Interview with Dawson Church
author of The Genie in Your Genes
Elite Books (2007)
ISBN 9781600700224
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (4/07)
Today, Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views is interviewing Dawson Church, author of “The Genie in Your Genes.”
Dawson Church is the author and editor of many books. He has collaborated with such best-selling authors, as Robert Kiyosaki (“Rich Dad, Poor Dad”), Deepak Chopra, John Gray (“Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus”), and Wally “Famous” Amos. He is the founder of the Soul Medicine Institute (www.SoulMedicineInstitute.org) which researches and teaches emerging psychological and medical techniques that can yield fast and radical cures. His new book, “The Genie in Your Genes” pioneers the practical use of Epigenetics, (control of genes from outside the cell), explaining the remarkable self-healing mechanisms now emerging from this science. It has been hailed as a brilliant breakthrough by leading scientists, and hit several best-seller lists within days of its release.
Tyler: Thank you for joining me today, Dawson. To begin, could you tell us a little about your background and how you became interested in the mind’s ability to influence the body’s health?
Dawson: My interest in the topic really began while I was freelancing as a book editor in New York in the mid-80s, when I became intrigued by what was then the emerging new paradigm of alternative medicine. I also had the good fortune to witness very rapid, almost miraculous cures with energy medicine in cases where conventional medicine had failed. I edited one of the first books on holistic healthcare, “The Heart of the Healer,” and eventually got a doctorate in Integrative Healthcare at Holos University under the mentorship of distinguished neurosurgeon Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D., founder of the American Holistic Medical Association. We coauthored a book called “SoulMedicine” (www.SoulMedicine.net) which looks at the history of miraculous cures from prehistory onward, lays out the scientific basis for healing, and also charts a course for the future of healthcare.
Tyler: Would you explain to us a little more what you mean by energy medicine and an example of how it is used and how it differs from conventional medicine?
Dawson: Energy medicine and energy psychology work at the level of the body’s energy systems, electrical, magnetic, and quantum, to affect your cells and organs. An example of an electrical energy device is a pacemaker, and of a magnetic one is an MRI, which stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. These are energy devices used in conventional medicine. However, it turns out that our cells are affected by very small electrical charges too, and these can be generated without technology, by techniques such as healing touch, massage, and the stimulation of acupressure points by tapping or rubbing them. While the amounts of energy involved are tiny, they can have big effects, since it turns out that emotional trauma is stored in our organs as an electrical charge, and that charge can be nudged in the direction of health by energy psychology techniques.
Tyler: Dawson, could you provide our readers with an easy to understand definition of epigenetics?
Dawson: Epi means “above,” as in control above the level of the gene. Epigenetics looks at the various outside influences that affect the ways that our different genes turn on or off, also called expressing. The focus of epigenetic medicine is to move beyond the limited notion that DNA is the key to our experience of health or disease, and to look at the interventions that we can make epigenetically to affect our health.
Tyler: Would you share a success story with us of someone who has experienced healing through the use of energy healing?
Dawson: There is a man named Hank Hadley who is only too happy to have his story shared publicly. At the age of 10, Hank fell 25′ down a hay chute onto a concrete pad, landing on his tailbone. Multiple accidents over the years added to the challenges and pain. He has been through 16 major operations, for his back, neck, and even cancer. He has so much metal in his body that he sets off radar detectors. In addition to suffering multiple major emotional traumas, several years ago Hank was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
As the result of all this, over the years, Hank has taken just about every prescription drug on the market for pain, (including morphine) and even became addicted to some. The addictions were severe enough that he was forced to enter treatment centers. On occasion he could walk from his home to the mailbox and back without crutches. He couldn’t ride in a vehicle for more than 10 miles without excruciating pain and discomfort.
Today Hank is off all pain medication. All Multiple Sclerosis symptoms, arthritis and scar tissue pain have vanished, and pain is rarely an issue. When he began using Energy Psychology, specifically the technique called Emotional Freedom Techniques or EFT, his pain levels (on a 0-10 scale) were generally between 8 and 9 on a daily basis. He showed great dedication to EFT, and performed the EFT routine several times a day.
His pain is now minimal, and after a recent session he did jumping jacks for a video crew. After 24 years on disability, Hank now works full-time at physically demanding job. He continues to use EFT frequently, as new challenges arise in his life. For a full account and updates see: http://www.emofree.com/multiple-sclerosis/multiple-sclerosis-persistent-tapper.htm
Tyler: That’s a wonderful example. Just what does the EFT routine include? I understand Hank “taps” frequently. Can you explain what tapping is?
