“When you are offended by any person’s transgressions, presently reflect upon yourself; and consider what you yourself are guilty of in the same kind. You may also think it a happiness to be rich, or to live in pleasure, or to be praised and commended, and so on. For this, you should call to mind, so you will soon forget your anger; especially when at the same time this also shall occur in your thoughts, that he was constrained by his error and ignorance to do so; for how can one choose as long as they are of that opinion? Do you therefore, if you can, take away from that person that which causes them to do such things.

“Think of Socraticus and Eutyches, think of Sylvanus or Severus. When you do, look upon yourself and fancy yourself to be one or another of these Caesars; and so for every one of them. Then ask yourself, ‘Where now are they all?’ For so shall you realize how all worldly things are but smoke that vanishes into nothing. Then contemplate how long your memory shall remain after you have left this world.”

-Marcus Aurelius

When You Are Offended

Today, many of us get offended too easily. Another person simply has to say something we disagree with, and we are offended. If someone we know chooses to vote for a different political candidate than us, we are offended. If someone eats foods that we think are unhealthy, or tells us not to eat unhealthy foods, again we are offended. The majority of us have become too sensitive. We seem to think that the whole world should operate according to what pleases us, and are offended that it doesn’t.

Reflect Upon Yourself

The advice of Marcus Aurelius in such cases is that we should look at our own behavior before getting angry with others. Or as we would say it today, put ourselves in the other person’s shoes. Have we ever done anything foolish? Have we ever said anything stupid? If we are honest, the answer to both questions will be “Yes”. None of us is perfect. We all make mistakes. One of the biggest mistakes any of us makes is believing that we are perfect and never make mistakes.

So before you criticize, or get angry at another person, think about your own mistakes in the past, and the new mistakes you are likely to make in the future.

Think of Socraticus and Eutyches

Aurelius advises us to think of several ancient Roman Caesars, and he chose ones that most of us have never heard of, although they were probably well known in his time. As a result, he has made his point better than expected. He says we should imagine we are one of these Caesars, but that is hard to do since most of us have never heard of them. If you prefer, you can imagine yourself to be one of the better-known Caesars such as Julius Caesar. Many of us think we know a lot about this Caesar, but in fact, we know only a little. We know of those years he spent with Cleopatra, eventually having a child with her, but that is only a few years of his long career. We don’t know the rest of it. So as Aurelius is trying to teach us, the deeds of the high and mighty kings and rulers don’t last long after their death. Rather than dust in the wind, Aurelius says they become smoke that vanishes, so the same idea as dust blowing away in the wind. The point he is trying to make is that those with overblown egos who think that they are in essence a sort of king who does no wrong should remember the kings of the past and how soon they are forgotten and how soon the laws they made get changed by new rulers.

Go Beyond Walking a Mile in Someone’s Shoes

So it is a good idea when we become offended by another person to “walk a mile in their shoes.” But it shouldn’t stop there. We can’t just imagine ourselves in the shoes of another person who offends us at times. We must put ourselves in the shoes of every person, including the ones who don’t have shoes. Not only when we are offended by someone, but on regular occasions we should take a little time to contemplate what our life would be like elsewhere. Consider what it would be if we were born in a very poor country. Consider what it would be if we were born in a very wealthy country, but we ourselves were not one of the wealthy people there. Consider what it would be like to be a person in a country that is despised by most of the world. Consider what it would be like to be a carpenter, a priest, a ditch digger, or a corporate CEO. Put yourself in the shoes of every other person. Then you will not be so egotistical as to think that the whole world exists to please you.

 “According to the Hermetists, disease could be prevented or successfully combated in seven ways. First, by spells and invocations in which the physician ordered the evil spirit causing the disease to depart the patient. This procedure was probably based on the Biblical account of the man possessed by devils whom Jesus healed by commanding the devils to leave the man and enter into a herd of swine. …

“The second method of healing was by vibration. The inharmonies in the body were neutralized by chanting spells and intoning sacred names or by playing musical instruments. …

“The third method was with talismen, charms, or amulets. The ancients believed that the planets controlled the functions of the human body and that making charms out of different metals could combat the malignant influences. …

“The fourth method was by the aid of herbs and simples. While they used talismen, the majority of ancient physicians did not approve of mineral medicine for internal use. Herbs were their favorite remodies. …

“The fifth method of healing was by prayer. All ancient people believed in the compassionate intercession of the Deity for the alleviation of human suffering. Paracelsus said that faith could cure all diseases. Few people, however, possess sufficient faith.

“The sixth method—which was prevention rather than cure—was regulation of the diet and daily habits. The individual, by avoiding things that caused illness, remained well.

“The seventh method was ‘practical medicine,’ consisting chiefly of bleeding, purging, and similar treatments. These procedures, while useful in moderation, were dangerous in excess.”

-Manly P. Hall

What is Disease

For the most part, the Hermetists, as well as other ancients, did not distinguish between mental and physical illness as we do today. They generally treated the ill person as an entire being, not just treating specific symptoms. This concept is returning today under the name of Holistic Healing.

Why So Many Methods of Healing

One reason for so many different forms of healing was that the physician felt that in specific cases, one method was better than another. Another was simply that the individual healer may have only known two or three of the methods, so he had to use what he knew. If those methods didn’t work, a different physician might be called on to try other methods.

Healing by Spells

Helaing by spells and invocations was, I suspect, not a method used by the majority of healers. I think that it is rare for a person to be physically or mentally ill due to possession by evil spirits. However, if the patient believed in such possession, then this type of treatment might work.

Healing with Vibration

Healing with vibration is also a much older form of healing than many people believe. In particular, healing with sound is thought by many to be something new, but it has been practiced for many centuries. The digeredoo invented by the aboriginies of Australia was not used by them for music but was a healing tool used by the Shaman. In other places, tuning forks have been used for healing. And simply singing or chanting over the sick person was also a method of healing. In fact, you can help heal yourself by chanting or singing.

Healing with Charms

The basic idea of healing with charms was that certain metals could help heal some illnesses. For example, If a person was ill due to an iron deficiency, he might be given an iron charm or amulet to wear. The charm would have the picture of a god or goddess carved on it, or some prayer designed to invoke healing. Doctors today would prescribe a pill with iron in it instead. Only recently, a form of this became briefly popular again. At the beginning of the Covid-19 epidemic, some spread the word that copper helped prevent virus infections, so many people started wearing copper bracelets, amulets, or charms.

Healing with Herbs

This is probably the most used form of natural healing today. People who have had bad side effects from prescription drugs, or have simply heard of such problems, often turn to herbal remedies as an alternative. Herbal healing formulas are sold for such things as improving circulation, lowering blood pressure, controlling pain, etc. Most of these herbal forms work to some degree, but may not be enough in all cases, It might be good in such cases to add some form of vibrational healing, as well as prayer, to the treatments.

Healing with Prayer

Healing with prayer is another method of healing that goes back many centuries and is still practiced today. Prayer can work, especially if the person believes in it, but it might not work if the person’s illness is due to karma.

Healing with Diet

A healthy diet is certainly an important part of healing physical ills. In almost all cases, an illness could be at least partially alleviated by dietary changes. Even mental illnesses may sometimes be caused by eating the wrong foods. Unfortunately, few doctors today suggest dietary changes as the first treatment for illness. Many never suggest it at all.

Practical Medicine

What Mr. Hall calls practical medicine is fortunately not used much today, particularly bleeding the patient to get the illness out of them. Purging, in some forms, may still be used occasionally, such as with constipation.