Considering what is known about primitive people, their healing treatments were part of the magic and spirit of life as expressed in their religion and views of the environment around them. Believing that sick or diseased evil doers obviously are being punished for acting against the Gods, that they are possessed by wicked spirits and are struggling against evil forces and magic, or that they are suffering from the actions of malevolent individuals, such afflicted individuals were frequently shunned, driven out of the village, or killed, …yet, at the same time, in other societies, there is evidence that the surgical procedure of cutting a hole in the skull to relieve pressure or remove evil spirits (trepanation) was a common practice. The quality of healing treatment varied considerably  between different groups of people and according to supernatural beliefs and practices, …and though, at times, “specialists” were available to treat specific problems and illnesses, in most cases, since it was believed that diseases were primarily the actions of evil spirits, they were treated by a shaman, witch doctor, sorcerer, diviner, or religious prophet.

Considering hurts and wounds to be natural and physical not spiritual, patients with these problems were frequently treated by a healer using easing or comforting techniques such as rubbing or binding an injured area, holding a wound or applying an herbal compress to stop bleeding, sucking a puncture or laceration, mimicking animal behavior of licking a cut or wound, using warmth to make a patient comfortable …or cold to deaden pain.

In either situation, these restorative practitioners were also expected to protect their patients from all sorts of afflictions and misfortunes …such as loss of crops and livestock, natural and unnatural disasters, family infertility and disabilities, and many other tragedies. How many physicians, healers, or therapists today are willing to take on such tasks to protect their patients? …yet Asava massage teachers, guiding patients to live as they truly desire …and experience the benefits of that life, are helping to protect their patients from evil spirits, from loss of possessions and disasters which affect many individuals, from disappointment and unhappiness and from the disabilities and afflictions created and imposed through judgments, …the evil spirit of judgments …we might add.

Though you may believe that ancient people had mysterious or secret knowledge or a close connection to the earth and communication with natural matters which enabled them to live long lives, all evidence shows that their lives were substantially shorter than today’s lifespan; …and while they had some knowledge about herbs and minerals, their healing and therapy practices and techniques were extremely primitive …and were generally ineffective. It seems that, as today, the body frequently repaired itself regardless of the medications and treatments applied …or the techniques used to drive out evil spirits and forces possessing the patient.

To many ancient people, disease was a curse imposed upon individuals and/or their families and descendants by evil spirits, by God, or by other malevolent individuals. In order to “cure” a disease or sickness, the healers had to “divine” the sin the diseased person had committed, or had been afflicted with, and the seriousness of that sin, so the severity of the illness could be understood. This “divining the disease” is closely related to taking a patient’s personal and family medical history today, …does your massage therapist, take a complete history? …or do you as a massage therapist thoroughly question your clients about their pains and afflictions …and life? …about their beliefs and desires? If not …why not?

Originally, Chinese physicians, believing their medical knowledge to be a secret power, jealously guarded that knowledge and passed it on only to trained and trusted family members …or to other specially selected individuals, …there were no formal schools for training healers. Yet, in other lands, ancient tablets written 4500 years ago, which formed a medical textbook, indicate that healing practices were not always spiritual or magical or jealously guarded …and that many shared and expanded treatments were practical and effective; …it is for the purpose of sharing Asava knowledge and information that we are offering you this guidance to self-awareness through Asava massage teachers, …for the greatest effect of massage is its awareful influence on your mind, which does not, of course, diminish, in any way, the value of massage, …but greatly increases and enhances the value and effectiveness of massage through self-awareness.

Primitive men, believing that diseases and sicknesses were caused by evil spirits and supernatural forces which invaded and controlled the patient may have created the first body massage treatments through their act of kneading, or striking, or beating a patient’s body to drive demonic forces out.

Many of the greatest contributions to medical treatments have not been in providing something new, but in destroying and replacing false beliefs and therapies. In relieving body stress and tension through massage, loosening blocked energy, strengthening weak energy, or cleansing bad energy …have we really moved very far from the practice of driving evil spirits out of the body? …or attacking bad forces with good powers? Though the enemy or cause of disease and illness has changed from bad spirits and evil forces to weak or blocked energy, improper attitudes and emotions, or numerous tiny pathogens, the treatments for dealing with these “causes”, especially in the case of massage therapies …and many similar treatments, have remained essentially unchanged in their actions to drive evil spirits out; …such continued witchcraft cannot serve you today!

Have illnesses, ailments, or pains taken over your well-spirited body? …and do you feel that it couldn’t possibly be your “fault”? …simply because your “good spirit” would never abuse you in this way? They …maybe you are abusing yourself!

