IMAGERY AND HEALING STORIES 
by Chaplain Paul G. Durbin, PH.D.
 

 Imagery And Healing Stories: Imagery is a flow of thoughts you may see, hear, feel, smell, or taste.  An image is an inner representation of your experience of your fantasies - a way your mind codes, stores, and expresses information.  Imagery is made up of the dreams and daydreams; memories and reminiscence; plans, projections, and possibilities.  It is the language of the emotions and most important of the deeper self.

 Imagery is a window on your inner world; a way of viewing your own ideas, feelings, and interpretations.  Imagination, in this sense, is not sufficiently valued in our culture for  imaginary is often equated with the fanciful, the unreal, and the impractical.  In school, we are taught the three R's while creativity, uniqueness, and interpersonal skills are either barely tolerated or frankly discouraged.  As adults, we are usually paid to perform tasks and to think creatively.  The premium is on the practical, the useful, the real as it should be - but imagination nurtures human reality as a water brings life to a desert.
 Without imagination, civilization as we know it would not exist.  It took imagination - the ability to conceive of new possibilities - to make fire, create weapons, and cultivate crops; to construct buildings, invent cars, airplanes, space shuttles, television, and computers. 
 The changes and learning that can take place through the use of imagery and healing stories are two of the most interesting aspects of communication with the subconscious.  Imagination and imagery helps the person's subconscious to understand there can be a better way.  The possibility of change begins with the imagination.  Inventions, music, writings, changes in behavior begins with imagination. 
 Imagery comes in two ways:  visual and imaginary.  A visual person can see in the mind's eye as if viewing a scene in reality on the TV screen of their mind.   The non-visual person can not see 'pictures' but they can imagine scenes, sound, and experience feelings.
 The wise old man of proverbs once wrote, "For as he thinketh in his heart so is he."  (Proverbs 23:7)  One of the characteristics of the subconscious mind is that which is expected, good or bad, tends to be realized.  Job, the suffering person of Old Testament history states, "For the things that I fear comes upon me.  I am not at ease, nor am I guilty.  I have no rest, but troubles come."  (Job 3: 25-26).  For instance, if you expected to toss and turn tonight instead of going to sleep at bed time, you will probably have a difficult time getting to sleep.  Every time you say, "I have trouble going to sleep at night."  You reinforce this  idea in your subconscious.
 A person who says, "I have an inferiority complex", "I can't stop smoking," "I can't lose weight," "I can't concentrate," usually lives out those expectations.  As this kind of thinking can do us harm, positive imagery can help us.  Emerson said, "Man is what he thinks all day long."  As the writer of Proverbs said, "As a person thinketh in his heart so is he," the most effective imaging is that which communicates with the subconscious "In the heart."  The mental picture you hold of yourself is what directs and controls you.  You can use your imagination to improve yourself or destroy yourself. 
Fear (negative expectation) is our greatest enemy, Faith (positive expectation) is our greatest ally.  Jesus in Mark 11:24 seems to be saying that imagery with prayer causes the prayer to be more effective.  "Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe ye have received them and ye shall have them."
 Jonathan Edwards said, "The ideas and images in man's mind are the invisible powers that constantly govern them."  St. Paul wrote, "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he reap."  (Gal. 6:7)  This says to me that what is sown by the conscious mind thoughts and images into the subconscious mind tends to become a reality.  If a farmer goes to his field and sows corn seeds that is what will grow.  Now the farmer will need to keep the weeds out of the field. If you sow seeds of self-confidence, self-confidence will grow. You need to keep out negative attitudes about yourself just as the farmer keeps his field clear of weeds.

 Until there is an image in the mind there can be no reality.  All great invention began with a thought in the mind.  The inventor was able to visualize the invention before he could bring it to reality.  The same is true of great music, great writing, great living.   If you want to change your life, your lifestyle, your habits, you must change the image that your mind holds.In working with a person for weight control, I believe having the person visualize themselves the size they want to be (as if they were that size) and to see themselves stepping on the scales and weighing the desired weight is very important in any weight hypnotic script.

