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Power Journaling

© Roxianne Moore

A Tool for Healing the Healer

The concept of the wounded healer is prevalent in ancient and modern teachings alike. In many cultures, a shaman received the call during a Vision Quest or after a life-changing experience. In others instances, the healer's path began in childhood, as the child's unique gifts became evident. Even in modern times, the call to heal is often heard after a near-death experience or some other traumatic event. Whether you feel called to the alternative health fields, or to more traditional medicine, chances are you've had an experience of this sort that propelled you into your chosen career.

My own call came during a particularly difficult period in my life, though I took my time in actually answering the call. You might say that my alarm went off, but I kept hitting the "snooze" button, reluctant to get out of my nice, comfortable bed.

I was living in West Virginia when I first heard the call. I'd always felt like an outsider, and sometimes had the feeling that I had been born into the wrong family -- maybe even into the wrong century.

Then one morning in early March 1989, as I walked out to get the newspaper, I slipped on my icy porch and landed flat on my back. For a moment, I wasn't sure I could even stand up. I felt dizzy when I was finally able to get to my feet, and I knew I'd injured my back and neck.

For weeks, I felt as if my head wasn't properly connected to my body anymore. Finally one of my students recommended a chiropractor, and with his help, I was on my way to healing my body. This was my first wake-up call, though it took me quite a while before I realized it. It took me two car accidents, both re-injuring the same areas, as well as a few other trials along the way, before I finally woke up.

My real awakening began when a therapist called me a "wounded healer." I laughed, telling him I was no healer. I was a writer. That's what I did, and I identified myself completely as a writer and a teacher. But his words stuck with me, coming to mind at the oddest times. A healer. Could my life-path really be in healing, rather than in writing?

Why did I need to suffer so many traumatic events before I finally got my life on the proper path? Was this simply part of my learning process, a way of imprinting new material in my stubborn brain? Or did I need to suffer in order to help others heal?