To ancient people, their belief in good and evil spirits seemed to explain every event and circumstance …and relieved them from any fault or responsibility, for everything could be blamed on or understood as the unknown and unknowable vagaries and actions of spirits or gods, …and it seemed to empower men as they endowed and empowered their personal, benevolent spirits and gods with even greater powers than others had. In many instances, life and healing became a practice of “spiritual one-upmanship”. And though these beliefs and actions seem to be the superstitions of the uninformed, maybe you are living by similar false beliefs of good against evil …and still playing the same foolish games of life and healing therapies. Think carefully about this …for your life, happiness, and enriching wellbeing depend upon your awareness and actions.

Let there be no mistake, massage creates a soothing and beneficial mental•emotional effect which reduces tension and stress, stimulates your skin (your body’s largest organ), increases blood circulation, helps control or lessen some pains, frequently relieves muscle and soft-tissue injuries and stiffness, and promotes an overall sense of wellbeing, …however, since these problems are self-created and self-imposed by you, massage is doing very little to treat the real problem …which is the self and life you are living! …and obviously struggling against.

The belief that you live in a world of good and evil events, situations, and forces, or good/evil spirits, persists today …and completely controls every belief•thought• attitude•emotion•word•action you live, …and you, like early man, to protect yourself from these evils or wrongs of life, and to appease and satisfy Gods and good spirits, have created and imposed commandments and prohibitions upon yourself and others for almost every act of life …with sanctions or even banishment of violators from your personal life and world. In this, you, like ancient people, are trying desperately to control your life and environment by gaining the acceptance and favor of a good-spirited self and life …and healing has become an active part of these prohibitions and ceremonial acts to banish or overwhelm the illness-causing evil spirits and immoral or wrong actions …and gain the blessings of good actions …or a good-spirited self and life.

Just as doctors and therapist tend to wear identifying gowns today, ancient medicine men and witch doctors always dressed for their healing treatments. And, in an attempt to drive out the evil spirits possessing his patients, medicine men frequently gave their patients powerful though gruesome-tasting medicinal potents or tasks to perform which were intended to make the patient’s body an undesirable place for the evil spirit to reside in. Ohh, certainly, most medications today are sugar-coated or compounded in flavored syrups, but have you tasted most natural or herbal medications lately? All such ancient actions and medications, combined with incantations, dancing and screaming, shaking rattles, burning smoke or incense, physical manipulation of the patients body, and other showings of magical powers had no effect upon the evil spirits, but such actions certainly impressed the patient …who frequently got better merely because he felt better …but little else was accomplished through such actions and demonstrations, …and we’ve continued most of these actions in our treatments today, in different forms, but with much the same degree of effectiveness.

Of course, there are many exceptions to this illustration of ancient healing practices …and many examples of direct pain•illness-relieving medications and treatments, but these came later in the development of healthcare …or in more-learned and experienced societies, but underneath it all, as in today’s falsely-created world of good and evil, very little has changed …or can change.

While focusing on evil spirits and forces as the cause of disease and sickness, it seldom occurred to ancient people that illnesses could heal without some interventions to drive out the evil forces and cleanse the patient’s body for benevolent spirits, so the healer who possessed the power to enliven these spirits and make changes was held in awe …and given full credit while the patient was ill, but if the illness was relieved, the recovered patient frequently gave himself credit for having provided a receptive body for good spirits …who rewarded him with good health …or escape from the grip of evil spirits.

Of course, when patients died …they were frequently blamed for not providing and maintaining a proper place for good spirits to reside in. When patients or other malevolent forces could not be blamed for the death, witchdoctors could be punished with death for violating tribal prohibitions …or for not properly sacrificing or performing rituals to gain the favor of good spirits …as his position required of him. At other times, the medicine man’s failures were blamed on the patient’s enemies sending more evil spirits to again curse the barely recovering individual, …which then required that the enemy be discovered and stopped, …however, before this could be accomplished, the patient frequently died. All illness and unsuccessful cures were blamed on outside, uncontrollable or uncontrolled forces and dreams, …which created an explanation and reason for everything in life, …and everything in this view of life seemed reasonable, that man is the victim of evil actions …and depends upon good spirits and forces for protection and recovery.