Isaiah, the Old Testament Prophet, had imagery in mind when he told the children of Israel in exile to visualize the walls of Jerusalem standing tall and strong.  Isaiah suggested to his people to change their vision and their imagery.  These words of Isaiah were spoken more than forty years after Jerusalem was in ruin, the walls destroyed and the Jewish people had been exiled.  Each year since their depuration, the hopes of the Jewish people ever returning to Jerusalem became dimmer and dimmer.  Eventually, hope began to disappear and self pity took its place.  In spite of their hopeless situation, Isaiah gave them an amazing message of comfort add hope.  In the midst of their despair, Isaiah invited them to celebrate, to have a vision of their return of Jerusalem.
 He said for them to see the walls before their eyes and suggested that God is saying to them, "Thy walls are continually before me."  (Isaiah 49:16) Isaiah seems to be saying, "Keep this before your mind's eye and the exile will end, you will return to Jerusalem and the walls will be rebuilt.  See it as already happened and it shall indeed happen."  History tells us that the Hebrews did return from exile to Jerusalem, and the walls were rebuilt.
 Isaiah's message is simple, whatever you want to happen in your life, be it health, overcoming an undesirable habit, achieving a desired end; visualize it happening and wait and work for it's fulfillment.  As you use your imagination be positive, be motivated, use the present tense as if what you are visualizing has already happened.  Repeat the visualization often and expect it to happen and your subconscious mind begins to work to bring the imagery into reality.
 I should point out that imagery and day dreaming are different things. Imagery motivates one to accomplish that which is visualized.  The day dreamer is satisfied with the dream, but is not motivated to accomplish the goal.  Imagery is not wishful thinking, but hopeful expectation of what is desired, with the motivation to believe it to reality. 

"Just close your eyes again for an imagery story and may this story have meaning for you in a personal and good way."

  THE HEAVY BACKPACK: 
As you relax peacefully and calmly, imagine yourself walking down a beautiful country road.  To the left of the country road is a field of beautiful flowers of various colors, sizes, and shapes.  Beyond the flowers is a forest of majestic trees.  To the right of the road is a pasture of green grass, at the foot of the pasture is a lake of clear blue water, by the lake of clear blue water are some trees and there is a stream that flows from the hill in front of you.  It flows down by the trees, into the lake.
 There is only one thing wrong in this beautiful scene.  On your back is a heavy backpack.  There is nothing in that backpack that you need for your journey.  In fact the backpack contains all of the conscious and subconscious reasons (why you overeat, why you eat fatening foods, why you have trouble controlling your weight / why you smoke, etc. and can be used for other problems as well.)
 I can't remove that backpack from your back, but you can.  You can be free of the heavy backpack.  It is a decision for you to make.  Attached to each of your fingers is a trigger mechanism which will release the backpack if one of your fingers rise.  If you want to be released from the conscious and subconscious reason why you are overweight (or whatever the problem is), one of your fingers will feel very, very light, so light that it will float upwards.  When the finger rises, the backpack will automatically fall from your back.  Now just allow one of your fingers to rise.  It may be the first finger on your right hand or the first finger on your left hand, it could be the second or third, or your little finger, or it could even be the thumb.  By lifting a finger, you are symbolically letting go.  That is good.  Your first finger of your right hand is floating up.  The backpack is gone.  You feel free and comfortable.  As the heavy weight of the backpack is gone, you feel a great relief. (You may open your eyes now wide awake and fully alert.)

 The more one  uses positive images in his mind, the easier it becomes for these images to become a reality.  When images of health, success and lifestyle changes are accepted by the subconscious mind, there is a tendency for the images to be realized.  If you visualize or image yourself doing whatever it is you desire, you begin to act, do, think in ways to bring it about.
 In 1985, I decided that I wanted to write a book on hypnosis and have it published.  I wrote the book and began the process of finding a publisher.  Each day, I would visualize my book and singing the book for someone who purchased it.  It was accepted twice, but for various reasons, it had gone unpublished.  During this time it was turned down by 30 publishers.  I never gave up.  I continued my visualization.  Finally it was accepted and published by Access Publishing Company and was released in Jan. 1994.  That book was 'Human Trinity Hypnotherapy.'  After that I imaged this book being published and it is so.  My second book Kissing Frogs: Practical Uses of Hypnotherapy was accepted to the first publisher that I sent it to. It has won the "Pen and Quill" award from NBHA as did Human Trinity Hypnotherapy and the "Outstanding Performance" award from IMDHA.
 In early 1986, I was informed that I was among five Army National Guard Chaplains throughout the nation being considered for promotion to Brigadier General.  This was a new position so whoever was selected would be the first Army National Guard Chaplain to be promoted to Brigadier General.  Each day, I visualized myself in my Generals uniform.  I pictured the Chief of Chaplains of the Army pinning my star on my uniform.  In May 1986, I was selected and became the first Army National Guard Chaplain to be promoted to general rank in the history of the nation. 
 I use imagery for many things and it has either worked or I am still in the process if imagining it into being.  I still am working on being selected as a winner in the National Publisher's Sweepstakes, for I am still imagining that phone call or knock on the door with their representative informing me that I am a winner.  Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is the preview of coming events."
 It could be said that the mother of your reality is your imagination.  Norman Cousin said "We move toward our expectations."  Our expectations, thoughts, and imagination can and does affect our reality. There is a story of the great Renaissance artist Michelangelo, a famous statue, and a boy named, Giovanni.  Every day after school, Giovanni would rush to Michelangelo's studio to watch the famous sculptor chip away at a 14-foot-high block of marble.  Week after week, the boy came and watched, as the magnificent status of David was being formed.  In all innocence, Giovanni ask Michelangelo, "How did you know he was in there?"  Michelangelo knew because he had a vision of what he could create.  If he was willing to dedicate himself to it, if he was willing to work hard and long, enough, his vision would become a reality. 

