Love, feelings, God, dreams and self-healing were among the many topics explored by best-selling motivational author Dr. Bernie S. Siegel, speaking recently on "The Psychology of Illness and the Art of Healing" before a near-capacity audience at Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem. His presentation marked the fifth anniversary of annual lectures sponsored by the Dr. and Mrs. Max Littner Memorial Lecture Series for Bereavement and the St. Luke's University Health Network.

Siegel used humor and storytelling, or parables as he once referred to them, to make his points about the role that feelings and love have in the healing process and at the end of the journey. His own father died with love and his family all around him, Siegel recalled.

"He was so happy, he was laughing at the end. Someone asked if this is what death is like, and I answered, 'Yes, if there is love.'"

In his 12 books, radio shows, workshops and lectures, Siegel promotes the benefits of providing messages of hope and love. The retired Yale University surgeon and professor urged each member of his Bethlehem audience to become "a love warrior." Quoting the country western song "Let your heart make up your mind," Siegel said, "Life is about making things easier for other people."

Noting that "addictions are related to a lack of love," Siegel concluded that "There is the land of the living and the land of the dead, and the bridge is love."

Focusing on the impact that feelings and the mind have on bodily health, Siegel said "the mind and body are one. What you think is what you feel. If you think you are getting wonderful treatment, your body will believe it."

He mentioned several examples of persons diagnosed with cancer and other serious conditions who lived longer than expected or were completely healed.

"When you help people love themselves, amazing things happen to the body," Siegel said in an earlier interview.

In 1978, Siegel founded Exceptional Cancer Patients (ECaP), which provides individual and group therapy using patients' dreams, drawings and images to facilitate healing. In his New York Times bestseller, "Love, Medicine and Miracles," quoted in the evening's program, Siegel explains that he uses "two major tools to change the body – emotions and imagery – the two ways to get our minds and bodies to communicate with each other." By visualizing certain changes, Siegel says, "We can help the body bring them about."

Siegel told his audience to "pay attention to your dreams," because the content of dreams is no accident.

"God speaks in dreams and images, not in words," esaid, " so pay attention."

Several times during his lecture, Siegel reaffirmed his belief in God and angels.

"Don't forget about God. He is a conscious, intelligent energy."

Recounting near-death experiences, including walking away from a car crash, Siegel concluded, "I must have an angel."

In introducing Siegel to the audience, grief counselor Wendy Littner Thompson, who founded the lecture series in memory of her grandparents, said the doctor's work had redefined the patient/doctor relationship and empowered people to be responsible for their own healing.

A proponent of partnerships between caregivers and care receivers, Siegel urged, "Don't be a good patient. 'Patient' means being submissive. Be a responsible participant. Let them [caregivers] know you are a person." Siegel calls those who participate in their care "exceptional patients."

In one poignant statement during his presentation, Siegel summed up much of his philosophy.

"Don't do things to not die. It doesn't work," he said. "Do things to enhance the quality of your life."