What you should know about the metaphysical meaning of rheumatoid arthritis
One of our readers asked about healing rheumatoid arthritis, so I meditated with this and got some insights about the energetic belief behind this autoimmune disease. I was surprised to discover that this is an autoimmune disease, which I researched after I did the meditation. In my meditations with other auto-immune conditions, from an emotional and spiritual perspective the body is attacking itself because we have a self-attacking belief.
With rheumatoid arthritis (RA), what’s happening inside the body?
First let’s take a look a medical perspective of rheumatoid arthritis so that we have an idea about what the body is doing and then we’ll take a look at the emotional belief that allows it to happen. Here is an excerpt from MedicineNet.com. I like this particular page because it provides some drawings so that you can see what is happening. If you visualize in your self-healing practice, you may find the drawings to be helpful. Here is how rheumatoid arthritis was described:
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause inflammation of the tissue around the joints, as well as in other organs in the body. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body’s tissues are mistakenly attacked by their own immune system. The immune system contains a complex organization of cells and antibodies designed normally to “seek and destroy” invaders of the body, particularly infections. Patients with autoimmune diseases have antibodies in their blood that target their own body tissues, where they can be associated with inflammation. Because it can affect multiple other organs of the body, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic illness and is sometimes called rheumatoid disease.
What you should know about auto-immune diseases in relationship to rheumatoid arthritis
First of all, I want to offer my compassion to anyone suffering from this. I understand this condition can make even the simplest of everyday tasks very difficult to do. By the way, ladies, according to the same source mentioned above, this is three times more common in women than men. If you have rheumatoid arthritis and have not read my article on Women’s Rhythms and Healing Autoimmune Diseases, I suggest you read it as well as this article.
In the article above, I talk about autoimmune diseases being the physical manifestation of an inner war going on inside of us. Understanding what the inner war is all about provides you with some insights about what changes you need to make in your beliefs in order to experience the emotional and spiritual balance that will help you physically heal.
Metaphysical meaning
When it comes to rheumatoid arthritis, this is succinctly what I understood from my meditation and it complements what I had heard in my previous meditation about autoimmune diseases. Here is what I learned. I suggest you also sit quietly and check into your own intuition to see if this resonates as true for you.
Rheumatoid arthritis is about being angry with yourself for what you did not do or accomplish that you think you should have done.
Here is what Louise Hay suggested about it: Deep criticism of authority. Feeling very put upon.
So let’s put these two perspectives together:
Rheumatoid arthritis is about being angry with yourself for what you did not do or accomplish that you think you should have done. It includes a deep criticism of authority and a feeling of being very put upon.
Shifting your perspectives to improve healing
When you put these two insights together it becomes apparent that in order to heal rheumatoid arthritis you will need to develop some new perspectives and some skills. Here are some suggestions for focusing your energy:
1. Discover that deep intuitive voice within you that knows what is absolutely right for you to do, regardless of what other people (knowledgeable or in authority) might think. If you need help with this, check out my home study course, Psychic Powers and Psychic Abilities: Live Intuitively.
2. Hold yourself in compassion for the choices you regret that you did not make. Honor yourself for doing what you thought was right, or felt pushed into doing, even though it may have gone against a deeper intuitive wisdom. After all, intuitive wisdom has not received much societal acknowledgement until lately. Stop blaming anyone else or yourself by finding compassion for making the choices that you did. A great meditation for self-compassion can be found at my Sacred Feminine Awakening website:
3. When you have held yourself long enough in compassion, you will find yourself really noticing your critical inner voice—you know—that bullying voice you learned from someone else and you have now adopted as your own. You need to know what you tend to criticize and why, because if you stay present to the voice you are likely to discover that what you are really angry about relates to your own expectations about you and life.
If you have my book, The Root of All Healing, use step 1 to begin observing your criticism habits. If you don’t have the book, you can get it here: The Root of All Healing.
4. Gently and lovingly begin replacing critical words with words of gratitude. For example, when you catch yourself saying something like, “I wish she would show up on time,” quickly change the statement and the energy behind it to, “I’m grateful she is coming.” Pretty soon, you’ll find the critical thoughts start dropping away, and in their place you are affirming a more positive reality.
