Culbone Church



Bill lost without  internet connection

Only WE could get lost on a coastal path!

Here we were, on our way to visit an ancient spiritual temple, in the middle of a wood, on the side of a cliff and Bill decides to get his iphone out.

The lady in Porlock information office said it was about a 40 minute walk but we had been walking for over an hour."We can use this"  he exclaimed! "it has a GPS'"

But to his dismay, there wasn't any signal.
We were doomed!

Just then we saw the church through the trees.

It was like going back hundreds of years. Civilization was at least an hour away and this was not a good place to have a heart attack. My body felt the relief immediatly at the sight of this ancient site. Maybe it was the healing energy of the place or maybe it was just the relief that I didn't have to walk up any more muddy hills. Next time I am going to get some nordic walking poles. Everyone round here seems to have them.

Culbone Church is a little gem which is hidden away on the North Devon coast between Porlock and Lynmouth and visiting this place was the highlight of my week away.

Culbone Church

This beautiful Church has been mentioned in both the Domesday Book and also the Guinness Book of records and it has been described as 'the smallest complete parish church in the country'.

Before venturing on our coastal walk to the church I had purchased some booklets about the place from the Porlock information office. The booklets were written by a lady called Joan Cooper. I quickly skimmed the pages looking for information to confirm what I had already learned about this magical place.

Joan Cooper explains that light was built into Culbone in the form of an invisible spiritual temple long before any physical construction began. Spiritual temples were created in the etheric membrane around the earth after the fall of Atlantis for the regeneration of mankind.

Whilst walking around Culbone graveyard I came across the tombstone of Joan Cooper. She had been a Psychologist from California who had studied in the U.S.A., Geneva and Berlin. I felt a huge connection with this lady and later found out that she had lived in this small hamlet on the Exmoor coast and she had played the church organ and taught meditation and relaxation. We had a lot in common. We were both Therapists, both musical and both interested in relaxation, meditation and all things spiritual. I felt as if I knew her.

R.I.P. Joan Cooper, you've picked a great place to rest.

The visitors book is full of complementary comments about the church and I added my details. I couldn't find the words to describe the place so I drew a heart symbol instead. Louise Bates Leamington spa Warwickshire <3

Love & light
Louise x

Creative recuperation

During March I went into hospital to have an operation. It was nothing serious but I was told to take things easy for a while and not to drive for four weeks. Well, being self employed makes taking time off work very difficult and it felt frustrating having to turn clients away. Fortunately, I have contacts with some amazing therapists locally so I was able to pass clients on to them.

                                                        

I’m a great believer that things happen for a reason and taking time off from my usual routine as a Therapist gave me the opportunity to do something different.

A few years ago I recorded a relaxation CD which I sell on my web site. I had wanted to record others but I never seemed to make the time to sit down and write them. Well, during this time of recuperation I felt guided to put pen to paper and I started to write a relaxation piece. It always amazes me how the mind downloads information and ideas when you are in the flow. Once I got going it was like the flood gates opened and I couldn’t stop writing. I felt excited and energised and it wasn’t long before I had six different relaxation scripts ready to record.  My passion and enthusiasm for getting them onto paper played a big part in my healing process.  I could almost feel those endorphins; the body’s feel good hormones, washing through me as I worked away.

I was even dreaming about the whole process in my sleep. In one dream I could see the finished CD’s in their packaging and each CD had a crystal and I knew intuitively which crystal to put with each CD.

We are very fortunate to have a music room with professional quality recording equipment and it was great to get them recorded onto CD’s and the recording process was just as enjoyable.

Each CD is designed to calm your mind and body connecting you to your inner stillness and each one begins with soothing music allowing your body to settle down. After a few minutes of calming music you will hear my voice talking to you. I will take you on a relaxing journey were you will connect with your inner peace.  A different crystal is included with each CD.

