I had a really great husband and a truly amazing father then sadly in the early nineties, both my father and my wonderful husband died within eighteen months of each other. My father's death was sudden; a heart attack whereby he just dropped to the floor. At this time my husband was a few months into a long lingering nineteen month illness of prostate/bone cancer where at his death he was down to a 4 stone skeleton. I was gutted. Even so I somehow managed to keep a smile on my face for my lovely husband who so much loved and valued my smiley face. The two key people in my life had deserted me. It was a difficult time and the pain was enormous but one can work through adversity and come out the other side a stronger person. I was grateful for the fact that I had two such special people in my life. Nevertheless, I felt so alone and deserted but of course it passed although the ensuing two years were hard. I have shared this with you to let you know that although I have exceptional gifts I am still human and have lived a normal life and overcame all the trauma, discomfort and pain that life threw at me. But I am positive and have learned to release negativity as soon as it arises. My training and experiences of life enable to understand and help others.

I was born with the gift of healing but I remember when I was aged between two and three years old, my aunt giving a shuddering sigh. 'Oh no' she said.. I seemed to freak her out when I continually pointed to my deceased grandfather on a blank wall, and often pointed to people standing in corners of rooms and talked to them, Years later, she told me she dreaded me having these gifts but never said why. I was aware of guides/helpers before I could talk properly. There were Healers and Sensitives in our family in past generations. For years my aunt tried to distract me, even well into my teens to no avail, what she did not realise was that it was my life's path, a path from which I would help so many people. These days it is well known that many small children talk to imaginary friends but for some reason it scared my aunt.

My mother died when I was just turned eighteen months old. My aunt (Dad's sister) looked after me while my distraught father (he adored my mother) was still in the Army as acting Major, on a lengthy overseas tour of duty. He finished his term with the Army when I was six and that is when I really got to know my Dad. My aunt cared for me brilliantly and I'm sure she was intuitive but for some reason she feared the energies. My father, a lovely huggy, warm, smiling affectionate man was extra special - our vibes were compatible, and there was a deep soul based empathy and affinity. I absolutely adored him.

My father could have been a phenomenal healer but my stepmother would not allow him to work on others.

From my late teens, I often found myself going places, not as a conscious choice or plan, but as a sudden passing idea. It was an instance like this that led me to becoming a recognized SNU healer. I was around twenty-five when for some inexplicable reason I visited a particular well acclaimed Church, out of curiosity I thought at the time. I had been to several similar churches in the Stoke on Trent area and was not particularly interested. After the usual hymns and prayers, the President took over the proceedings to give a talk and messages. She was a brilliant medium. As I listened to the messages I often pre-empted what she said. We are all born with intuitive powers but it is what happens in childhood that dictates how Sensitive we remain. Suddenly she stopped and looked over my head at the man behind. Then she said, "I have to bring in this message, it is coming in so forcefully and blocking all others." Then she went on, "you are a Sensitive and have healing power; you could help many people. It is hoped that you will take this pathway". At that point I was unable to prevent myself looking round and remember thinking, poor bloke being picked out like that. "No you," came the President's voice and I looked either side to see who was responding. "No, you my dear, in the pink blouse with the golden hair." I stared unbelieving; I pointed to myself and squeaked "me"? "Yes, you." Came the reply "There is a lifetime's work for you in helping others, but I also see pain and trauma like a gigantic obstacle course. See me after the service if you are interested."

I was stunned. Gosh, was all I could think. I didn't remember the rest of the evening. I thought of the amazing Fanny Higginson, medium extraordinaire who lived in Longton, Stoke on Trent who I met when I was ten when she visited my family home. After doing trance readings for the adults she asked if she could have a word with me; she told me many things which, in due course, over a period of years came true.

The invitation to stay behind after the church meeting was like dangling a whole sack full of carrots before me. How could I resist? I have always been very curious about anything and everything. It was all new to me and I didn't know what to expect. The President of the Church was quite brief and told me that I had very powerful healing energies. She said that if I would like to go to the weekly development circle my energies would be developed properly and under supervision. Generally, when a new a person joined the circle they would not be allowed to heal people solo for around twelve months sometimes more, but part of that time was working with a qualified approved healer. I was very interested although I didn't know what to expect. I feel that nothing happens by coincidence and it happens when the time is right.

