With chiropractic board exams, finals, graduation, coming to terms with student loans, figuring out what I’m going to do with the rest of my life…I just want to shut down.

I’m feeling depressed, the weather’s getting to me–don’t get me wrong, I love the rain, but the clouds and the no sun and the staying inside all day in my PJs watching TV all cozy with the heater on isn’t helping.

I’m feeling depressed, I’ve put on weight since starting clinic.  I swore I wouldn’t let this part of my life fall by the wayside again, but it has, to an extent.  Because my work is so physical, I do have a bit of a more fit physique than I used to, but I still miss that feeling of sliding into that dress you didn’t think you could fit into, or busting out that bikini and feeling fine.  Not even great, just fine.  That’s all I want.

So.  I know I’ve said this in the past and to avoid the cliche (and jinx) of a New Year’s Resolution I’m saying it again, now.  I’ve got to do something about this.  Make some changes.  You can probably tell, this isn’t my first rodeo when it comes to the weight game.  Fortunately, since making the first big loss—I’ve never gotten back up to that point, but I sure am coming close.

I’m done with clinic, I’ve got time to spend on myself.  I still don’t have money to pay for the best foods– we’ll see how that goes, but i can always make myself sweat.  I loved going to the gym all the time, having a retreat, making it part of my routine.  I want to go back there.

I can get adequate sleep, have time to exercise, and reduce those cortisol levels which have not been helping this weight-loss fuge.

There’s no more gym.  Well, actually, I lie.  There’s a small gym at school that opened up a few weeks ago, but I quit the legitimate gym.  It feels like a waste to go all the way to school—cross the bridge ($-$5$-$), etc just to walk on an eliptical machine.  For some reason it’s just very different to walk on that than to walk outside.

Anyways, baby steps-I suppose.  I’m taking some books to the school library to donate, holiday/graduation gift to my advisor’s office, and to work out in the gym at least for today.

Aside from waking up with aches and pains and seeing everyday inanimate objects as major obstacles, I’ve hit a point where I have to do math everytime someone asks me how old I am.  That also is in part to my miserable memory—but that’s another story.

I stumbled across this blog as I just so happen to be quickly approaching my 27th birthday, so it caught my eye and got me thinking.

…

(Note: Many of these lessons have been acquired from other sources along my journey, and are not original thoughts.)

1. The first pancake always turns out badly.

2. You don’t have to get along with everyone, or make everyone like you.

3. Love makes you stupid.

4. You always have at least 2 choices, even if you don’t like your choices.

5. Sometimes even women need to learn to MTFU.

6. Most people operate out of selfish motivations.

7. It’s rarely about you.

8. Soda is evil.

9. It’s okay to break the rules, as long as you are good enough not to get caught, and you aren’t hurting anyone.

10. “Be kinder than necessary ’cause everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”

11. There’s three sides to every story- his, hers, and the truth.

12. Time doesn’t heal anything- it’s what you do with that time.

13. Complaining and blaming other people doesn’t help anything, and makes you miserable company.

14. Everything in your life is your responsibility.

15. You train people how to treat you.

16. There’s always hope.

17. You can always be grateful for something.

18. If you aren’t making mistakes, you aren’t trying hard enough.

19. You never really become an adult. You just get more responsibility, and become wiser.

20. Showing emotion is not a sign of weakness. Knowing when it is appropriate is a skill.

21. Google can answer anything.

22. Being silly is one of my favorite qualities in a person.

23. Honesty is always the easiest route. Even if it’s not in the short term.

24. You should never stop learning, or trying to be a better person.

25. Worrying is useless, unless it motivates you to take action.

26. When people show you who they are, believe them.

27. There is only fear, and love. And one of them is way more fun.

Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

1/2 cup of chopped cilantro
1/4 cup canola oil
1-2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar OR red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp oregano

Use am immersion blender or a regular blender to blend the dressing. Let the flavors mingle for at least 30 minutes before using.

The U.S. has gone to war over less oil…

PH&W HEALTH: Top Secret

By Dennis Bertoli

SOURCE: PH&W Magazine December 2008

http://www.chiro.org/wordpress/?p=2718#more-2718

There are a few things that you may not know about D.C.’s, which surprised us, included the mounting research.

