Laying on of Hands
DEAR JEANETTE: Do you believe in ”laying on of hands”? If so, can other people participate?
DEAR : Yes, I do believe in the power of and the practice of “laying on of hands”. It has a regular place in my ministry of healing and I probably use it more than any other single means of “treatment”. Usually it is used in conjunction with other methods. Since I follow the guidance of spirit in deciding how to proceed in any given case, I cannot give you exact guidelines for when to use this method and when to use another.
Laying on of hands is probably one of the oldest and certainly one of the most frequently used methods of giving help to another person even though many times neither the giver nor the receiver of the help realize that is what has happened. Often there is some other excuse for touching the person, but the actual help will come because of the “laying on of hands”.
When a mother smoothes the hair back from the forehead of a hot, fretful child; when someone rubs or massages the neck and back of a tense friend; when a pat on the back, or an arm about the shoulder says, “It’s tough but I know that you can do it!”, there is usually a transfer of energy which goes far beyond that which may be recognized by the persons involved. This to is a “laying on of hands” in a true sense of the word.
Since I believe in the priesthood of the believer (which simply means that each person is his or her own priest with direct access to God) I must also believe that each person can be a channel for the healing powers of God. Thus when we care enough to express love and concern for another, we often automatically channel this love and healing just as in the examples above. There is, of course, a more formal use of this power which is usually even more effective since it adds the powers of will and faith to the loving activation and thus creates a clearer channel.
In some states it is illegal for anyone except licensed physicians and ordained ministers to touch another person for the purposes of bringing about healing. This does not in general create problems for the lay person but it is something of which you should be aware.
One word of caution here in case you wish to practice this transfer of energy. You, personally, in your physical-emotional body, have “life” and “energy” which you can transfer to another; but if you do very much of this (especially in the conscious direction of it which uses much more energy from you) you may deplete your own supply. It is far better to become a channel for God’s limitless supply of energy, thus refreshing yourself and the other person.
As with all other opening of yourself to the psychic or spiritual side of life, provide yourself with protection from God to prevent contact with lower level life-forms which might be harmful to you.