“Life without war is impossible, either in nature or in grace. And whether physical, mental or spiritual, the fact is that the basis of all life is antagonism.” (Chambers)
In following the warriors road, many of our Veterans have become its victims, attested to by the simple fact of the rising number of PTSD cases and suicides. And whether physical or mental, trauma knows no bounds, displaying symptoms ranging from the commonplace to the more complex. Often central to questions of “moral injury,” when it comes to just cause and mortality in terms of mortal combat, it follows then that something other than standard practice is required to effect recovery. Hozho, a Navajo (Dene) word, referring to walking in balance and harmony, connotes to just such a process, one which recognizes that recovery must necessarily include the agency of the spirit. Routinely overlooked in modern medicine, “spiritual-wellness” remains of significant importance in Native American healing traditions, most of which still retain purification rites and ceremonies to cleanse the human spirit, which is seen as foundational to recovery. Interestingly, a similar emphasis can also be found within Asian traditions, as seen for instance in the historical Bushido Code of feudal Japan. Apart from being instrumental in the development of the Samurai class, Bushido served not only as a code of ethics for the warrior society of Japan, but a spiritual treatise which promoted “inner work” as required to remain “fit-for-service.” Additionally, we also find parallels in Sun Tsu’s The Art of War, with one commentator observing: “What is notable throughout this work and what raises it far above that of a simple military manual is not simply the elegance of its prose, but the underlying Taoist principles; the depth and meaning of which serve to impart an element of mysticism which is no doubt responsible for its continuing and universal appeal.”
Yet that said, the wisdom of the ages seems to eluded the U.S. Military and the majority of its Allies. After more than twenty years engaged in the Global War on Terror (GWOT), with a disproportional number of veterans having suffered the compounding effects of multiple deployments, not to mention the often catastrophic personal toll to themselves, as well as their families. And while many Vets do seek help in readjusting to civilian life through the VA, the services provided often fall short in helping them deal with mental or physical complications that can often arise. Yet due to the nature of combat itself, and the service’s overwhelming emphasis on the physical over that of the spiritual, is it any wonder that similar parallels can be found within the Veterans Administration itself? And in that regard it raises and even greater concern for vets seeking additional help – the VA’s seeming lack of confidentiality when it comes to the reporting of mental trauma cases to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). A systemic issue that not only serves in adding further complexity to a process that already begs for simplicity, but one which has left veterans so disillusioned that they are actively seeking other alternatives. And they’re out there!
Whether found in Native American healing traditions, through clinically administered psychotropic programs in foreign countries, or the increasingly popular wilderness experience, where the natural world is often found to be the best clinician. Of particular interest then is the fact that these alternatives all have one thing in common, an emphasis on spiritual solutions for mental disorders, which begs the question. If the common remedy for the creature we call man can be found in the realm of the spirit, it follows then that restoring a connection between one’s own spirit and the God of creation should be of interest to anyone seeking recovery and restoration.
CoupStick Chaplain 