Cancer

a diagnostic coin toss

~ kimberly mascaro ~ Leave a comment

Consciousness-related phenomena (what the Conscious Chimera blog is all about) and cancer may not seem to blend together so well, at least at first glance. But maybe, just maybe, I will convince you otherwise. Cancer is coming up for me at this time because it is October – that dreaded month – reminding me of the biopsy followed by diagnosis.

“Yeah, I’m so sorry, the biopsy report shows that the tissue is cancerous.” 

Or something like that. 

Yeah, the exact words have faded although at the time I believed I would never forget them.

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Something else happened that week too. I determined I would work with the cancer, understand it and it’s lessons for me. I would not engage in a battle, nor would I fight it. After all, my own body grew this. 

I believe bodies can not only allow cancer to blossom, but also wither. Consciousness plays a part in the shrinkage and the growth.

October has also been named Breast Cancer Awareness Month, yet many people actually prefer Breast Health Awareness Month. After all, we don’t necessarily need to be reminded of cancer. How could we forget it? It’s everywhere, in about 50% of the population…and growing. Could our chances of getting a cancer diagnosis be no better or worse than a coin toss? I can’t tell you how many people I know who are managing this condition! A focus on health – how to stay healthy or return to optimal health – is more appropriate.

So given the month and my personal experience, I’ll share how cancer and consciousness are in good company. Over these past three years since the diagnosis (I’ll never say ‘my’ diagnosis), I’ve spent countless hours with doctors (MDs, DOs, NDs, DTCM, PhDs, and functional and integrative ones) who have taught me a great deal about cellular behavior, consciousness, and even the biofield. 

If the term biofield is new for you, think of it as interacting fields of energy and information that surround living systems and deliver information to and throughout an organism, such as the human body. Long story short, I knew that cells were conscious from the work of Bruce Lipton, PhD and many others, yet finally, I knew my next life phase would be about much more than education or a theoretical comprehension. 

This phase is about transformation, and building an interactive relationship with all parts of my-self. 

With decades of practice in cancer treatment under his belt, Antonio Jimenez, MD, ND, has talked about how a bad thought is more deadly than a bad germ. After all, our cells are always listening…and they respond. Cells behave in accordance with one’s thoughts and feelings. Or as Bruce Lipton, PhD has noted, one’s beliefs have a profound impact on that person’s biology. 

In short, everything is conscious. We shape frequency, vibration. Consciousness is behind everything: Everything we think, feel, sense and do. 

Consider the research conducted on seeds, sand, water, and plants. It is profound. I’d even say magical. But it really is science.

This is not to say that anyone has consciously programmed their cells to make them turn cancerous. It is to say that we exist in a conscious multi-verse where we are participants in creative forces at play, whether we have awareness of it or not. We are not passive recipients or victims…at least we don’t have to be. 

As conscious creators, we are extremely powerful. Within us lies the ability to shape matter. How? With our thoughts and beliefs, our feelings and emotions, our actions and words, our energetic flow (or lack of it). Furthermore, by altering our states of consciousness (most commonly done through sound or the breath) it is easier to do so. A lot of things become easier when mental chatter (aka monkey mind) simmer down and we joyfully open to influence frequency. By focusing in, consciously directing energy to the target (energy follows attention), trust there will be results.  

Cancer Awareness just brings attention to cancer, but a month of Awareness on Health, especially Breast Health, supports women everywhere in fostering a healthy lifestyle. This can impact the entire body, supporting all levels of functioning.

Health-focused conscious lifestyles can co-exist with all forms of medicine and healing. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, allow a team of professionals to support you and simultaneously consider bringing in body workers and energy healers. Even if you are well-versed and practiced in work involving nonordinary states of consciousness, it can feel very supportive to invite others onto your team. I did, and I’m grateful for every person that provided assistance. At the same time, I ramped up my own inner work and found solid, grounded, experienced teachers to guide me further along in my wellness journey. 

It’s been three years now, and while I’ll always remember that numbing phone conversation, I feel empowered to use all of my abilities to continue to heal. If this essay encourages you do take the lead in your own health and healing journey, then my work is done for now. 

May you be blessed with good health,

Dr. Kim

got insomnia? turn down mind-body-spirit noise!

