Author > Book Reviews
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Book Reviews "The Human Aerial is a fascinating exploration of the connections between body, mind, and spirit. No form of medicine can be complete that does not recognize these interactions, as Dr. Robin Kelly has admirably done." Larry Dossey, MD. Author: The Extraordinary Healing Power Of Ordinary Things"Every practitioner who is interested in healing art should read this valuable book." Prof. Steven Aung CM, MD, FAAFP. President World Natural Medicine Foundation. Alberta, Canada. “On a quest to be a better healer, physician Robin Kelly embarked upon an epic journey that transformed his patient’s lives, his own life, and one that can possibly transform your life as well. Expertly weaving together traditional Western medical science, Eastern medicine’s energy philosophy and a dash of quantum physics, Dr. Robin Kelly concocts a powerful and wise prescription for self-healing and self-empowerment. Filled with astounding scientific insights, wit, wisdom and heart, The Human Aerial is a delight to read.” Bruce H. Lipton, PhD Cell biologist and best selling author of The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and Miracles How well does the book measure up to the promises of its back cover? With regard to presentation, the style is simple and personal. Difficult topics are dealt with so that lay people can easily get the gist. The print is quite large, the illustrations helpful. Kelly maintains our interest throughout the book. It seems that Kelly by nature is sensitive and intuitive, and that this did not go well with general practice and the need to treat so many patients an hour to maintain profitability. Many of the physical disorders that he was called on to treat had underlying disorders of emotion and spirit, that should themselves be addressed in preference to quick prescriptions of pharmaceuticals. He began to explore Chinese medicine in some depth. He writes: In New Zealand in the late eighties, a large number of doctors had learned acupuncture. Many were using it effectively, but only a few were willing to explore the philosophies behind Chinese medicine. Most doctors found it confusing, fanciful and mystical. They found it difficult to come to terms with the traditional Chinese view, based on Taoist principles, that the body is primarily energy, and that our organs, for instance our heart, liver and kidney, could also be linked with our emotions…. But a few of us were deeply intrigued. Some travelled to China: others read translated textbooks in great depth... Fritjof Capra's The Tao of Physics… struck a deep chord in me. [pages 29-30] In reference to acupuncture he writes, “As the result of lightning strikes over the equatorial rain forests, our atmosphere is filled with just the right electromagnetic frequencies that allow growth and repair of our plant life. These are known as the Schumann resonances (7-10Hz), and they are as vital to all animal life as plant life.” [p.39] “Acupuncture needles are made of either steel or copper, and are literally conducting wires.’ [Aerials] In one instance, after treatment a lady returned home in a state of bliss, and informed her family, ‘I heard the angels sing.’ Later I asked her what precisely she had experienced; was she talking metaphorically? ‘In fact,’ she explained, ‘I heard nothing, but the metaphor of the song best conveyed the experience. I felt a joyful harmony, a sense that I was resonating with the universe and was part of a divine song. The joy lingered for an hour or two and then faded. It came unasked and unexpectedly, as a blessing, but in that moment I was both the dancer and the dance.’ This of course is not the usual consequence of acupuncture treatment, but it seems to be cited as an example of how it assists in attuning a client to a proper order of things. Robin describes how he had been using this procedure every day in his practice and was curious about the science behind it. In talking about his investigations, he clearly describes for the layman the gist of scientific speculation based on the solid foundation of validated mathematics of QM physics. It is sound speculation but not proven fact, and thus Robin often rightly presents the material in the form of questions: “Could it be the case that…?” The prevailing theme in the book is the connectedness of all things. He writes: In the Auguries of Innocence William Blake invites us: To see the world in a grain of sand, And heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour.” Somehow, one-and-a-half centuries before Dennis Gabor’s discovery [in 1971 that if a corner were cut from a holographic plate, and subjected to another laser beam, the whole image could still be recovered], William Blake had decided that we live in a holographic universe, within a world of patterns whose origins existed beyond the reach of our five