Massage Magazine article
TABLE TALK
Massage Magazine January / February 2001,
A hands-on healing mission.
What began 10 years ago as an Episcopal church spiritual development group
in Clearwater, Florida, has grown into a non-denominational hands-on healing
organization open to everyone. More than 100 people now volunteer at the
Pilgrimage Institute and in the community, providing free hands-on healing to
those in need. "We serve those individuals who come to us in search of
relief from the stress of life issues, whether of mind,
body or spirit." said co-founder Marilyn Barr Gatlin.
Co-founder Rev. Tanya Beck and Gatlin incorporated their ideas with input
from healing arts practitioners to develop the hands-on healing method. A set of
movements, hand positions. intentions and prayers evolved, administered by a
two-person team of "healing partners" to a clothed client lying on a massage table.
"Two people work together in synchrony. Its healing in stereo," said Gatlin.
People are referred from neighboring hospitals and cancer centers, or they hear
about the organization through word of mouth, according to Cindy Livernois, the
Pilgrimage’s program director. Many of the healing partners were once clients whose
lives were transformed by receiving hands-on healing. A two-day workshop trains
prospective healing partners, and then pairs new partners with experienced ones
in client sessions. The organization has attracted psychiatrists, lawyers, nurses,
massage therapists, physicians, ministers and educators to its team.
"The intention is to provide a loving, healing presence. We put no expectations on
anything. The client and two healing partners create a strong circle where
wonderful things happen to everyone involved," said Judy Charmatz, one of the
original healing partners. "We don’t ask that a body be healed. We ask that
the person be able to find that spirit within themselves to find
their own healing, whatever that is meant to be."
Retired doctor and psychiatrist Dick Meadows, M.D., had a life-long interest in
alternative healing, and began volunteering weekly a year ago. "I feel good about
what I am doing. And the people who come to see us say they feel much better,
they say, "I am on the way to getting well," he said. Another healing partner,
Pam Milhan, took the training and began volunteering after seeing the
positive effects the sessions had on a family member. Milhan, an assistant
school librarian, said, "It's not something where you need to sit and think,
'Am I doing this right or wrong?" You are following a basic plan and
everything else comes from spirit. You really tap into their pure self.
It becomes a two-way thing, it’s very radiant."
Charmatz said she would like to see the Pilgrimage process be infused into all areas
of human contact. "We have people who, when you hold their head and feet on the
table, they just break down. They can’t believe this kind of total caring and love is
available to them. I think the world needs more of that."
—Patricia Kirby