5. Give yourself permission to start following your intuitive wisdom, even if it makes other people unhappy with you for a while. Consider this: you’ve probably been deeply unhappy with yourself and others for a long time. So why not do what it takes to make yourself happy? Other people will get used to you being happy and either join you or they will give up, step back and let you be. After all, it’s difficult to argue with happiness.
While you are doing all of this wonderful inner work, discovering what really makes you happy in the world, I suggest doing a little research about foods and toxins that contribute to inflammation. Discover choices you could make that would reduce inflammation and enhance your flexibility and physical healing.
If you would like some sound healing support, you can get a specific healing recording for rheumatoid arthritis.
Most importantly I hope you are following your intuitive guidance so that you can be happy every single day, and let the critical, authoritarian voice within you finally get some rest.
You will also receive a complementary subscriptions to Misa's periodic Inspired Healing Messages and daily Prescriptions from Heaven inspirational e-cards.
I believe I have been guided here and am going to keep reading about yout discoveries and heal myself 🙂 THANK YOU!!!
Heidrun, I’m so glad you found us, and do hope that what you find here supports you in the healing you want to experience!
i found you for a friend but I have always looked to the metaphysical when healing and I am a two time cancer survivor and expectant mother after the doctors say it wasn’t possible. anything is possible and we are more resilient than we know. thanks for the reminder. you are inspiring. people thought I was crazy when I told them that they can be healed. I love seeing stories like yours that prove I’m not crazy and some of us still know the truth. Take care and God Bless.
Maritza, I’m so glad you shared your story and belief. I’m certain others will be inspired by your discovery and experience!
Greetings & thank you for this very insightful article. My body experiences the condition called RA. I have been in the complimentary/alternative health care field for over 30 yrs. I still study every day. I agree with what you express & the processes for discovery. What I would like to encourage is remembering that RA is expressing through the physical body to support each of us who experience it. It is a powerful teacher. I also want to remind readers that the word “heal” is not synonymous with the word “cure”. The goal is to live in a state of abundant love for self & a profound sense of wholeness. “Cure” does not indicate this state of being….nor does the absence of symptoms. The continuation of symptoms does not indicate failure-only that the journey continues. Respect, honor & love the journey. Let symptoms lead to greater, deeper love & expression of sprit instead of to isolation, fear and anger. Easy-no. Possible-absolutely, embracing ALL experiences of the journey.
Casey, thanks for your beautiful insights. Indeed, there are many ways to experience healing in the journey to self-love. I often tell my clients to be patient with the process. Our bodies are exposed to so many toxins in the world, and they are in the process of evolving along with our consciousness. The journey gives us the opportunity to love ourselves at every level. Love can leave a person feeling and experiencing tremendous spiritual and physical well-being, even if physical symptoms still exist. I know that one from personal experience. Dr. Jacob Liberman describes a similar experience. Love leads us to answers and insights emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. It all counts, as and when our new experiences arrive. I wholeheartedly agree with you Casey. The real journey is to experience deeper love.
Blessings to you Misa.
There are never coincidences. Google is great. My husband saw your web page. Lol
My Metaphysical journey is coming to its 3rd decade. R.A. stopped by to visit my PHYSICAL Body. I was quite busy teaching, Healing Work, different modalities. At 48 I went from SPIRITUAL, did a 180 TO THE PHYSICAL. I joined the Fire Service. I was a CA State fire engine operator/ Emergency Medic, and state certified confined space rescue technician. I made a name for myself. Every Chief, and every Captain knew I was Honourable, hard working, and could run Fire stations in Tulare County CA. 26 fire stations, run with only 1 officer, and volunteer firefighters in each area. I advanced to that status after only 2 years of hard PHYSICAL WORK. I showed At the worst moment someone’s life, They call 911. That is when I showed up……..hundreds of 911 calls over the years.