~ kimberly mascaro ~ Leave a comment

Is insomnia in your self-descriptive vocabulary? I hear this regularly among patients in my clinical practice. Maybe you experience insomnia or sleep next to someone who does. Sleep is natural, but why do so many people struggle with it? Insomnia seems to have become the new normal. Would you agree?

No one is alone here. Sleep disorders are a major concern for millions of people, including young children. Loss of restorative delta sleep (~ 0.1 – 4 hertz)  – that’s the deepest level of sleep –  and loss of REM sleep are both related to a slew health issues, both physical and mental. In Dr. Matthew Walker’s (2017) Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of  Sleep and Dreams, he writes, “No facet of the human body is spared the crippling, noxious harm of sleep loss” (p. 133). Sleep loss negatively affects all major systems of the body, including the immune and sympathetic nervous system. Research also shows how cancers are linked with getting 6 hours or less of sleep each night and over-exposure to light at night. There is good reason for making some changes!

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But what is sleep? Sleep is holistic, intimately tied to many areas of life. This includes our relationship with the deepest part of our-self, our inner world.

The underlying organizational and foundational structure of sleep is natural  cycles or rhythms (think circadian, ultradian, etc.), body temperature, and a sense of inner peace, according to sleep specialist and clinical assistant professor, Dr. Rubin Naiman of University of Arizona.

Challenges to getting good sleep are much, much more than a biophysical issue. Most people these days are aware of the psychological consequences of sleep loss, such as increased thought distortions, and mood disturbances, as well as loss of attention, concentration, and memory. In children, sleep deprivation leads to what adults describe as ‘behavioral problems.’ It’s really the same with adults. But beyond this, how many are aware of the social and instinctual aspects of sleep?

For those with insomnia, we might consider what we have imposed upon ourselves. One question to ask ourself is “What do I consume?” Beyond consuming food (with lower nutritional value today than decades ago), we also (over)consume various forms of stimulation such as light (electricity, screen time), information (24 hour news), fluids, and energy (aka heat/arousal). Then there’s additional stressors – the good old fashioned kind – such as the quality of our relationships. Chronic inflammation, which underlies all major diseases, and hyperarousal (do you run hot?), which is behind insomnia, are associated with consuming excessive energy/stimulation (aka noise).

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The good news is that we can reset ourselves, just like a pendulum clock. Exposure to nature light early in the morning is the best way, according to some sleep specialists. Greet the sun each morning  – use the moment to connect with Source through meditation or prayer.

Last year I wrote an article which included 10 sleep hygiene tips – Find it here: https://dreamstudies.org/dreammedicine/

And here are a few additional suggestions. In the PM hours, get into a solid ‘sleep hygiene’ routine. Furthermore, use substitutions, such as swapping out coffee (or alcohol) for teas, elixirs, or mocktails. We can also add a 30 minute yoga nidra session into our day or evening. Yoga nidra is a guided sleep-based meditation that “helps restore autonomic nervous system balance,” according to yoga expert, Dr. Kamani Desai. Yoga nidra turns down the heat. This is one antidote for sleep loss (and the tension that builds with ongoing insomnia) since it is designed to gently guide practitioners into deep sleep. It’s so relaxing! If you’d like to join me for yoga nidra, email me. For almost three years now, I have facilitated free yoga nidra sessions. At this time, I invite you to my free, virtual yoga nidra offerings on Wednesdays (6pm Pacific Time) – since it’s online, you can enjoy the relaxation from the comfort of your home. If you prefer pre-recorded sessions, two links to audio recordings can be found near the middle of this page: https://consciouschimera.com/professionalservices/

