It was early in my MT training program that I took a brief test to see what my learning style was (one would hope it would be auditory since I am a therapist and listen to people for large blocks of time...). But ALAS!!! Was not the case. My primary modality for learning and processing information is Visual, then Kinesthetic, then Auditory. Oh boy. That explains a few things.....Like why grad school, which is mostly lecture, was such a challenge--why I dislike listening to teaching CDs/podcasts, and why I will find myself reading books anytime I sit down for more than 15minutes at a time--among other things.
But the thought that caught my attention this morning (and was related to a conversation I had with a classmate last night--thanks Veronica!) was regarding how personal healing/growth might occur within the various modalities--how a person might be open to receive healing and be a channel of healing for others given their own preferred modality. It would be my guess that we can give and receive through each of the modalities--but we may have a "preferred modality."
For example: perhaps an individual who is more auditory, would find healing occurring as they listen to teachings, repeat prayers, or speak out loud positive affirmations. Likewise, others might receive healing from them when these individuals speak/are heard or focus their intention in a phrase in their mind. Maybe people who process kinestheticly may find their actions to be prayer--finding that their "doing for others" is a channel of healing. Similarly, if my own preferred method of processing is primarily visual....then most likely I would most easily receive healing, and be a channel of healing to others through......Visualization!!! (some may prefer the term imagination).
For some reason, up until now, I have experienced a general fear of visualization--especially in the area of faith (which is also where my understanding of healing comes from). This would be rather ironic, and put great constraints on me given that visualizing is my natural way of processing the world. So. Where does this leave me and bodywork? Not quite sure, except that I have some exploring to do. :)