I was humbled and grateful to bring an energy of compassion, not judging, empathy, and I cared about the person. I also saw Spirit. I went on a medical emergency call. a man that was pulseless.I was doing CPR on him. He was I’ll. Colostomy bag, still had hospital band on his wrist. Very I’ll. In his home. Paramedics tried to set IV lines, to no avail. I was dripping with sweat, it was a hot summer. Some one tapped my shoulder and said he would take over compressions, and for me to get a rest. I stood up. I looked up at the ceiling. The man was there. I could see him so clearly. He was watching what we were doing. I cleansed that whole space and prayed. I do trust what I “get”. It was surreal. I know the other 6 persons did not see it. So I look at that man floating just under the ceiling. I then told the man it’s okay to go to the light. I “knew” he did not want to be here any more.
And then he was gone from my sight. Millisecond after, he was officially pronounced dead. That is just 1 medical call. I have many memories of the Universe at it’s most powerful.
At the age of 54 (yet undiagnosed) work shifts 48 hours on, then 4 days off became 4 days off on the sofa or in bed. I knew I couldn’t keep this up. I retired out that spring. It’s been 5 years.
I know remission (it just goes away) is going to happen. It’s back to Spirit for me. the last 5 years have been both a Divine Intervention as well as such pain that took me to very dark places. My new Job is: Accepting me, forgiving me, LOVING Me.! I am just recently, getting how anger, fear, had run my existence.
Physician Heal Thyself. ( WITH EXPERT HELP WHEN NEEDED)
Thanks for reading my comment.
I deeply knew, know, believe everything I read on your site. Your frequency resonates. Our planet is ill, it’s people suffer. There is much work to be done. I focus on that. . Low self-esteem, harmful learned beliefs, and Toxic relationships are so easy to identify. The footwork is hard. There is no magic Fairy dust that fixes or heals. It’s a process. My process has been hard. I’m just now in a place to be mindful of my thoughts. UNIVERSE GAVE ME TIME. LIKE TIME-OUT. No other choice but to be the SPIRITUAL WARRIOR. BLUME SAID IT BEST;
“For the SPIRITUAL WARRIOR, the battle is always with the Self”.
On YouTube my channel
Is:
Auradr California
my post are minuscule bits. But if it makes 1 human think. If I can share hope, and one person gets it I’m happy. I encourage those still asleep to think differently, we can change the consciousness of this world from fear and anger, to love, compassion, empathy. The possibilities are infinite.
Miss Misa,
You too are a SPIRITUAL WARRIOR.
A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR, as I myself am.
Thank you for your insights.
I send Love and Light.
Auradr California
Hi Mary,
Ah another spiritual warrior. Great to meet you. 🙂 Indeed, the healing journey takes persistence and oodle of love. I love that you are becoming mindful of your thoughts. Catching those doubts and fear and lovingly steering them toward healing thoughts is such powerful game changer. To focus on what good is happening, quiets the fears about what is not happening. It is one of my favorite healing practices. Good for healing and good for life. Seems you were a guardian angel for many people in their greatest moment of need. Perhaps now you are the guardian angel for you. And you have lots of excellent experience in skill and compassion for the job!!! Holding you in a vision of wellness and joy!
The Universe sent me to this message. THANK YOU… I honor your words and as I reflect on me. This message is RHEMA to my spirit. Thank you so much!
Delighted to know it is resonating with your spirit. 🙂
Misa,
Thank you for contributions in helping others.
What key underlying suspicions of self do you attribute to this disease? I understand and believe it is Self attacking Self…is it anger ( which every disease seems to be related) or more self recrimination type beliefs?
I ask for a patient of mine (young woman struggling with this disease since age 17) who is seeking answers through complementary medicine. She has been doing emotional work on this for years but never is able to get under the belief(s) driving it….not surprisingly her childhood was tough, waring parents, and she had to pick a side when they divorced at age 7. Her level of grief at not having done something to prevent this bottomed out a testing device measuring emotional well being…a value of zero which I have never encountered. Even clinical depression registers a 20 or below.
Any insights would be appreciated.
P.