Since insomnia is much more than a biomedical condition, if you’ve made positive bio-psycho-social-enviromental changes (you’ve turned down the noise) yet still struggle to sleep, you may consider melatonin therapy or pharmaceutical medication. If so, consult with a functional medicine doctor (FMD) or naturopathic doctor (ND) for proper melatonin usage (especially to learn about its anticancer properties) or with a psychiatrist for pharmaceuticals. Like physicians, psychiatrists have earned a M.D., however the vast majority of primary care physicians do not have the training in sleep and psychopharmacology. So, a psychiatrist is recommended. NDs and FMDs are extremely helpful as well. Remember that integrative care is highly supportive, so if you choose to use medication for sleep, you might want to continue with a sleep hygiene routine, and know you are always welcome to join my free online yoga nidra group. If you want to use psychotherapy to treat insomnia, there is also CBT-I, that is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia – the gold standard, with no side effects. I use CBT in my private practice when appropriate as do most therapists. Feel welcome to contact me for support here, especially if nightmares are involved – just click on the Therapy tab on my website, ConsciousChimera.com

Wishing you deep rest,

Dr. Kim

to enter the state of heaven

~ kimberly mascaro ~ Leave a comment

I hadn’t planned to write about near death experiences today, even though the last time I wrote on the topic was early 2018. Yet, a new friend living in Chicago highly suggested I read Dying to be Me by Anita Moorjani. Dying to be Me is Anita’s incredible, jaw-dropping account of her experience with end-stage cancer, the near death experience (NDE) she recalled as physicians told her family ‘this was it’ and, finally, her miraculous healing (which unfolded much quicker than any doctor could predict). If you are unfamiliar with the NDE, refer to my page https://consciouschimera.com/2018/02/07/the-near-death-experience/ which will quickly explain and describe the phenomenon. If you don’t know, believe me, you’ll want to.

Now people suggest books to me all the time, especially those aware of my current healing journey. I must admit that I do not always have the interest or the motivation to read or purchase those books. However, in this case, I felt compelled to do so. Once I had it in my hand, Moorjani’s Dying to be Me was difficult to put down – I read it cover-to-cover in just one week (that’s unusual for me). The messages Moorjani received during her NDE were so deeply profound, I decided to write this article to simply share what I found to be the most important elements, at least for my life. And instead of making a list or using bullet points, I will weave together her ideas, but in my own words, in the three paragraphs below.

Heaven is a state, not a place. What many refer to as “God” or “the Divine” is not really a distinct, separate force, entity, or personification, but rather a state of being. Everyone can enter or experience this state, which transcends duality. Religions are a pathway to know truth, in order to discover or experience that state of being. Each one can get us there. There is no superior religion. Our true home is not a location, but rather, a way of being.

The notion of ‘past’ lives may be misleading, since everything (past, present, future) appears to unfold or occur simultaneously. Sequenced, linear time is just experienced as we exist in these bodies, with these minds. When we ‘cross the threshold’ at death (aka returning to the Whole), we enter all-at-once-time. In that space we come to understand that everyone and everything is connected and alive – there is no death. Everything we perceive is conscious to varying degrees – even the sea, even your houseplant, even that mountain in the distance. So when we so-called ‘die,’ we all return to the same place ~ pure consciousness.

We are more powerful than we ever realized. Unexpressed power and energy may turn inward leading to the development of undesirable outcomes. So, instead, we can directly, intentionally express our magnificent power and energy outward for miraculous outcomes. After all, we are all pure consciousness at our core. Ask yourself: “How do I feel in this very moment, right now?” Your answer determines how you conduct your life here. Since every moment is the present moment, be yourself, live your truth. Create your reality right now.

There you have it, what I have found to be the most valuable insights from Anita Morrjani’s book, Dying to be Me. I have never met Moorjani, but would absolutely love to. Since we have not, I will express deep thanks for what she has shared through her writing, here in my writing. Her unforgettable experience holds the power to radically shift humanity, if we allow it.

Even with the level of detail Moorjani shares of her experience, it can be challenging to truly grasp it. Since our physical senses can only reveal so much about reality in its totality, learning to navigate through altered or nonordinary states of consciousness, can open doors to what, for some, would be unimaginable. Lucid dreaming, dream yoga, deep meditation, yoga nidra, intentional out-of-body experiences, shamanic states of consciousness or other hypnotic or trance states are some of the doorways. We have access to them…always.