 Maurice Maeterlinck tells of an interesting experience that taught him to envision the best for his life each day.  While walking through the country one day, he stopped to admire a beautiful garden surrounded by a white fence.  As he stood there a little old lady, showing her age, stopped by his side.  After he greeted her, she came closer and asked if he was enjoying the flowers?  When he said that he was, she launched upon a detailed description of the harmony of colors and shapes of each and every type of flower in the garden.  When she concluded her vivid description, she looked up at him and he noticed that she was blind.  He asked her how she was able to describe the vast array of colors to such perfection, inasmuch as she could not see.  The old woman answered that when she was able to see, she learned to look at the beauties of nature as if she would never see them again.  Her ancient vision was able to carry her through life.  Though she could not see with her eyes, she could see with her mind.

 Types of Imagery:
 1. Spontaneous Imagery comes to one without consciously requesting the imagery.  I can remember at a time while visiting the pastor of Arcadia Methodist Church.  As I drove by the old Joy Theater (still standing, but not in use) I could almost see myself as a 5 to 9 year old boy going to that theater.  It was usually on a Saturday afternoon and a double feather western was the order of the day.  What a good time I had in my spontaneous age regression.
 2.  Induced Imagery is consciously selected for a specific purpose.  One day, as I was thinking of my dad who died in 1983, I consciously went back in my mind to the night before I went to college.  I could see my dad plainly as he said to me, "Paul, you are going to be taught many things while in college.  Some will be different from what you have been taught at home.  Take that which will help you whether it is like you have been taught or not and add it to your life.  If it does not help, discard it."  He continued to talk and finished his guidance with these words, "Be careful what you pray for and what you preach against, because you might get them both."
 I did not have to ask my dad what he meant.  I understood him to mean, "If you pray to miss an event that you do not want to attend, you may get sick and not have to attend."  The prayer was answered but the person did not want to get sick.  In regards to the preaching statement, he meant often that which one is against, may be the biggest temptation for that individual.  One who preaches against the "sins of the flesh" may get into trouble by having sex outside of marriage, for example.
 3.  Concrete imagery is used to see something in detail which you want to happen in your life.  A person who desires to reduce to a specific weight uses an imagery of stepping on the scales and seeing the exact weight she desires to be.
 4.  Abstract imagery has the person in number 3, seeing a bowl of ice cream behind a red circle with a red bar crossing the bowl.  That is the universal symbol for "reframe from."
 5.  General imagery is used to see yourself health, feeling good, enjoying life.  This imagery is used for overall achievement instead of specific results. 
 6.  Specific imagery is used for a specific purpose.  A person with high blood pressure
imagines taking his blood pressure and seeing 120 over 80.
 7.  End Results imagery is used to imagine the end result which is desired.  I have shared with you the imagery that I used before being selected for promotion to Brigadier General.  I visualized my star being pinned on me by the Chief of Chaplain of the Army and wearing my general's uniform.
 8.  Process imagery is used in going through a process by which the goal is achieved.  A person in preparation for a speech imagines preparing the speech, choosing just the right things to say, writing the speech, practicing the speech, and delivering the speech.
 9.  Guided imagery is scripted to bring  about a specific imagery. 
"Imagine that you are walking down a beautiful country road.  It is a beautiful sunny day..."   Explore Your Imagery abilities: (Adapted From a Martin Rossman Script):  Begin by getting comfortable as you can...Let your eyes close and take three slow, deep breaths:  breathing in relaxation and exhaling tension... Now take another deep, letting go kind of breath... Just begin to let go of any unnecessary tension, stress, anxiety, or discomfort...Begin to focus inside and let go...  Let the images come as they will.  It may be visual or just a feeling but let it happen. 
 As I ask you to imagine a variety of things, allow yourself to observe what happens for you...Remember, there is no right or wrong way to imagine these things...Just notice what it's like for you...That's your only responsibility now...Notice what it's like...