Peter, thanks for reaching out. Yes, I also know autoimmune diseases to be self attacking self from a metaphysical perspective. With RA, I sense it to be more specifically, being angry with yourself for what you did not do or accomplish that you think you should have done. It seems your patient, at such a tender age, may have taken on the blame for her parent’s separation and her inability to keep them together. It is possible her child-spirit is still holding on to that responsibility and her adult self engages in self-recrimination, making it difficult for her to heal on the physical level. When someone is having a difficult time opening to self-love, I often recommend attending to the inner child. Feeling compassion for the child self, who did the best she could at 7 years old might be accessible to her. As she can access some compassion for herself, she might then be able to open up to recognizing her unmet emotional needs from that same time period. Spiritually, she can meet the needs that were not fulfilled. Once met, she will have the spiritual and emotional energy to heal physically. This kind of deep emotional-spiritual healing typically takes 30-90 days of daily practice in compassion. I hope this offers some useful insights as you support her in her healing. She is blessed to have your help!
Misa, thank you for taking the time to write about this topi. I’m 25 years of female who’s had R.A since 3 years of age. By now most of the bones in my hands have fused and the disease has spread out to most of my joints. I had tried meditations to try and get to the bottom of this, but your article was very helpful and enlightening. My entire life I have dealt with anger, stress and anxiety when I have bad flares, and I’ve noticed that I have a lot of negative feelings towards myself because of my disease, I’ve felt God has punished me. However, I realize that without this disease I might not have been the person I am today. I will practice your suggestions and I hope to get better outcome.
Thank you for this article.
Alex, I appreciate that you took a moment to respond. Meeting our circumstances with love is one of the great opportunities we have as humans. A couple of things come to mind that might serve you as well. I have a free booklet, “10 Beliefs that Can Short-Circuit Your Healing” that might be useful. Also, the Women of Power and Spirit story with Shazna Jai could be quite inspiring and provide some new insights. Holding you in love as you delve into the depths of love in your healing journey.
Thank you, Misa.
This really speaks to me for some reason. I actually do not have rheumatoid arthritis. I am watching a television show called “A Chef’s Life” and the chef’s mother has this disease. I was curious about it, so I just looked it up and found your website. I actually relate to pretty much ALL of the things you described about this disease, and I’m shocked about that! I do experience eczema on my hands and face but not arthritis. Now I wonder if there is a connection in any sort of way. This honestly describes the “talk” that goes on in my head daily. So, I will explore the links that you posted to gain some more knowledge about, myself, my thoughts, and my body.
Ah, it sounds like the perfect time to be aware of those thoughts, doesn’t it? Eczema and skin conditions can be about toxins in your blood. For example, I’m doing a Candida cleanse right now and the eczema on my back disappeared! Emotionally, skin rashes can be about “itching to get out,” as in the “real” you wanting to come out in the world. So it could be interesting to explore any connection you see between the two. Isn’t it empowering to know that you can begin looking at your thoughts and feelings at any moment and shift your reality into health?
First off….I’ll be the token MAN w/ RA in this comment section. 🙂 It’s no fair for you ladies to have all the fun. Now….Did you notice the humor. Good. I haven’t always been able to do that. Part of my healing is bringing laughter back into my life….Along with a MORE than healthy dose of forgiveness. Our internal chatter has so much to do with our healing and that lead me to this sight. My diet is insanely clean, I constantly detox my body and I incorporate exercise in the right doses and at the right times. My whole day is devoted to detoxification…..And recently, I’ve upped the amount of mental detoxification I’m doing and it’s been wonderful. At 46 I am finally dealing with issues that happened to me 40 years ago! Do the memories go away….no. But, I am attaching new feelings and emotions to those memories. I knew feelings and emotions were either the cause or effected my RA when, not long ago, I was doing okay and then I got REALLY upset about something and my leg just about gave out @ the knee joint. Ever since then….I have been doing some deep soul searching and healing myself through thoughts and “reprogramming” my brain/mind. I fired my Rheumatologist 4 months ago and have been clean of all drugs since. I must say….I feel 60% better OFF drugs then ON them. I say all of this to say……There is hope. If a 46 year old (formerly) hard headed man can change his mind…..You graceful ladies can. Stay positive….Even in the throws of pain (Which I know well) tell yourself you ARE healthy….You ARE clean and YOU are healing. And NEVER mention your disease to yourself. You have to THINK where you want to be…….And then, alas……You will arrive there. Mark Cooper Bronson, FL