1.   Their education is equal to their medical colleagues … and might be better in some areas. [1]

This might be difficult to accept, but chiropractic students spend markedly more hours in the classroom than medical students, especially in the areas of anatomy, physiology, orthopedics, and x-ray. [2] Of course, their training is different since “Chiros” concentrate on muscles, bones, joints, and nerves. Their education only touches on medication, emergency situations, etc. Many are beginning to think this gives them a better background in physical rehab.

A study of the curriculum of North American chiropractic and medical colleges found “Considerable commonality exists between chiropractic and medical programs. Regarding the basic sciences, these programs are more similar than dissimilar.” [2]

Even more interesting was a test given to both chiropractic and medical students. Chiropractic students scored higher than medical students did on the musculoskeletal (bones, joints, and muscles) portion of the exam, while the medical students faired slightly better in other areas. [1]

In another study, chiropractors and chiropractic students tested “significantly higher” in reading X-Rays when compared with their medical colleagues in a study at the University of California Medical Center. [3]

2.   They do more than crunch backs and necks

While chiros are known for treating back and neck problems with joint manipulation, most are well versed and board certified to perform physical therapies. They are also licensed to function as primary care physicians. [4] Based on their education many use nutrition as a form of treatment.

3.   It’s safe

Even though ghost stories of adjustments gone wrong are common, the actual risk of injury from chiropractic treatment is rare. [5] Generally, the malpractice insurance that doctors have to pay is based, among other things, on their field. Chiropractors as a group pay the less for malpractice insurance than any other type of physician. Why? Lawsuits claiming injuries or negligence are less common against chiropractors.

In the past there was concern that there was an increased risk of stroke could upper neck manipulation treatments. However a 7-year study organized by The United Nations and the World Health Organization just found that there is no association with chiropractic treatment and stroke. [6]

4.   They took the AMA to court … and won … twice

For decades chiropractors were campaigned by the AMA (American Medical Association) as not being “real doctors” and met fierce resistance from medical organizations. Chiropractors claimed the AMA was trying to snuff out the competition with fear tactics and bogus research. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed with them in 1987… and again in 1990. It was found that the AMA was guilty of illegal antitrust activities against the chiropractic profession, ordered an injunction on their activity, and forcing them to print the courts findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

5.   M.D.’s and D.C.’s are now working together

It’s becoming more common to find integrated offices, where M.D.’s, D.O.’s, and D.C.’s are working side-by-side. Many medical offices now try to provide multi-specialty approaches to treatment. With natural forms of treatment becoming more popular, drugless forms of treatment have become preferred by many over pain-medication.

One survey of 266 medical students at Georgetown University revealed more than 75% felt that alternative medicine techniques should be included in their curriculum. [7] Chiropractic, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutritional supplements were the most desired areas of interest. PH&W

The views expressed in this editorial are soley those of PH&W Magazine and do not reflect the opinion of any contributing parties or advertisers.

References:

1.   Assessment of knowledge of primary care activities in a sample of medical and chiropractic students
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2005 (Jun); 28 (5): 336-44
http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/ABSTRACTS/Assessment_of_Knowledge_of_Primary_Care_Activities.shtml

2.   A Comparative Study of Chiropractic and Medical Education
Altern Ther Health Med. 1998 (Sep); 4 (5): 64 75
http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/ABSTRACTS/Comparison.shtml

3.   Interpretation of abnormal lumbosacral spine radiographs. A test comparing students, clinicians, radiology residents, and radiologists in medicine and chiropractic
Spine. 1995 May 15;20(10):1147-53; discussion 1154
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7638657

4.   Chiropractic: a profession at the crossroads of mainstream and alternative medicine
Ann Intern Med 136 (3): 216–27
http://www.chiro.org/ChiroZine/ABSTRACTS/Chiropractic_Profession_at_Crossroads.shtml

5.   Safety of chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine: a prospective national survey
Spine. 2007 Oct 1;32(21):2375-8; discussion 2379
http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/ABSTRACTS/Safety_of_Chiropractic_Manipulation.shtml

6.   Bone and Joint Decade Task Force
Press Release: “Seven-Year Neck Pain Study Sheds Light on Best Care.”
February 2008
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2008/15/c2658.html

