CLIENTS' CONTRIBUTIONS
“Nothing is so strong as gentleness and nothing is so gentle as real strength”.
Ralph W Sockman (1889 - 1970)
To My Beloved
Over time my hands have been neglected, as was my heart. The ritual of keeping them soft and supple had disappeared, my hands felt isolated, cold and hard, as did my heart. Touch had become a dream, and hope had become a half-knowing.
You have made me want to cream my hands, beloved. I now cream them every day, keeping them soft and supple for that other hand to hold, letting it feel the gentleness and kindness of my heart.
My hands have finally been held with respect and love. This has softened them together with my heart. It is a miracle that these hands have now begun to feel the magic of touch. This touch somehow ignites the heart, it warms, nurtures and delights all within.
My friend Hope is illuminated again, never doubting, that this was possible all along. My connection with my hands leads to many thoughts of how I have missed touch and its wonders of connecting, not only to myself but also to others.
My heart now sings when I cream my hands knowing that the sacred, divine connection is being made once again. The joy of my hands makes me want to touch, feel and love again.
The neglect and pain eases every time I cream my hands, knowing that they are ready to be loved; these hands which were so thirsty and hungry for touch now bathe in love as many times as possible.
Our greatness comes from within, as our hearts radiate the love we feel... I understand now why others keep this ritual going. It connects them to their essence. My hands have become the gateway to my Mother, Self Love.... She is my Beloved.
Namaste Ji
“I’ve always found that mercy bears richer fruit than strict justice.”
Abraham Lincoln (1809- 1865)
I offer this prayer to the divine spirit
From which I was nurtured to breathe
I offer this prayer to the day as it dawns to unfold
New opportunities and possibilities
I offer this prayer to this day
To be compassionate within myself and others
I offer this prayer with my body
To take care of my health with good nourishment
I offer this prayer to the road ahead
And in doing so go in pursuit and choose to seek happiness
I offer this prayer to each moment
To embrace the creative energies that courage provides
I offer this prayer to the gardener of my soul
And choose to create the conditions that allow growth
I offer this prayer and choose to practise
The steps that provide light on my road
I offer this prayer and choose to embrace love
In all things and truly seek intimacy in action and thought
I offer this prayer as captain of my ship
And choose to gain wisdom from all the past journeys
I offer this prayer as a survivor and self-healer
Who walks tenderly watchful of resident pain
I offer this prayer in the spirit of Namaste
To embrace the presence of each other
I offer this prayer as thanks for
The gifts that the divine sprit will provide today
Anon
"When you get into a tight space and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for it is just the place and time that the tide will turn."
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811 - 1896)
Dear Jo,
I am really pleased to report that everything is moving along nicely (if a bit fast for my liking sometimes…) I guess I have just learned that taking your time and doing things at a steady pace is important and I try to practice that each and every day. It helps me to deal with the pressures presented by a new job and to understand that I can only learn at one pace – my own pace.
I still practice the basics that you taught me: Water/flaxseed oil (I’ve even got my husband converted now!). I take my Foundation Formula and also my Avena Sativa drops. In a couple of weeks I will be running in the Great South Run (10 miles) for charity and I am really looking forward to it and feeling strong, so obviously everything is working well for me!
Also, the first time I listened to your voice on my Ipod, I realised that you were still there with me on my journey and that gives me such a warm feeling – that I have a true friend that is still there for me and will be for as long as I continue to listen and learn. I remember saying to you that I was worried about how I would cope without your support, but I know now that you are still there with me – thank you.
One of the first things I did after moving (and I have to admit, during a time of “wobble”), was to write my personal prayer. It is such a powerful, amazing exercise. And the weird thing is, that immediately upon completion, the situation I had been stressing about and which had caused my “wobble” was sorted out. I also remembered you saying that wobbles were like potholes in the road and it helped me through.
I just wanted to let you know that I have been keeping up the good work....I am making time for exercise and fresh air that I enjoy and for family time. We go on family walks and watch the wildlife and boats and it is a good balance. The good habits that you helped me to establish have taken root and are growing stronger daily. I remember you talking about a tiny seed, growing into a seedling and breaking through – it grows stronger day by day. I am always mindful of how I am feeling and make sure that I have time to really enjoy life as well as working hard.
