Bach Foundation International Register
The Bach Centre
Mount Vernon
Bakers Lane
Sotwell
Oxon OX10 0PZ
England
www.bachcentre.com
Telephone +44 (0)1491 834678
Fax +44 (0)1491 825022
Guatemala
Those of you who haunt the Bach Centre’s web pages will know that the Centre now approves Level 1 courses in Poland and Guatemala. We received some pictures from Louise Rothwell, who teaches the Guatemalan courses, and thought one would go well in this edition of the bulletin, prepared as it is in the depths of the English winter.
Louise writes: ‘I have been talking about building for a very long time now and finally I can send you some pictures of the finished product – San Marcos Holistic Centre! Now it is time to take a break, so I’ll be in Nicaragua until Christmas.’
Our congratulations to Louise and good luck with her Level 1 courses in the new Centre!
Your letters
We want you to use this Bulletin to keep in touch with each other. If anything wonderful, funny, interesting or just plain typical has happened to you in your work with the remedies, or if there are any questions that have been nagging away at you, or if you simply want to say hello, please write to us at the Bach Centre, marking your letter clearly as being ‘FOR PUBLICATION’.
We can’t promise to print every letter in the Bulletin, but even if we don’t use your contribution we always love to hear from you.
I read with interest the comments by Christine Yates about taking responsibility for our own progress. (In the November 2002 Bulletin letters’ section. – Ed.)
I had a client who resisted changes in the remedies. As fast as one layer came off she put another one in its place. There was a long history of anxiety and depression, of eating disorders, and of opting out of accepting responsibility. She was also using me as a “mother” figure – not a healthy situation for either of us! This was after she had had some apparently non-beneficial counselling sessions. Her cry for help was superficial, as, underneath, she had made the decision not to move on. Some people need their pain and “insecurity” becomes their security. “If I let this go what will I fill the void with?” Their fears create a vicious circle and the therapist is unable to empower the client to help him or herself. We need to explore our own motivations if we find ourselves too often in the role of “rescuer” or “victim” and work on our own self-healing using tools such as the remedies to help us!
By allowing my client to continue in this way I was in effect dis-empowering her and not allowing her the opportunity to learn. I was also getting frustrated because I could not fulfil my role as a practitioner. I am not saying that we should not have empathy in our dealings with clients, as that is an important part of the relationship, but it is about getting the balance right. I acknowledged that it was not in our best interests for the relationship to continue and planned how to resolve this situation. I explored my own feelings and reactions and sought advice from a colleague who had skills and experience to help me. (A good example of C.P.D.!)
At the next consultation I opened with “It’s time we reviewed how things are going, it’s something I do with all my clients.” I pointed out that “you don’t need me as a Bach practitioner – just someone to talk to!” (I also took some remedies.) She used a range of emotional scenarios to justify continuing the relationship but I remained firm. I gave her the name of a colleague who was better equipped to help her. (I would never leave a client without a positive option.)
In conclusion, I quote Dr Bach who said, “that in correct healing nothing must be used which relieves the patient of his own responsibility.”
I rest my case!
A BFRP, UK
Re. the debate on CPD, I am probably somewhat late with my comments but felt I needed to say something!
I have just completed my own CPD form. Up to this point I wondered what I would put on it, but I found the form from the Centre was clear and helped me to focus on the different aspects of my own professional development over the last year.
I can understand there may be a certain reluctance to have to fill in yet another form. But how responsible do we wish to be as practitioners? Do we wish to make up treatment bottles knowing that on some level they will work or do we wish also to be open to new ideas and information, contantly monitoring our clients and ourselves so that we can act as professionally as we possibly can?
Much as I personally detest paperwork, I feel CPD is valuable. If I am working to the best of my ability then I have to take notice of my practice, how I relate to my clients and how I feel about myself. I need to be accountable for my actions and open to new ideas and ways of working.
I suppose what I’m saying is that this is what the majority of us do quite naturally. The only extra step we have to take is to confirm this to the Centre when we re-register.
Jenny Thurston BFRP, UK
I have just received the November Bulletin and must put my oar in about CPD. Why is everyone getting so het up about it? As a massage therapist and Yoga teacher, amongst other things, I am required to do x amount of further education or masterclasses every year. My insurance will not cover me if this does not happen.
We expect everyone else, from driving instructors to teachers to have continual assessment to make sure they know what they are doing, learn new skills and keep up with developments. So what’s the problem for us? Are we any different or are we so far above anyone else that we do not need this? Surely not, considering that most people who come to us for help are in a fragile state of mind.
However, could we have some master classes in London or East Anglia (Cambs., Suffolk, Norfolk) – i.e. closer to home please?
Isabel Grote BFRP, UK
Ed.: We’re reviewing the refresher day scheme to see if it can be made to work better. More later in the year…
Through these pages I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Bob Appleyard for his prompt and personal service in re-working my precious, hand-made wooden Traveller box. I was fortunate enough to meet Bob in person and his fine craftmanship and attention to detail are definitely to be highly praised. I am delighted with the result.
Thanks again, Bob!
Karen Briscombe BFRP, UK
International Alliance for Animal Therapy and Healing
A correspondent has pointed us towards the International Alliance for Animal Therapy and Healing (IAATH). This is a cross-therapy organisation based in the US that is seeking to promote the use of natural therapies on animals, both by veterinary surgeons and by lay people.
Their web site is www.iaath.com – so take a look if you are interested in working with animals and want to support their campaign.
Thank God for the remedies
by Angelina Kelly BFRP, Ireland
On 24th May 2001 a comet hit the earth. Mounts Vesuvius and Etna erupted. The worst earthquake ever occurred and the Flood returned, all at the same moment. Metaphorically, of course: in my life these disasters manifested as a diagnosis of breast cancer.