7.   A large-sample survey of first- and second-year medical student attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine in the curriculum and in practice
Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
Altern Ther Health Med. 2007 Jan-Feb;13(1):30-5
http://www.chiro.org/alt_med_abstracts/ABSTRACTS/A_Large_sample_Survey.shtml

8.   Adequacy of Medical School Education in Musculoskeletal Medicine
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 1998 (Oct); 80-A (10): 1421–1427
http://www.chiro.org/ChiroZine/ABSTRACTS/Adequacy.shtml

9.   Educational Deficiencies in Musculoskeletal Medicine
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 2002 (Apr); 84–A (4): 604–608
http://www.chiro.org/ChiroZine/ABSTRACTS/Educational_Deficiencies.shtml

10.   A Comparison of Chiropractic Student Knowledge Versus Medical Residents
Proceedings of the World Federation of Chiropractic Congress 2001 Pgs. 255
http://www.chiro.org/ChiroZine/ABSTRACTS/A_Comparison_of_Chiropractic_Student_Knowledge.shtml

from Mothering Magazine Online
By Theresa Rose
Issue 107, July/August 2001

Everyone agrees that reading to children is very beneficial. Rarely will you meet parents who do not read to their offspring; composing stories for our children, on the other hand, is usually left to the experts. Few of us are so brash as to attempt to actually write a story. But children don’t expect us to be Shel Silverstein or Dr. Seuss. Although my children like to hear “professionally written” stories, when given the choice, they will opt to hear one of my “homemade” tales.

For instance, take my story about a dishrag. My son Matthew and I were in the kitchen when he asked for a story, and the dishrag was the first object that caught my eye. One day, I told him, this dishrag became bored with his mundane life in the kitchen and ventured outside into the wintry Great Unknown. To his dismay, he found that a wet and soppy dishrag would freeze in such frigid temperatures and was thankful for his warm dry home when he got back.

For days after I came up with that fable, my son pleaded, “Tell me the story again about the dishrag.” That story quickly became a serial, with the dishrag having different adventures every day. Even I was amazed by the stories I created. All I did was follow a simple formula I read about in a book called Tell Me a Story, by Chase Collins: find a hero/heroine, make up a situation/conflict, and find a resolution/ending (optional).

Conversely, don’t be insulted if your child falls asleep in the midst of one of your most creative moments. Matthew made his way onto the astral plane one night just as Bobby’s spaceship was on its way to the moon in what I thought was a very exciting story.

Fortunately, you can always rerun your story the next night; chances are, your child will probably ask you to do so. Don’t be surprised to find yourself rerunning some stories long after you thought they’d be forgotten. What may have been a dull story to you could end up being a favorite of your child’s.

I made up one such story about a mouse who lived in Times Square and partied with his friends one New Year’s Eve while they waited for the ball to drop at midnight. My daughter Maia, four years old at the time, especially marveled at all the food the human merrymakers dropped on the streets that fed the mice. She helped me compose the story by coming up with more and more crazy and exotic foods the mice found.

Ali, who was two at the time, loved the story about the little girl who lived in a teeny, weeny house and played with itty, bitty toys. Each of the children, in turn, came up with other objects the girl had and more ways to describe them: “little,” “small,” “tiny,” “minuscule,” and so on. These kinds of stories stretch the imagination and strengthen the vocabulary as well. More often than not, my children will come up with a plot twist that I would never have conceived.

One night Maia asked me to tell a story about a mouse. A few sentences into the story, she informed me that the name of the mouse should be Mickey. Of course I went into a description of Disneyland, and when I was describing the “It’s a Small World” ride, I broke out into song and sang all the verses I could remember. Singing was healing for me and left me with a feeling of well-being before I went to sleep. My children were slumbering at the end of the song, and I felt good knowing they ended their day in a tranquil way (in sharp contrast to how the rest of the day went!). Simple, even monotonous tales have a place in our lives, too. Plots can be rudimentary or nonexistent, and even parents who think they have little imagination should try making up stories for their children.

Bedtime Stories
Bedtime stories are a good place to start. Just the sound of mother’s or father’s voice is music to your children’s ears. I’ve lulled my children to sleep many times with “dull” stories. The most successful one to date is the one about the Sandman who traveled the world over helping people get to sleep. There was not much of a plot to that one-it was just a long list of places that he visited, like Singapore, Australia, Columbia, Madrid, Istanbul, Belgium, Siberia, and Timbuktu, and a little bit of information about each place (if I knew any). By the time he had gone around the globe, the children, too, were “gone.”