May your 2022 bring with it the extraordinary,

Dr. Kim

#NDE

#IANDS

#neardeathexperience

#consciousness

#anitamoorjani

#cancer

chronic hope at the holidays

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Holiday season is underway – that often means a change of focus for people, such as turning attention toward festivities as well as deeply connecting with family and long-time friends. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? For some though, the holiday season can be stressful for reasons I have not explicitly named in previous blog posts. I’ll get to the point. The reality of managing chronic illness during the ‘season of giving’ isn’t so easy. I know some of my readers here are already nodding their heads. For starters, the pressure to simultaneously consume and avoid, whether that be through making unnecessary purchases while dodging celebratory sugar-laden foods and beverages, or otherwise, is not helpful or easy. In addition, expectations to attend gatherings or donate volunteer time in the service of others has both pros and cons. If you are experiencing good health, and I do hope that’s the case, then this article may not be for you…unless you are a primary caregiver to someone with a chronic illness. If that’s your reality, read on. Managing chronic illnesses are time consuming, energy-draining, expensive, and can leave one feeling like an outsider in the home. Now don’t go feeling all down in the dumps – There are ways to manage these things and brighten our days!

I have found that being open about my own experience of managing chronic illness has been much more of a blessing than a curse. Yes, this is risky and does take courage to some degree, I admit. By sharing my experience, I have found that many people are experiencing something similar if not the very same thing (now or in the past). I have been stunned to learn this! This means resources are shared, lived experiences are validated, and acceptance of what I can and cannot give is understood. If I can’t show up, there are no guilt trips, and accommodations are made on my behalf when possible. I have learned what ‘ask and you shall receive’ actually means. I have also learned the value of setting boundaries. And I have also learned that most people carry within themselves secrets. Those being grief, trauma memories, regrets…but most of all, a particular state of mind, and that is HOPE. From all of this, might we realize that we are not so alone after all, and that the risk taken by reaching out to a stranger or by stepping into a new group may offer the connections we need most.

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Whether you are feeling isolated or are just desiring a shift from the how things have been going this year, take advantage of online groups. Some are free or low-cost. I like to tell people about meetup.com, which I have used on more than one occasion because the results were positive in my experience. Recently, I typed ‘cancer’ and ‘chronic illness’ (separately) in the search box to discover supportive online offerings for both. Additionally, I now offer free online guided meditations every Wednesday evening – they last for 40-45 minutes. Others offer dream groups, creativity classes, or unique support groups. Here is another option: Jane Carleton is an experienced dreamworker and facilitates small-sized dream groups online. She has used her dreams to facilitate her own personal healing journey as well. If you are inspired to contact her, go to yourdreamingself.com.

Because of my particular interest in meditation, yoga, creativity and dreams, I’d like to share with you some of the beneficial outcomes of this type of group participation. For example, I’ll now share a bit about a past project that has inspired me. The Healing Power of Dreams project led by Tallulah Lyons and Wendy Pannier and supported by the International Association for the Study of Dreams (IASD) brought dreamwork into cancer facilities across the U.S. From surveys and assessments, they found numerous benefits for those managing a chronic illness – in this case, cancer. I’d like to share some of the benefits with you here: Dreams, even nightmares, were reported to offer insight and energy for healing and personal growth, in addition to guidance with decision-making and lifestyle change, especially when there is imbalance. Dreams reflected enduring strengths as well. Furthermore, while research suggests numerous benefits from the use of guided imagery and mediation, the finding from this project showed that using personal healing dream symbols in guided imagery sessions made positive impacts. Last but not least, participants in the cancer project experienced increased feelings of hope, confidence, control and connection, while feelings of anxiety and stress decreased.

There is good reason to expand social supports when facing chronic illness, especially with those that place a focus on unconventional and creative avenues in support of healing. While family and close friends have a lot to offer us, we may need to look outside of our close(d) circle to discover something fresh and new. Whatever you choose, hold tightly to hope. Miracles do happen. The few resources listed above can get you on your way.

Virtual hugs,

Dr. Kim

in remission, radical-style

~ kimberly mascaro ~ 1 Comment

How do people get diagnosed with a terrible disease, forgoing any kind of conventional/allopathic treatment, only to later discover that there is no evidence of that disease? One year, it’s stage four, the next year it is gone – how does this happen? Radical remissions have boggled the mind, however, the spontaneous disappearance of disease is now much more well-documented than it was a half-century ago. The Institute of Noetic Sciences published a report in May 1987: Brendan O’Regan’s lecture, titled Healing, Remission and Miracle Cures. Yes, these types of spontaneous remissions were

fashion woman notebook pen
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thought to be miracles by some, yet in the medical community these remissions were often considered to result from misdiagnosis. In some cases even, amazing healing stories were silenced.

