Energy Medicine and the Politics of Health

Energy Medicine and the Politics (Politeia) of Health

“Politics” is derived from the juicier Greek word, “politeia,” which implies an active engagement in which people empower each other to enhance their communities. – Jean Houston

“The Earth is what we all have in common.”

—Wendell Berry

Political Choices Are Health Choices

First published January 17, 2022

Donna Eden and David Feinstein

A study recently published in a multi-disciplinary academic journal on the social implications of health policies looked at the relationship between life expectancy in the United States and social policies, giving state by state comparisons. The article opens with, “For a number of years, the United States has ranked last in life expectancy among high-income countries.”  Our own audience is becoming increasingly international, and the implications of this study apply everywhere.

The study used information on 18 policy domains, such as labor laws, tax codes, civil rights, education, tobacco taxes, gun safety, abortion, and environmental policies. It found that some policies had a negative impact on health and longevity while others had a positive impact. For instance, in states whose legislation had, over the past dozen years, become more favorable in terms of policies associated with better health, life expectancy increased by more than two years. Meanwhile, in states whose policies had become less favorable, life expectancy decreased significantly.

The policies associated with longevity are, however, politically charged. What are we to do with such findings about the impact of social policies on longevity in formulating the health guidance we provide? Are we to ignore them in our public statements because they have become political hotwires? The truth is, so far, we have. We’ve not even offered guidance on the use of masks or physical distancing during the pandemic in terms of their impact energetically. Here is what we would have said:  “Covid appears to Donna as a thick murky green. Masks and distancing keep that murky energy from moving into others.”

Why change now? Why are we ready to comment on highly charged social issues? The study of social policies and life expectancy, while even more dramatic than we realized, did not surprise us. What is new is that as the 2022 elections approach, we believe that the implications for policies that impact health are going to be momentous and probably unprecedented. For us personally, we are deeply concerned about the world our grandchildren will inherit. Will effective health care be readily available? Will they feel safe at a concert? Will they be able to do meaningful work for a livable wage? Will bridges be safe? Will they have fresh air to breathe and clean water to drink? Will their bodies enjoy swimming in clean oceans?

There is more to living a healthy life than just nutrition, exercise, adequate sleep, meaningful work, good relationships and, of course from our perspective, energy medicine practices. Attending to your environment is also part of the package. Gasoline did not have lead removed because the auto industry or oil companies demanded it. Toxic pesticides were not banned because the farming industry or chemical manufacturers thought it was a good idea. We are healthier today because earlier generations demanded better.

Our students have often heard us emphasize that “Energy medicine only works if you use it.” It is similar with your voice and your vote. You can’t be heard if you don’t speak up. If you want to live in a healthier environment, the evidence shows that the way you vote and engage politically makes a difference. The life expectancy gap between Connecticut, the state with the greatest movement toward policies associated with good health, and Oklahoma, the state that made greatest movement away from such policies, is 7 years. Political choices are health choices.

While we will be vocal in our opinions about specific health care policies and how to get them implemented, we want to be clear on one fundamental point. We do not expect to change the political views of anyone in our community! We will continue to enthusiastically embrace everyone, regardless of political affiliation, as we provide guidance on the use of energy methods for health and well-being. Our intention is not to change your opinion. Our intention is to offer our perspective on specific topics and to encourage those who are aligned with that perspective on that issue to make their voices heard. If our opinions do not resonate with yours, we honor and respect that. Jane Goodall summed up the arrangement: “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.

In today’s world, the misinformation floating around is unprecedented. Social policies based on that misinformation are being enacted. That misinformation is, as you witness every day, aided and abetted by electronic media that literally rewires the brain. Here is what you can expect from us: We believe in science. We believe in the world revealed by invisible energies. We believe in critical thinking. The positions we will advocate will be supported by our best integration of these three sources of information.

We are more committed than ever to activate forces within you that support your health at the deepest levels and that support the conditions in your environment that promote health. In promoting your own health, you are taking a gargantuan step toward promoting the health of your culture. During these coming months, we will explore issues that will be impacted by the upcoming elections. To the degree that our perspective resonates with yours, we hope to inspire you to be vocal. We ourselves are inspired to be more vocal by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

Feel free to share your responses. Your comments will not be censored. We expect differing viewpoints and hopefully rich discussion. Comments do, of course, need nowadays to be screened for trolls, bots, being respectful, understandable, on-topic, et cetera, so there will be some delay between your submitting them and their being posted.

Even though Donna and Donna won’t be responding to these comments directly, our purpose is to get dialogue going among the members of our community. We will also have a staff person answer questions that are directly pertinent for our organization to answer, such as questions about our policies. Finally, Donna and David will read all of your comments when they are writing subsequent articles so they will have them in their minds.