One of the recordings that you made for me says “it is time to really start enjoying being you”. That is so true and something that I try to live every day. Thanks again for all your help and may you keep helping people with your wonderful gift of inspiration and healing.
I am so happy that I made the first phone call to Easton. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I felt so lonely, broken-spirited and as you know, I couldn’t see my way out. I was in despair and had hit my “rock-bottom”. I still have to work hard every single day to focus on all the right things. I still have self-doubts and times when I don’t feel like I am quite as good as I could be, but I am learning to stay strong and to understand that I will be the best that I can be, which is a truly wonderful and amazing human being – you gave me that understanding and I can’t thank you enough. I know also, that I have done this the right way – no “quick-fixes” or “miracle diets for the soul”. If you want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to focus and do it the right way. Diet pills and crash diets don’t work in the same way that anti-depressants weren’t the answer for me. That’s why I waited for the answer to appear and in my moment of need, it came to me in the form of Reach. The words of the hymn “Amazing Grace” sum it up nicely.
You are welcome to use any part of this letter for the website. If it helps just one person on their own journey, then that will make me very happy.
Sue xxx
"You can do anything if you have enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes rise to the stars. Enthusiasm is the spark in your eye, the swing in your gait, the grip of your hand, the irrestistable surge of your will and energy to execute your ideas... Enthusiasm is at the bottom of all progress!"
Henry Ford (1663 - 1947)
I hope this helps....
I first came to Reach 2 years ago because I was so down about my chronic bad health, it was starting to affect my relationship. I was very unsure about the whole process and at times felt put off by the ‘spiritual’ nature of the approach. However, family members promised me it would be worth sticking with and they were so right!!
I think going through my life map with Jo was the most memorable of all the work we did together. The most powerful thing, however, was to stop being angry at myself for being ill and actually start to like myself again. This sounds ridiculous but it has made a massive difference to my life. Along with Jo’s support I have really managed to make a lasting change.
I am so grateful to you Jo for all your help and support. You always made me feel so comfortable and you are so easy to talk to, the hour goes so fast!!
Katy, Halesowen
"A man is what he thinks about all day long."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)
Dear Reach
To my surprise I have become more tolerant, loving, kinder and even more cheerful over the last 9 months. I came believing these things were unattainable but through your comprehensive handouts (which are like three course meals) and the patient mirroring of how they could be achieved, I found myself changing in spite of myself!! I now move forward in 2012 believing I can be those things I never dared to imagine. Thank you for giving me hope!
William Howells, Leeds.
"Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are your own fears"
Rudyard Kipling (1865 - 1936)
To those seeking help....
Some years ago I needed help with regard to a problem that had occured in my life. My wife recomended a person she trusted and believed could help me.
Well where can I start? The begining would be a great idea....
Having felt uncomforatable before going, I was immediately put at my ease. I felt heard and valued which made it easy to tell my story. My issues unfolded over a period of time and I still have a sun-bleached file with my original life map and hand outs that I recieved over time. These have been wonderful companions to me and have been thumbed through whenever the need arose to channel my thoughts and focus my mind - providing me with direction and purpose in handling the situations before me.
Reach has been an intergal part of my journey and has helped me to foster a greater sense of well-being. Without Reach I would never have been able to achieve the peace of mind I can now dip into at times of stress and distress. Thank you!
To those of you who think they might be stigmatised for seeking therapy, I would say “do not knock it till you have tried it” ... this is from some one who was completely sceptical and had my life not been falling apart at the time I’d never have gone and sought help. I have found a true friend who offers help to everyone no matter what their creed, colour or religeous beliefs and who always finds a way to see those who may be a little less fortunate than ourselves.
Reach.... the name itself means just what it says, reaching out to all who might need a shoulder to cry on, a friend in time of trouble, a non-judgemental ear to listen. While writing this down my memory takes me back to the time when I would not have confided my darkest moments to a stranger. And yet, that stranger has now become a 'soul friend', one who has offered reassurance when I most needed it and helped me find solutions to problems that seemed insurmountable. After my sessions I always walked back out into the world with a smile on my face and courage in my heart, believing I could now face whatever my world presented me with. I also knew that if the challenges felt too great that this person was only a phone call away.
