Tim’s Affirmations

Dear Ones,

I’ve received several requests for updates about Tim. He doing better and better. He continues to play hammer dulcimer and he does some light gardening.  Though he still needs a lot of rest, he can work 2-3 hours a day in the office of his business, MeditationBench.com

Tim a few years ago….see him well

Tim had a good visit with his oncologist last Thursday.  The doctor was truly amazed at how quickly the cancer seemed to be shrinking. It was beyond what he was expecting from the hormone blockers alone. Thank you for your prayers! I believe the combined effort of healing prayers, affirmations, positive thinking, music, hopefulness, western medicine, and some high powered natural supplements are moving him quickly toward healing.

He still has drainage tubes from his kidneys – though there is strong evidence that the ureters are no longer blocked. (That was why he went into acute kidney failure at Easter time.)  The urologist is playing it safe and wants to leave the tubes in a while longer… So, your prayers are still very deeply appreciated.

We have a follow-up phone appointment with Dr. Robert Rowen this coming Wednesday to review the supplements Tim is taking to heal from this cancer. (Tim doesn’t yet feel ready to travel down to Santa Rosa to see him.) A lot can be accomplished through this phone call. Dr. Rowen also stresses we need to heal the causative factors in body/mind/soul (he also is a meditator) but our consultation will be focused around fine tuning the supplements, etc.

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Healing Affirmations from Paramhansa Yogananda

Tim has found a lot of meaning in this affirmation, and he also uses it as a visualization:

My body cells are made of light.

My fleshly cells are made of Thee.

They are perfect, for Thou art perfect;

They are healthy, for Thou art Health;

They are Spirit, for Thou art Spirit;

They are immortal, for Thou art Life.

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Sometimes at night we do this affirmation together:

Perfect Father,

Thy Light is flowing through Christ,

Through the saints of all religions,

Through the Masters of India, and through me.

This Perfect Light is present in all my body parts,

I am well.

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Recently, when I realized I needed to overcome the pattern of worrying about Tim, I adapted the above affirmation in a way that I could use it as a repetitive prayer throughout the day, keeping my mind engaged in a positive manner.  It has been powerful and comforting to adapt the prayer in this way:

Perfect Father,

Thy Light is flowing through Christ,

Through the saints of all religions,

Through the Masters of India, and through Tim.

This Perfect Light is present in all his body parts,

He is well!

This has helped me to focus my mind and energy in a positive direction during this challenging time when I have often felt challenged with anxiety about Tim (until I started doing this prayer…)

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Previous posts about Tim can be found in the TIM category (click here).

http://healingprayers.wordpress.com/category/hotline-prayers/tim/

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Thank you again for your prayers. And feel free to tell me what you think, or to share your favorite affirmation in the comment field, below.

Blessings,

Mary Kretzmann

PS – Below are some youtubes made by Dr. Rowen in 2007, when he still lived in Alaska. Many more are available here and here

If you can’t see all elements of this email - please click here

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Dr. Robert Rowen, MD Tells Why He Became Alternative Doctor (very interesting video)

“The cancer treatments I saw were a disgrace, and still are…”

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Dr. Robert Rowen, MD Bioenergetic Medicine Hope For Future

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Dr. Robert Rowen, MD Good Nutrition Critical For Health

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Newsletter – May 2012

(Plain text version follows the Scribd version)

Scroll down if you want to download and print.

View this document on Scribd

Plain text version

Ananda Healing Prayer Ministry Newsletter

Invoke the blessings of Babaji and Christ to fill the planet with Healing Light…See Divine Mother blessing all in Her Love.

 

Dear Ones,

Back in January I asked the email members of the Ananda Healing Prayer Council to pray for my husband, Tim. I was deeply moved by the many messages offering loving prayers in response to that letter.  It was a long and winding road getting to a diagnosis, but on April 9^th he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. Sometimes karma itself can put a veil on the diagnosis process, even when in retrospect the case seems pretty clear (but the unusual twists and turns made it complicated). The “Shiva” aspect of God teaches us our harder lessons, so sometimes a devotee’s natural good karma must temporarily be veiled or blocked for that to occur. Tim’s vedic astrology chart showed a very complex “Saturn” period this winter, but it is lightening up a bit now.