Educational, yet sleep inducing.
Another smashing success was the story about Timmy, who loved to play with balls-red balls, blue ones, green ones, striped ones, and polka-dot balls, to name a few. There were wooden balls, rubber balls, bowling balls, and glowing balls in his collection, too. After I had exhausted all the ball possibilities I could think of, I brought Timmy’s friend Bobby into the story. He collected blocks-alphabet blocks, metal blocks, shiny painted wooden blocks; you get the picture. And Timmy and Bobby would get together and build forts and pyramids with their blocks and balls. This story can be either monotonous or stimulating, depending on the time of day I tell it, how much my children are interested in participating in the telling, and the tone of voice I use. Of course you run the risk of overstimulating your children by telling bedtime stories. The mouse at Times Square was a nighttime story that ran a bit too much on the exciting side. Maia grew more awake as she helped me come up with the list of foods that I hoped would lull her to sleep.

Late one night when Maia asked for a story about an elephant, I composed a simple, short one about an elephant who was tired and couldn’t find a bed he could fit into. I began the story slowly and in a very soft, sing-songy, sleepy voice: “The elephant first tried to sleep in a crib just like your baby cousin John has-and then it went crash.” (I said the word crash in a whisper.) “Then he tried a bunk bed just like you and Ali have, and it went down with a big bang. He tried a water bed just like Aunt Julie and Uncle Tony have, and the water sploooooshed and splaaaaashed under him. He was so tired that all he wanted to do was snuggle under the covers [just as we were doing] and go to sleep. He finally went into a store and bought ten sturdy double beds that he lay next to each other. The elephant just nestled down in those warm, comfy beds and was so happy and sleepy that he went right to sleep and had happy dreams.” By the time I finished the story, Maia was snoring quietly next to me.

As well as a sleep-inducing story, the sleepy elephant is what I call a “here and now” story. These stories have a quality that can help children learn about and accept what is going on in their lives. They can be obvious representations of your life or your children’s lives or similar in nature. Whether it’s a trip to the family doctor or a mouse celebrating New Year’s Eve, you can tailor a story to match events that are occurring or upcoming in your family’s lives.

The “moral story” is an important part of American and English literature. Most times you do not have to look past your own life or the lives of your acquaintances to find such stories. I told one about a friend whose son woke up feeling cold one winter morning. He took his mother’s lighter and attempted to start a fire, just as he had observed his father doing several nights before in the family fireplace. My children listened in amazement and horror. Of course I gave the story a happy ending, with everyone being fine and the boy learning a valuable lesson.

Family Stories
The most engaging stories that you can tell your children are about yourself, your family, or people you know. Stories about yourself as a young child are usually very interesting to your children. Blending true stories with moral stories is a natural progression and acts as a buffer when, for instance, your child goofs and you tell him about a time when you were young and in a similar situation, with feelings identical to his.

Sometimes just a fleeting thought or memory about yourself as a child can turn into a nice little story. My children love to hear about my first bike. It was blue and had training wheels; we have photographs of me riding it down at the shore. I describe how I felt receiving it and mastering a two-wheeler. Grandmom and Grandpop can also add their recollections of the bike.

What could be more interesting to your children than a story of you as a child? Why, stories about themselves as babies, of course! I keep a small, hardbound journal about each of my children, in which I periodically jot down the funny things they’ve said or done. It serves to jog my memory and will certainly become a keepsake for my children. Matthew likes to hear about the time when he was three and running around naked. I asked him, “Matthew, why are you naked?” and he answered, “Because I have no clothes on.” It’s a simple story, but the children always ask questions about specific details about the day, and it makes for a five-minute quick tale in the car.

I wrote down the following story for posterity. I’m sure that as adults we will all get more than a laugh or two when I tell about the time Matthew announced to me that he was a boy and his baby sister was a girl. When I asked him how he knew, he looked pensive and did not respond. I tried prompting him and said, “What do you have that Maia doesn’t have that makes you a boy and her a girl?” Matthew’s eyes brightened as he exclaimed, “I have teeth!”

