by Carmel Reid, Somerset UK

My body has been speaking to me all my life. Sometimes I’ve listened, and when I haven’t it has had to shout louder. Occasionally, when I’ve ignored it completely, it’s brought me to a complete stop so I had no choice but to listen.

I recently did an exercise writing an A to Z of all the things I’ve had go wrong in my body and I was amazed to see just how much my body has been speaking with me all my life.   Continue reading “Listening to my Body” →

I recently had a very painful procedure to remove a tattoo I have on my body. For those who are unfamiliar with what this involves, the removal is undertaken over a series of treatments with laser therapy. This releases the tattoo pigment held in the body by causing little explosions, which feel like they are burning the overlying skin.

This was my third treatment, so I had a pretty good idea of what was involved and that it would again be very painful. On previous occasions I had observed how I would automatically go into a bracing and hardening of my body in order to be able to cope with the pain. But each time I did this, with the support of my wonderful physician, Dr Anne Malatt, I could feel that it is actually possible to stay open, without hardening, while experiencing the pain of the procedure. I could do that by simply connecting with myself deeply and honouring how much pain I could take at any given moment – going at my own pace and my own rhythm.

So this time around, as I lay on the table, I first felt the anxiousness that was in my body. I realised this was my body telling me I needed to deeply connect and feel something I may not be wanting to feel. As I began to connect, I first felt the sadness of where I was with myself many years ago when I decided to have the tattoo in the first place…. how I was so desperate to belong, to be seen as ‘cool’, as ‘hip’ and attractive. Continue reading “My Tattoo Removal & The Power of Stillness” →

by Lisa Rose, Hairdresser, Perth, Western Australia

I attended my first Universal Medicine workshop 8 years ago after a friend gave me a flyer. I looked at it and said ‘yes’ immediately. It was the first time I had ever considered something other than visiting my GP or a naturopath when things were out of sorts.

After completing the workshop I felt an enormous shift in my body, which made me realise that I could live in a ‘different way’ – one which listens to and honours my body. I could feel more space in my body and my thoughts were clearer, giving me a sense of well-being, physically and mentally. It was as if all the things that were weighing me down day to day had been removed and I could enjoy being more of me, rather than the heaviness of life’s experiences, etc. tainting my thoughts and physical being. I clearly recall saying to my mum the next day that “I never want to return to how I was feeling before I did the workshop”. Continue reading “Medicine, Choices and True Healing” →

by Sally Scott, Manager, Perth WA

Christmas is a tradition for many. On the Google search engine it says that some 2 billion people celebrate Christmas worldwide. So I asked myself, what is it that people believe they are celebrating? We have public holidays for it, concerts, huge shopping sales around this time of year, businesses shut down to give their employees time off, families plan holidays and get-togethers, there is usually large amounts of food prepared and eaten, alcohol is consumed, houses are decorated with coloured lights and ornaments, some make and decorate gingerbread houses, and for some it is the time of the year (the only time of the year) they visit a church or participate in religious services or ceremonies. Continue reading “What Christmas means to me?” →

by Sandra Williamson, Hairdresser, Brisbane

A friend was feeling a lot of pressure the other day to complete some very big things on time. So the question was asked, “Are you feeling the pressure of a deadline”? – with the response being “Yes”. My next question was, “Whose deadline is it”?

The next moment we both came to the awareness that by the way she was feeling, it could well be her ‘DEAD – line’.

A little exaggeration, but also true.

We could both sense what she was putting herself through to accomplish all that was needed; and if she just pushed through, well when it was done, she could then come back to caring for herself properly. Continue reading “Whose ‘Dead’ – line is it?” →

by Suzanne Anderssen, Brisbane, Australia

I have spent most of my life rushing. In primary school I would fit swimming, netball, guitar lessons, homework, TV, playing with friends, etc. around school time. I observed how my mother never stopped for 5 minutes, busy with work, kids, housekeeping. When in high school, I actually got a speeding fine and subsequently lost my licence for seeing how fast I could get to the shops to buy a cake mix (!). On school days I would wake up exactly 15 minutes before the bus was scheduled, fitting in a shower, breakfast, dressing and packing my school bag before running out the door to make the bus (my hair was always left wet). This ‘routine’ set me up for adult life: for years I set my alarm to wake up with the bare minimum of time needed to make it to work. I would drive the most direct route, without traffic lights, eat breakfast and do my hair in the car, put on lipstick in the rear vision mirror, and swan into work with seconds to spare (if even that). I felt my stomach tense up as I sped through life.  Continue reading “Rush, Rush, Rush” →

by Rebecca Poole, Brisbane, Australia

Why do people say “Grow some balls”? Balls are weak and sensitive! If you really want to get tough, grow a vagina! Those things take a pounding! – Betty White

On one hand this is quite funny, and we laugh because it shows the ridiculousness of our world and the way we see ourselves, and possibly . . . if we didn’t laugh we would be crying. Continue reading “To honour our tenderness” →