Last time, I talked about how neutrality can be a difficult space for a healer to maintain when faced with the challenges, problems, pain and suffering of those who come to them for healing.

However, it has been my experience that staying neutral is essential in the practice of healing, both for the person receiving the treatment and also for the healer.

Why is neutrality so important?

Let’s first look at what neutrality means. Interestingly enough one dictionary definition I found was “disinterest”. But I don’t agree that neutrality equates to disinterest. However, this is sometimes how a healer can be lured away from a neutral space, because they want to show that they are interested.

As I see it, neutrality equates to balance, tolerance (another dictionary definition), middle ground. Neutrality allows you to view the whole picture without being pulled to one side or the other. It equals non-engagement.

This is important in healing because if we “engage”, or react to the problems, pain and challenges our healing clients are presenting, we lose our perspective, our separation and thus our ability to see the whole picture. We are also adding to the energy of the problem, making it more real and perhaps even bigger.

Say, for example, someone falls into a deep pit from which there is no apparent way out. You may be affected by their cries for help and tempted to jump in there with them to comfort them and make them feel better, help them with their fear and/or injuries, etc. This is an emotional response to someone in pain. However, then there are two of you in the pit with no apparent way out!

Instead, if you remain on the side of the pit and stay calm and separate, you have a better chance of finding a way to assist them out of there – perhaps by finding or making a rope with which you can pull them up.

Going back to the definition of neutrality as disinterest, this is the energy that is often put in a healer’s space who does not engage, sympathize, get down in that pit with them – staying separate must mean that the healer does not care.

On the contrary, a healer who remains neutral is far better able to create a healing space for someone seeking their assistance. By keeping their separation and distance from the problem, they can more clearly see and assess the situation and show their client possible solutions.

Another good reason to remain neutral is so that you don’t become the effect of the problems, pain or challenges your clients are experiencing. It is only by not taking on their pain that you can continue to be an effective healer.

If you do absorb and take on the energy they are struggling with, they may well feel better, but pretty soon you will no longer be able to function – you will have nothing left to give.

A healer has a responsibility to take care of themself first, so that they are capable of caring for someone else. If you have ever traveled by air and listened to the safety demonstration prior to take off, you will be familiar with the instructions concerning the use of oxygen masks in an emergency situation – parents traveling with children must first put their mask on and then assist their child or children.

So in my mind it is a healer’s responsibility both to themself and to their clients to remain neutral and not respond or react emotionally.

This is in no way indifference or disinterest – it is simply good sense!

Photos courtesy of stock.xchng.