As all life is sacred, so to is healing and learning. I believe that healing, education and training are sacred art forms, that should be available to all, at a cost that is affordable. It is one of the reasons why when I started my journey, I have always tried to keep this in mind.
In the Beginning…
I was told my ‘story’ wasn’t important, no one cared about who you were, what you did, they were only interested in what you could offer. In business, the bigger fish, never expect you to become anyone, purely just another statistic on some bit of paper or computer screen…
Here’s the thing, my first job was an egg run; then a paper round, by the time I reached school leaving age, the only one thing that I knew for a certainty is that at some point in my life I would teach. However, the careers people at school pretty much tried to dissuade me from believing in that idea, poor grades, low self esteem and let’s not forget that in the academic world, if you went to a public school in a non-denominational area of Scotland or anywhere else in the late 1980’s; graduating was a blessing, which you should be thanking them for.
Moving Forward: The Past is not Prologue… 
Good job I never listened or really believed in what I was told at school! I never really let go of that belief, it has followed me throughout every job, and experience I have had in this life so far. It is true that I have travelled many career paths, trainee journalist, media & communications, hairdressing junior, hairdresser, computer tech and that doesn’t include the almost Au pare & nanny stint in the very early teens!
As you may have guessed, none of these really suited me! I perhaps had too much empathy or insight. In fact, that was the job that I wore well, and still do after 25 years. I learnt very early on, that I was not like other people (or boys for that matter). I was always on the outside, looking in, and although you might think that I suffered for it, quite the opposite happened.
From the Fool to Hermit, in 25 Years;
Over the last 25 years, I have had instances when talking about myself has been a necessary evil. I had been taught through both primary and secondary schooling, that boys like me, who learned differently, spoke differently and really didn’t seem interested in conventional sports (or girls) were not important. If I am honest, most of the time boys (and girls) like me, were ‘freaks’ or ‘party pieces’ that got hauled into the forefront when the other kids were bored.
So, it takes a lot of courage, strength and energy to step forward and be noticed; however, that is exactly what kept happening. I kept being dragged into that centre focus, I hid my light as best as I could, working in the background or only when it was needed. Still I got noticed, and 25 years ago; I decided to start working with my gifts for tarot and clear seeing.
To begin with I met a lot of resistance, jealousy, as well as believe it or not scorn. I was told by a fair few in my spiritual path at the time, I should not have my shop or be reading the cards and attending a Spiritualist SNU Church, as the two were not mutually exclusive. Needless to say, I found a new spiritual path very soon afterwards.
Resistance, such as the kind that I have met throughout my journey so far; didn’t deter me, in truth it has made me stronger. The Universe/All That Is, has always had my back, from 9.5 years of collective primary and secondary school bullying, through a full year of adult bullying during 2004 into 2005, to workplace bullying in 2016, The Powers That Be, really never permitted me the chance to give up, if anything these experiences made me realise more than ever, that I matter!
When people have a talent, or are unique and different; someone, some group of collective like minds will feel threatened. The group or individual suddenly feels inadequate or challenged, because someone is different to them, this solitary person with their uniqueness, or talent challenges the normal, the status quo or power structure and they feel a need to assert the wrong kind of dominance. Needless to say, it doesn’t end well and it shows up the people and establishments for who they are, not who you are!
From Fool to Hermit, in 25 Years – Conclusion… 
In 25 years, teaching and the passion to pass on knowledge never left; within the last 10 years, I have taught personal and spiritual development to groups, I guest teach at development groups, facilitate the learning and understanding of Usui and Angelic Reiki to master level. I currently facilitate the learning of Tai Chi and Chi Kung both in large groups and in P/T sessions, plus I still work with Tarot and Oracle cards; after all, that is how this all started.
My story has never changed, the experiences of bullying have left their scars; but they have shaped me, allowed me to grow and learn that everything is possible, bullies grow into well rounded people sometimes, oblivious to the damage they caused. Sometimes they become bitter and lonely people, the businesses that they owned fail, or they fade into obscurity.
What lessons I take from that is, that after all the misery, pain and suffering that a bully can cause; it is the survivors, the ones who remember that win. The Dharma, that Karmic energy they have created through the ones who were the victims, it comes back around within this lifetime, and thwacks them hard. It doesn’t matter, if they know it or not, we do, and really that is all that counts.