In some respects I felt I was being thrown in at the deep end, and felt a sense of panic when after six weeks, the President asked me to go to the healing evenings and give healing with her. It was good; I really enjoyed the feeling of being able to help people. But I was aghast when she said after one session with her "you don't need to work with anyone, I'm putting you on your own next week." My immediate thought was "I'm not coming next week!"

Well, of course I did. But panic gripped me - with thoughts of what if the energy was not there - what if it left me half way through - and many more doubts racing through my imaginative brain. My energies did not let me down I was well trained, and it won't ever let me down but I did not know that then. I have been able to help many people over the years with this amazing gift. For many years I have taught both men and women how to develop their healing abilities and to work intuitively.

After I developed as an intuitive diagnostic healer, I felt blessed to be able to join development circles with Fanny Higginson; she was a truly amazing medium and so accurate that at times it made the hairs on my arms stand up and my skin go all goose bumps. I also sat in her transfiguration circles, which were by invitation only. I learnt so much from her. She was a no frills woman who called a spade a spade and certainly did not wrap things up. I felt so privileged to have met Fanny when I was a child at then to actually further my development under her guidance. Fanny would not do stage work on a worldwide basis but her son Gordon did. Gordon Higginson was a lovely man and an excellent clairvoyant but personally I thought Fanny was the better medium. They were both connected with the SNU - Spiritualist's National Union. Spiritualism in varying forms dates back to the Greeks and Romans but was brought to Britain in the mid eighteen hundreds by Mrs. Hayden. 1853 saw the first Spiritualist Church established in the British Isles by David Richmond at Keighley in Yorkshire. The first Spiritualist newspaper in Britain The Yorkshire Spiritual Telegraph , was published in 1855, also at Keighley. By the 1870s there were numerous Spiritualist societies and churches throughout the country. One of the famous SNU healers was Harry Edwards who eventually broke away from the SNU and started an independent group for healing. The SNU headquarters are at Stanstead Hall and at the Arthur Findley College they hold extremely good training events and seminars etc. It is amazingly calming yet powerful at the college there.

I have always been forward thinking and I embrace change, moving from one opportunity to another with great eagerness. Life is a wonderful learning curve if you allow it to be. I have done many exciting and fascinating things and I have had a wonderful life even though I have known extreme hardship and mega amounts of pain.

Of course, I have done many other things in my life as I told you earlier I lead a very normal life. I was Executive PA at nineteen, Property Manager for a small privately owned Commercial Property Development Company at about thirty, then around ten years later I went on to work with an MD who used my psychic ability to guide company policy; I was used as a sounding board to bounce ideas off. Later I had the opportunity to give full reign to my creative side and started writing novels and doing other creative things. As a sideline I was also involved in garden design and interior design. I also qualified as a florist with Rona Colman in Newent, Gloucestershire. I was a Borough Councillor at one time. For many years I set up, organised and ran very successful large charity events in Cheshire. When I become captivated by a project and fired with interest; I give it my all, so therefore I usually reach a good standard, but not without a lot of hard work. There are lots of things I cannot do which do not fire my imagination and so I am less than mediocre at those things. I try to maximise time spent on the things that give me great pleasure and minimise time spent on things I need to do but don't like. It is when a new projects gives me a buzz of excitement that I know I need to pursue them. I am still learning new concepts particularly those that give me a greater insight into helping people get a better life. We all deserve to have a good life and many people need to be shown how to achieve it. After all these years of guiding people I still have a huge warm glow inside when I can help people find a great life and be in a happier space.

My daughter - It took my daughter a long time to realise that I can be rubbish at some things and that I don't waste my energies on things I can't do. Sadly she put me on a pedestal thinking she could never be good enough and that she could not meet my expectations of her. Even sadder is the fact that I did not have expectations, I only ever wanted her to do what made her happy, that is the most important thing in life. She is an excellent intuitive counsellor and helped many people. She too has had the healing gift and developed intuition from birth. Her gifts have always been strong but first of all she had a painful life's journey to experience. Last year it was time to start the healing path, the Reiki path and she has taken the Reiki First Degree.