Naturally my first reaction was shock – how can this happen to me, a Complementary Practitioner, expert in yoga and t’ai chi, student of Cellular Healing and a BFRP to boot? I have spent my whole adult life doing everything to prevent myself from experiencing anything life threatening, and yet the words I thought I would never hear had just been said: ‘I’m sorry, you have cancer.’
My whole world fell apart. All my plans, hopes and dreams crumbled. There was nothing. Time did not exist and nothing mattered. It was only on the way home from the hospital that I became vaguely aware that it was still a normal day for most people.
Then the anger, rage, jealousy, injustice, shock and disbelief hit me. I ranted, raved, kicked, punched, screamed. I threatened God with unmentionable threats before collapsing into a mess of emotion. Rescue™, Holly and Vervain brought me back to a functioning state.
The next two months were a blur of what to do. Crab Apple, Wild Oat and White Chestnut took over. Surgery was acceptable. I realised immediately I had to have that. But chemotherapy and radiotherapy were most definitely out of the question. They weren’t even up for consideration.
I had the surgery. Recovery went exceptionally well. And after considering all other options available I finally decided that chemotherapy and radiotherapy were in my best interest. They were against my principles and totally abhorrent. But I was not willing to die for my principles.
In the run-up to chemotherapy I experienced massive panic attacks. Crab Apple remained very close, Vervain (injustice and principles) and Rock Water (type remedy and for spiritual purpose) became my best friends.
On the first day of chemotherapy I woke up calm, relaxed, resolved and accepting the wonderful great adventure that I was going on. I was happy, cheerful and appreciative of all the staff at my fingertips ready to help in every way.
As the first dose of chemo entered my veins I lay back and prayed and the most wonderful sense of calm, peace and tranquillity descended upon me and wrapped itself around me. I wallowed, and afterwards remarked that I wouldn’t have missed the experience for the world.
The next five months were a blur of side-effects, infections, neutropenia, hair loss, weight gain and exhaustion. All the time the remedies were there with me, calming, soothing, comforting, nurturing and reassuring. Radiotherapy came and went and eventually I was released with the wonderful news that I was clear and that all is well.
I don’t think the sense of relief has really hit me yet.
Five months have passed since the ‘all clear’. Recovery has taken longer than I expected. I have changed, my whole attitude, outlook and approach to life and people have undergone massive transformation and I have become very discerning. Slowly my life is returning. I can now look to the future again and I grow stronger every week. My plans, hopes and dreams are up for reconsideration and the most important thing I feel today is a deep sense of gratitude that I am alive.
I’m sure I could have coped without the Bach remedies. But I am eternally grateful that they were there with me and I intend to be their ambassador in whatever way I can. I am truly grateful to Dr Bach for their discovery. I am proud to be a Bach practitioner and my life is now dedicated to helping people through their own ‘wonderful great adventures’.
Thank you, Dr Bach – you are my hero.
Welcome to…
Since the last (November 2002) issue was prepared, 38 new practitioners have joined the register:
- in Argentina, Nilda Quinteros de Giovanelli, Sonia Silvia Bevacqua and María José Escudero;
- in Australia, Elaine Hope, Marlene Gore and Mark Wells;
- in Belgium, Hilde De Greef;
- in Brazil, Lucia Natalina Vieira Pessotti, Marilda Machini Jornalo, Rosalia Dos Santos, Roberta Lopes de Moraes and Isabel Maria Mazzonio de Paula;
- in Canada, Irene McFarlane;
- in the Channel Islands, Zena Le Brun;
- in Denmark, Anita Larsen, Lone Bach and Tove Elholm;
- in England, Michael Blackburn, Gillian Osborne-Bates, Debbie Read, Tracy Longdon, Lorraine Wood and Amanda Warner;
- in France, Laurent Alonso, Annie Fraison, Caroline Timsit and Bollache;
- in Japan, Hideno Suzuki, Sarah Ueno, Nozomi Yasui, Megumi Ido, Manako Sakai and Sachiko Sakuma;
- in the Netherlands, Conny Bruijnooge-Polderman;
- in New Zealand, Sandra Martin, Maeve Fleming and Margaret Henry;
- and in Portugal, Maria Aparecida Martins de Aguiar.
There are now 1,224 practitioners on the register.
The Healing Practitioner
These all-mighty flowers,
Living, brimming vibrant powers
In flowing form,
Flow – ers, imprinted nature’s secrets
Now transformed
Into hidden keys
For you and I to find
Like pearls, in the deepest drops of liquid wisdom.
Beautifully simple, and yet so sacredly complete,
These long-held secrets, as yet undisclosed to all.
But here now
Before me their stillness stands
In seven tiny bottles.
I reach for their message, so quietly contained
And only this unrestrained emotion reigns
Because confined within these little phials
Are his notes preserved –
Timeless insights and life’s instructions, from long ago.
These indeed are a thousand and one symphonies, multiplied by eternity,
His Gifts for you and I
To receive
In this accepting frame of mind.
Our practitioner prayer
‘To listen – to reflect – to learn – to give’
But also – to remember,
That the holy flowers that help others through
Always are here, to help us too,
To be taken for the moment,
This very real now,
To flood and fuse with abundance, these imperfect, striving natures,
These very essences of ours,
Flooding and remembering and restoring
All those forgotten virtues
And revitalising this one small moment of our journey.
And then
To follow
With the simplicity of mindfulness
We become witnesses to change
As we too
Begin to bloom once more.
(George Hollis BFRP, UK)
This archive material has been edited to remove some out-of-date advice and information.