In all of this, the medicine man was directing good sprits or forces against evil ones, which meant that he controlled both good and evil spirits, …therefore, he was frequently expected to direct evil forces against tribal enemies in the same way that malevolent individuals sent evil spirits to curse patients. Through this, you can understand that the medicine man, though normally ineffective, had great power and status in the tribe. Aren’t you treating doctors•healers•therapists today with similar misplaced awe and status …and not considering your own actions in creating•curing diseases, illnesses, and afflictions in your own body and life? Have you listened closely and carefully to your own words about good and bad matters? …or to your doctor’s, healer’s, or therapist’s words about the pains and problems in your body? …and the effectiveness of their cures and treatments? The medicine man had as much effect upon distant enemies as he did upon evil demons in a patient’s body and life, but his actions certainly affected those who watched him and believed; they believed in and trusted the medicine man’s good spirits and feared the power of his evil spirit forces. Ohh, the medicine man was not evil, they feared the powers he seemed to possess. They were deceived by their own perceptions …but these self-deceptions gave them an increased sense of strength and courage which appeared to protect and heal true believers. It seems that believing and understanding were the true healers …and fear and doubt were the causes of diseases and illnesses.

As an example of an ancient healer, consider this story of Achena, a healer of the Oneida Indian tribe who traveled the Hudson River in the early 1600's healing members of other Oneida villages, ...as well as, Mohawks, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca villages along the river. This group of five tribes was also known as the Iroquois Confederacy, ...which was founded a hundred years earlier by the prophet Deganawidah and his disciples in an attempt to reduce the constant intertribal rivalry and warfare ...and even cannibalism. This confederacy thrived, such that their cultural, medical, and material life was the most advanced of the eastern tribes at that time. And though women raised corn and squash and beans, while the men hunted deer and small game, women held a high status in the society.

Achena, a direct descendant of Deganawidah, born to be a medicine woman, was raised in a small palisaded Oneida village along the river; but when she received her call from spirit, her name was changed to "she who knows". And though she studied and worked beside other healers, Deganawidah was said to be her real teacher, …the one who gave her a true insight into and understanding of the invisible spirits that completely penetrated the visible world …and he was the one who instructed her in handling and directing the invisible forces affecting the lives of her patients. She was trained to enter the spirit world and shield people from evil spirits by rendering their destructive powers harmless.

Achena, being very successful at controlling fiendish demons, enjoyed great power and prestige in the Oneida tribe; but in answering her greater calling as a seer and a prophet, she also chose to visit other villages ...and other tribes. She felt that her power and purpose in life was too great to be limited to a few people. She was determined to carry "the good sacredness" from one village to another, and from one tribe to another, …and she often spoke of the "great spirits" at the village long houses.

Achena bound two canoes together, so, sitting in one canoe and carrying her belongings in the other, she became an obvious and familiar sight paddling the currents and eddies of the Hudson River. And though few people knew exactly what she was doing …and seldom understood her abilities, she was constantly hailed from the shore to help someone in need, ...for she was fully trained in herbs and healing ...as well as spirit guidance and prophecy.

When called to help someone, she first entered into "the greatness" to discover the patient's weaknesses and the spirit forces at work, so she could properly see into the future and foretell events ...and prescribe something to hold back or block the evil spirits and create a cure. Today, we call it "preventive medicine",…but, greater than that, Achena could see the problems and difficulties which were arising in their lives, not just those appearing upon their bodies, ...and she spoke of those things.

Achena’s prophecies also created problems, …for if the difficulties came true, that proved that her cures and "spirit shield" had not worked properly, and if the events did not occur, no one ever knew whether she was right or wrong in the first place. Sooo, there was a great risk and many difficulties in attempting to help people in these ways, but feeling it was important that they foresee, acknowledge, understand, and prevent or overcome problems in their lives, she was willing to risk these difficulties in her own life, ...simply because she had the strength and ability and dedication to help the sick of mind and heart and body.

And when people questioned Achena's prophecies, she responded, "If I and the spirits can do the great things you've heard about, which have helped so many people, would you spit upon all that I've said about your future?"

She had a very logical and rational way of expressing herself to those who earnestly listened, …but to those who turned deaf ears to her words and her spirit voices, she threatened them or imposed tasks and obligations upon them, …or, at other times, she even cursed and bedeviled them for their unholy beliefs and attitudes.

It was not that she was black-hearted or uncaring, it was just that she saw their fears and knew what they needed most, …and her actions were designed to break through the destructive spirits who were causing problems and illnesses. By being stronger than their spirits, she hoped the sufferers would accept and follow her advice. Sometimes they did, ...sometimes they did not. But it was important for Achena to present herself and her guiding spirits, so each individual might see and understand her advice, draw strength from that, put the new awarenesses into their own lives, change their ways, heal their ills and bad beliefs, and accomplish something worthwhile.

