Potential for Intercultural Conflict 19
Intent is a concept that is important in holistic healing communities (Schreiber,
2002), as it is thought to guide, focus and enhance the practitioner’s decisions and
actions, and clients report that they can feel the practitioner’s intent. When asked how
she could tell what the massage therapist’s or energy worker’s intent was when she was
face down on the table, one client reported;
And I’ve been to people who I never went back to, who you could feel
while they were touching you that they’re thinking about their boyfriend,
who broke up with them last night. [L: How can you tell the difference?]
You can tellllll. You can tell. I mean, just because you can’t see it you
know, it’s very real the energy that is transferred through somebody’s
hands (p. 165).
Additional evidence suggests that intent does in fact improve health outcomes. In two
randomized controlled trials, healers were given instructions to direct an intention of
health and well being to subjects with AIDS in an experimental group over the course of
ten weeks. At the end of the study the treatment group had fewer doctor visits, fewer
hospital stays, less severe illnesses, and less emotional stress than the control group
(Sicher, Targ, Moore & Smith, 1998).
Take Ownership of Your Emotions
Managing your emotions is an inside job.
~ Doc Childre
Conflicts arise due to disagreements, misunderstandings, or when we feel
personally attacked. Regardless of whether we avoid the conflict or face it head on,
conflict often results in negative emotions such as anger, fear, frustration, resentment and
Convention