Decoding the Emotional,
Psychological and Spiritual Messages that Underlie Illness
Your Body Speaks
Your Mind
by Deb Shapiro
In Your Body Speaks Your
Mind: Decoding the Emotional, Psychological, and Spiritual Messages That
Underlie Illness, author Deb Shapiro teaches the reader how to
interpret the body's "language of symptoms." I was relieved to see,
right at the start of Chapter One: "Illness is real. Accidents
happen. Medicine can help. I am not writing this book in order to
convince you that the sole reason for your illness is in your mind and
that you must have done something wrong or are to blame for being ill.
And I am not saying that simply by understanding how the mind and body
work together you will be able to miraculously cure yourself of whatever
ails you."
With this practical approach
clearly stated, Shapiro then goes on to explain the "bodymind"
connection. Part One, "Finding Meaning in the Midst of Chaos," explains
the bodymind concept and learning how to listen when the body speaks. The
author encourages the reader to look beyond the illness itself and to see
how it can impact one's life. For example, she poses questions such as
"What does the illness stop you from being able to do?" and "What does
your illness enable you to do?" An illness might give a person a reason
to "have time to yourself, avoid personal problems, or avoid unpleasant
issues." Specifically under food allergies -- which can certainly be real
-- questions posed include "Does being unable to eat certain foods make
you feel special because you cannot eat in certain places or eat the same
food as others?" and "Does it bring you more attention?"
Part II, "Your Bodymind Revealed,"
is where one can look up just about any symptom "from the head to the
toes," and decipher what the body might be saying. I developed a
condition I had never had before this summer -- GERD (gastroesophageal
reflux disease). Deciding to look that one up and finding it under
"Indigestion and Heartburn", the questions the syndrome posed were: "What
issues are you swallowing that are so sour?" and "What feelings are being
swallowed that are so bitter or upsetting?" I did indeed find this had a
correlation with a concern in my life that was taking an unusually long
time to resolve, and one I was reluctant to explore any feelings about.
While this book alone is certainly
worth the price of $19.95, it comes with a bonus CD that includes two
guided meditations -- "Talking with your Body" and "Bodymind
Appreciation." The first meditation is ideal for addressing specific
physical (or mental) concerns and noting the imagery that comes up.
Shapiro urges you to take notes, as some of these images may not make
immediate sense but could hold the key to understanding your ailment(s).
"Bodymind Appreciation" is just that -- one's body does an awful lot of
work in many ways and is often taken for granted.
I found the meditations enjoyable
and the book thought-provoking and informative. Your Body Speaks Your
Mind will definitely be joining my health library.
Your Body Speaks Your Mind
by Deb Shapiro
Sounds True, Inc 2006
346 pp plus CD, $19.95
Review by Diane Saarinen