Tim’s case is paradoxically both serious, and yet also very hopeful, especially using integrative medicine, along with our spiritual “tools.”  Your prayers are very deeply appreciated. I will share deeper insights, as time and healing move along, on “Healing with Divine Energy.” healingprayers.wordpress.com

Tim’s energy is increasing already, and he is whistling much more – a good barometer for how he is doing. He also started playing his hammer dulcimer again daily; a very joyful sound now fills the house. It replenishes him very directly and immediately. Over the past several years his playing had dropped off to almost nothing once his Joyfull Strings business went dormant. So, part of the long-term healing plan includes taking time to play the music, smell the roses, and nurture friendships, etc. These areas were getting crowded out by work, but this karma forced a change. Everything has its own perfection, even illness. And, of course, we all need to make time for God. Tim was already strong in that; his inner strength and peace have blessed us all over the years, and I am sure that that will now go even deeper.

Krishnabai, our daughter, is pregnant with our first grandchild, due in September. Please see also her surrounded in healing light during this topsy-turvy time of both joy for the baby, and concern for her father.

Family picture from August 2011, right before Tim got sick – see Scribd document – above

L-R : me, Tim, our daughter, Krishnabai, Cullen (her husband) and our sons, Peter Sanjaya, and David, holding “Java”.

Thank you all for your loving prayers, and for your service.

Love in Him,

Mary Kretzmann

Ananda Healing Prayer Ministry

Healing words from Paramhansa Yogananda

From Divine Will Healing: THE LAW OF DIVINE HEALING, Part III (Soon to be reprinted)

“…Just as the life force is the principal source of energy of the body, so the sun is the vitality of the atmosphere that we breathe and of the earth forces — mineral, vitamin-laden vegetables, animals, and human beings. Therefore, all matter and all living creatures depend principally upon immanent cosmic life, energy, and sunlight from without. Diseases start when these two great energies fail to enter the system. Hence, one must know the various avenues through which these energies can penetrate the body. Besides, there is a great deal of reaction of life force on the sunlight. It is the chemically conglomerated force of the sunlight and life force that helps to support the human body.

Remember that doubt, mental fatigue, worry, indifference, boredom, fear, restlessness, timidity, mental and physical laziness, over-indulgence, unmethodical life, lack of interest, and lack of creative ability are counteracting static agents which make it impossible for the cosmic energy to tune in with man. Working with interest and desire to help others, creative spiritual ambition, calmness, and courage, unconquered attitude, tolerance, patience, and peace are avenues through which cosmic energy can help you.

This is a great secret law that some know, but few put into actual practice. If you continuously persist in thinking that your body is full of vitality, especially at the time when it is weak, then you will find that you have started to open up a new secret, invisible source of vitalizing yourself other than from the external material sources of food, and so forth. Metaphysically realize that your body (mental and spiritual) and vitality remain undiminished, because, as the Christian and ancient Bibles say: “You are made in God’s image.” Realize that only thought and consciousness exist as permanent realities. All matter is only cognized through ideas, and hence, realize that in working you are not using up energy, but using up thoughts of energy or materialized ideas; hence, you can never feel physical weakness if you continue to vitalize from your own thought continuous energy and enthusiasm…”

Inspiration on the healing power of music, from Cosmic Chants,

by Paramhansa Yogananda

Sound Is the Most Powerful Force in the Universe

“…Sound or vibration is the most powerful force in the universe, and music is a divine art, to be used not only for pleasure but as a path to God-realization. Vibrations resulting from devotional singing lead to the contact of the Cosmic Vibration or the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”—John 1:1. God is the Word or the Cosmic Vibration…

Americans Audiences Understand These Soul-Chants

         …Music which is saturated with soul-force is the real universal music, understandable by all hearts. I have had many demonstrations of this truth during years of lecturing before American audiences. I was giving a series of lectures at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 1926, and at that time I first suggested to some musical friends the idea of my singing one of these chants, asking the whole audience to join in, without previous rehearsal. My friends thought the chants would be so alien to American understanding that they warned me to expect overripe tomatoes as a possible commentary on my innovation.

I protested that music is the universal language of the soul’s devotion to God and that all soulful people, whether familiar or not with Eastern or Western music, would understand the divine yearning of my heart during chanting.

The next evening, while my friends sat behind me on the platform, fearing for my safety, I started to chant “O God Beautiful,” and asked the audience, who had never before heard the song, to join me in chanting it. For one hour and twenty-five minutes, the thousands of voices of the entire audience chanted, without discord, “O God Beautiful,” in a divine atmosphere of joyous praise. Even when I left the stage, the audience sat on, chanting the song. The next day, many men and women testified to the God-perception and healings of body, mind and soul which had taken place during the sacred chanting, and numerous requests came in to repeat the song at other services.

This experience, which occurred in Carnegie Hall, the musical temple of America and scene of the triumphs of many great singers and artists, was a spontaneous tribute to the universal nature of soul-music and to the untutored understanding of East and West regarding spiritual aspirations.

