Each year over a thousand medical professionals and other interested people gather at conferences entitled Spirituality and Healing in Medicine. They are under the direction of Dr. Herbert Benson and sponsored by the Harvard Medical School Department of Continuing Education and the Mind/Body Institute of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

The conferences present a clear picture of the connection between beliefs and our ability to heal. According to George Gallup, Jr. Over one-third of the population had a profound mystical experience that changed their lives. There are impressive statistics from studies that show that many diseases such as cancer, smoking, and other addictions are mediated by spirituality.

1996 USA Today Weekend Poll found that 79% of Americans believe that faith can help recover from illness and 63% feel that physicians should talk to them about spiritual issues.

Seeking the help and guidance of the spiritual world for healing is hardly new. The tradition is ancient and is chronicled from at least a dozen cultures over a 3000-year period. But what does this have to do with us, now, and with ITP?

We asked Stevan Thayer, Interfaith Minister, and co-author of the book Interview with an Angel and friend, to tap his own angelic inner voice, Ariel, for a special message to share.

Dear Ariel:

I’m working with people who have a disease called Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP). And as I hear their stories, it seems to me that they and I (since I have this disease) have some things in common in the way we approach life at an emotional level. I wonder if these things block all of us from improving from the disease and having more platelets. I would like to know what light an angel could shine on this issue.

Ariel:

People on the healing journey of ITP are highly evolved old souls. In general, they have developed a high level of academic proficiency and wisdom. In addition, they have developed a high level of fear and distrust of people, life, the world and sometimes even God. This is a core fear that refined thinking and academic understanding cannot bring to peace. No matter how much thinking or analysis is done, the fear that is present can not be intellectually resolved.

This lack of resolution of the underlying fears is what drives the very lives of these special individuals into an open-hearted pursuit of spirituality. This pursuit will bring about a remembering of the depths of spiritual attainment that has already been mastered within their souls. Make no mistake that the soul will never take on a journey of the ITP condition unless it is ready to utilize the circumstances of this condition to achieve its goal of spiritual refinement. Combining highly refined academic thinking with the compassion of the heart is the pathway that they are being invited to journey.

When the heart is opened to embrace compassion, it is a two-way street. You will find that deep within these special people is a compassionate nature which motivates them offer love, caring and support to others. But it is often difficult for them to let in the love, caring and support offered by others. This is because people with ITP are likely to initially confuse support with manipulation and control and hence instinctively withdraw from love whenever it is offered to them.

The healing journey of ITP starts by daring, first of all, to open your heart and to give your knowledge and love to others. But the true power of healing is achieved when you dare to take in the love that is given back to you from others.

When your increasing level of spiritual compassion matches your already high level of wisdom, then the balance will facilitate and support the clearing of the ITP challenge from your life.

Did you find this message helpful? Stevan and I would like some feedback. Send your comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Visit Stevan's site for more information on his work.