Mark, Thanks for offering some really great insights. While RA is more prevalent amongst women, our men experience it too. I’m so glad you chimed in. I think a lot of us can relate to our own hard-headedness, and when we take the same energy we’ve been putting into our stubborn-ness into healing focus, we muster up some great energy for creating wellness. Humor is such an important part of the journey. When we change from taking ourselves so seriously and instead take ourselves lightly; and when we refocus from attention on the illness to the wellness we are creating, healing happens! I have also found with any illness, I see more healing progress when I affirm that what I am doing right now is making a difference. Like you, I didn’t talk about “my” MS. I did the same when I was shown in a meditation I was on the verge of having cancer. I didn’t think or talk about MS or cancer. I talked about what I was doing to make a difference in healing completely. Here is something a client did that made a difference for her. I’ve used it and love the results. She asked herself this question, “How would I feel right now if I was completely well?” She noticed that her body and mind responded immediately. This is a great question to ask when you are feeling pain. Then notice how your spiritual gifts rise up to help you feel completely well in that in the moment. Pile up one moment after another and you are creating your healing miracle. Mark, I’m quite struck by how your commitment to healing now is healing the original trauma(s) that created painful beliefs and emotions you’ve been living with most of your life. It sounds as though with your new beliefs, emotions and clearly, a deeper love for yourself and trust in yourself, you are creating a whole and healed self with which to enjoy life. Congratulations on your discoveries, commitment and healing! And thank you for sharing with all of us.
I know that so many things I hold is what make me have RA it is hard to forgive or forget when you have being hurt so badly. I hope one day I can free myself of so much pain and hate.
Liana, In my experience what makes forgiving difficult is that deep inside we have a little child that was traumatized and abused. That child self needs to be re-parented spiritually by holding the child-self in love. As the child-self heals, it is easier to understand the wounded child that lived inside the people that abused you. When you truly understand the wounded child within each person, and your compassion naturally reaches out to the wounded children within us all – forgiveness simply happens. Holding you and the child within you that was so deeply hurt.
hello, I just want to say that I believe RA, like everything, has an emotional and physical component….and which came first is up for discusssion…but how to heal it has been discussed and is being successfully actualized by those that are willing to do the work…..I hear people say they have tried diet, juicing, vitamins, energy work to no avail….and I say, then you have not tried the right protocol for the right amount of time….I went off methotrexate injections 1 yr. ago and began the very tricky business of healing myself naturally….I did a 45 day Gerson program….I tried other things before this. ..gave up gluten, dairy etc…but it was the Gerson program of hyperalimentation, juicing hourly, eating VERY specifically, taking very specific vitamins, and very few…that turned the corner…..and even then I had to learn what to do next…but I am 85% better with my RA….I don't know many people that have done this….but everyone that I know who HAS done this has gotten great results…..I challenge you to keep trying and to reach out to people that can help, that have experienced healing there RA…and be strong enough to make big changes for a while……
Karen, it sounds to me as though you might made a significant and deep commitment to yourself that led you to the protocol that worked for you. Congratulations for being so dedicated to you! You truly honored the Divine within you.
Dearest Misa,
Thank You so much for this! I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for 40 years and recently was asked why I am still holding on to it. I didn't think I had a choice, but now I am beginning to understand there are emotional strings holding me to it. I realize I definitely need to go within and be really quiet and listen – rather hard at times with all the voices and balderdash going on in there. So much of what you wrote makes so much sense, I have your book and have been reading it over and over. I so appreciate the meditation and also the pdf – I will be reading and listening to them a lot.
You have been such a support and blessing to me. In January of 2010, I started a blog on finding the gift in RA. There was something inside pushing me until I finally started the blog.
http://www.giftofra.wordpress.com
It has definitely made me look at it differently – I promised a no whinge zone because too many blogs are about what hurts, etc. I want it to be encouraging and maybe be of help to others. When I was first diagnosed, I didn't know anyone who had it, I had to do it on my own. I would have liked to have someone who had had for a while to see if what was happening was fairly normal or something I needed to check with my doc.