With my three children, I’ve found that storytelling has become an all-day affair that can take place in cars, on couches, and under comforters. With my arms free to hold babies instead of books, we’ve become closer as a family. Lying on my back with Matthew tucked within my right arm, Maia snuggled in my left, and Ali lying on top of me, we’re all set to listen to a tale about the very first thing that pops into my mind even if it is as common as a dishrag!

Storytelling Tips
In Telling Your Own Stories, Donald Davis reminds us to use all five senses when telling stories. “Try to take the listeners into a scene through smell, taste and touch,” Davis says. He suggests taking your audience into your grandmother’s kitchen on Thanksgiving Day through the smells, tastes, and sounds you would meet as you entered there.

Here are some other tips that will help you get started in telling stories:

Stop believing you can’t do it.

Observe your child’s reaction to your stories.

Let the stories come from your heart. Don’t try to force them or overthink them; just let them flow.

Let your child help create the story if he or she wants to. (But beware: an overzealous child might not let you get a word in if you encourage too much input.)

Use everyday people or objects in the story. Looking around the room for material is helpful.

Use hand puppets as narrators of stories.

For young babies, plot is unimportant. Place your baby on your chest and yarn away!

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Champlin, Connie, and Nancy Renfro. Storytelling with Puppets. American Library Association, 1985. Collins, Chase. Tell Me a Story. Houghton Mifflin, 1992. Davis, Donald. Telling Your Own Stories. August House Publishers, 1993. Shelly, Marshall. Telling Stories to Children. Lion Publishing, 1990

Theresa Rose is the mother of Matthew (10), Maia (8), and Alexandria (7). Her work has been published in The New York Times, The Compleat Mother, Two Attune Newsletter, Vegetarian Times, and Vegetarian Journal.

But as a chiropractic intern, I’m out of classes, but not out of clinic.

In fact, I get to cover for other interns’ wonderful patients.  I love getting to work with all of these people, all these new patients.  I get to provide care for them and I get to provide care for all my fellow interns that I’m covering for, letting them go home and see their family or go on vacation, whatever it is that takes you to your happy place.

I like to sleep.  I like Maui.  I’d like to be sleeping in Maui. Oh Lordie, that would be amazing.  I can close my eyes and almost feel the heat- laying out by the pool.  And it kinda seems like a waste to be in Maui and spend my time sleeping (depending on who you’re asking)…so I’m gonna stay right here and sleep. And work in the clinic.

I didn’t always like to spend my vacations sleeping, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to weigh my options–

So, I know it’s not just me, everyone around me goes through it–I see it.  Post-stressout wipeout.  I know it’s not an official diagnosis, it’s probably more likely an adrenal fatigue.  As soon as I get the opportunity to go on vacation, which also means that I’ve just taken final exams of some sort, I crash.  I face-plant.  So I’ve tried to take vacations, it wasn’t really a problem when I was younger and not actually stressed out, but I just stress out until I get home.

So, I bought myself a puzzle.  It has 750 pieces.  It’s a jigsaw puzzle of Times Square, New York—a place I hope to eventually spend a lot of time.  I started it last night, I think I’m like—I dunno, one third of the way done.  I love it.  I haven’t done a puzzle since like forever, it’s been such a stress reliever.  I get to do it by myself and it makes me think.  It’s kinda like reading a book, but translated into I dunno—that’s probably not the best metaphor anyways.

I wish I had a fancy camera like this one

Instead I have one that I’m truly surprised still works, I stepped on it a couple years ago and broke out the glass lens cover.  The lens has been exposed ever since, but it was only a $200 camera 10 years ago.  T’was free to me.  Now I see all these beautiful blogs and I could take beautiful pictures of the world and beautiful life around me…if I had the camera.

Instead…here’s my puzzle.

…I guess I’m sewing curtains tomorrow…

]]> http://gettothecore.com/2010/06/11/post-stress-wipeout/feed/ 0 37.668821 -122.080796 37.668821 -122.080796 elementsofair Canon EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR Camera with Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS lens PICT1931 PICT1933 http://gettothecore.com/2010/06/07/hey-jude-flow-chart/ http://gettothecore.com/2010/06/07/hey-jude-flow-chart/#comments Mon, 07 Jun 2010 23:05:05 +0000 Dr. Elsbeth Schey, D.C. http://gettothecore.com/?p=183 ]]>

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At age six, my son Noah was having recurrent nightmares. As a toddler he had witnessed several violent incidents that continued to haunt him in his dreams. We tried everything. I helped him keep a journal called GO AWAY NIGHTMARES! His grandparents bought him a dreamcatcher which we hung in his room. He met regularly with a play therapist. All of these things helped, but Noah still dreaded going to sleep at night.

