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[Excerpt from TT: 2016-03-06 Ask Michael] JanaK: Here is XXX's question: Jana brought up a concept of psychological conditions manifesting as physical ones if persistent, and mentioned an example of her male collegue who had a very bitter relationship with women as a whole and eventually developed a testicular cancer. I queried why this doesn't appear to affect others in a consistent way, for example why would someone like Jimmy Saville, who abused and raped vulnerable people and the dead for decades, not develop a physical problem in a similar way. Furthermore, why would seemingly ordinary well-minded people get a cancer? Can you comment? MEntity: First, it is important to consider that illnesses are not punishments. They are not developed as a means of justice. They manifest from among variables that include genetics, environment, the emotional and intellectual bodies. MEntity: For some individuals there is a factor of guilt that can generate symptoms and ailments that are the symbolic reflection of the stories behind that guilt. MEntity: For others who may have the same experience, make the same choices, and cause more harm, the absence of guilt means there will be no effects on the body from guilt. MEntity: The Physical Plane is always a gamble in terms of health. It will always be important to care for the body in ways that are appropriate, but this may not always protect one from the effects of genetics or environment. One way of understanding this is to consider caring for your home. It would make no sense for you to trash your home and set fires within it or neglect it JUST because there may one day be a hurricane. You cannot control the hurricane, but you can control how well you care for your home, even if it ends up in the path of a hurricane. MEntity: In terms of illnesses reflecting processes, there is always some sort of insight that be gained, but it is not always so wildly philosophical. MEntity: For example, if three people were to walk out into traffic and be hit by a car, one may have done so because he has a pattern of neglect that was reflected in his recklessness, while another person may have a death wish, and still the other person simply forgot to look up this one time. MEntity: Our point being that there is broad symbolism associated with illnesses, but we caution against such exact correlations. As for cancer: even good people eat poorly. Even good people live in toxic environments. Even good people carry stress. It is never useful to associate illnesses with punishment or deserving. MEntity: And it would be helpful to consider that some illnesses that manifest are not always physical. MEntity: There are some very healthy active individuals who are are barely held together on emotional or intellectual levels. MEntity: Though there are broad correlations and symbolism between illnesses and cumulative causation, it is far too nuanced to count on an equation of "IF X THEN Y."