Christine Chau - Week 5

The perspective of shaman's and how they view western mental institutions created a new dialogue for me to understand the differences between modern medicine and spiritual healing. As we have grown up in western culture, we do not think twice about how people who have psychotic breaks or see certain things belong in an institute where other people "suffer" from these things. In history, there are known practices of spiritual healing and using the mind and body to connect and heal ourselves. Due to colonization, the world shifted to believing in modern medicine, and improving medicinal technology day by day. For us to label these occurrences as a mental disorder just sounds inhumane and awful. After reading about a shaman's experience in our western practices and to see him actually work with someone who has experienced both western practice and his practices, the outcomes are completely different. When we think about experiences like these, a lot of people will be quick to dismiss the findings and the successful stories. My question is that, can everyone be "saved"? For all those people who have psychotic breaks or who have to deal with such energy, can they all be healed in a way where they can function normally in our society? How do we open a comfortable dialogue with modern medicine doctors, psychiatrists, and nurses to shaman practices without thinking they are "non traditional" practices? The more I read about these things makes me realize that there are so much more ways of healing and practicing for our bodies that we have not been exposed to. As a student who is looking to pursue a career in medicine, it makes you wonder where you can find the middle line of practicing modern medicine as well as believing in spiritual healing for others.



I chose this photo because it's representing the circle of a human being and what things we can hold close to ourselves. I find it interesting because not many people think about these factors in their everyday lives and how it effects them spiritually.