senses. [page 45] Robin explores the symbolism of the Caduceus. “The symmetrical twin serpents of the Caduceus represents the balancing of energies at the different levels of the body; the goal of the acupuncturist was to help the patient achieve an ideal balanced state by easing the exchange of energy between the body and nature.” [p.62] “The chakras were not the product of rational scientific thought. Rather they were recognised intuitively.” The same may be said of the acupuncture points of Chinese medicine. Interestingly Descartes [1596-1650], who symbolises reductionism, “meditated for three hours every morning, and attributed the development of his theories… to a combination of rationality and intuition.” Kelly examines the human DNA as a superconductor and as an aerial. “Our understanding of DNA deepens, as we perceive it as a vital link between our earth-bound mortal/physical body and the more ethereal realms of our immortal, timeless soul.”[p.74]. He discusses Near Death and Out of the Body Experiences; the importance of prayer and intent; Tuning in to the Dead; the Gift of Mediumship; Precognition. The bulk of the book is devoted to healing and wholeness at all levels of development, and many doctors as well as lay people will find much to stimulate thought. Towards the end of the book, on page 313, Albert Einstein is quoted: The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant, and has forgotten the gift. Michael Cocks Reviews of Healing Ways HEALING WAYS - A DOCTOR'S GUIDE TO HEALING By Dr Robin Kelly  What's it about? The holistic treatment and healing of the body and mind. Who should read it? Those who have an interest in 'alternative' healing, those who are ailing or those know someone who is. You will learn a lot. For best results, read this* When you have plenty of time and feel like learning. If it were a cup of coffee, it would be* Herbal. Combining the philosophies of the ancient world with contemporary science, Dr Robin Kelly is now able to help people regarded as "untreatable". It's taken me a while to get through this book. I read it twice. Had to. I opened its pages one night when I couldn't sleep, finished it three hours later and found myself more awake than when I'd started. A few days later I started the book again, and I read some of the chapters twice. Robin Kelly's book was a pleasure to read - I was not bored at any point. Some of what was written reconfirmed my opinions, the rest opened my mind to new ideas and taught me new lessons. Kelly moved to Auckland from England 20 years ago and through his experience as a GP and acupuncturist, he made the foundation for this book. He has mastered the art of listening and through this, learnt much from those he sees. He didn't weigh then book down with stodgy anecdotes or ego stories, nor did he explain things as if his readers were idiots. There was no doctor/patient talking down. He kept the book informative and intriguing. Every few pages I learned something completely new - often about myself. The book covers an awful lot for 215 pages: Clearing the way for grief, learning to say no, smoking, fear, diet, mindful healing, bonds, informed healing, Chinese medicine, modern theories, childhood cancer, electromagnetic stress and so much more. The insights into Chinese Medicine, the exercises and views on stress and its management were especially interesting to me. The whole time I was reading it I was folding the corners of pages thinking "I must tell 'insert one of 20 names here' that." This book would be essential for those faced with some kind or illness or disability and feel there is no where to turn, and also for loved ones of those who are ill. Importantly however, those that boast a fit bill of health and are interested in how their bodies relate to others and their environment, would also enjoy this. The book kept its promise to be refreshing and optimistic while it covered: Overcoming barriers to healing Developing healing relationships Understanding your body Simple meditation and relaxation Acupuncture and Chinese medicine Tune into Nature Exploring the new science of healing. Don't read this as if it were some kind of textbook and don't use it as a springboard to test your own knowledge. Read it slowly, enjoy the exercises, and jot down the best quotes. Set aside chunks of time to fully absorb the messages. Then read it again. Gina Bricklebank, NZOOM.