing is often an indispensable aid in their spiritual journeys and their endeavors toward opening up a higher consciousness.

While most people associate spirituality with religion (this is especially true in the United States), spiritual healing is not necessarily anchored with a particular religion. As such, we will discuss ancient practices and systems of belief that are outside of the five major religions.

The quest for spiritual healing is a universal human experience. It easily transcends cultural and geographical limitations. The many veins of spiritual healing are as valid as the number of humans that have ever lived. Each of us, in our own way, has the potential to create our own methods of spirituality—but let’s leave that for another discussion down the road.

Other Practices for Healing the Spirit Around the World

In brief and concise paragraphs, we will talk about specific spiritual healing practices. Spiritual healing is quite enlightening and inspiring. Through its methods, we are able to transform our lives for the better.

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Healing the Spirit in Africa

Being the birthplace of humanity and, therefore, holding some of the oldest continuous systems of belief all over the world, Africa is deeply steeped in tradition. The wealth of its spiritual healing is something to be looked at in awe.

Many cultures in Africa are based on the idea that all things have spirit. Everything possesses spiritual essence. This is true for humans and animals, plants and places, and even inanimate objects like rocks and wind. This kind of belief system typically falls under the umbrella of animism. The wise men of these cultures are the traditional healers, the shamans, who function as the spiritual conduit of the community and help to connect people to the spirits for healing and guidance.

Coming out of a brutal apartheid, South African spiritualists developed the philosophy of Ubuntu. While it is more secular in its stores of knowledge, it is very spiritual in its roots, emphasizing the interconnectedness of humanity and the inherent compassion that exists in our hearts. The aim of Ubuntu is to foster in its adherents a deep sense of empathy and connection not only with others but with the environment around them. Because of this, a particular focus of Ubuntu-based spiritual healing is the restoration of harmony within the self and with the community. This is to further reinforce and strengthen the bonds that exist within and without everyone.

Healing the Spirit in the Americas

Known for their deep affinity with the natural world, Native Americans have developed a reputation for being a highly spiritual and compassionate people. While it is wrong to stereotype them and expect spirituality from every Native American, it cannot be denied that their spiritual healing practices are some of the more anchored and profound. This is because their practices hinge on the individual’s relationship with the wider natural world—and in this current climate of technology and isolation, that is something that is truly worth considering.

It is extremely important to remember that Native American cultures are not one monolith. They are very diverse and run on a spectrum of concepts and more. With that being said, there is a purification ceremony that can be found in many cultures. This is the sweat lodge. These structures are small and enclosed natural buildings with heated stones at the center. It is similar to a sauna but with a more spiritual purpose. Within the sweat lodge, participants gather close to pray, sing, and share what it is that is in need of healing.

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Healing the Spirit in Oceania

Due to their relative isolation to the wider world, being that islands in Oceania and Polynesia can often have miles of water in between them, the cultures of the Pacific have developed quite unique and remarkable spiritual practices that are highly influenced by their conceptions of the land, the ocean and their veneration of the ancestors. Once reviled and prosecuted during much of colonial rule, their re-emergence is a welcome trend.

The Bounty of Humanity’s Spiritual Knowledge

This is just a small glimpse of other practices for healing the spirit. The lush diversity that exists across human cultures is something to be learned and protected. While we all yearn for spiritual enlightenment, we must first and foremost approach these traditions with respect and humility.

For a book that hits closer to home when it comes to spiritual healing, this book might just help you.