Relaxation is perhaps the most important key to health and well-being and when we are completely relaxed our own natural healing mechanism is more active. The physical and mental benefits are immense and it is well known that relaxation can improve sleep patterns, decrease stress levels, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, combat anxiety and depression, and improve memory and concentration. Other benefits include increased confidence and self esteem and relaxation can even help with pain relief. 

I've had so much fun this month with the whole process, although, I don’t feel like I'm finished yet! I know I have a least two more to write because they are tapping away in my head.

The first six CD's will hopefully be ready for sale next month and I am hoping to make one free to download from my website, when I figure out how to do that! Watch this space!

Hope you enjoyed this months blog.

lots of love

Louise x 

Love and accept yourself!

Do you love and accept yourself or does this question make you squirm?

Maybe you are busy living your life and it’s something you've never really thought about before!

Self love is at the very core of your wellbeing and it influences your ability to create and enjoy the kind of life you want but I’m not talking about egotistical love.

The relationship with yourself is the most important one you’ll ever have but if you are not at peace with yourself, you cannot enjoy real happiness.

We all experience an inner dialogue and we would be shocked if we heard a recording of this. We would see just how many times a day we criticize or judge ourselves. This constant inner mind chatter can be very damaging and often sabotages our efforts to move towards happiness.

Our self talk usually consists of fears and beliefs that have been built up over a number of years and operate on a subconscious level. These limiting beliefs, fears and excuses get in our way and hold us back but we have the ability to change this.

First listen to your inner dialogue and catch what you are saying. If you find yourself being critical, indecisive, harsh and negative you are damaging yourself with your negative self talk.

Typical negative self talk:

• I cannot change – it’s in my blood/family
• I will never be a success
• I always attract the wrong people
• I always get it wrong
• I am responsible for how other people feel
• I am worthless
• I am unlucky
• I have no confidence
• People wouldn’t like me if they really knew who I was
• I’m no good at ….
• No one would be attracted to me
• It will never work
• Why does this always happen to me
• Things won’t last (only about good things)
• This will never end (only about bad things)
• I’m not good enough, clever enough, pretty enough e.t.c.
• Life is hard…..

Once you become aware of any negative self talk, you have the power to turn it around by reshaping how you think. Using positive affirmations are a great way to start.
Whenever you catch yourself thinking negatively, do not beat yourself up, just accept that thought and turn it into a more loving thought. Try these for a few weeks and see how you get on.

“Each day I am getting better and better and I completely love and accept myself”.

“Each day I am more and more positive and I completely love and accept myself”

This may feel really strange at first and you may not believe that you are getting better and better or becoming more positive or that you do love and accept yourself but you do not have to believe the phrases to say them. Even if it feels 100% untrue, some part of you hopes it might be true someday.

You could also soften the phrase.e.g.

• I would like to love and accept myself
• It would be nice to love and accept myself.
• I'm in the process of loving and accepting myself.
• I'm learning to deeply love and accept myself.
• I'm starting to accept myself.
• I have complete love for myself which extends out to others.
• I forgive myself for being negative sometimes.

Your thoughts and feelings shape your reality and until you learn how to completely love yourself, you will continue to be plagued by indecision and self doubt etc. In more extreme cases there is self hatred and depression which cripples you in every area of your life. The self-focused negativity cuts you off from your higher self and your true potential.

If you continue to think negative thoughts you will not be able to truly love yourself and you will attract back events and circumstances that cause you to feel more negative.

Techniques like the ‘Emotional freedom Technique’ or ‘The Balance Procedure’ can accelerate your progress and these techniques really worked for me.

Also, the books and DVD's of world renowned inspirational teacher 'Louise Hay' have certainly helped me over the years to change the way I think. Her philosophy offers profound insights into the relationship between the mind and body and her ideas and strategies have worked for millions of people all over the world.

