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When people discover Unity Village Chapel, they often arrive at a crossroads—seeking hope, spiritual grounding, or a new way of approaching life’s biggest challenges. One of the most-watched videos on the UVC YouTube channel tells such a story: a deeply personal healing journey that reminds us what’s possible when we embrace spiritual practice, intention, and inner transformation.

In this talk, Guest Speaker Jane Van Benthusen shares how a life-altering diagnosis became the catalyst for physical, emotional, and spiritual renewal. Her message continues to resonate with thousands online—and it offers an inspiring introduction to the heart of Unity teachings.

A Diagnosis That Changed Everything

In 2008, her life looked very different. She was struggling with depression, anxiety, chronic pain, migraines, and a growing list of physical symptoms. When she was diagnosed with cervical cancer—compounded by financial barriers to treatment—she felt backed into a corner.

Yet this was the moment everything began to shift.

With courage, curiosity, and a willingness to try something new, she opened herself to alternative avenues of healing. What followed was a profound journey of self-discovery.

Food as Medicine, Thought as Medicine

Her path began with a simple suggestion from someone she hardly knew: “Look up the healing diet.” That one phrase opened the door to a world of plant-based nutrition, juicing, natural healing modalities, and stories of others who had overcome illness through holistic practices.

As she changed the way she ate and nourished her body, she began noticing dramatic improvements:

  • Increased energy

  • Weight loss

  • Relief from chronic pain

  • Emotional clarity

  • A renewed sense of hope

But food was only part of the transformation.

A powerful idea emerged—one that aligns closely with Unity’s teachings:
If our thoughts and choices can contribute to illness, then our thoughts and choices can also contribute to healing.

She embraced this idea wholeheartedly, shifting not only her diet, but also her mindset, daily habits, and internal dialogue.

Finding Spiritual Practice—And the Power of Namaste

Along her healing path, she discovered yoga and meditation. What began as exercise soon became spiritual practice. She began to feel the presence of the Divine within herself—and within everyone she met.

This shift was life-changing.

Meditation, breathwork, affirmation, and the concept of Namaste (“the divine in me honors the divine in you”) helped her reconnect with her sacred worth. She found herself walking through her days with compassion, presence, and a sense of connection she had never known before.

The Healing Dream That Changed Everything

During a period of deep inner work, she began having a repeated “healing dream.” In it, she appeared as her younger self—holding tightly to the emotional wounds that had formed long before her diagnosis.

With support from friends, practitioners, and her growing spiritual practice, she realized that part of her healing required forgiveness, emotional release, and compassion for her own past.

As she began making peace with childhood pain, old resentments, and the expectations she had carried for years, something extraordinary happened:

Her body began to heal as her spirit healed.
Within weeks, the tumor she had been fighting naturally released from her body.

It was a profound example of mind-body-spirit healing—one that mirrors the metaphysical teachings of Unity co-founder Myrtle Fillmore, who affirmed her way to physical and spiritual renewal.

A New Life, A New Purpose

Her healing journey didn’t just restore her health—it transformed her life’s direction.

Today, she:

  • Hosts raw food gatherings and healing-focused community events

  • Speaks and writes about holistic transformation

  • Works with people around the world on their own healing paths

  • Lives with vitality, purpose, and gratitude

  • Shares her story to inspire hope

As she says, “Once we opened ourselves to possibility, everything shifted.”

Why This Story Resonates With So Many

This video remains one of the most-watched on Unity Village Chapel’s YouTube channel because it captures a truth that lives at the heart of Unity:

Healing is not only physical—it is emotional, spiritual, relational, and energetic.
When we align mind, body, and spirit, remarkable things can happen.

The speaker’s story reminds us:

  • You are never stuck.

  • Your body and spirit hold wisdom.

  • There is always another option—even when hope feels out of reach.

  • You are guided, supported, and connected in ways you may not yet realize.

  • Transformation begins the moment you become open to possibility.

Explore More Inspirational Teachings at Unity Village Chapel

If this story speaks to you, you’ll find a welcoming spiritual home at Unity Village Chapel.

Explore more uplifting messages, meditations, and talks on our YouTube channel—or join us in person or online for Sunday services, classes, and sacred community.

Discover a path of healing, hope, and spiritual empowerment at Unity Village Chapel.
All are welcome here.