 Visualize or imagine a sandy beach...Feel the warm breeze...Hear the sounds of the waves going in and going out... Walk along the beach...Imagine or see the beautiful blue sky with a few white clouds lazily drifting by... Hear the sounds of the waves going in and going out... Walk along the beach. Feel the sand between your toes as you walk along the beach... Imagine or see the beautiful blue sky with a few white clouds lazily drifting by... Hear the sound of birds as they fly over your head... Lie down on a blanket... Feel the warmth of the sun on your body and the warmth of the sand beneath the blanket...
 Now let the image go...And let a square form in your mind's eye or on your mental screen...Any kind of square is fine... Just notice what it's like as you continue to observe it... Now let that image fade and imagine a circle... Notice how big or small it is, and how round... Let the circle be yellow... A bright yellow circle... Notice if it  helps to think of the sun or a yellow lemon...Let the yellow fade and imagine the circle is red... Like an apple or something red that's familiar to you...Now let that go and imagine the circle is blue...Like the sky or the ocean...now let that image go...Imagine you are in the country, and it's wintertime...You are walking through the freshly fallen snow and can hear and feel it crunch beneath your boots... The air is cold and crisp, and you can see your breath as you exhale... In the distance a radio is playing... You go into a house and there is a fire place with wood logs burning bringing warmth to the room.  You go over to the fireplace and warm your hands and feet...Feel the warmth, enjoy the warmth...Smell the coffee brewing and enjoy a hot cup of coffee...
 Now let that image go...Imagine a very happy time in your childhood...Maybe you are at a party,  playing with a friend, or just having a good time...Notice the sounds you hear, the things you see, and how you feel...Now let that go...and recall some time you felt very much at peace with yourself...A time when you felt very peaceful, very centered, and calm...Imagine it as if it were happening right now...Notice where you are...And your face...Your voice, especially notice the feeling of peacefulness and calm...Notice where you feel these qualities, and let them be there...Let them begin to grow in you...Let them amplify and expand, filling your whole body with feelings of peacefulness and calm...Let the feelings overflow your body to fill the space around you...so that all of you is bathed in the peacefulness...
 Now slowly let yourself begin to become aware of the room...and let ourself come awake and alert, bringing back with you and feelings of peacefulness you may have experienced...Remember what was of interest or importance to you, and take some time to talk about it...
 Evaluate your imagery experience. 
Did you experience any of the images as pictures? Sounds? Smells? Tastes? Feelings? Which images came easily?  Which were more difficult, and were there any you weren't  able to imagine at all?  Were you surprised by any particular images or your reactions to them?
 Did you experience heat, cold, peace, or other sensations at any time?  If you did, you've already begun to influence your body through your imagery.  If not, you may want to experiment with your own images until you can imagine these sensations.
 In addition to direct suggestion, indirect suggestion, and imagery; I often tell a story to bring home a point or to allow the client hearing the story to come to his/her own meaning to the story.  Jesus often spoke in parables or stories which still bring to mind vivid pictures which tell us something important about life.  The parables can have a different meaning to us at different times in our lives.

 One of the principles of hypnosis is repetition and there are two of Jesus' parables (The Friend At Midnight and The Unjust Judge) which speak to this issue.  In the parable of the "Friend At Midnight" (Luke 11:5-10), Jesus tells of a man who knocks at his neighbor's door at midnight and request some food for a friend who has arrived at his house unexpectedly.  At first the friend said, "Do not brother me. "  but because the man is persistent, the friend will got up and gave him as much food as he needed.  What does this have to do with hypnosis?  At first the subconscious (the friend next door) is resistant to change but through persistence, in the use of hypnotherapy, the subconscious will grant what is requested.  Jesus concludes the parable, "Ask and it shall be give to you , seek and you shall find; knock it will be opened to you.  For everyone who ask receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened. "
 In the parable of "The Unjust Judge" (Luke 18:1-8), Jesus told the story of a judge who did not fear God and respected no one.  A widow keeps coming before him for protection from her opponents.  As the woman persists, even after being turned down several time, the judges says, "Because she  bothers me, I will give her legal protection.  Just by continually coming, she wears me out."  I  leave the parable for you interpretation.