My friend Rosita and I were writing a book on Maya healing practices, and had become enchanted with the Maya penchant for spiritual bathing. One day, when Noah seemed particularly burdened, we had an idea. Why not give Noah a spiritual bath? We had tried them ourselves and found them deeply healing. The Maya regularly give them to children, even infants.

The Maya believe that nightmares and night terrors are common symptoms of children who have experienced shock or grief, which they consider spiritual illnesses. They say that children, because of their tender years and lack of emotional barriers, are especially vulnerable to these illnesses which along with fear, envy, and depression can cause the loss of chuílel – the Mayan word for soul force or life energy. Maya shamans believe that a gentle sacred bath refreshes the electro-magnetic energy field surrounding our bodies, restoring the harmony of body, mind, emotion, and spirit.

So late that afternoon, when the light was beginning to turn to lovely slanting gold, Rosita and I took Noah out on a ritual plant-gathering foray into our urban neighborhood. Baskets in hand, we wandered along sidewalks and alleys searching for healing plants that could be used for spiritual bathing.

City or not, there were plenty of plants to choose from – some arching up to the sun from between cracks in sidewalks. When we came upon a plant, we carefully plucked it, saying the Maya prayer to thank the plant and asking the plant spirit to help heal the heart and soul of Noah. We all enjoyed thanking the plants, especially Noah.

After an hour or so of leisurely sauntering in the warm sun, our baskets were laden with nine different types of flowers and leaves — among them hollyhock, marigold, basil, roses, and rosemary. We walked back to our backyard where we said more prayers as we broke apart and crushed the leaves and petals into a washtub in the bright sunlight. Noah helped too.

We then filled a bathtub with water, and let the infusion of aromatic plants loose. They floated over the surface of the water, creating an intricate, colorful pattern that was so gorgeous we couldn’t help but stare. Rose petals danced in swirling spirals with hollyhock, rosemary and marigold delighted us with their heady and mysterious perfumes. Each of us uttered “oohs, mms, and ahhhs,” as we prepared the water. Finally, the bath was ready.

At first, Noah was unsure about climbing in. “The water looks dirty, Mommy” he said, staring at the flowers and leaves floating atop a now slightly greenish surface. But once in, he immediately became absorbed in propelling the leaves and petals in spiral patterns around the tub. The hollyhocks felt cool and soft, and he rubbed them against the skin of his knees. As he played, we said more prayers and burned copal incense. Suddenly, our Italian-tiled bathroom in Washington DC was filled with the exotic bouquet of copal incense and the whispered chanting of prayers, reminiscent of ancient ceremonies carried out under the auspices of high priests and priestesses.
By then, Noah didn’t want to get out of the tub. He was entranced in a new game, shaping plants into patterns on the surface of the water. He picked them up in his hands and sniffed deeply of their fragrances, hardly noticing us at all in spite of the smoke and the ritual prayers. It was a mesmerizing and lovely moment.

When Noah finally did emerge from the tub, the difference was amazing. He had lost that feeling of heaviness that he often carried around with him. I had not seen such a deep transformation and unloading as I did that afternoon after the spiritual bath.

He seemed lighter, happier and more carefree, as if his troubles had been washed away down the drain I remember having that mental image come to mind as I pulled the plug. Noah laughed and danced his way down the sidewalk when we walked to a nearby restaurant for dinner shortly afterward.

Noah didn’t have a nightmare that night or any night in the next few weeks, and it became easier to help him make the transition to sleep. For long lasting effects, the baths need to be repeated every few weeks: It was comforting for us to know we could always make him another spiritual bath.

Nadine Epstein is a writer, author, artist and founder of the Center for Creative Change in Washington DC. Her most recent book is Spiritual Bathing: Healing Rituals and Traditions from Around the World, Celestial Arts/Ten Speed Press, 2003