The Art of True Healing

Besides the clear exposition of the Middle Pillar exercise, the book also contains an element borrowed from astrology - the seven principal ideas symbolized by the sun, moon and inner planets (every idea and thing can be classified within one of these root ideas). For example, the sun represents power & success, life, money, growth, etc., its positive color is orange, its negative color is yellow or gold, and its magical name is Elohim Tsa-vo-os. So for example if one has a need of money, you would visualize the negative color (yellow/gold) as a next step following the Middle Pillar and vibrate the name. To help someone else who needs money, one would visualize the positive color (orange) and the person concerned and vibrate the name. I have seen the Middle Pillar described using six chakras (Ted Andrews)or all seven chakras where Regardie uses only five (he combines the Throat & Third Eye centres), but I suppose it doesn't matter, since the effect is the same. And the effect is immediate and very tangible. An important little book, very useful for spiritual healers, alternative therapists and for everybody who takes responsibility for their own health.

One can finish this title within a half hour and it will leave quite the impression. One can utilize the wisdom and tools taught. Although flavored with Jewish Mysticism, any spiritual path will benefit from Israel's work. An asset to any library.

(Revised, corrected: 12/ 25/ '03) The title is a little misleading. This essay, brief and easily assimilated by any intelligent person, is really about healing any problem in your life, "whether it is a problem of character, marriage, health, financial - in fact, any problem type of which one can think.' first, from the conclusion of Regardie's essay: " anything worthwhile abnd likely to succeed requires a great deal of work and perseverance. The Art of True Healing is no exception." There. Now you've got some of the brass tacks, for starters. (of course, there ARE alternatives . . the metaphysical/ new thought/new age/ christian science, etc. spiritual healing world is FULL of them. ('Scientific Christian Mental Practice' by Emma Curtis Hopkins is one of my absolute favorites, delightfully awkward title or no.) Yet, Regardie's 'True Healing' is alot less reading, tho both approaches take about a year of practice to show fullest results for efforts. Take your choice.) Many also attain perfectly decent results with the simplest 'relax, visualize, breath slowly and rhythmically, and practice reciting affirmations til you get the jist of it all ' types of approaches advocated in such books as those of Shakti Gawain ('Creative Visualization.') It's up to you. Over 20 years familiarity prompts me to offer up these ideas to the newcomer: 1. There is a 'caveat emptor' - the one way to mess up the exercise in this book, is by insufficient relaxation and rhythmic breathing. Be forewarned. As Regardie says: ' Cultivate above all the art of relaxation.' You cannot force the Art of True Healing/middle pillar exercise anyway. Its entire orientation and basis for success, is that of ease and simplicity. It could be added that an overall seriousness of approach, and a fundamentally stable life, provide a good, substantial foundation for this technique. Dont be put off when Regardie uses phrases like :' We have interfered with the inherent rhythms of nature. And how sadly have we paid for it!" Emphasis like this is nice, yet can cause some people to indulge melodramatically in some negative thinking. Such adherence to such ways of putting things, can yield negative results sooner or later. Firm up your continuity. It is still a valuable essay.B alance in all things. Study intelligently. 2. I am pleased that this book is out in this one-volume edition. It makes it so much more convenient (especially at such a low price) than just having it on the internet. You can, for reasons of completeness, compare this Marc Allen version here with the original you can currently find on the internet. You will find them quite comparable. 3. Regardie elsewhere in his writings recommends, that you not discuss your work with this exercise with anyone else, as you will then tend not to benefit by it. Don't ask me why. That's just the way it is.( Oh, well... ) 4. Regardie also states that the exercise described in 'The Art of True Healing' may take 'far more than a mon

Besides the clear exposition of the Middle Pillar exercise, the book also contains an element borrowed from astrology - the seven principal ideas symbolized by the sun, moon and inner planets (every idea and thing can be classified within one of these root ideas). For example, the sun represents power & success, life, money, growth, etc., its positive color is orange, its negative color is yellow or gold, and its magical name is Jehovah Eloh ve Dah-as. So for example if one has a need of money, you would visualize the negative color (yellow/gold) as a next step following the Middle Pillar and vibrate the name. To help someone else who needs money, one would visualize the positive color (orange) and the person concerned and vibrate the name. I have seen the Middle Pillar described using six chakras (Ted Andrews)or all seven chakras where Regardie uses only five (he combines the Throat & Third Eye centres), but I suppose it doesn't matter, since the effect is the same. And the effect is immediate and very tangible. I found Marc Allen's afterword to be helpful (variations of and reflections on the meaning of the Middle Pillar), especially the description of the 2-minute version and the clear explanation of the tree of life. Unlike another reviewer (daniel j walton) I merrily mix eastern and western methods and have been chanting Sanskrit mantras after vibrating the Hebrew names in the middle pillar, and it enhances the feeling and the effect for me. An important little book, very useful for spiritual healers, alternative therapists and for everybody who takes responsibility for their own health.

The Middle Pillar Exercise, like any routine alignment of the etheric and physical bodies, is a benifiacial way to promote good health and a positive outlook. These two things are a prerequisite for a fulfilling life. In The Ture Art of Healing, Israel Regardie presents a solid, clearly defined program for using this powerful technique daily. THe instructions are easy to follow, divorced from the mystical gobbelty gook that permeates much of the Western Inner Tradtion. Of course, this book was not written for practitioners of that tradition. It was written for everyone. THose involved in magick will undoubtedly find some bits very odd indeed. Regardie's pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton, for instance, will give many ceremonial magicians fits. Also, the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, usually regaurded as a nessacary part of a magickal routine, is absent here. Most of the trappings of magick, in fact, have been stripped away to reveal the core technique which can be used by anyone. Regardie used this program as part of his psychological therapy, and since none of his clients were struck down by lightning, we can safely assume that his premise that the Middle Pillar is a valuable healing tool for everyone is correct. Recomended mainly for non-magicians