What Is Spiritual Healing? Meaning and Simple Practices

Spiritual healing is the idea that you are more than a body. You also have a heart, a mind and a spirit, and those can hurt too. Grief, fear, guilt and loneliness are real pain, even when no test can find them.

Spiritual healing is about caring for that inner part. For some people it means feeling close to God again. For others it means finding peace with the past, or feeling at home in their own skin.

Many people say it helps them with:

• Peace: A calmer mind and less worry, even when life is still hard.
• Hope: A feeling that things can get better, or that you can carry what you have.
• Meaning: A sense that your pain is not pointless and that you are part of something bigger.
• Connection: Feeling less alone, with other people, with nature or with God.

Notice what is missing from that list. Spiritual healing is not a promise that an illness will go away. Some people do feel better in body when their mind is calmer, but that is a gift, not a guarantee.

There is no single way to do it. These are the paths people use most:

• Prayer: Talking to God, alone or with others. Many people pray for their own healing or for someone they love.
• Spiritual healing meditation: Sitting quietly, following your breath and letting your body relax. It gives your mind a rest from worry.
• Spiritual energy healing: Practices like reiki, where a healer places hands on or near your body. Many people find it very relaxing.
• Nature: Walking in a forest, sitting by water or working in a garden. Many people feel lighter outdoors.
• Forgiveness: Letting go of old anger, at others or at yourself. It is often the slowest kind of healing, and one of the most freeing.

Some people also use objects to help them focus, like prayer beads, candles or healing crystals. The object is a reminder. The quiet time is what matters.

Healing is one of the oldest themes in faith. Here are a few real examples:

• Christianity: The Gospels tell many stories of Jesus healing the sick. In the letter of James (James 5:14 to 15), the sick are told to call the church elders to pray over them and anoint them with oil.
• The spiritual gift of healing: In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul lists gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to believers. One of them is the gift of healing (verse 9). Many Christians believe some people are given a special calling to pray for the sick.
• Judaism: The Mi Sheberach is a prayer for healing said in many synagogues. People name those who are sick so the community can pray for them.
• Islam: Ruqyah is the practice of reciting verses from the Quran for healing and protection.
• Buddhism: Many Buddhists turn to the Medicine Buddha for healing, and meditation is used to ease suffering of the mind.
• Chinese tradition: Qi is the life force in Chinese thought. Practices like qigong and tai chi use slow movement and breath to keep it flowing.

The Bible also calls Luke, who wrote one of the Gospels, a physician (Colossians 4:14). Many Christians see that as a sign that faith and medicine were never meant to be enemies.

You do not need a teacher to start. Try this quiet practice for about ten minutes:

1. 1Find a quiet spotSit in a comfortable chair. Put your phone away and close your eyes if you like.
2. 2Breathe slowlyBreathe in for four counts and out for six. Do this five or six times.
3. 3Scan your bodyMove your attention from your head to your feet. Notice where you feel tight or heavy, and let it soften.
4. 4Name what hurtsSay it in your head, simply. 'I am sad about my dad.' 'I am scared about my health.'
5. 5Imagine warmthPicture a soft, warm light resting on the place that hurts. If you pray, you can ask God to be with you there.
6. 6Close gentlyTake one more deep breath. Write one line in a notebook about how you feel now.

Here is a simple prayer for healing that we wrote. You can say it for yourself or change the words for someone you love. If you have your own faith, use the name for God that feels right to you.

If you want to read more, The Art of Spiritual Healing by Joel Goldsmith is a classic on healing through prayer and meditation. You can find more ideas on our spiritual books page.

This part matters most. Spiritual healing can bring comfort, but it cannot be trusted to cure an illness. If you have pain, a new symptom or an illness, see a doctor. If you are struggling with your mood, talk to a doctor or a therapist. If you are in crisis, call your local emergency number. In the US, you can call or text 988.

Many hospitals now have chaplains, and many doctors are glad when patients find strength in faith. You can do both.

If you want to see a healer, choose carefully. Watch for these red flags:

• Promises to cure: No honest healer promises that your cancer, diabetes or depression will go away.
• Asks you to stop medicine: Walk away. Never stop a treatment without talking to your doctor.
• Big fees: Be careful with high prices, pressure to buy many sessions or requests for large 'donations'.
• Blame: A good healer never tells you that you are sick because your faith is weak.

A safe healer is kind, clear about what they can and cannot do, and happy for you to keep seeing your doctor.