— “We must focus on the challenge and the solution, not just the problem. When we see our reality as a challenge, we can become the creators of our life process and not remain powerless victims of situations tied to fear. “
Valeria Teles interviews Judy Erel — the author of “Dancing with Cancer: Using Transformational Art, Meditation and a Joyous Mindset to Face the Challenge”Judy Erel is a 73 year old mother, grandmother, artist, poet, author, meditation teacher, art teacher, health guide, and translator.
She studied human development (Cornell University) and Ed. psychology Hebrew University Jerusalem) and worked in this field until the 1980"s. She moved to the desert from Jerusalem with her family in the late 1970's and something there touched her very deeply. She began her art studies (Beer Sheva, and State Art Teachers College) and by the mid 1980's Judy began her spiritual path meditating, tai chi, qi Kong.
When Judy was diagnosed with "incurable" treatable cancer of the bone marrow in 2007, she was already very spiritual with a well-developed spiritual outlook on life. She knew it was time to "to walk my talk". Judy continuously journaled from the first moments to help me understand and remember with all the meds she was given. Above all she knew that she had the ultimate responsibility for her healing - no doctor, no medication.
Judy could use them for help but she had to take conscious responsibility if healing was to be the best possible for her to attain. She used everything she ever learned to create her own golden path to recovery. Beginning as a completely handicapped person with a corset brace from collarbone to pelvis, 24/7 nursing care and prohibited to lift more than a glass of water, Judy entered one of the most fascinating, creative periods of her life on the deepest most meaningful levels.
Judy found herself calling the various techniques she used "Thought Work", and used them with the conventional cancer treatment, in order to make her thoughts and intentions clear, exact and conscious. Then she could connect them to her everyday reality. Her doctors were quite "shocked" regarding the amazing way she healed and was able to function.
After a successful bone marrow transplant, Judy was in complete remission for almost 10 years, which is considered more than three times the average.
In 2009 she began providing guided meditations and mandala-drawing activities in the haematology and oncology departments of major Israeli hospitals supported by the Roche Pharmaceuticals ‘Roche Lends a Hand’ project.
Yet there was more to do, so she began writing a book. Judy realized that to be of use, the book must tell her story but focus on the reader. She wrote Dancing With Cancer, to offer guidance and inspiration not only to cancer sufferers as they undergo the various stages of treatment but also to those supporting them, enabling them to understand better the experience of the cancer patient as well as the possibilities of mind–body empowerment.
To learn more about Judy Erel and her work please visit: https://www.judyerel.com/
— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.