If you are struggling to love and accept yourself, you may find the following links helpful.

http://www.hayhouseaffiliate.co.uk/cgi-bin/clickme.cgi?exec=lbates&site=site1

http://www.heathcotebeauty.co.uk/eft.htm

http://www.heathcotebeauty.co.uk/balance.htm

Lots of love
Louise X

My Vision Board

In 2006 I saw a film called ‘The Secret’.

This film is based on the 'Law of Attraction' and claims that positive thinking can create life-changing results such as increased wealth, health and happiness.

The film is also a book written by Rhonda Byrne and it has transformed many lives of the people who have taken the ‘Law of Attraction’ concept on board.

I was studying Crystal Therapy at the time and it was our Tutor that suggested we watch the film. We were learning about the 'The Law of Vibration’ and how everything in the universe is in motion. All things move, vibrate and travel in circular motions and each thing that exists is identified by its own number of oscillations, vibrations or waves.

Now, I'm no Quantum Scientist, but this film made all the science much easier to understand. Like attracts like, just like magnets, high fibrational frequencies are attracted to other high vibrational frequencies the same as low fibrational frequencies are attracted to other low fibrational frequencies. It’s as simple as that! 'The Law Of Attraction' is an easy way of explaining 'The Law of Vibration'.

I  have been aware for a long time now about how our thoughts and feelings shape our reality and I have become increasingly aware of how powerful our words are in everyday conversations. The way we think, act, feel and comunicate sends vibrations out into the universe and we get back whatever resonates with us. Essentially, if you think and feel positively, you will attract back positive events and circumstances. If you think angry thoughts and feel angry, you will attract back events and circumstances that cause you to feel more anger. 

As part of my personal development last year I decided to make a vision board of my wishes and desires for 2011 and I placed it on the wall by my bedside.  It was the last thing I saw going to bed at night and the first thing I saw getting up in the morning (not counting my husband,Bill!) and it helped me to focus on my wishes and desires consistently. I also did some work on myself using ‘Emotional Freedom Technique EFT’ (tapping therapy) which helped to remove any blocks or limiting beliefs I had on a subconscious level.  I also balanced daily using ‘The Balance Procedure,’ another energy based technique which helps you become aligned to your true potential.

Well all I can say is, don’t knock it till you try it!

2011 was another amasing year for me and I am so excited about 2012. I have had to change my vision board this year because last years wishes and desires were accomplished apart from one (but that’s because I still have a stubborn limiting belief that needs working on regarding that particular wish!)

If you think I am totally bonkers now, that’s fine!  Maybe you have read the book or seen the film and you feel ‘The Law of attraction’ is not working for you. The ‘Law of attraction’ is working all the time and it attracts back to you whatever you are thinking and feeling. You may consciously believe that you are being positive but on a subconscous level there may be some limiting beliefs lurking, for example... "I'm not good enough", "I don't deserve anything," "Life is hard", "I don't like myself" etc. If this is going on for you then this is what you will attract back and you won't be feel good enough and life will be hard and you wont be able to accept yourself.

The film and book does focus on attracting a lot of material things into your life and it has received a lot of criticism. Maybe it could have been made better, written better because not everyone wants the big yacht, big house, flashy car etc, but if you see past that, the actual concept that ‘The Law of Attraction’ is real and is working right now in this moment and every thought and feeling you are experiencing now is shaping your world.

I love the following quotation from Fred Alan Wolf, Ph.D.

"The movement of life may at times seem chaotic, but it is not. It moves like a gigantic wave and we are caught atop it. If we try to direct the wave, we’ll find ourselves in constant battle with it. If we learn merely to survive in the wave’s wake, we become victims of it. But we do have another option. We can grasp the rules of the wave’s movement and learn to surf it skilfully".

The most important place to start though is to love yourself, but more about that in my next blog!

Thank you for being in my life
Love and Light
Louise x

Happy New Year

 This month’s blog is not really a blog!

A friend emailed me this a few years ago and I tweaked it slightly for my own benefit. I wanted to share it with you because it is perfect for New Year’s resolutions.