Miracle, luck, or otherwise, let us look at what these individuals have done – their behaviors, beliefs and practices – that have likely been responsible for such a miracle to have taken place. Since the 1980s, science has demonstrated that the mind and body are connected and in communication with each other. It’s appropriate to consider the mind and body to be a unified whole. Understanding this helps digest what we will see below.

Dr. Kelly Turner’s 2014 book Radical Remissions and her 2020 book Radical Hope outline the key factors for healing. In Turner’s multifaceted definition of radical remission, one component includes those who healed from cancer (and other serious diseases) without conventional treatment. More and more attention is being placed on how we can empower ourselves to increase responsibility for our own health and healing. So, let’s review the 1O factors that emerged from Turner’s work. They are:

  • Radically changing your diet
  • Taking control of your health

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  • Following your intuition
  • Using herbs and supplements
  • Releasing suppressed emotions
  • Increasing positive emotions
  • Embracing social support
  • Deepening your spiritual connection
  • Having a strong reason to live

and

  • Incorporating exercise into your life

These healing factors need no additional explanation, however, if you are facing an illness, I encourage reading Turner’s books sooner than later. These books are so inspirational and will answer the dozens of questions likely forming in your mind right now. Could these factors reported by Turner bring an individual from a late stage cancer diagnosis to having no evidence of disease (NED)?

woman meditating in the outdoors
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There are no definitive conclusions – Turner’s research was not causal. At the same time, I feel great promise. We seem to be heading in the right direction here. I attend to each of these 10 factors almost every day of the week. By simply aligning myself with them, I feel at my best.

If you are well, taking these 10 factors seriously could keep you that way. In terms of prevention, why not take action by making these key factors a part of your life. Notice how many of the factors are psycho-social-spiritual? These emerge frequently in my private practice, given my work as a psychologist and psychotherapist. For the other two factors (herbs, supplements, diet), consult with a Naturopathic Physician and Registered Dietician to get professional guidance. I cannot stress this point enough! Lastly, remember that if you have a diagnosis and find yourself on the journey towards healing, know that you do not have to make that journey alone. Allow others to support you and walk beside you along your path.

 

To your health,

Kim

 

If you would like holistic support, see my services by CLICKING HERE.

To get my book, Extraordinary Dreams, CLICK HERE

 

 

dreams save lives

~ kimberly mascaro ~ Leave a comment

A recent series of events, including dreams of colleages, friends, as well as dreams of my own, inspired the writing of this article (after interviewing Dr. Burk) at this particular time. My hope is that we continue to trust our fullest human potentials, including how dreams can help us see diseases developing, heal them, and even better, warn us to change course prior to an illness developing!

It was spring 2018 when I was introduced to Kathleen O’Keefe-Kanavos (dream teacher and three-time breast cancer survivor). Our introduction was online, as I was invited to be a guest on her webTV program (see kathleenokeefekanavos.com) featuring upcoming conference presenters of the International Association for the Study of Dreams (IASD). Just a couple of months later, I met Larry Burk, MD, CEHP, a holistic radiologist, at the IASD conference (asdreams.com), which took place in Arizona. Both were in attendance and promoting their recently published book Dreams That Can Save Your Life: Early Warning Signs of Cancer and Other Diseases. It was hot-off-the-press and I knew I just had to read it. Needless to say, I read the book and must tell you that I hadn’t read anything quite like it. This book is filled with startling true stories of men and women whose dreams predicted disease and, for some, even guided them through the healing process. The authors want to bring dreaming back into Western medicine, giving dreams the attention they deserve. I wanted to learn more about the studies currently taking place, so I interviewed Dr. Burk in April 2019. Here is what he shared with me.

