Our coordinator of Presybyterian volunteer ministries, Rev. Steve Spidell, has compiled a helpful list of complementary spiritual practices for use by chaplains and other trained pastoral caregivers. The entire list can be found on the Association of Professional Chaplains webstie, under the resource section. Each week, we will highlight specific spiritual practices which have been incoporated into our care plans here at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. We hope you find this list helpful, and invite you to offer comments and suggestions via our website message board, where there is a specific message tree that addresses this topic.
ANNOINTING WITH OIL
This is a religious ritual that includes the placing of oil on the forehead and other places of the body. It is often accompanied by the reading of scripture and prayer, and is for the purpose of spiritual blessing. The annointing of oil also symbolizes the bond between the Divine and the community of faith. Often, annointing is provided in the context of illness, with the hope for healing and restoration.
At M. D. Anderson, the practice of annointing with oil is also extended through the practice of chaplains praying prior to chemotherapy, for example. Again, this is understood as a spiritual blessing which takes into account the purpose and intentions of those called to care for the sick, as well as the hopes and desires of the patient,with the recognition that we are partners with the Divine in the healing process.
Here is an additional resource about the spiritual practice of annointing with oil:
"Paths to Prayer, Finding Your Own Way to the Presence of God", Patricia Brown. 2003. Jossey -Bass.
ART
Participation in artistic endeavors is a creative expression which increases one's appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us, often resulting in an attitude of apprecation and gratitude. This, in turn, can help the cancer patient and caregiver(s) to find strength and perspective. At M. D. Anderson, several endeavors , including programs offered by the Place of Wellness, and a tour of an area museum, sponsored by Chaplaincy, offer the opportunity to experience the deep and rich effects which art has upon one's sense of wellness.