With my sincere thanks to Reach for all the caring support and guidance afforded to me over the years. Looking forward to the next leg of our journey! Hope this inspires those who are in need of help but afraid to take the first step.
Trevor Chalk
"Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)
Dear Reach
I would like to just formally thank you so much for the breadth and generosity of your website and for the reach approach itself!! I have lost count of the number of friends, relations and contacts in several countries, including other practitioners, I have told about it who have in turn recommended the website to others. I have had feedback from grateful friends who have found help and support there, too and like me, intend to continue using it as a valued resource for their personal growth and self improvement. What a gift ! And most of what they offer is free. This is truly generosity at work!
Here are some of the things I love about the reach approach:
- The website is attractive and easy to navigate --USER-FRIENDLY!!
- To me, the website in it's apprearance and the way it is set up etc. embodies not only generosity, but also the gentleness, thoughtfulness, orderliness, consistency and other virtues which the reach approach espouses.
- There is an integrity about the philosphy, the website, the personal contacts I have had...It all "hangs together".
- It is non-pressurizing and gentle. i.e. Even though there is so much material, it is not overwhelming (and I can easly get overwhelmed)...
- It is organized so logically by topic and title. Once somewhat familiar with the site, whether in dire need for help, or simply pursuing a personal development programme, it always seems whatever I choose to read or listen to is "just right" ... I always know the answers are there somewhere in the site...and ultimately ...in me.
- I appreciate the open synergistic approach, i.e. the reach approach is not pushing any one way/one track , rather it seems to bring it all together...Also, the approach allows for my own speed and way of learning. It consistently corroborates with and actually clarifies other spiritual/self-developement/therapy practices, reading or counseling I am receiving.
As well as using the library of free resources , I have ordered CDs and have had the privilege to have some face to face and distance-telephone counselling which is top-notch--highly recommended. I reached out to "reach" when "all else failed" and to anyone else who may feel hopeless or confused by all the different "voices" out there and discouraged by lack of progress, may they discover thereachapproach!
The reach approach has given me hope. I think my one-to-one sessions and a personal link with a reach counsellor has probably helped me make the best use of the web resources by at first directing me to what might be relevant at that point in time. This has helped me to familiarise myself with the site...so that now I can trust my intuition to look at the suggested topics and titles which lead me to just the right ideas at the right time. As I continue to recieve other help, therapies and read books, having the reach approach seems to help me pull it all together...to simplify it all.
More could be said, but I think this is sufficient. I just wanted to say thank you properly. I realise the best thanks I can give will be a transformed life and being fit to "reach" out to others which is my aim.
Thank you, those concerned --YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE !!
Yours sincerely
A grateful user of your resources (Hawaii) xx
"You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."
Kahil Gibran (1883 - 1931)
To those who may be interested...
I had no idea of what self-love was - did it just mean that you loved yourself!
Then came my introduction to it. Wow!! That’s all I can remember about it, just going away thinking, “what was that about”. So the seed was planted, it just needed watering from time to time so I thought. Then I realised this self-love business was taking over my life! The three S’s (self-care, self-nurture, self-respect) became all consuming. I realised I needed to start watering them everyday!
The colours in my life had once again changed. The questions I kept asking myself were “do I know self-love?” and if so “have I got self-love?” Then my tests arrived and I retreated into ‘Old Friend Dear Friend’ and tried to welcome them with open loving arms… yeah right! – if only it were that easy (smile).
Self-love for me has the same affects of being in love…you start to care, nurture and respect yourself on all levels, everything becomes positive in life, you love and you receive love and all is good. There has been a change, a shift that becomes hard to voice. I guess you could call it a sort of knowing. So self-love for me becomes a knowing… a knowing how to care for yourself, a knowing how to nurture and respect yourself, a knowing just like that of your Mother.
Self-love has become my Mother. She awakens me with the whispers of love, the knowing, she keeps coming in until I start to stir, open my eyes and feel that sense of belonging. She reminds me everyday of the 3 S’s. Self- care, self-nurture and self-respect. She embraces me with a snuggle buggle, holds me with such pride, reverence and commitment, her fragrance is deep and divine, her committed love lingers with all that she says, this fragrance becomes comforting and familiar. How can I not love her? My self-love…my dear Mother.