Dawson: Acupressure and acupuncture make use of a system of tiny electrical and cellular channels inside our bodies. The electrical resistance at the center of an acupressure point has been measured at about 1/2000th of the resistance of the surrounding skin. When we tap on these points, rub them, or use any kind of friction, we generate a kind of electricity called piezoelectricity. It runs through these low-resistance points to the places in our bodies where trauma is stored, and people usually feel an immediate and visceral release of that tension. Used in a protocol like EFT which includes affirmations and a structured round of tapping, they are extremely powerful. Another simple but effective technique from energy psychology is TAT, or the Tapas Acupressure Technique. These techniques can reduce the levels of stress hormones like cortisol in our bloodstream, and boost the level of DHEA, one of the main cell repair and anti-aging hormones. So as you reduce your stress through TAT, EFT or similar techniques, you produce a cascade of positive genetic and biochemical changes in your body. There are links to all these therapies and others on the nonprofit Soul Medicine Institute web site (www.SoulMedicineInstitute.org).
Tyler: Dawson, recently, the film and book “The Secret” has received a lot of attention. Are you familiar with the book, and how do you feel “The Genie in Your Genes” is similar or differs from its philosophy?
Dawson: “The Genie in Your Genes” describes concrete physiological processes that are biologically and medically verifiable. “The Secret” took a more metaphysical and inspirational approach. “The Secret” states that our thoughts produce concrete manifestations, and while this is generally true, the biological specifics are a good deal more subtle. Some intentions have been shown to produce strong biological effects, while others have been shown experimentally to produce no biological effects at all.
Tyler: Would you encourage readers interested in “The Secret” to read “The Genie in Your Genes”? Could we say your book is a more advanced version of “The Secret” that brings out the nuts and bolts of healing ourselves through thought?
Dawson: “The Genie in Your Genes” is based on sound and credible science. It quotes some 300 studies, mostly from mainstream medical journals like the “Journal of the American Medical Association,” the “American Heart Journal,” and similar publications. “The Secret” is a series of metaphysical propositions, while “The Genie in Your Genes” deals in hard biological facts. However, it turns out that those metaphysical propositions can “land” powerfully in our bodies, producing measurable biological changes, especially in our stress response, which affects every cell and organ in our bodies.
Tyler: Obviously, it sounds like “The Genie in Your Genes” has a spiritual aspect to it, and I know you have had spiritual teachers such as the Dalai Lama and Deepak Chopra in your books. However, your background is very scientific. Do you believe the fields of science and spirituality are beginning to align themselves more closely?
Dawson: Spiritual teachings have for centuries affirmed the value of disciplined thinking and rigorous spiritual practice. Now, studies of longevity and immunity are showing that these practices produce measurable biological improvements. Science is now showing the precise mechanisms that come into play as a result of spiritual practice. The idea that the two were ever separate was an illusion that is being rectified as science advances.
Tyler: As science advances, where do you think a greater understanding of epigenetics and the teachings in “The Genie in Your Genes” will bring humanity and all life on earth?
Dawson: Better health. Greater longevity. Less daily stress. More joy. Fewer autoimmune diseases. Longer health span. Better relationships with parents, children and spouses, as we no longer act out our emotional traumas. In the big picture, it will bring fewer conflicts between tribes and nations, as people no longer project the emotional wounds of their shadow side out onto “the other.” By healing ourselves, we become agents for healing our communities.
Tyler: Where can readers go to get more information about “The Genie in Your Genes” or to purchase the book?
Dawson: Readers can visit http://www.GenieBestseller.com for more information about the book. They can purchase it in stores, such as Borders, Barnes & Noble, or online.
Tyler: Thank you so much for joining us today, Dawson. Do you have any last comments you would like to give our readers?
Dawson:I have been looking at healers and healing, and writing about their work, for over two decades. I have never before seen any therapies with the potential of energy psychology and energy medicine. You can literally live a stress-free life, with huge implications for your health and wellbeing. If you’re used to the usual long cycle of emotional trauma and physical pain, as most health care workers are, it is astounding to see cases like Hank Hadley’s. If we love ourselves enough to release our stresses every moment they arise, we create a better life for ourselves, and everyone around us. I would urge anyone in pain, whether emotional or physical, to grab these simple techniques with both hands, and see just how much healing can be accomplished safely and non-invasively with their beliefs, energy systems, and other epigenetic interventions. The chances are good that you will feel much better than you ever believed possible!