Early on, Dr. Burk had a few close friends who had dreams warning them of breast cancer – I’m thinking, this research is personal. Furthermore, Burk himself is a dreamer and has a strong relationship with his dream-life, using them for guidance. He has been tracking his dreams for over 30 years. Knowing that dreams have guided Burk through his life, I asked him about his decision to leave his education direction position at Duke in 2004 only to return to Duke in 2015. His decision to leave Duke (Integrative Medicine Center) was propelled by a series of synchronicities, while his decision to return to Duke (University Medical Center) was supported by a dream. When unsure whether to return and accept the offer to return to Duke, he decided to use a dream incubation technique – writing a question in his dream journal regarding the decision needed to be made. You can read Burk’s entire dream in Dreams That Can Save Your Life. We discuss our trust in dream incubation as well as synchronicity. At that point, I share with him ways I use the Tarot to guide me and to help me understand my dreams at a deeper level. Burk and I have both attended, and very much appreciated, the Tarot and Dreams workshops at IASD conferences. We also both own a copy of Sidewalk Oracles: Playing with Signs, Symbols, and Synchronicity in Everyday Life by Robert Moss. Our appreciation for dream journaling, synchronicity, art, and Tarot, bring our discussion to life. We acknowledge that there are so many ways to work with dreams!

Like my own journey, Burk has trusted dreams to guide in career decisions. In addition, Burk was guided by dreams during the editing process of his first book, Let Magic Happen: Adventures in Healing with a Holistic Radiologist (2012). He recalls a series of initially puzzling dreams that led him to make particular wise decisions.

I wondered if he has lost colleague-friends over his deep interest and belief in predictive dreams. In 1987, when his interest in alternative ways started to develop things were alright. Burk believed he was protected from harsh feedback during those years. No serious push-back came up until 1996, when his work in mind-body medicine peaked. In 1999, however, some wanted him fired! These days, Western medicine has not progressed much with regard to dreams and health.

We both highly recommend keeping a dream diary, and sharing warning dreams with others, especially your medical doctor. Overall, Western medicine is not very friendly towards the use of dreams as diagnostic tools, yet the countless reports of how they have saved lives warrants taking a more open-minded approach. Case in point, Burk’s TEDx talk in Raleigh, NC (2016), was eventually censored/banned, claiming that it was unscientific. His TEDx coaches encouraged him to be very conservative and to approach everyone in the audience as a skeptic. They encouraged him to wear a suit even, instead of the informal shirt he had chosen. Burk shares with me how he complied with the demands, and believes he approached his presentation conservatively. You can find his TedX talk on YouTube today. I hope you watch it and see for yourself. We both watched Dr. Christopher Kerr’s Tedx talk (Buffalo), I See Dead People. This talk focused on dreams of the dying in palliative care. So some areas of medicine are more open-minded.

In 2012, Burk’s interest in this area developed. With a few stories in hand, he began research on dreams and medical implications in 2013, which was published two years later. Burk credits Bob Van de Castle and Stanley Krippner as initial inspirations and cheerleaders of his work! Van de Castle suggested he present his research at an IASD conference, yet had passed away before he was able to publish his paper. More recently, he conducted a three-month pilot study on dreams of women who are having breast biopsies. This was submitted to an academic journal awaiting decision. How many women are actually having dreams related to their breasts before biopsies? How many women are even writing them down, or keeping a dream journal? We know some women who are having warning dreams! But, without logging dreams how could anyone know?

In addition to research, Burk is also very passionate about doing his healing work with tapping (He has his version of EFT, called EDANVIR) and dreams. One of his early online clients was suffering greatly. She had recurring dreams of childhood trauma and abuse provoking deep feelings of anger, and lived with fears of not being able to make it on her own. Fear and anger were in the forefront. Burk taught her to tap on these emotions. Following the session, the client reported powerful healing dreams where she becomes rescuer with superpowers. Her harsh medical symptoms vanish and her lifestyle improves greatly. With this case, Burk said, the dreams tell you what to tap on, then later, tell you if the treatment is working. This is one of many examples of dreams coming in service as tools for diagnosis and recovery processes.

I hope the information and stories here have prompted you to begin or continue using a dream journal and to trust in your dreams. Dr. Burk can be contacted via his website: larryburk.com. Take a look – you are sure to be intrigued and educated within its pages.

May Your Dreams Be Your Medicine,

Kim