Since that first evening, I have used these chants thousands of times with large American audiences and have seen infinite divine benefits showered on the sincere devotees who chant the Lord’s name with love…”

Tim is doing better

I sent out this “Saturday update” to a few friends last week, but I wanted to update the larger group.  Please don’t feel slighted if you didn’t get it. I am not feeling tremendously organized about all this right now!

I also wanted to take a moment to publicly thank Dr. Peter Van Houten who has met with us and supported us even after he referred Tim on to 2 other specialists.  I am sure he thought an official diagnosis would have been forthcoming months ago. It was a comfort having him there throughout this whole scenario.  Sometimes karma itself can put a veil on the diagnosis process, even when in retrospect the case seems pretty clear (but the unusual twists and turns made it complicated).  Dr. Peter recently told us Tim’s was  the most perplexing case of his medical career.  Believe me, you don’t want to compete for that particular prize. Anyway – it gave us some helpful perspective on our long and winding road toward a diagnosis.  There is now some peace and clarity on how to proceed.  Tim’s case now seems paradoxically both serious, and yet also very hopeful. Your prayers are still very much appreciated.

We are also moving lots of  “old energy” in the house.  We’ve lived here over 30 years and raised our 3 kids there. So, even though I’ve tried to keep the energy cleared, some things did pile up. And I’d hung on to some things from sentimentality.  But now it is time for a refreshing change! Our eldest son, Peter, our daughter, Krishnabai, and I got rid of some furniture and old books, etc., in the past few days with the goal of making the house feel “lighter and airier,” as per Tim’s request. Krishnabai and her husband live nearby, here at Ananda Village, and Peter is up visiting for a month from the Ananda Los Angeles ashram. It is such a help and comfort to have him home at this time.

Some people have wondered how Tim managed to get serious prostate cancer, since he had very few of the risk factors.  He almost looked like the perfect candidate to not get it, actually. That was another thing that perplexed Dr. Rowen last week. But sometimes karma or spiritual tests and “opportunities” get the upper hand, despite generally  good health.  So – addressing healing of body, mind and spirit are especially helpful right now. (Right diet, rest, music, prayer, meditation, visualization, affirmation, very light gardening, short, gentle walks in nature, introspection, etc. … all with the view of Tim finding the transformation that feels right for him now…)

There were a few practical areas that could use improvement, such as not having a clock with a night light in the room.  Yep – it looks like grasping at straws… but it’s good to implement  any changes that can help Tim optimize his healing now that cancer has occurred.  Over the years, his sleep pattern was often minimal at night, but he would meditate instead, so it all seemed okay. But maybe his circadian rhythms, etc., were disturbed and his body needed more sleep. Who knows? …For more info on Light at Night (LAN) see: Connection Between Light at Night and Cancer Suggested by New Study.   Also see (f you want)  –Lack of Sleep, Light at Night Can Raise Cancer Risk?

Saturday update, April 21:

Tim is doing better, day by day. Yesterday was our first non-medical “outing” since Thanksgiving. We went to the Crystal Hermitage Gardens here at Ananda Village.  We parked at the top, but later picked Tim up at the bottom, so he would not have to climb back up the stairs.

It was a glorious first outing for Tim. He was awash in beauty, almost to the point of overwhelm, but not quite. It was lovely to walk beside him and take it all in. He had such deep appreciation of every splash of color, etc.

His energy is definitely improving, and he is whistling much more – a good barometer for how he is doing. Some symptoms are improving – so we know the cancer is shrinking already.  So phase one (a pill) is already helping – he gets a shot next week. He’s also taking some high powered supplements that are directly helpful to his case (As recommended by Dr. Rowen). He’s only taking the ones that I am sure don’t compete with the medical treatment. We may be able to add in a few of the others once we have another phone consultation with Dr. Rowen (he’s away teaching in Malaysia until May).

He is also playing his hammer dulcimer daily (in the living room) – a very joyful sound. It seems to help replenish him very directly and immediately. Over the past many years, his playing had really dropped off to almost nothing once the Joyfull Strings business went mostly dormant. He just got busy (way too busy!) with other work. So being not that busy is also part of the long-term healing and transformation. (Take the time to smell the roses and play the music, etc. )

Here’s to health and healing, and new beginnings.

Love and Joy,

Mary

PS – I want to emphasize that his prognosis is very good with this treatment. Please see him in that light.

I also remember seeing a medical study in which aggressive prostate cancer cells mutated down to a much less aggressive form. It surprised the researchers. I think it had to do with mind/body healing – and possibly with nutrition, etc. So hold that thought that this is mutable… I hope to find that study again, but it is a true thought anyway – in light of quantum physics and spiritual healing.

