Last weekend I had a wonderful opportunity to participate in a Community Trauma Healing training program provided by Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB). This non-profit was formed after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005. Since then they have offered over 1 million treatments all over the world.
Their mission is to provide immediate relief and recovery acupuncture services to global communities. They provide training and support to mobilize teams in response to natural and manmade disasters, providing free trauma relief acupuncture, right alongside first responders. In addition to these heroic efforts, they also travel around the world training local providers so that they can continue the treatments after the volunteers head back home. Yay for sustainability!
During the first day of the training, my ears totally perked up when the facilitator called their work a 'medicine of peace.' My heart broke open and I started to cry as I knew what I was hearing rang very deep and true for me.
One of the comments made during the training was that the givers are healed as much as the receivers. We created a clinic where 5 acupuncturists gave treatments to the rest of the workshop participants. There were greeters who helped organize us, and two watchers who keep an eye on everyone to assure quick responses are made to anyone needing assistance. The energy in the room deepened into this great calmness as the needles were inserted. Collective healing power was in the room.
I'm so deeply moved by Acupuncturists Without Borders - you'll be hearing more from me about them as I've signed up to do some volunteering over the next year or so.
To learn just a little bit more about what they do, watch When the Birds Stopped Singing: Acupuncturists Without Borders Relief in Puerto Rico: