HYPNOBIRTHING - THE WAY FORWARD

"Nick my waters have broken, no contractions yet, don't panic though, I feel fine and it will be a while yet, keep you posted."

I had just received a text from my friend Caroline. Not being a mum I had dreaded this moment for a long time, I was also dreading it as Caroline, having had a number of strokes and having lupus, a very dangerous blood condition, giving birth could be potentially fatal.

Caroline and Daniel, dear friends of mine had spoken about having a child for a long time. The only problem was with her condition, there were just far too many risks involved in having a child. The time came however when they had made the ultimate decision, they were going to definitely try for a baby.

On a nice summers day, we had gone to theirs for a barbeque. When I got home I said to my partner, "Caroline felt different, I wonder if she is pregnant?" She had not mentioned anything but a week later had found out that she was indeed expecting.

Caroline had been to see all of the relevant specialists and had been assured that she would be in the safest possible hands that she could be.

All well and good, however, there was still that unspoken fear of the risk. So as ever, Caroline started to research how the birth could be as stress free as possible with minimal risk of bleeding.

She sent me an email showing me an article on hypnobirthing. It basically was a way of going into labour and having your baby in the alpha brain wave state, relaxing the whole way through and allowing your body to blend with your baby and allow your baby to naturally be expelled from the body with no trauma, no pain relief requirement and no damage to mum or baby.

Well when I first saw the information, I thought what a load of nonsense, as I had seen many depictions of birth on the TV and nothing looked further from relaxing, pain free and no damage down there, (if you know what I mean!).

Caroline loved the idea and asked me if I would like to be her birthing partner. I was absolutely honoured and speechless to be asked.

So wind forward and our first hypnobirthing session is about to take place. This was a three hour stint every Saturday morning for five weeks. You can choose whatever times to take your course and this is sorted out with your tutor, they generally come to your home address.

We had a lovely lady come to teach us and help us through the motions of showing how to keep Caroline in the alpha brain wave state. In other words a state of meditation or sleep state, a complete mind and body relaxation. The relaxation was assisted by body massage, mantras and powerful visual exercises.

Luckily I took to this part like a duck to water as I can ease into the alpha brain wave state as easily as breathing, so keeping Caroline in this meditative state was reassuringly simple!

I have to say though on the first day of the course, I thought, "What a load of fluffy nonsense, soon as that baby is anywhere near the opening everything will go out of the window." In one word Sceptic. But after seeing footage of the first five births, watching mum and dad naturally and very simply welcome their child into the world, I sat up and started to pay attention.

So wind forward to the waters breaking text! Another thing that should be mentioned at this stage is to maintain the ambience of hypnobirthing and to provide a conducive atmosphere, certain vocabulary has to be adhered to in order that mum is not reminded of anything stressful, i.e pain, labour.

So labour is called birthing, contracts are surges, dilating is thinning and opening, etc.

So I turned up to Caroline's house, Daniel was looking decidedly fraught as I come in. Caroline was up the wall in discomfort, pain and slightly dishevelled. Within about eight minutes, she was completely relaxed, sipping drinks and talking normally. Caroline had now been placed into the alpha state and fully in tune with her body allowing baby to blend with her and thus affording them to listen to each other.

Time went by and I decided to psychically connect to baby. I had no birthing skills to offer so it was up to my instinct instead!

I felt baby and knew the position and stage of birthing instinctively. I then started to get a few passed relatives chucking things into the mix so I knew there would be no problems!

After a while, we all decided to make the move to Southend hospital.

The journey was quite successful.. Caroline kept cool, calm and collected in the most amazing way, whilst Dan and I clucked around like headless chickens, hiding it as best we could!

This part of my experience was the most frustrating. A message to any mum that reads this is PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN WITH THE MIDWIFE AND ANAESTHETIST!

At this point when you are bustled into a room ready for birthing, all that has been taught to you flies out the window as the maternity staff don't understand or respect any of your wishes.

We wished to create a birthing room, thus creating a relaxing and stress free environment, respecting Caroline and Dan's wishes, using our language and allowing nothing to inhibit this process.

Well as soon as we walked in, both Dan and I commented that we believed that baby was engaged and that the head was engaged (full dilation). We were totally ignored.

We handed the request slip asking for the staff's cooperation, one had already been sent to staff weeks previously, this was placed into a pocket unread.

The anaesthetist then came waltzing in and started to give Caroline options for her PAIN. Arrgh, a naughty word! I interrupted the doctor and kindly explained that we would rather not have the word 'pain' used, we would not be requiring any discomfort relief and if that decision was made by Caroline later on then fine. Nope, he was having none of it.

He continued his speech running through spinal taps, epidurals, pain relief, gas, possibilities of heavy bleeding, caesarean procedures. I then interrupted again feeling, one, quite queasy myself! And two he wass not adhering to out requests, Dan then took it into hand and whispered to Caroline to let it go over her head, I stood there angrily allowing him to say his thing. At the end of the conversation he then looked at me and stated, "WHEN you need your pain relief, let me know." I THEN SAID, "She won't be needing that thank you." He retorted, "Yes I have heard that one before!" Great!

We then try to tell the midwife that we believed that the baby's head was engaged. She smiled and allowed us to set up our music and create a room of pleasant, tranquil surroundings. She then walked out not examining Caroline, as she looked at her sitting back having a sip of water completely relaxed and chilled out and said, " I think we have a little while yet," and left the room just after asking me if I was a midwife myself!

So no one really has grabbed hold of hypnobirthing in this place. Caroline sailed through her surges, we keep her there in the alpha state. Dan was a complete star as we went through the massages and mantras for mum.

Eventually the midwife came back and stated that she is (FINALLY!) going to examine Caroline.

Well, the midwife's face was indescribable, "Oh the cervix has gone, I can see the baby's head!" Really? We had told her that ages ago!

She was obviously confused as Caroline was completely relaxed, at one with her body and in no way looked like a lady about to give birth.

So the hours went by and during this time the midwife had completely turned her view around. She adopted our requested language and was a hundred percent with us. Even the doctor was curious as he would come in and see Caroline sipping a cup of tea, eating a biscuit and listening to Dire Straits!

The time came, as mum and baby were so relaxed everything completely stopped, baby was almost crowning but mum or baby couldn't be bothered!

After a little jab to bring things along, baby decided to come out and see the world.

I have to say with all the spiritual situations that I have witnessed, nothing could have prepared me for the pure miracle that I was so honoured to be present at.

Caroline was magnificent, her beautiful baby girl Edith May graced us with her presence, with hardly a grumble. Caroline was supremely relaxed and had no damage or pain relief throughout the whole experience. I was immensely proud of her, Dan and Edie.

I was even more humbly shocked when I had to hold Edie very quickly afterwards so that Caroline could be looked after and monitored properly due to her condition. Daniel placed that miracle in my arms. I had been feeling her energy whilst she was still inside Caroline and now she was looking straight into my eyes. Dan had noticed the scene and took a photograph. Edie was minutes old.

The photograph was amazing, both Edie and I were surrounded by coloured orbs. I have never seen anything like it. I was buzzing with spirit energy around me and knew that there would always be a spiritual bond between me and beautiful Edie.

Caroline recovered brilliantly and had no extraordinary bleeding, no pain relief and no damage at all. Both baby and mum were completely relaxed afterwards.

The best part of this was that the doctor came to see me afterwards and asked for the details of hypnobirting as his wife was pregnant and wanted to go through the birth using this method!

I have decided to add this article as I know that it will help nervous mums to be or even mums with medical conditions.

There has even been a natural birthing unit now added to the maternity unit at Basildon hospital in Essex.

I hope that other hospitals will follow suit and create this wonderful environment that not only helps mum and baby but I believe reduces birth trauma that leads to so many other problems such as post natal depression and post traumatic stress disorder.

I also write this article in honour of beautiful Edith May Spitzer, born at 0629 hrs on Monday the 30th April 2007.

I would like to thank my wonderful friends Daniel and Caroline for allowing me to share this story as well as allow me to be present at one of the most beautiful, miraculous and spiritual experiences of my life.

I would also like to thank my beautiful god daughter for allowing me to have the privilege to be present at the beginning of a her life plain miracle, as usually I am at the other end, the departure lounge to spirit!

God Bless the three of you. X
For more information on hypnobirthing please contact:
Karen on 01245 600655 or email her at calmbirthing@hotmail.co.uk
or you can visit www.hypnobirthingpages.com

THE PATIENCE OF AN ANGEL..

My recent experience of a fully manifested spirit boy
5th May 2007

I cannot explain to you how completely humble and truly grateful I am for my gift. It is a gift that brings such happiness, joy and comfort to people on the earth plain. Sometimes I become overwhelmed with such emotion in being privileged to be part of such a powerful phenomena. Spirit contacting us, simply worded, but astounding in reality.

During my work, every single day brings me something new to reflect on or learn about. I regularly send thoughts up asking to see more spirit people in solid form. The Spirit world and the Universe in true fashion, deliver, ask and you will get!

I rarely see solid spirit people, they have popped up now and then but this particular occasion left me feeling absolutely euphoric.

I was in the sanctuary carrying out private readings for a lovely couple who I had managed to squeeze in on a Saturday. I was experiencing lovely connections with their family when towards the end of the final reading, I saw someone standing on the decking which is just outside the reading room door.

My initial reaction was 'how rude I'm doing a reading here', then it was, 'Oh no I've got another reading to do,' I had a psychic party that night and thought that I was pushing my energies if I had to do another one.

I then looked closer and realised that it was a young boy around 15 years old, so too young for a reading. He just stood there staring at me, he had a beautiful fair complexion, lovely eyes and blonde hair with a little bit flicked at the front. He then started to form a smile and then..GONE. 'Blimey' I thought, or words very similar! He was a spirit person. I then felt an enormous pressured pain hit my head area and then again even more painful.

I then explained to the sitter who I had just seen and felt he had passed in a road accident, he was then in my mind's eye and I could see him clearly. I said to her, 'Do you know the name Charlie?' She replied 'No.' I then asked her if she was sure that she didn't understand the boy. She was quite adamant. I was puzzled as the reading had been extremely accurate and fluid until the boy showed up.

I then insisted that I ask her fiancé, as he would surely understand him, nothing.

Oh well I said part in jest, 'perhaps he's wanting to see someone tonight!' As I said this, I then saw NAN written in my head.

Well suffice to say I had tried to give this poor boy to these people but they were having none of it! The readings ended and I decided to go and embrace nature, to recharge and take the dog out for a walk in the woods.

We had a beautiful walk and as I was returning back home, this boy came back into my head again. Sometimes I don't realise I'm doing this, I will really have to watch it! I started to talk to him verbally. I could feel him next to me. I realised that he was indeed waiting to speak to someone that night. He kept showing the words NAN and MUM in my mind. In the end I said to him, 'You can stay with me darling course you can, but don't drain me just hang around til I get ready.' 'Who are you talking to?' asked my partner. 'Oh just a little un who wants to talk to someone tonight, he asked if he could stay with me and wait.' 'Oh right' Trust me, he is SO used to these kinds of answers from me!

So the rest of the day unfolded and then it was time to make our way to the party. I had told my medium partner, Vicky, about the boy, I hoped there was someone there that would understand. As I was talking about this, I then saw my nan, her name was Eva. I didn't know why I was seeing her in my mind.

So there we are at the psychic party. First in, nope, second in, nope. By this time I was so engrossed with the other spirit communicators I forgot about the boy.

Then in came this lady, we started the reading and then, then, I looked into her eyes properly. My God it was her, it was nan, Eve. The boy came straight into the room, 'Hello nan, I have your grandson here,' emotional wasn't the word. Charlie went onto describe his passing in an accident where there were two points of impact. He was exceptionally worried about his mum as she wasn't dealing with his passing very well and went onto name all of his family as well as give stunning proof it was indeed really him.

His energy felt so elated towards the end of that reading. That beautiful little soul had waited patiently all day as he knew I would have his nan sitting in front of me that evening. I felt truly honoured and in awe by the power of spirit people and the lengths that individual spirit people will go to, to prove their existence.

May you relish your time in spirit dearest Charlie and look over all of your saddened family until they can heal the best that they can. No doubt you will draw close to them as every other spirit person does and be nothing but a whisper away.

I would like to thank Eve for allowing me to share this beautiful story of eternal love. x

THE INCHBAE EXPERIENCE

Words cannot describe the fantastic spiritual experience had by all on this special trip. The trip started off with much merriment and ice breaking on the flight over where instant bonds were made with the whole group. On arrival we all breathed in the pure air of the highlands and for a short instant took in the breath taking views of the snow capped mountains and sparkling water falls.

The first evening kicked off with physical mediumship. Many experienced how to channel their guides through during the trance dance with unbelievable results. We then had a truly sensational séance where a very strong spirit energy, Robert, came and showed us how to lift and throw around an eight seater solid wood dining table. This table ordinarily could not be moved by our fingertips as we tried the following morning to move it, impossible. He also brought us strong smells of smoke and rang a bell in mid air above the séance table. The rapping on the table was fantastic as well as walls and windows being banged. This was all recorded.

The energy was unbelievable. All of the information that Robert provided was conducive to the history of Ross shire during the era of when the 'redcoats' came to invade Scotland during the 17th century. Many of us including me became overshadowed by his energy creating us to experience his last moments on the earth plane passing in a fire of which we later found out the ruins of the cottage still exist.

We also briefly had interaction by two men who claimed they had passed in a plane crash close to our hotel. This was later to be confirmed by the hotelier.

Table tipping in the main lounge was then carried out with again an astonishing energy that we believed still to be Robert. The photographic evidence was extremely impressive where orbs were attached to the table tippers like snowflakes. Great experience.

After a fantastic evening we then retired for social time and went to bed eagerly awaiting the following day.

The next day brought about a visit to Culloden battlefield. This place is a real treat especially in helping you to blend with different energies from different eras. The energy there is heavy and sometimes oppressive. It claimed a couple of victims in our group who had to remain on the move away from the head splitting pain of the spirit people. The spirit energies belonged to the Jacobites who defended their country but were slain in minutes by government troops. Thousands were buried where they dropped. The well of the dead was also extremely powerful bringing tears to a number of our group. A very special place to visit. We also had amazing experiments with a pendulum that swung against gravity to locate spirit energies. Brilliant.

We then went onto Loch Ness to search for Nessie and visit the castle that overlooks the formidable loch. It was a very special day ending in Scottish retail therapy, marvellous!

On the way home we enjoyed each others company and shared our experiences of the spirit visitor who was entering our rooms at night. I had seen a dark shadow walk down the steps in my room. Diane had a man standing over her whilst she was in bed, Lynn and I heard footsteps coming up into the bedroom and waited for Rachel to pop her head around the corner, but there was nothing there, just a door closing eerily behind an unseen force. Poppy also had a visitor showing only his bare torso. Lots of people wanted their room checked before they would go to sleep! Friday was our social night and what goes on in Scotland stays in Scotland!

The following day brought us a fantastic visit to the Brahm Seers stone. We then went onto Dingwall and the first shop we saw was a spiritualist shop! Again retail therapy ensued but all in the name of spiritualism!

We then went on to have lunch at Bealy priory which is a 13th century ruin. Following lunch we had successful experiments with our pendulums as well as fantastic spirit figures caught on digital camera.

We then concluded the day with a meditation at the truly beautiful Rogie Falls where we all connected back to nature with a little tree hugging thrown in!

It was an emotional and refreshing experience for all of us.

As a surprise I had arranged an evening of mediumship for the group, but they were the mediums! I can't explain how proud I felt of the mediums that night. I have seen many of them grow and their evidence, delivery and proof of the spirit world did not disappoint. I cried my eyes out most of the evening as everyone put their heart and soul into their work. Well done all of you.

The following day the workshop required hard work by the group. There was a remote viewing exercise where the majority managed to locate Rachel who was in a hidden location on the grounds. After some good interactive mediumship including beginners suprising themselves with their ability, we were then treated by excellent trance demonstrations by the two Adrians. Everyone witnessed magnificent transfiguration with both boys and some beautiful channelling.

The evening then brought on the competitive streak in all as the psychic challenge went underway!

Much fun was had by all of us. Congratulations to Barb, Ade and Aidy who streaked to victory, claiming the winning title!

That evening brought a few tears as our trip was coming to an end. I truly cant' describe the essence of bonding with like minded people in a truly beautiful spell binding place. The deer would come down from the mountains every evening to the river by the hotel to graze. At night there would be no sound apart from the distant water falls, the only light being the sparking stars filling the fresh highland sky.

I have not experienced anything so special as this trip and I can say with heartfelt truth in my heart, I simply can't wait for the next one. Thank you everyone that made this trip so special and unique. This is what true spiritualism is about. Beautiful souls blending together with nothing on their mind apart from wanting to learn, love, discover and grow.

Nicky Alan x

Law of Attraction

The following questions were put to us by our visitors and workshop attendees. These questions are then answered by various teachers working for the sanctuary.

Does 'like really attract like'?

Ian Jones: We have the power within us to draw positive or negative influences into our lives. The law of attraction works on many levels including the physical, mental and the soul level. Like the law of cause and effect or karma this law is perfect in its operation and will draw to us if we're not careful, unwanted influences into our lives.

Physical Level

Firstly I will try to describe my interpretation on how this works from a physical level. The term "like attracts like" accurately describes this process in a nut shell, people of like minds are drawn to each other and seem to seek each other out. You have heard of the term "birds of a feather flock together," there is so much truth in this. It's important to note that the thoughts we send out will draw people of a like mind to us. If we want people to love us and enjoy our company then we must first be loving to others without any conditions attached and most importantly we must give without expecting something in return. Also, if you don't like being judged by people then quit judging others. If you want to have good friends then you must first be a good friend to somebody else. It's extremely hard in human form not to judge other people and not to think negative thoughts, they seem to pop into our minds before you can even to stop them, especially when a stranger is aggravating us, but we must stop them in there tracks and try to understand where that person is coming from or where they are compared to us on their soul journey.

Most people we interact with on Earth are on a different spiritual level or lower/higher evolution to us with Earth being an emotional school of learning.

It's like being in a school class room but with the youngest to the most matured students all being in the same class room together. We must try and have patience and understanding for them as we were once there too and to judge others is really to judge yourself, we can't hurt or judge anybody else without really hurting or judging ourselves in the process.

Mental Level

At the mental and spiritual level we also draw spirit entities that are similar in mind to us, people who think negative dark and violent thoughts will draw darker entities to them who can influence the person in the physical world and cloud their judgment. On the positive side of "Like attracts Like" we will also draw highly evolved spirit guides and entities who will want to work with us to help move mankind forward. These higher minded and more knowledgeable beings will be drawn to us. The law is perfect, there are no grey areas, we will draw to us that which we deserve at our current level of spiritual evolution. GOOD LUCK!

Soul Level

The law of attraction also works at the soul level. When we go home to the other side we will be naturally drawn like a magnet to the plane/sphere that perfectly fits the purity of our thoughts, we will be unable to go to the higher spheres until we have evolved sufficiently to do so, but progress is open to all on the other side, with Halls of Learning, Halls of Music and the arts, and any other activity the soul wants to get involved in, but the most important activity for the soul if it want's to progress is giving service to others whether it be here or there.

As souls we also have access to all the other spheres below us, many souls travel to these lower spheres to lovingly guide and help others progress ever upward, especially those who are lost in the prison of their own dark thoughts, their guides are lovingly watching and gently nudging them until they finally forgive themselves and accept the help that is always present, but they must first ask for it and forgive themselves, our guides have infinite patience. The spirit world is not so much a geographical location but a state of mind where we are constantly shaping our future heaven or home NOW!, isn't that lovely, as long as you live your life with the right intentions we have nothing to fear.

What is Karma

The following questions were put to us by our visitors and workshop attendees. These questions are then answered by various teachers working for the sanctuary.

What is Karma?

Ian Jones: I thought id write this article after being inspired by the teachings of Edgar Cayce and decided to add my own inner feelings on the subject. Most people at some level are aware of "Karma" whether they truly believe in it or not. How many times do people say "what goes around comes around" or "I must of done something really bad in a previous life for this to happen."

The interesting perspective that Edgar Cayce put on the philosophy of Karma is the recognition that Karma is actually a multidimensional storehouse of energy made up of our past, present and future probable actions or memory. Simply put, every cause will have a resulting effect that is already shaping our current future and beyond.

The thing to remember is when a bad situation presents itself, we need to recognise that we're really experiencing 'Self Meeting Self". We may at some point experience the end result of our actions so that we understand all sides of our behaviour. According to Cayce and many other mystics, everything that we do, whether it be a physical action or thought, the imprint will be stored on this vast etheric computer system known as the akashic records.

For example, If we hoodwinked someone into believing our action was good but the intent was actually bad, then this will be recorded on the records for what it actually was, and by that I mean a bad cause. The truth of this situation will be revealed to all when we're back on the other side and when we're experiencing it for ourselves in the future.

This vast database of information helps shape our current blue print today and with perfect precision draws people and experiences to us to allow us as souls to learn from past behavioural patterns. We are hear to break these patterns and master our relationships so we can move on from them, if we don't, then we will be back here again until we do.

One of the many gifts that we poses as souls is free will, with this blessing we can choose to take either a constructive path when dealing with the patterns drawn to us or we can take a destructive path, it's up to us as co-creators and writers of our destiny to find the latent spark within ourselves and eventually become one again with the God force.

Right now your future is constantly changing and moulding because of your free will. When a psychic gives you glimpse of your future, they are mearly tapping into one of many possibilities that are bubbling within the future pages of these records, but many of these are only probable, we do poses the necessary skills and strength to master them if we choose.

Having said that, we must also understand that there are scenarios written into these records for the current life time that we have chosen to experience (Good or Bad) that will allow us to grow, although we might not understand now why we would have chosen some of these things. All will become clear when we go back home and see the whole picture.

Another interesting perception to make is that all our lives are connected like a thread, you are the sum of all that you have been and you should always seek to be the best that you can be.

If you get the chance to read any books by Brian L. Weiss I highly recommended it. Brian uses regressional hypnotherapy to take clients back to previous life times, sometimes going back thousands of years. The thing that stands out when comparing somebody's multiple life times is similar reoccuring themes and patterns presenting themselves. For example if somebody abused their partner through mental abuse and jealousy it is more likely to find this pattern presenting itself again in the next life time. Not because they are evil but because their soul is trying to overcome these emotions and patterns until they have mastered them.

After mastering these traits they may then choose to come back and experience being on the receiving end to finally see the whole picture and allow their soul to grow. But as we have free will we can choose to experience all lessons in a negative or positive way. All opportunities are gifts to be used wisely.

Just one last thing to note is that we're all part of a close nit soul group, we choose to come back and experience life's opportunities together. So your mum, dad, brother, sister, son, daughter, partner, best friends etc are souls that you're eternally connected to. You have had many many lifetimes together. Basically we are all soul mates. Nobody is ever lost.