So thanks for reading this far, and thanks for your love and prayers. I just ordered Tim a well recommended healing CD on visualizing making cancer cells and tumors recede. If  you have a favorite healing tool of that nature, please feel free to share it in the comment field by clicking here.  Then it helps us, but it also helps others, too.  Actually, feel free to share  any inspiration for healing there.  It’s easier for me if you share it in the comment field than in a reply email right now. But I will also read the emails, too.

God bless you all.

Love,

Mary

Tim is home

Prayers for Tim, update

Well – life gave us a “close shave” last week.

We very much liked meeting Dr. Robert Rowen in Santa Rosa, CA. He is a very creative, energetic man. He was beside himself that Tim had been going through all of this since last November without a firm diagnosis.  He listened to the history, and did a physical exam, and promptly, decisively, diagnosed Tim with advanced prostate cancer. He was quite beside himself that Tim’s case had gotten so bad even under the care of a urologist. He said, “I am the alternative MD, and I am the one giving you the diagnosis? That is supposed to be one of the strengths of the orthodox docs! These guys really messed up.”

(Tim’s urologist had been treating him for related bladder problems, including infections, and hadn’t examined the prostate since December. I’ve since heard some similar stories, so I had to tell myself there is no point in getting all upset about it. Life is what it is…God’s dream…)

Dr. Rowen continued, “I am 99.9% sure of this diagnosis. I would even bet my house! But you need to get a CT scan to see what is going on with it.”

So we proceeded to make arrangements for the CT scan. The blood test showed that Tim was in renal failure (he had been feeling tired) and he needed to get to the ER immediately, because it was life threatening.  They drained the kidneys with an operation called a nephrostomy. The surgery was on Tuesday; now he is home and pretty ok (but he still needs rest) – the kidneys are doing fine. All of this surgery/recovery happened in the Grass Valley, CA hospital. Nice folks, all around. We are very grateful for the lifesaving surgery…The tubes stay in for a while until the cancer treatment has had time to take effect.

They also gave Tim an IV antibiotic treatment in the hospital and the painful bladder spams, which had been there for months, are now gone. THANK YOU, GOD!

Tim now has an oncologist who said the cancer can be treated, even at this stage, with a hormone blocker, because prostate cancer is hormone driven. The prognosis is very good, and for this we are very grateful. Durga told me that her brother had a similar journey last year, and now he is doing fine.

I may write some deeper insights about this in a separate post…There are things that I want to remember from what happened at 2 am in the ER on Easter night. God’s presence was there with us in that darkest hour. He is ever with us. He is Eternal, and so are we. I will write the story down now, while it is fresh. But I may need to keep it close to my heart. If it seems right to share it, I will.  We’ll see… But I wanted to get this much out to you now, and thank you for your prayers…and to say again that everything has its own perfection.

Love in Him, Namaste,

Mary

PS – We will continue with Dr. Rowen in Santa Rosa for Tim’s anti-coagulant therapy. Remember Tim had DVT’s early in the year?  Because he had a clotting factor disorder, he was prescribed Coumadin for life, which we weren’t super happy about.

Dr. Rowen is an expert on natural anti-coagulation (over 25 years experience), and on alternative cancer therapies. Tim’s oncologist/hematologist expressed respect for this and wants to work in cooperation with Dr. Rowen on this, and on any supportive therapies for the cancer, as well. We are very happy for this. And Dr. Rowen is very supportive of our choice to go with the hormone blocker treatment. He said, “It is non-toxic, and even I would do that one! And it can shrink the cancer back to nothing…”

Prayers for Tim, Update

“Life is nothing if not a continuous overcoming of problems. Every problem that waits for a solution at your hand is the religious duty imposed upon you by life itself.”   

Paramhansa Yogananda

This quote confirmed what I’ve been feeling, and gave me deeper resolve to find solutions for Tim’s healing.

Thank you for your prayers and concern for Tim.

Tim has an appointment with Dr. Robert Rowen in Santa Rosa, CA, on April 4.

  About Dr. Rowen: …To the doctors he’s trained and the patients he’s cured, Dr. Robert Rowen is known as something of a miracle worker. Indeed, Dr. Rowen receives over a dozen calls and emails a week from fellow physicians, seeking advice on how to cure their most challenging cases. Sometimes, the doctors fly their patients across the country to have Dr. Rowen examine and treat them.

    Many of these patients suffer from deadly diseases like cancer…or from stubborn ailments like diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease that have plagued them for years. Yet over half of them leave Dr. Rowen’s care symptom-free. And many leave completely cured! This includes even the toughest cases other doctors give up on!

