The author, a nurse and practitioner of the Fourth Way, describes how healing and recovery can involve each and every one of the six processes. For an overview of the six processes, see https://fourthwaytoday.org/the-six-cosmic-processes/.

Healing and the Six Processes

It’s been 25 years since I set foot for the first time in a hospital, at the beginning of my nursing career. During this time, I’ve witnessed various ways of possible healing and recovery. I’ve seen ways of dealing with grief when recovery was not possible. And I’ve seen cases when a condition worsened for various reasons, or when a detrimental manipulation of a condition occurred.

At the same time, I’ve also been a Fourth Way student for most of these years. So, naturally, I find myself often navigating a tightrope between the six processes, including healing and regeneration, both professionally as well as personally.

Understanding the Processes We Experience

In my three lines of work, often my second line (work with other students) includes discussions on the question: How do we recognize the process we are experiencing, and what is the appropriate action? People often feel comfortable talking to me about their physical or mental problems. They know that I see these things on a daily basis at the hospital. So, hopefully, take them less personally. (I am strict about expressing my boundaries and staying within my own scope of practice and referring everyone to a medical professional as needed.)

However, one main denying force continues in most discussions. We are often unclear about which process we are in and which process we need to enter intentionally in order to move on. This is a problem not only for our spiritual evolution, but also for our human healing and stability.

A Hospital Scenario – Dealing with a Broken Leg

Let’s take the simple example of someone breaking their leg while playing basketball. Perhaps someone blocked a player dribbling and caused him to fall. Nobody intended any harm; it was just a game, and yet the consequences are disturbing.

Here we see a need for healing, but what about others of the six processes?

Examples of the Six Processes – Refinement and Elimination

The player comes to the hospital where he needs surgery. The doctor intentionally opens up the wound and breaks the skin and bone barrier again, to realign the bones to their natural position. This is an intentional use of the process of destruction. Often the beginning of healing includes the use of elimination—also known as destruction—to remove what cannot heal, in a constructive way.

Then the doctor packs the surgical wound and places the leg in a cast. It remains in a cast for weeks, until new bone, muscle, and skin rebuild. This activity we classically associate with the healing process. During this period, the player must not move the leg too much or have it bear weight. Yet other things can prevent him from feeling too sorry for himself. Making sure his room is clean and fresh and having nice impressions or books to read can help. He may receive visitors and cards or flowers, giving him energy. This makes the waiting time easier and lighter. And this is the process of refinement. Refinement is capable of taking any situation and making it lighter, more efficient, more fluent. Refinement can shorten unnecessary suffering.

Examples of the Six Processes – Growth, Elimination, and Healing

At some point, his body builds new structural tissue, and he begins physical therapy. He starts moving, slowly, bearing weight, in a more active state of recovery. He may educate himself about the effects of good exercise and nutrition. Applying these principles correctly, he starts to build a more stable bone and muscle structure. This activity–and the new knowledge he gains–belong to the process of growth.

Soon he can get rid of the crutches, step by step, and walk more easily. This discarding of what is no longer necessary is also an example of the process of elimination. Eventually he may be able to face the other player again, who caused his fall. Doing this without resentment would be part of the process of elimination on an emotional level. 

And one day, if he is lucky and persistent, he will stand on the basketball court and play again.

Cycles of Processes & their Repetition

The processes repeat themselves endlessly throughout our lives. We experience more or less different variations in their order or timing. This is true even if we do not notice them.

Some healing cycles, and cycles of all the six processes, can be short. We quickly heal our finger after touching too-hot water in the shower. But sometimes processes occur over decades. (Remember that family conflict that you’ve been carrying around over the past years?)

The Special Nature of Regeneration

We often neglect one process in particular, or confuse it with others. Regeneration may seem like healing, growth, destruction, or elimination. (On rare occasions, what we are seeing is crime. An example is the work of the Spanish Inquisition, which killed people in the name of religion.)

Coming back to our basketball player, regeneration for him would mean consciously dividing his attention and observing each process at each step. If he remains involved in each process as an observer, he can create a new man through his recovery process. He does this by going intentionally from one step to the next, remaining detached at the same time. 

Healing, Regeneration, and the Six Processes

As Fourth Way students, we use the technique of divided attention to evoke regeneration. It may not be the only technique to ignite regeneration, yet this is the only effective one I know. By being clear about what is happening in the moment, we can maintain the process of self-awareness, inner regeneration, while experiencing other processes at the same time.

Healing and recovery may involve several of the six processes. Our basketball player, even if using the technique of divided attention, would still need surgery, rest, physical exercise, and so on. But regeneration–creating new being–is optional. Without it, he could heal and recover, unaware of his own life unfolding right in front of his eyes.

Harmony and Fluctuation

Evolution is the biggest act of balance. Learn which process is which. Always keep a door open for divided attention inside. [For more on this, see https://fourthwaytoday.org/self-observation/.] With these efforts, you are on your way to restoring a higher sense of harmony for yourself and your community.  And many times it may be easier to recognize processes in someone else rather than in yourself.

Fluctuation is the nature of life. Fluidity among all processes happens at all times in and around ourselves. Nevertheless, it’s always an honor to work.