To know self-love is also to appreciate one of God’s gracious and divine gifts. To me, to know it is to know God. It has taught me to access love on a spiritual level, it is another gateway to a deep and unique connection with the self.
My continued journey and learning from Reach fills my being with a freedom of the soul. My life further gets enriched with my other friends on this journey, the Three Gatekeepers, Truth, Kindness and Benevolence, which weaves into this golden thread that is skilfully woven into all of Reach’s many insights. The richness is humbling and it drives me to want to be the best I can be from all of my beautiful inspirational meetings. Thank You Ji.
Namaste
From an appreciative heart and mind
"Who looks outside dreams; who looks inside wakes."
Carl Jung (1875 - 1961)
Dear Easton
Please accept this rose, plant it and watch it grow tall and strong, watch it flourish under your care, just as I have. And when it produces big, beautiful, fragrant flowers, please remember how much I have flourished, having been in the garden of your care and support. I have become strong, healthy, prolific and feel beautiful inside and out. Thank you, I am eternally in your debt.
Anita Patterson, Cardiff
“I don’t know what your destiny will be; but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.”
Albert Schweitzer (1875 – 1965)
Thank you Easton for your patience and sincerity and for giving me the space to explore and just be. I’m 58 years of age and it’s the first time I have begun to get a sense of who I am. I feel blessed to have met you and to have had the opportunity to learn how to fly. For most of my life I’ve felt like a trapped bird locked in a cage. For a long time, even when you helped me to open the door, I was too afraid to step outside the cage for fear my wings no longer worked. It’s taken time and courage but I no longer feel trapped. It’s such a wonderful feeling. Some days I wonder if it will fade. You’ve taught me that I have choice and if I exercise that choice this feeling never need leave me. Thank you for your wise counsel and support. God bless you and may you continue to touch the lives of many.
Bethany Stiles
“Of all the lies in the world, sometimes the worst are your own fears.”
Rudyard Kipling (1865 – 1936)
Dear Reach
I’ve not had the benefit of seeing a Reach practitioner, but there’s barely a day that I’m not on your site. It is literally a Godsend for me and I have passed on its details to friends and family. It has helped me through many dark times. I’m astounded by the amount of material - there literally is something for everyone. Thank you for making the path easier for others. Keep up the good work!
Mike Douglas, New Zealand
“A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses.”
Chinese Proverb
Reach has become my map, my light, my conscience, my mirror. Each of my senses now works better, especially my mind! Although I’ve taken much of this journey on my own with only occasional contact via email and phone, the gift of your website has been so precious as it has filled the void. I grow stronger every day as a result of its many gifts and insights. Every time I go back and read or listen to the material I’m inspired. I wish you all positive blessings, happiness, peace and contentment as you’ve helped me move closer to all of these.
Lorna Jeffreys, Spain
“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”
Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955)
I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your amazing CDs, Asking for Nothing, The Hands of Time and The Power of Choice. I play one of them every day. Since listening to them I cope much better as they calm me and my blood pressure has remained stable. Even though I've never met you, there's a reassuring quality in your voice that has helped me to feel safe and strangely I no longer feel alone. Both my anxiety and sadness have become more manageable - this after only 4 weeks. The isolation I have previously felt because I live alone in quite a remote area has lifted. My fear of dying, which I'm nearer to at 79, is also easing. The literature you sent me has also helped immensely. I have found the subject of Self-Love and Self-Loathing particularly apt. I realise I've been guilty of a lack of self-love my whole life. I'm going to try the things suggested and see where it takes me. Thank you for your kindness.
Samantha Addison, Canada
Contributions Page introduction....
Reach began its unique way of working in 1990. Since that time we have touched literally thousands of people’s lives through our individual work, work with couples, families, groups and countless workshops. We have produced in that time 100s of written resources and over 30 audio and visual recordings and these have travelled across the world, largely driven by personal recommendation. They have also brought immeasurable change to many. On these pages is a snap-shot of what people have thought, felt and gained from their therapeutic contact with us via the various media we offer.
Also included on this page are some inspirational thoughts and writings from those clients, borne of their personal journeys with Reach. We've also added insightful quotes from some of the great minds both past and present.
We hope you too will be inspired....