(TVNZ) Oct 2000 Healing Ways: A Doctor's Guide to Healing Dr Robin Kelly (SMN) Reviewed by Yvonneke Roe Journey to Integrated Care 'Healing Ways' is a gentle and thoughtful story of one doctor's journey and experience of the Healing Profession. Dr Robin Kelly qualified in Medicine in the UK and emigrated to New Zealand in 1977 soon afterwards. He settled into a general practice in Takapuna in Auckland after a couple of years in hospital practice. There, one of his colleagues had an interest in acupuncture, and he quickly followed suit, combining both orthodox and complementary medical practices. Eventually he left and in 1991 set up a holistic non-prescribing practice where he still works. Dr Kelly describes his own journey from orthodoxy to integrated medical care. This parallels the evolution we have seen from fringe, to alternative, to complementary to integrated health care approaches around the world, with the slow but steady acknowledgement of the importance of treating each patient holistically. Indeed some of his case histories echo back to the work of the British Psychiatrist Dr. Balint with local GPs as long ago as the 1950s. The book is filled with interesting and touching case histories illustrating his concepts of healing and the factors that can 'hold up' people's healing. This has echoes to another holistic healing system, that of Homeopathy and Dr Hahnemann's concept of "obstacles to cure". Dr Kelly defines healing as a "return to the pure state of health", "where life has meaning and purpose", and "joy, harmony and health co-exist". He describes the unresolved grief, unhappy relationships and anxieties over ailing loved ones that can lie dormant and contribute to our disease. In his current practice he sees many 'failed patients' who are chronically ill and through his approach of combining complementary therapies and listening to the patients story, he and the patient are able to achieve a deep level of healing. He talks of working closely with the body-mind and sees the two aspects as different reflections of the WHOLE. In his case histories he illustrates the power of groups, the power of prayer and laughter and the power of personal recognition of one's own traumas and stresses in finding peace and healing. At the end he also discusses some of the modern theories and possible explanations for the efficacy of complementary therapies, for those who like to try and understand the whys and wherefores. But it seems most appropriate to end with ones of his Chinese quotes "Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand." (Dr Yvonneke Roe is a GP Principal in South London. Review appeared in Network, The Journal of the Scientific Medical Network.) BOOK REVIEW: HEALING WAYS by Dr Robin Kelly Robin Kelly demonstrates an insightful perspective on the total picture often missing in the healing journey. Intelligently linking the body's complex systems together to demonstrate the nature of the "bodymind", the reader is given hooks on which to hang subjective experience in order to make sense of chronic health problems. From a healing perspective, this book is a great encapsulation of many of the truths we perceive in the jouney of helping others. I have taken some small snapshots of the text, to give you an idea. Recommended reading for anyone involved in the healing process…. "Healing is not just a medical term. It means returning to a state of joy harmony and health; a state of being where life has meaning and purpose… " In the population of chronically ill people who have "failed" to respond to both orthodox and other treatments, including those with chronic pain…… "the most common ingredient missing from their health care…….. is themselves". Dr Kelly states that Psycho-neuro-immunology (PNI) works on links between our emotions, our nervous system, and our immune system. He calls this "mindbody medicine". This embraces the theory that our body has a mind of its own - outside the direct control of the brain, a subconscious system of communication distinct from the conscious mind of the brain. The neurophsyiological basis of this statement is competently put forward, again giving the reader a framework for thinking about how all the body systems can affect each other, and give a health outcome. "As a provider of health service we …. should be free to laugh, have fun and discuss spiritual issues…." "…for years I was reluctant to tell patients of my struggles. I now know the importance of sharing these experiences, in some cases it is vital if we are to form a bond that is potentially healing. Most need to know I take my own advice. And how I, too, struggle to get it right". "I have been free to explore the meaning of symptoms, seeing them in the overall context of healing - an interpreter rather than interrogator. I have been able to observe the subtlety of healing, as patients leave behind the controlling chaos of chronic illness and embark on their journeys of self discovery. It continues to be a privilege to accompany them along the way". "There are many reasons that prevent us listening to the needs of our bodies. The stressful conditions of today's work environment is an obvious example. If our bodies continue to be ignored, the messages can become more complex and difficult to fix….." Reviewed by The Chronic Health Group, Sydney, Australia. 2001 .
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