“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.

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

“For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.

“Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

“Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.

“Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice,

because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,

“Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise

“Your sun shall no more go down, or your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.

“Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever.

They are the shoot that I planted, the work of my hands, so that I might be glorified.

“You shall be called priests of the Lord, you shall be named ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations, and in their riches you shall glory.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

“For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.”

-Isaiah 60, 61

Your Light has Come

This is not an ordinary light that might come from a candle or a light bulb. The Light Isaiah is talking about is the Divine Light that comes to us through the Spiritual Sun. That is why he then adds that the “Glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” Being one with God means allowing that Light into you to awaken and develop your spirit until it becomes a conscious Soul.

Darkness Shall Cover the Earth

This is certainly true today. There has never been a darker, more materialistic period in history than in the last few centuries. That is why this time is the final time we have to change our path and turn ourselves and all of humanity away from the darkness of materialism and toward the Light of Spirit.

Nations Will Come to Your Light

As the Community of Light grows, it will reach a point where desperate leaders of nations, businesses, and churches will turn to us for advice and help. We will gladly give them that help as humanity must be saved as a whole, not just a few of us.

Violence Shall No More Be Heard

When people turn to God’s Light, wars and violence of all kinds will be brought to an end. So will disease, famine, floods, and other “natural” disasters that are caused largely by Man’s angry and violent thought patterns that control the world far more than most of us realize.

Your Sun Shall No More Go Down

Materialistic people, and even some who think they are spiritual don’t think this is possible, or even a good idea. They think that light cannot exist without darkness, but they are wrong. As the universe becomes more and more spiritual, we will only be looking at the Spiritual Sun, which shines down on us at all times, even now. Since it is a Spirit, it is not limited at all by time and space.

Garment of Salvation

The Garment of Salvation, the Robe of Righteousness is the Spiritual Light. As we slowly change from our current material forms into more spiritual ones, we will literally glow with that light and help spread that light to all of humanity, all of the world, and all of the universe.

Seeds in the Garden

Our small Community is the seed in God’s Garden on Earth. We must grow and become a Great Garden of Light. That is our destiny. But unlike seeds in a regular garden, we can’t wait for others to water and fertilize us. We must seek out the Water of Life and the Fertilizer of Salvation which is that Spiritual Light flowing to us from God and through the Spiritual Sun.