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Richelle Madden

I am delighted to hear your voice and thoughts and feelings as you have stated. I resonate very much in line with all you have stated. Thank You for choosing to express as wonderfully, peacefully and intelligently as you have. I love the Earth, it is my Home. Thank You for doing what you do and being what you be. I am enjoying raising my vibration.
Richelle, Kununurra, Western Australia

Karen Imrie

Congratulations on … speaking your truth. I have a couple of comments to do with this set of sentences: “We believe in science. We believe in the world revealed by invisible energies. We believe in critical thinking.” Science itself is ever-changing, and it “used to” welcome debate and opposing viewpoints, but during these past two years, there has been so.much.censorship to anything or anyone who does not agree with what is being put forward by the “powers-that-be”, that I’ve become suspicious as to what it is that they’re putting forth! Yes to your belief in the invisible energies — some of those same “powers-that-be” believe only in the basic five senses — ” ‘Invisible energies’?… Can’t see them, so they don’t exist”!

I’m looking forward to more of your thoughts and viewpoints on the various issues that will be coming up.

Kathy Dickson

Thank you for your honest, sensitive, reality-based comments. Your compassionate words will help to raise our Collective awareness and vibration, supporting our growth.

Dianne Brooke

I so greatly appreciate that you care enough to make this statement. It rings so true, that we are all connected and we need to take better care of each other and the earth that we ourselves may be healthier. Thank you.

NJ May

Donna and David, it is very hard to do what you are proposing because of the many different definitions and opinions of what science really is, what is critical thinking and how does it apply to the world we live in, and how to define the wide spectrum of invisible energies.. How do you choose the “correct” one? How do you wade through the many lies, yes lies, and deliberate misinformation? What agenda will you support, and how do you address the use of money and power to achieve that agenda? Unfortunately, in the end, you will have to pick a side. I love you both and have been a big fan for many years and I pray this works out for your best and highest good and the good of your tribe. Namaste` nj

Eden Method Online

Amen to your prayer that “this works out for your best and highest good and the good of your tribe.”

Leslie

I appreciate how sensitively you worded your article. I would like to also offer another view of the statistics regarding the life expectancy of Oklahoma vs. Connecticut. While CT may have healthier policies in place legally, they also have a much higher median income than Oklahoma ($78,444 per household in 2019 vs. $52,919). In this country, health and longevity costs money, and wealthier people typically can and do pay for healthier foods, healthy activities (e.g., gardening, yoga, athletic clubs), alternative medicine and therapies, psychological help, and conventional medicines and life-saving interventions. Poverty vs. wealth may or may not be a political issue to some people, but it should be considered in the equation.

Eden Method Online

Good point, Leslie, and thank you for the added perspective Steph. While the variables in comparing one state to another may make such comparisons misleading, the study also compared each state to itself at different time points. States whose policy changes were favorable for health increased the life expectancy of women by an estimated 2.8 years and of men by 2.1 years. States whose policy changes were unfavorable for health had significantly lower estimated life expectancies.

Steph

I agree with your points on what seem healthy opportunities for a community and the importance of options, and absolutely agree income plays a part in the ability to gain high-quality, healthful choices. However, an important piece of an accurate comparison is the cost of living differences. Income levels are often a reflection of the cost of living of an area (businesses have to pay better to attract and keep employees in the area) and when you take these factors into consideration, your examples are much more comparable (reference 2022 Cost of Living Comparisons). Perhaps what most impacts public health policies are community values and steps taken by their policymakers to support them. We all know spending choices and living within a budget are real – we make them in our personal lives every day. Oklahoma reaps great wealth from its oil resources — what does that money support?

Angela P

“We believe in science. We believe in the world revealed by invisible energies. We believe in critical thinking. ” Those statements are very powerful and I appreciate, am grateful for, the thought and honesty. I personally trust the source. We definitely are experiencing a novel event at this time in “our” history and it has all become overwhelming. I don’t “see” energy and have wondered what notable, honest, brilliant energy practitioners have experienced with this “disease”, and what some think and feel about “all this”. I thank you!

Ursula

Thank you, Donna & David,
I could not resonate more with your views and your call for 
building/nurturing a world that values & respects all human life –
your call for cherishing & protecting the health & well-being of our fellow-beings –
the call to reduce the toxic, predatory materialism & greed that leave behind too many injuries & too much suffering & devastation – (hopefully all of it a common cause for this community).
Thank you so much for speaking out! Over the past 20 years, I have admired not just your amazing gifts, but also your awe-inspiring dedication, your generous spirit, your ever-present care for others, your genuine humility. It is always an inspiration to hear your voice! Much love to you!

Rev. Gaby Michel

Absolutely BRILLIANT! Thank you so much for doing this much needed series on the politics of health!

vivian sulzman

Thank you for your knowledge and dedication! I am 88 and have exercised your energy medicine for 12 years. So excited and thankful that you are expanding in more necessary areas that we all need to address. Bless you profoudly!!