And after consulting her own spirits, and the spirits of those she was healing, Achena frequently gave her patients a "special charge", …it was something they had to do or create ...or establish, or pay back, or offer to another. And out of that then, she declared they would be healed …or overcome the approaching illness or misfortune.

Most individuals, fearing her great spirits, and doing exactly as she divined for them, found new guidance and direction, solved problems, and changed their lives, ...and proclaimed Achena to be a great prophet and healer ...which she was. But she also realized that in giving them something to do in a different way, when relating to someone of the family or village, or when working or hunting with another, they did much the same as they'd always done, but they did it in an exceptional way ...with new attitudes and feelings, ...they followed and answered to greater spirits.

Achena wasn't guiding them to a new life, and she wasn't just predicting a problem or an illness and then overcoming that, she was creating a greater, more spirited individual. And though they may not have understood fully what she was doing, they soon discovered that by following her instructions and charges to the fullest, they felt better about their lives ...and what they were doing.

Her patients often declared loudly at the evening campfire, or quietly to each other, "That wasn't so bad. I feel pretty good, ...look at my body! And if I do some more of that, ...then I won't get sick, …and that'll be even better, ...and I'll have the strength I need. Good spirits are certainly on my side now, because I know how to do these things!"

And so, they spoke greatly about their own feelings …or even bragged, …but, of course, they didn't brag about Achena, they boasted about what they'd done and the spirits they had on their side, which made them feel fine and strong and important ...and able to care for themselves, ...but that was all right. She was willing to accept their crowing and blustering as long as they did what she asked ...and stayed well, …for out of this, she was creating a whole new individual, and that was important to Achena, for she didn't want to heal the masses ...or cure their problems, she was willing~and she was directed by Deganawidah~to spend her life awakening the sleeping "creative spirit" or force in each individual, which starts life and creates a new empowerment, a greater life, and a wondrously different individual. It was more than healing that she was looking for and bringing forth from each person, …she understood their bodies and lives, which she held in her fingertips, …but even greater than that, she also saw and knew the nature, spirit, and essence-body of each individual, …Achena touched that with her eyes ...and her mind.

Seeing and handling the essence of individuals was the purpose and goal given to her by Deganawidah and his spirit disciples, …but more than that, she was charged to be aware of and know exactly what she was doing. It was not enough for her to just feel or sense or image these things, she was to put the creative force to work in people's lives and let that spread by awakening them to that …and teaching them about the spirit and power within all things.

Achena was to enliven all individuals to their own spirit and nature, show them to their essence body, bring about a conscious awareness and use of their great inner-abilities, help them know the meanings and beginnings and understandings of all things, reveal their strengths and beliefs, and show them to the fulfillment and enrichment inside of each one, so they could live wholly and completely in harmony with themselves and all of life.

It was a great responsibility placed upon Achena …which she happily fulfilled, for Deganawidah had predicted that everyone would meet someone like Achena in their own life and have the opportunity to accept or reject the great spiritual charge placed upon them, …and she was fulfilling that prophecy.

Have you met an Achena in your life today? Have you accepted and fulfilled your own charge? Are you awakened to the nature and great spirit within you? Are you consciously enlivened in your life, ...or are you still asleep? Do you know of your life in consciousness? Have you awakened to and touched your own essence and the true nature of all things? Do you feel and understand the vibrating harmony within you?

While these ancient beliefs in good and evil spirits and forces seemed to explain all of the known, observed, and assumed facts of life and disease, these “perceived facts or truths” only obscured, withheld, and delayed understanding, for even into the nineteenth century, “learned doctors” believed that diseases and sicknesses were caused by “bad humors” of the body and conditions of the environment, …and only later was it seen that diseases were caused by bacteria …and later by even tinier pathogens called viruses. In this have we really progressed beyond the ancient’s belief in demons merely because they are now referred to as bacteria, viruses, and pathogens? …and the good spirits are now called modern medicine? The medicine man’s rattles, tambourines, drums, and other accruements are today’s x-rays, CAT scans, MRI’s, therapy devices, and other treatment tools, …and the medicine man’s manipulation of his patient’s body is similar to much of our massage-therapy today; …it seems we are still trying to drive evil, painful demons out of the body.

And though we are preventing the spread of bacteria or viruses …or the expansion of body infections and malfunctions, is this really any different than stopping the spread of evil spirits and forces?