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."