MysticMag had the opportunity of chatting with Rev. Tiffany J. Barsotti, M.Th., Ph.D., and Dr. Paul J. Mills, Ph.D. They are passionate about bridging the perceived gap between science and spirit, and creating a space where all aspects of the human being can be nurtured and integrated. Individuals are seen, heard, and supported on their journey to awakening and wellbeing. Through their flagship course, Personal Self Integration (PSI), they offer a transformational path to wholeness, drawing from ancient wisdom traditions and modern approaches to awaken and integrate both the mystical and human aspects of self.
Can you tell us more about the philosophy of Heal & Thrive and how you bridge the gap between science and spirit in your approach to healing and wellbeing?
Tiffany – I am both a reverend and a scientist. I consider myself a theologian without any strict dogma, and in a similar way, I approach science with an open mind and without rigid beliefs. My pursuit is more spiritual in nature, as I seek evidence to understand myself and others better. I firmly believe in the concept of healing oneself, which ultimately leads to inner freedom and sovereignty. This philosophy guides my perspective on both science and spirituality.
Paul – From our perspective, we don’t see a gap between science and spirit. The idea of such a gap is more of a historical artifact that originated from the pressure exerted by the Catholic Church over four centuries ago. Over time, this divide has unfortunately grown stronger, with science becoming increasingly materialistic and often denying anything beyond the physical world. Our mission is to break down this false division and liberate science, scientists, and ourselves from its limitations. Science shouldn’t dictate what is truth or falsehood in areas it hasn’t fully explored. This misguided approach, often referred to as scientism, needs to be challenged and overcome. My book, “SCIENCE, BEING, & BECOMING: THE SPIRITUAL LIVES OF SCIENTISTS,” delves into this issue, as we strive to redeem science and our spiritual selves.
Tiffany – Science is primarily about observation and measurement, dealing with tangible and visible aspects. On the other hand, our mystical experiences are less measurable and more intangible. This perceived gap arises from the notion of separation that we’ve been conditioned to believe in. However, in reality, they are not truly separate. While science often focuses on what is material and observable, spirituality explores the less tangible aspects that can’t be easily related to the material world.
What inspired you to explore the integration of subtle energy and biofield therapies in your work and how do these therapies contribute to the journey of realizing one’s wholeness?
Paul – As a traditional biomedical scientist, I kept my personal experiences of biofield therapies, auras, and chakras to myself for a long time. It didn’t align with the scientific realm I was working in, and discussing such topics was not deemed acceptable. However, my interest in the subject was piqued when one of my PhD students expressed a desire to research hands-on energy healing and its impact on the biofield and health. I supported her in this endeavor, and her successful project and subsequent career in this area opened up new possibilities for me.
Tiffany – My journey towards exploring spirituality began at a young age. As a child, I was born ‘open’ with what some call the “clairs,” such as clairvoyance, clairsentience, and claircognizance. However, overwhelmed by these experiences, I suppressed them and chose not to embrace them fully. It wasn’t until later in life, when I received a powerful spiritual awakening, that I decided to confront these questions head-on and reawaken those gifts.
I became curious about what occurs in the different layers of the biofield surrounding the body – the mental, emotional, and etheric fields. I sought to understand the mechanisms behind how something that happens in these outer fields can take root in the physical body and affect the body’s well-being. While we still lack definitive answers,I believe that one day we will be able to measure and quantify the biofield scientifically and then answer these questions. Until then, the biofield therapies that people engage with are undoubtedly having a real impact on their lives and well-being.
Paul – Tiffany and I work together to further explore and understand the fascinating connections between science and spirituality, as well as the profound effects of the biofield on our lives. As a scientist and a theologian with open minds and hearts, we aim to bridge the perceived gap between these two realms and uncover deeper truths about ourselves and the universe.
Could you share some examples or stories of how working together in the ‘seemingly ordinary’ has led to extraordinary transformations for your clients?
Tiffany – Paul and I are currently working together on a method called personal self-integration, which is based on ageless wisdom and ancient teachings. This approach helps people connect with their subconscious selves and explore the mental, emotional, and etheric aspects of their being. Through this work, we have witnessed dramatic and amazing self-healing, self-awareness, growth of deep sovereignty, and even enlightenment in individuals.