         Life Handbook

• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
• Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
• Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
• Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer.
• Play more games.
• Read more books than you did last year.
• Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
• Sleep for 7 hours.
• Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
• Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
• Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
• Don't over do. Keep your limits.
• Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
• Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
• Dream more while you are awake.
• Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
• Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
• Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
• Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
• No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
• Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like science class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
• Smile and laugh more.
• You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
• Call your family often.
• Each day give something good to others.
• Forgive everyone for everything.
• Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
• Try to make at least three people smile each day.
• What other people think of you is none of your business.
• Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.
• Do the right thing!
• Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
• Time heals everything.
• However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
• No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
• The best is yet to come.
• When you awake alive in the morning, be thankful for it.
• Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
• Practise an attitude of gratitude.

Last January I made a vision board with all my wishes and desires for 2011. It is pinned to the wall next to my bed and it is the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I see at night. It is an amazing and powerful tool to get the ‘Law of attraction’ working in a positive way. More about that in my next blog!

Happy New Year to you all J

Love and Gratitude

Louise XX

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

(From "Louise in Accounts"!)

Is that another year gone already?  Where did it go?

It was back in January when I started writing my first blog but it only feels like a few weeks ago. Life goes so fast it is quite scary.

It has been quite a year for me. I have been to some brilliant workshops, seminars and courses. It is only when I look back, I realise just how much I have crammed in. Heathcote Beauty is going from strength to strength and life is pretty sweet, although, as much as I love my job, I am looking forward to taking time off and chilling out with my lovely family.

The Christmas decorations are up, the tree is crammed with baubles and beautiful lights and the house looks very festive. I have also finished shopping for Christmas presents and all I need to do now is the wrapping and the food shopping, so I’m feeling pretty smug with myself at the moment. Although, I would be even happier if I could find those Christmas decorations that I bought in this years January sale. I will probably put my hand straight on them in the first week after Christmas!

This is the one time of the year when I think about having a normal job. Being self employed is great and I wouldn’t change that for the world, but I do miss the crazy works Christmas parties. A client said that I should crash someone else’s Christmas party and pretend to be ‘Louise  from Accounts’. Everyone would be so drunk no-one would notice!  Maybe I should organise a “Secret Santa” with myself?  Better still, perhaps I should give myself a Christmas bonus, now that is a good idea!

If the year has gone fast for you too, now is the time to slow down and reflect on a year coming to the end. For me there have been so many highs and inevitably, a few lows too. I’m grateful for them all and I love my life so much.

I hope you love your life, your family and that you remember to love yourself too.

Happy Christmas and a happy, prosperous and healthy New Year to you all.

Lots of love

Louise XX

THE BALANCE PROCEDURE

Last weekend I attended an advanced practitioner training course in ‘The Balance Procedure’.

If you have never heard of the Balance Procedure I would fully recommend that you look into it. It is simple to learn and easy to integrate it into your everyday life.

This technique has been developed by award winning teacher and author, Jenny Cox who has put together over twenty years of experience in holistic therapies and personal development and created a simple technique that can be used by anyone to enable them to relax and achieve what they really want.

It is a technique that combines ancient philosophy with modern quantum science. It is a self-help tool which can change the way you think and feel, enabling you to find your true potential and live a much fuller life. This is achieved by changing limiting thoughts and beliefs that have been built up over the years and operate on a subconscious level, often sabotaging your desire to change something in your life.

Over the last few years I have been on a spiritual pilgrimage of self discovery and self transformation but I have always been especially interested in the mysteries of life, the universal laws and ancient wisdom. My other interests are new quantum science and spirituality so working with the Balance Procedure was made for me and this technique has accelerated my progress.

I initially completed the Balance Procedure course to help my own development but as an Advanced Practitioner I now offer sessions to other people who are interested in reaching their true potential.

If you would like to find out more about The Balance Procedure and ways of reaching your true potential follow this link.  http://www.heathcotebeauty.co.uk/balance.htm