    As it turns out, Dr. Rowen has considerably more experience practicing alternative medicine than just about any of his peers. He spent 22 years practicing in Alaska, the first state to provide statutory protection to alternative physicians…

I was impressed with Dr. Rowen when I first heard about him in January… and this feeling was “confirmed” when Swamiji recently sent us a booklet with a special healing ideas for Tim. It turns out the ideas were from Doctor Rowen. So this felt like a divine push to make it happen – NOW.  Travel is still a challenge for Tim, but we can make it; we will stay over night there. Our initial visit will be 2 hours long.

This has also been meaningful for us at this time:

    “Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”

    Ralph Waldo Emerson

Please keep us in your prayers for a safe journey and for the healing light to shine all round Tim, and within him, during this visit.  May Dr. Rowen be guided as to the best ways to help Tim. And may the healing begin even now – in anticipation of the visit. Many things are now in place for healing.

Again, thank you for your loving thoughts and prayers.

Tim – Sunday March 4

Things are getting a little better. Thank you for your prayers!

Tim has had energy to take short walks and “putter” a little bit indoors, and in our orchard. Even so – since the infection was only getting better very gradually, we decided to go with another carefully chosen antibiotic, with our GP keeping in mind Tim’s sensitivities… His energy is increasing – but intermittent pain remains… Energy heals, so we are very hopeful…

The Gayatri Mantra has been very helpful over the past month or so… Tim has had times of deep physical pain… This mantra is not only for “healing” but to help you transcend suffering… May the pain be lifted NOW, by God’s grace.

I listened to several versions of the Gayatri Mantra online one day, just to see what is out there. Swamiji’s version is (no surprise) the deepest and has the highest appeal for continuous listening, and meditation.   Click on the photo to see more testimonials.

Mantra CD

The Gayatri Mantra

This 5000 year old mantra is one of the most ancient sacred and powerful mantras to meditate upon that can assist you in transcending the experience of suffering…

AUM bhur bhuvaha svaha
Tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yonah prachodayat AUM

I also enjoyed this other version of the Gayatri Mantra  for lighter listening – nice for sacred music while at the computer… It is not as deep, but it has a sweet appeal. It is from another group, and I know nothing about them, but I liked the mantra. (I found it while looking for the words of the mantra to copy and paste, above.)

English Translation:

We meditate on the transcendental Glory of the Deity Supreme, who is inside the heart of the earth, inside the life of the sky and inside the soul of Heaven.  May He stimulate and illuminate our minds.

Other Translations:

Through the coming, going and the balance of life the essential nature which illumines existence is the adorable one may all perceive through subtle intellect
the brilliance of enlightenment
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May we meditate on the effulgent Light (or Power)
of the Worshipful One Who Has given birth to all worlds.
May this One direct our Mind-rays towards the path of Good.

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O Lord, Thou are the protector of life and of breath,
dispeller of miseries and bestower of happiness.
Thou are the creator and the most acceptable intelligence,
possessing eternal qualities. May Thine qualities and Thy inspiration pass to us.

Prayers for Tim

Update

Sorry I have not updated…the situation was sometimes overwhelming for me.

Tim has been diagnosed with a clotting issue, so we are dealing with that. He is on proper medication for that. His legs are much improved, but they still swell up quite a bit. He wraps them with ace bandages to control the swelling.

The bladder/prostate still needs healing, but sometimes seems to be improving. Right now we are using natural/alternative means to resolve a bladder infection. He has reacted to so many antibiotics that we are reluctant to try that route.  Please keep him in your prayers. It is really important to resolve this. It seems to be working, but slowly. We keep in close contact with our GP on this…

We have had some insights into the deeper issues and meaning of all this. I never thought I would say this, but it has its own perfection. I suppose it always does… It is still in motion, but in my heart of hearts, I feel the worst of it is over.  However, some of the journey remains, and I am too close to the situation to really be a judge of how far we have to go. (Sometimes before it has felt like we are climbing a big mountain, and we think the top is near – but when we reach the crest – we see there is much more ahead…)

Even so – I hope/pray/affirm that the worst if over…

Love in Him,

Mary

Please continue to pray for Tim

Dear Prayer team,

Some things do seem to be improving, but last night we went to the doctor because he now has pain and swelling in his other leg. It looks like it could be another blood clot – we go the hospital today (Wednesday) for tests, etc.

He is already on an anti-coagulant (Warfarin) so they may need to adjust his dosage, and see what is driving this in him.

Thank you for your prayers – it means so much to us.

There have been many spiritual graces in this time…These things open up the depths within us.

Love in Him,

Mary