Book excerpt: The Way Toward Health is an in-depth examination of the miracle of life in a human body, woven through the poignant story of Jane Roberts’ courageous attempt to understand why she had contracted the crippling condition that ultimately led to her death. The material in the book was evoked by the questions and considerations Jane and her husband Rob faced during her long illness. Expanding upon those questions, Seth discusses: • Why medicine and therapy often perpetuate illness • How the practice of naming diseases can work against us • The influence of religion in creating disease • How childrens’ health is influenced by parents’ beliefs • Humor as an effective factor in healing • The mechanics of self-healing: how our thoughts and beliefs affect our health • The creative aspects of illness: how we sometimes contract an illness to give ourselves time to understand and integrate our life experiences