Joseph Michael Contrada has studied and practiced Eastern and Western approaches to the spiritual life, healing and medicine for five decades. He is also a Heilpraktiker (Lic. German Healthcare & Psychotherapy Provider) who has been trained in, and has clinical experience working with, a broad spectrum of complementary and alternative therapies.
Joseph combines his perceptual insights into the subtle aspects of the human being with his knowledge of healing and medicine. He is open to insights from within and tailors the consultations, healing treatments and mentoring he offers to the perceived deep healing requirements of the individual at that point in her or his life.
German Heilpraktiker
In the mid-1990s, Joseph entered upon a course of training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnostics and therapeutics at the Thalamus Heilpraktikerschule and the Zentrum für Naturheilkunde. He was admitted to the Heilpraktiker profession in 2001. In subsequent years, he continued his professional training at the Isolde Richter Heilpraktikerschule, further expanding his knowledge of Western Alchemical Medicines, Anthroposophic Medicine, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Joseph has also deepened his understanding of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine in the United States through courses with David Crow, Jai Dev Singh, Dr. David Frawley, Robert Peng, Bruce Frantzis, Damo Mitchell, Dr. Roger Jahnke, and Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson.
Spiritual Healer and Energy Therapist
As a young adult, Joseph began to investigate the subtle aspects of ourselves and of our environment through studying European, Indian and Chinese philosophies. He also explored the Mystery traditions of the East and West. His own interest in multidimensional health and healing led him to experiment with spiritual, mental and physical practices originating from those traditions.
East-West Esoteric Healing
While a student in the Arcane School and a member of the Lucis Trust headquarters group in the early 1990s, Joseph studied and implemented the extensive teaching on the Seven Rays as the basis for a unique system of esoteric psychology, astrology and healing.
Yogic Pranic Healing
Over the same time period, Joseph trained as a pranic healing practitioner and teacher with Del Pe and Master Choa Kok Sui. He then served as Vice President at the Center for Pranic Healing in New York. His wife Petra and he were subsequently chosen to train pranic healing practitioners and teachers in Germany and the Netherlands.
Once established in Germany, Joseph and Petra founded an institute to promote spiritual studies, meditation and healing. They travelled throughout the country lecturing, facilitating workshops, and providing spiritual and energy healing treatments.
Qigong, Neigong, Shengong | Daoist Internal Alchemy | Medical Qigong Therapy
Joseph continues to practice Neigong, Qigong and Shengong to maintain his own good health, increase his energy skill, and deepen his understanding of clinical applications of Chinese energetic medicine. He incorporates what he has learned from Daoist and Buddhist internal alchemy masters into his teaching and healing work.
Christian Esoteric Healing
In the late 1980s Joseph encountered The Magus of Stravolos, an account of the Christian mystic and healer Dr. Stylianos Atteshlis (“Daskalos”). He then went on to work with the spiritual teachings and exercises in Daskalos’ The Esoteric Teachings and The Esoteric Practices. Over the intervening years he has returned again and again to re-engage with Daskalos’ teachings.
Joseph’s study of Christian Mystery teachings and spiritual and energy practices has included deep engagement with Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophical teachings, which continue to greatly enrich his path as a teacher and healer.
Mentor
Joseph continues to inspire and support patients and students to implement beneficial, self-chosen health, lifestyle and right livelihood changes. This can significantly amplify the Life-enhancing effects of our medical consultations and healing treatments.
In the Final Analysis…
In summarizing five decades of studies, practical application of spiritual teachings, and teaching and healing experience, Joseph affirms:
“The right patients and students appear when the healing and teaching that flow through us will benefit them most.”
His adventure as an inquisitive, joyful human being continues to unfold as he teaches and learns, as he transmits healing to others and is healed.