You have helped me so much over the past few months, things jump out at me and I know they are for me. I am better at paying attention to intuition, sometimes I see pictures, sometimes words come. I have set an intention of strengthening it and being better at listening and being quiet – a bit hard for a motor mouth.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart Misa. You are a real treasure!
Lee, I'm so glad you shared your insights with this. It is wonderfully freeing to realize we do have a choice—about everything! After listening to some powerful healing stories over the years, I'm convinced that it is in this realization and the hope that it inspires, that we are able to heal ourselves from seemingly chronic physical challenges. Your website sounds like a special gift you have given yourself and others that are healing from RA. I hope some of our readers will visit it and share their healing experiences with you.
Misa,
This is wonderful. I have lived with joint issues (I refused to say arthritis because I will not pull that into my belief system) for years. I was very self-judgmental for years always thinking i 'should' do more, 'be' more, 'accomplish' more etc.
Once I let that judgment go and started trying to figure out what I wanted and not what everyone around me wanted me to be and do, my body started to positively respond. It took me a while but I feel so much better now both physically and emotionally. I am so glad you are letting others know that we can truly heal ourselves.
Ariann,
It is such a relief when we see the connection between our beliefs and feelings and their affect on our bodies. Once we begin acting on that realization, we give our bodies a chance to rest, relax and recuperate. Stressing beliefs put stress on our bodies and stressed out bodies have a difficult time healing. If we are stressed, no amount of physical aid is going to over-ride the stress-response we are creating in our bodies. Your own awareness and healing tells a powerful story about the link between beliefs and our physical nature. As you know, I've been there too, so I empathize with how much conscious attention it takes to remain consistent in retraining our beliefs so that we create a true healing environment.
The sad part is that here in Canada we don't have a choice as to how we can have our doctors treat us as they have to follow the "protocol" as dictated by the medical or should I say pharmaceutical industry. Anyway, that being said, my dilemma is in which way to go. Am I treating energy or matter or both? I seem to hear from so many places that matter isn't real so then I focus on the energy aspects of healing and then I hear about micro-organisms and I shift my focus onto treating matter. It seems confusing and tends to get frustrating. One of the websites for information on RA caused by micro-organisms is the Arthritist Trust of America site. Thanks Misa.
Yes, the same is true here in the US. There are specific protocols that recommended. I can appreciate how confusing it can be to know what to focus on when it comes to healing. Personally, I am a true believer in treating the physical nature of a condition along with the spiritual or emotional natures of a health challenge. I would be curious to know about other people's experiences, but I have not had much luck with treating only the physical or only the energy behind the physical. Even when I use sound medicine, I am aware that the sounds usually address all the required layers of our reality or energy bodies—physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. The energy medicine "speaks" to full and complete healing, which typically needs to occur in all of the energy bodies, preferably at the same time. I have experienced delay my own healing when I focus on one of those energy bodies, but not the others. Thanks for the referral to the Arthritis site. I hope it will be helpful to folks reading this entry. Please let us posted on what you discover.
Thank you for the very informative article, Misa. My experience is that RA IS a very debilitating disease. I have tried almost every treatment there is from pharmaceuticals to natural supplements to energy work and intuition/consciousness work with varying degrees of success. I understand the role of my attitude/thinking in the process of this RA disease. However, I have learned that there is numerous medical professionals who believe that RA is caused by invading micro-organisms that causes the immune system to act up. I am coming to believe more and more in this idea because I've heard from numerous individuals that no longer have RA symptoms.
Marianne,
I truly appreciate your experience and insights. I know how much effort it takes to do enough personal research to have some understanding of what the cause might be, so I can appreciate the hours you have probably put into your own research. If indeed, the physical cause is a micro-organism, then it would seem there is hope for effective treatment on the physical level. And clearly, if others no longer have the symptoms, they have discovered answers. I would be curious to know what they discovered emotionally and physically that provided them with freedom from RA.