For example, we recently had a student who had been suffering for over 10 years from a chronic mystery illness, and her previous medical guidance had not been helpful and was even harmful. However, when she engaged with her body self, a significant component of personal self-integration, then things started falling into place. She gained answers she needed and began trusting herself, leading to empowerment, a greater sense of knowing where to seek answers in the future, and a restoration of her health. We believe that all healing is ultimately self-healing, and though external healers can help, real transformation occurs when individuals tap into their own inner resources.
Paul – I Co-host a podcast called “MainStream Mystics,” where we aim to make the extraordinary seem ordinary. We discuss topics that some may consider far-fetched or separate from everyday life, such as metaphysical and mystical experiences. However, through our conversations and teachings, we demonstrate that these experiences can be integrated into one’s everyday life, drawing from their deep spiritual reserves and resources. Our goal is to help people realize that what might seem extraordinary is accessible to them and can become a part of their normal experiences. It’s about opening oneself up to the possibilities and embracing these aspects as part of their life’s journey.
Reverend Tiffany J. Barsotti, you have extensive experience as a medical intuitive and researcher of subtle energy. How do you apply your knowledge and expertise to support individuals on their healing journey?
I was driven to this work because I have a passion for delving deep and getting to the root cause of issues. As a trained healer, I became frustrated with just addressing symptoms and providing temporary relief. I knew that the true healing lies in understanding the underlying causes such as belief systems, thought patterns, mindset, emotional traumas, and past experiences that shape a person’s way of being.
My deep skill-set lies in helping individuals reach the root cause of their challenges. I believe that as humans, we often fall into certain patterns, like the drama triangle, where we play the roles of victim, rescuer, or prosecutor. These dynamics are often rooted in conditional love, while true healing comes from embracing unconditional self-love and extending that love outward.
Undoing these conditional patterns and responses to life’s experiences is essential for lasting healing. I teach people to recognize the gold in their stressors and wounds. As Carl Jung once said, “The genius is in the wound.” By unpacking and understanding these wounds, individuals can tap into their inner genius and learn valuable lessons from past events and circumstances. This process allows them to move forward in life with newfound wisdom and empowerment. My ultimate goal is to help individuals unlock their inner potential and embrace their own unique genius.
Dr. Paul J. Mills, your work focuses on integrative health and incorporating the transcendent aspects of human awareness into medicine. Could you elaborate on this holistic approach?
I truly appreciate your question because it has been a focal point of my academic career in recent years. My approach is rooted in drawing from various holistic wisdom traditions that have existed for centuries across the planet. In the West, we have embraced integrated medicine and integrative health, which evolved from borrowing wisdom from Eastern traditions. This includes techniques like meditation, acupuncture, and herbal knowledge.
However, what often gets overlooked in this integration is the most crucial aspect of wisdom—understanding the consciousness and transcendent nature of a human being. This deep spiritual identity of a person goes beyond just the physical body. I believe that this aspect is essential and needs to be reintroduced into the conversation within Western integrative clinics, research, and education.
We’ve sought to bring this awareness into the Western integrative health field, which, historically, has been overly reductionist, relying on a “pill for every ill” mentality. Our mission is to encourage the medical establishment to awaken to the importance of acknowledging the whole person, including their transcendent aspect, in the evaluation and treatment process.
The Western integrative health field is often referred to as “whole person medicine”, however, to truly address the whole person we must include our transcendent aspect. Our efforts are focused on completing this holistic picture by recognizing the significance of the transcendent in fostering true healing and well-being. We are dedicated to promoting this holistic approach and inviting the integration of the transcendent into the core of healing practices.
If you would like to find out more about Tiffany and Paul, visit Heal & Thrive, https://www.healandthrive.com
For a free excerpt of Paul’s book, Science, Being, & Becoming, The Spiritual Lives of Scientists, the 2023 Gold Nautilus Award for Science & Cosmology, visit https://www.healandthrive.com/sciencebeingbecoming