 Healing stories can motivate us, cause us to recall some memory from the past and to embrace new ideas in the present.  Stories can be used to sidestep some of the resistance to new ideas and actions that direct suggestion may create. 
 Dr. Milton Erickson used the method of story telling in hypnosis as well or better than anyone.  Erickson saw that stories have been used as a way of transmitting ideas, ethics, values and concepts since the beginning of time.  Though I do not try to be an Ericksonian Hypnotherapist, I do include many of his techniques in my therapeutic approach. 

"Just close your eyes for a healing story and let it speak to you"

THE BRIDGE (Friedman): 
There was a man who had given much thought to what he wanted from his life.  He had experienced many moods and trials.  He had experimented with different ways of living, and he had his share of both success and failure.  At last, he began to see clearly what he wanted to do. Diligently, he searched for the right opportunity.  Sometimes he came close, only to be pushed away.  Often he applied all his strength and imagination, only to find the path hopelessly blocked.  And then at last it came.  But the opportunity would not wait for long.  It would be made available only for a short time.  If it were seen that he was not committed, the opportunity would not come again. Eager to arrive, he started on his journey.  With each step, he wanted to move faster; with each thought about his goal, his heart beat quicker; with each vision of what lay ahead, he found renewed vigor.  Strength that had left him since his early youth returned, and desires, all kinds of desires, reawakened from their long-dormant positions.  Hurrying along, he came upon a bridge that crossed through the middle of town.  In order to protect it from the floods of spring, the bridge had been built high above the water.
 He started across.  Then he noticed someone coming from the opposite direction.  As they moved closer, it seemed as though the other who coming to greet him.  He could see clearly, however, that he did not know this other, who was dressed similarly except for something tied around the other's waste. When they were within speaking distance, he could see that what the other had about his waist was a rope.  It was wrapped around him many times and probably, if extended, would reach a length of 30 feet.  The other began to uncurl the rope, and, just as they were coming close, the other said, "Pardon me, would you be so kind as to hold the end of this rope a moment?" Surprised by this politely phrased but curious request, he agreed without a thought, reached out, and took it.
 "Thank you," said the other, who then added, "two hands now, and remember, hold tight."  Whereupon, the other jumped off the bridge. Quickly, the free-falling body hurtled the distance of the rope's length, and from the bridge the man abruptly felt the pull.  Instinctively, he held tight and was almost dragged over the side.  He managed to brace himself against the edge, however, and after having caught his breath, looked down at the other dangling, close to oblivion. "What are you trying to do?" he yelled. "Just hold tight," said the other.  "This is ridiculous," the man thought and began trying to haul the other in.  However, he could not get the leverage.  The weight of the man was just beyond his strength to bring the other back to safety.   "Why did you do this?" the man called out. "Remember," said the other, "if you let go, I will be lost." "But I cannot pull you up." the man cried. "I am your responsibility," said the other. "Well, I did not ask for it," the man said. "If you let go, I am lost,"  repeated the other.
 He began to look around for help.   But there was no one.  How long would he have to wait?  Why did this happen to befall him now, just as he was on the verge of true success?  He examined the side, searching for a place to tie the rope.  Some protrusion, perhaps, or maybe a hole in the boards.  But the railing was unusually uniform in shape; there were no spaces between the boards.  There was no way to get rid of this newfound burden, even temporarily. "What do you want?" he asked the other hanging below. "Just your help," the other answered. "How can I help?"  I cannot pull you in, and there is no place to tie the rope so that I can go and find someone to help me help you." "I know that.  Just hang on; that will be enough.  Tie the rope around your waist; it will be easier." Fearing that his arms could not hold out much longer, he tied the rope around his waist. "Why did you do this?" he asked again.  "Don't you see what you have done?  What possible purpose could you have had in mind?" "Just remember," said the other, "my life is in your hands."
 What should he do?  "If I let go, all my life I will know that I let this other go.  If I stay, I risk losing my momentum toward my own long-sought-after opportunity for success. Either way this will haunt me forever."  With ironic humor he thought to  himself, "I should jump off the bridge while still holding on so that the two would fall into the water before.  "That would teach this fool."  But he wanted to live and to live life fully.  "What a choice I have to make; how shall I ever decide?"  As time went by, still no one came.  The critical moment of decision was drawing near.  To show his commitment to his own goals, he would have to continue on his journey very soon.   But what a terrible choice to have to make.
 A new thought occurred to him.  While he could not pull this other up solely by his own efforts, if the other would shorten the rope from his end by curling it around his waist again and again, together they could do it.  Actually, the other could do it by himself, so long as he, standing on the bridge, kept it still and steady. "Now listen," he shouted down.  "I think I know how to save you."  And he explained his plan. But the other wasn't interested. "You mean you won't help? But I told you I cannot pull you up myself, and I don't think I can hang on much longer either." "You must try," the other shouted back in tears.  "If you fail, I am lost."
 The point of decision arrived.  What should he do?  "My life or this other's?"  And then a new idea.  A revelation.  So new, in fact, that it was alien to his traditional way of thinking. "I want you to listen carefully,"  he said, "because I mean what I am about to say.  I will not accept the position of choice for your life, only for my own; the position of choice for your own life I hereby give back to you." "What do you mean?" the other asked, afraid. "I mean, simply, it's up to you.  You decide which way this ends.  I will become the counterweight.  You do the pulling and bring yourself up.  I will even tug a little from here."  He began unwinding the rope from around his waist and braced himself anew against the side.   "You cannot mean what you say," the other shrieked.  "You would not be so selfish.  I am your responsibility.  What could be so important that you would let someone fall?   Do not do this to me." He waited a moment.  There was no change in the tension of the rope. "I accept your choice," he said, at last, and freed his hands.
 

