<b>By Ifetayo White</b>

There is a huge movement going on in our country and even in the Lowcountry of folk who have a great faith in their own ability to heal and restore their bodies, minds, psyches, spirits and lives. There are those of us who are everyday living in the faith of an all-knowing power guiding and supporting the “wholeness” of our lives. Learning to trust this guidance and support asks us to take a faith walk — to take one step, then another, then another in faith.

My own faith walk in healing began when I was 30 years old and diagnosed with asthma. When the emergency room doctor declared that adult-onset asthma is usually stress related, I could only agree with his suggestion. I knew that I had chosen to remain in a marriage for security with a mate who, because of his own emotional immaturity, was emotionally abusive to me. My life was full of stress and pain. I felt stifled and unable to receive love. Thus, asthma showed up physically and metaphorically.  The first step of recovery was for me to find the courage to end this hopeless marriage.

It took three more years of going through the fears of not being capable of supporting myself and my daughters before I could ask for a separation.

For years my asthmatic condition was stabilized through the use of an atomizer and infrequent trips to the ER for adrenaline shots. In addition, my allergies to animals grew and it was more and more difficult to visit friends who lived with pets.  It became my prayer that I not live the rest of my life having such difficulties breathing.  Then things began to happen.

A high school friend who had begun practicing meditation in the mid-70s suggested that meditation may help my stress and anxiety.  At this point, I was so anxious raising my daughters and working in a stressful environment at the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., that my friend’s suggestion was received wholeheartedly. Committing to a practice of meditating for 20 minutes twice a day seemed daunting at the time, but like someone who makes a last ditch effort for life, I went for it.

When it appeared to me after a short while that I was making no progress, my friend encouraged me to not give up the consistency of the practice.  I continued in faith that something was happening.

Within the community of meditators in D.C., I met a woman who proposed to me that perhaps eliminating mucous-forming red meat from my diet might help my breathing. So, feeling I had nothing to lose, I eliminated beef from my diet.  From nowhere I began to feel the urge to stop eating pork and chicken and fish and, my favorite, turkey. Within two years, my asthma and allergies had disappeared from my body.  It has been almost 30 years since I experienced the empowerment of this life-changing healing. Even though I am no longer a vegetarian, meditation is still the foundation of my own wellness practices.

When we are ready, the teacher will appear. When we are ready, we will be led where to go next and what to do next.  During that time of need for healing, and during the many times of need for healing or renewal of my body, mind, emotions, relationships, finances or spirit, my intention or prayer for healing led me to what or who I needed.

Faith in a higher intelligence as energy flowing through me and my life and all of life has paved the path for me.  Know that this same intelligence is acting in and for you and your well being as well.  Listen to your inner guidance and follow — in faith.

<i>Ifetayo White has been a holistic healing practitioner since 1989. She offers support to her community through classes and meditation at TheraVista, in addition to providing life empowerment coaching, Reiki training and treatment, trigger point therapy, integrative bodywork, childbirth preparation and education, birth and postpartum doula services through her businesses.  Ifetayo can be contacted at 843-271-1923 or neesamoon@gmail.com.</i>
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