Review of The Dark Side of Consciousness by Larry Dossey: an ND student's POV

The Dark Side of Consciousness by Larry Dossey has left me with more questions than insight. This article is about the potential for our thoughts to promote healing and destruction both locally and distally on all living things. From the beginning, Dossey seems baffled by this notion. This seemed strange to me. I’m most familiar with the idea that your intentions can stumble others or help others, with a wide range of actions in between.

Dossey's account of the ‘venomous’ letters he received from so many "religious" types about his dual view of prayer is not a negative reflection on prayer it is a negative reflection on the 5% of the population that chooses to utilize intentions to harm others. Dossey sites that most prayer is positive. It's silly not to think that everything in the world can be manipulated by man to have a "malevolent side", even love and the embodiment of God. God allows pain to exist in the world, but He is not the originator of this evil. I don't believe Dossey is that naive. Instead, I think he presents a view of religious fanatics to get the reader in his corner.

To make this phenomenon most beneficial and useful we need to find out how one can shield themselves from other's harmful thoughts, therefore putting control back in their hands. Dossey site's studies that say that those who pray positively for others don't only help heal the others but they experience positive outcomes as well. This resonates with me. I was hoping that Dossey would address the reverse circumstance, if those that wish ill on others experience negative feedback or not. It was disappointing to have no mention of Karma.

This article also got me to wondering if it was more effective and beneficial for the prayer to, for example, pray for the healing of a friend with cancer, or to pray for the destruction of the cancer cells? The idea of cosmic consciousness entered my mind and seems well related. If we are all connected through our collective consciousness, and our mind effects our physiology, wouldn't it make sense that the thoughts of others could effect our individual and collective health? I was saddened by the article's overwhelming presentation of how this awesome power over our health is in the hands of others. There is mention of how people can harm people with thoughts but no mention of how people can protect themselves from these thoughts. For example, in the story of the patient with cancer who was given a shot of Krebiozen and thus showed improvement only to regress later when he heard reports of the drug’s ineffectiveness. This man goes on to die, how could he have been more in charge and hold on to his health? Is this phenomenon new? Dossey says that we are now living in a time of great turmoil, but our histories are filled with horrific accounts, and of accounts of survivors coming through with resilient spirit. What is the difference today?

As naturopaths we want to first do no harm, therefore we don't only want to keep our minds free of negative thoughts that might stumble our patients, but we also want to be able to make our patients aware of the power they hold to hinder others. Perhaps their negative energy can backfire and keep them in an unhealthy state. If the occasion arrises we want to be able to discuss this matter with them.