 BREAKING THROUGH SHELLS: 
A few years ago, the cover of the April issue of the religious publication, Daily Word showed a fluffy golden chick that had just stepped out of a broken shell.  As this was the Easter edition, several people wrote Daily Word saying that they did not think the cover was religious enough for the occasion.  Yet, I wonder if there is anything more religious than a broken shell and a new life rising out of it.
 Is there a shell you need to break through today?  (You may mention the shell by name.)  Sometimes these shells are caused by physical limitation, sometimes emotional limitations, sometimes spiritual limitations and sometimes a combination of any or all three.
 The fertilized egg begins to develop a baby chick.  By an inner action, growth and development, the chick begins to grow.  It begins to pick at its shell until it breaks and the chick is freed.  We have within our mind the ability to grow and develop beyond what we had thought possible.  By your mental unfolding, you can leave your hurts, disappointments and failures behind and break through your shell.
 Think again of the chick breaking out of its shell:  a soft, helpless chick begins to pick at the fixed and rigid limits of its world and keeps picking until the limits give way and it is able to stand erect and free.  If a little chick can break through such a shell, you can break through your shell. (You may open your eyes and feel good and free of your shells.)

 EAGLES AND CHICKENS WITH TWO ENDINGS: 
Which ending  you choose is up to you - A man found an eagle's egg and put it in a nest of a barnyard hen.  The eaglet hatched with the brood of chicks and grew up with them.  All his life the eagle did what the barnyard chickens did, thinking he was a barnyard chicken.  He scratched the earth for worms and insects.  He clucked, cackled,  and  would thrash his wings and fly a few feet into the air. Years passed and the eagle grew to adulthood.  One day he saw a magnificent bird high above him in a cloudless sky.  It glided in graceful majesty among the powerful wind currents with scarcely a beat of its strong golden wings.   (First ending)  The eagle looked up in awe.  "Who's that?" he asked.   "That's the eagle, the king of birds," said his friend.  "He belongs to the sky.  We belong to the earth--we're chickens."  So the eagle lived and died a chicken, for that's what he thought he was.
 (Second ending)  The eagle looked up in awe and said, "Who's that?"  His friend answered, "That's the eagle, the king of birds.  He belongs to the sky.  We belong to earth--we are chickens."  The eagle went through the day thinking of the eagle flying high.  The next day the eagle went down to the pond. When he saw his reflection in the water, he noticed that he looked a lot like an eagle.  He began to test his wings, flying further and further each day.  After a few weeks, he was flying high and gliding just as if he were an eagle.  He realized that he was an eagle.  He realized that he was an eagle and not a chicken.  With that thought he flew above his past and his environment. 
 Healing stories are used as an indirect suggestion for the client to hear and receive the meaning it has for him.  Jesus used healing stories which we call parables to teach his message. The healing story allows the client to interpret the story and take responsibility for change.