Whatever people do in life it is so important to find happiness whether it is with a partner, a spouse, or in a same sex relationship and to do work that is at least tolerable. To enjoy your work is fantastic.

Where I am up to now? - Well, having survived a traumatic relocation at the end of 2004. I am continuing my amazing pathway in life. Instead of winding down in a few years time, I am busier than ever and love life more than ever. I have gone up a gear and have entered a metamorphic stage and am continually reinventing myself. I am so happy with where I am in life and with what I do. Most of all I am happy with myself exactly the way I am. I don't have past issues that is the secret of loving my space; they were all dealt with long ago and that is why I am at ease with myself. I really do Love and Approve of myself; something I teach in my transformational Louise Hay based Workshops; I have been using philosophies of metaphysical (science of the mind) teachers for over 20 years and recently experienced some amazing new learning on this subject. I am where I am in life today because I don't allow negative thoughts to be part of my life and truly where I am is a wonderful personal place. A second ago is past so don't hang on to the negative thoughts, they are only harming you not the other person. I have been where many people are now in their lives and often worse, so I know help those who are stuck and really do wish to move on with their lives. My Thought Patterns page will help you to understand why anger, criticism and negative thoughts drain your energies. There will be many more pages to this section in due course.

I am an eternal student, love learning and love teaching and of course, love healing. It is wonderful where I am in life with the experience and knowledge I have to help people. I just love helping people to help themselves. There is a lovely life available for you; you only need to know how to achieve it.

My sense of humour can only be described as zany with a great sense of the ridiculous. My friends know my weak spot; when I see the funny side of things that others often do not. When I get the giggles, I really get the giggles and often I can't stop; the more I try to stop the more I laugh until tears roll down my cheeks; then I am a giggling heap but love it! I have a passionate, fun loving side to my nature as well a more serious dedicated one.

I am truly so lucky, I am blessed with a few lovely, loyal, affectionate close friends, whose friendship I value highly.

My Inner child - As you would probably expect my inner child is happy, very happy. Any blips that were there have long since been banished and little Ann is a free spirit, giggly, impish and full of fun. It is good to set aside special time to nurture your inner child. We all have an inner child. On my inner child days I gain great pleasure from walking barefoot on the beach, making footprints in the sand, paddling in the waters edge. I love to make sand castles. I blow bubbles, walk along the edge of a low wall, talk to the birds and lots more.

My Hobbies - Nature and wildlife are my passion, also walking and keeping fit with my PT Rebounder. I like reading; lots of psychological and transformational books and I also read Harlan Coben, James Patterson, Ian Rankin, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Virginia Andrews, Caroline Graham, Meg Hutchinson and others. As a child I adored Enid Blyton's Famous Five and the Adventure series. I was an avid reader from about the age of eight. Photography is another passion and I have a collection of creative pics of people, places, gardens and landscapes. I just love taking bird pics and often sit for hours waiting for the right one. I used to dance a lot but that needs lots of practice and a regular partner. Now I find Latin In Line dancing terrific. It satisfies my need for rhythm, I adore the Latin beat, and it is so energetic it is better than a work out. We are very lucky here in Devon we have Paul Eden of Eden Nights who runs Latin in Line classes and more, and organizes great dance holidays which people can go on even if they are on their own.

My Music - I grew up with classical music and have my favourites. I like middle of the road stuff too and being an incurable romantic, I adore romantic ballads. The stirring rhythm of dance music gets me going as I used to do a lot of dancing.

Television - Although I don't watch much TV - I really like murder mysteries (I adored Morse) Midsomer Murders (I rarely know who's done it until about twenty minutes before the end), Poirot, Miss Marple (the scenery is fantastic) Messiah, Waking the Dead and any serous stuff that Robson Green does - wow. Bad Girls and other similar series. I am mad about quiz games, can't get enough. Strictly Come Dancing and the latter stages of the X Factor also appeal to me. Garden, Discovery and Location, Location, Location are other programmes I catch occasionally.

My Dislikes - Not many, but I do strongly dislike bad manners, insincerity, injustices, broken promises and cruelty to animals, children and the elderly. I am generally very tolerant.

