Understanding the concept of Healing in Religious, Medical and literary Contexts

Name of Author : Asra Afrin

Abstract: The word healing means recovery, restoration to the normal condition or wholeness, mending, and cure. Religious sanctuaries served the healing purpose in ancient times. The development of science and medicine resulted in the separation of physical and mental healing from spiritual healing. The medical healing embodies the physical and mental cure and recovery. The arts and literary genres such as performances have healing characteristics. The healing in the theatrical sense refers to the relief an audience feel after watching a performance/play. Paintings, texts and performances either watched or read are effective in mending, and purifying the emotions. The father of psychoanalysis; Sigmund Freud believed literature helps in awakening the repressed emotions and thereby curing the hysteria. Aristotle, the Greek philosopher emphasized the healing/purifying effect of tragedy. The researches on arts and literature helped in the practice of various therapies of healing.

Keywords : Healing, Emotions, Hysteria, Theatrical performance, spiritual healing, Music

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