My Eating Habits - I am healthy and strong and I have an amazingly retentive brain that needs to be worked hard. My good health I think is partly inherent and partly from always eating good balanced meals. I eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, organic eggs in moderation and I have a steak or roast beef about every 10/14 days and lots of fish and prawns. Each spring I stock up with lamb cutlets and small roasts; I like organic chicken too. I cannot cope with tomato soup, swedes and turnips, I am not keen on sprouts and melon gives me a bad reaction. Desserts don't do much for me either and I drink very little alcohol. I love water and lots of it, although I do like my filtered coffee with a teaspoon of honey.

Even when I have found myself on my own through various circumstances or bereavement, I have still cooked properly every day. I have my aunt to thank for that. She lived to nearly ninety and only died then from a freak accident. So, if good balanced eating was good enough for her, then it is okay for me and has served me well.

I don't believe in doing a starving detox, neither does Marc Leduc in his articles on our Health Pages for that matter, in our pages for health but I do have a carrot day every seven to ten days. This means I only eat raw carrots as much as I need all day and drink lots of water, then a light meal in the evening. I eat normally between times. Taking lots of Water helps to cure so many ailments and promotes a feel good factor I like spring lamb, organic chicken, good quality beef or fillet steak every 10 days (good for the brain). I also enjoy various types of fish and most seafood, eggs and organic bacon. I do not always have potatoes often I have my meat or fish with two or three veg. In my tiny veggie patch I grow runner beans which I can't get enough of (I could eat a plate full of beans with just gravy); my peas never reach the table I eat them as fast as the pods full up. Also, each year I experiment with different veg in the patch and in containers.

I really go for authentic Chinese food that probably comes from living in Singapore for nearly four years. Not keen on Indian, too hot and Italian occasionally, pasta seems to stuff up my system. I do have the occasional chocolate binge day usually connected with the female cycle or when I am over tired; when the two come together, gosh, I could eat a box full of Twix bars; if at home I go for a spoon of organic honey it is when I have an energy dip when I am out that I hit the Twix trail. Mostly I prefer savoury things and if travelling I take with me complex carbohydrates like crisps and lots of bottles of water and a banana.

I have never felt the need to become a vegetarian or a vegan because man has eaten meat since cave man and before. Our ancestors were hunter gatherers. Their diet was of herbs, pulses etc. and fruit, fish and meat and some kind of potato, I believe. So many times people have tried to impose vegetarianism on me, saying "it will be good for your energy and your brain and helps increase your intuitive powers". Well, that's a laugh. Those people did not know I was a healer, a clairvoyant and that I have a very strong constitution and have an amazingly active and powerful brain. I just quietly say it is not for me. But then they try again.

It is all about choices and I choose to eat a balanced diet. I don't have a problem with people who wish to follow vegetarianism. Research does not show they are healthier or happier. Reverse is often true. My reasoning is if it is wrong to kill animals then tell that to the jungle beasts and persuade them to become vegetarian. No one could love animals more than I do but life is all about survival and what our stomachs were designed for, we are not ruminants. Whatever we evolved from we have the stomach and the gastric juices of the jungle beasts.

I do know professional people who amongst other things practice muscle testing and responses and who also work intuitively, have told some patients to cease being a vegetarian because it was damaging their liver. We are all free to make our own choices, but those choices often need to be better informed about a wide range of heath matters. Good examples are in Health Articles by Marc Leduc's articles on our Health Pages. I believe we are what we eat and that definitely moderation is the keynote.

Life is an exciting progression if you allow it to be. I tell people on my courses, "I have had the pain you are going through; I know what it is like for I have been there many times. But I can also help you be where I am.

It is my desire to continue learning yet more techniques to help others and impart my knowledge and experience and help them find a path of self fulfillment. Besides it keeps me young and my brain active as well as satisfying my thirst for knowledge.

My team and I make a difference to people's lives and we hope you will join us on some of our courses and/or healing so we can help you to change your Thought Patterns which in turn will Make Positive Changes^® to your life. And that ultimately you can go on to Make a Difference to Other Peoples Lives.

Copyright ©2005 Ann Mackrory - ReikiProgressive