August 2023 – Allison Biel

Cameron Macaulay

Cameron Macaulay was born in August 2000 in Glasgow, Scotland. Despite living there his entire life at the age of two he started to describe a white house that overlooked the beach on the Scottish island of Barra. Barra is a remote island in the Outer Hebrides some 200 miles from Glasgow.

This white house, he claimed, was his home is a past life. It was close to a beach that airplanes would often use as a landing strip. And, indeed, the airport at Barra is one of the most unusual in the world, with flights landing on the beach at Cockle Strand at low tide. He would also speak about a little black and white dog that lived with him and who he missed. A further detail he recounted was that the house had three toilets which he found quite odd.

Over time Cameron revealed more details about his previous life on Barra. He said his father’s name was Shane Robertson who was killed when a car ran over him. He also spoke about his former brothers and sisters, but this would sometime upset him. He said he wished his mother would come and see him.

He had no memories of adulthood or dying and apparently only remember being a boy a little older than himself. However, he did recall that he ‘fell through’ a hole somehow connected to the white house and came into his mother’s ‘tummy’. He said, “I was in Barra and now I’m here”.

Cameron’s parents contacted Dr Jim Tucker of the Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS). The story was also picked up by a film company who wanted to film a documentary about Cameron and his story. So, in 2006, Tucker investigated the case of Cameron Macaulay as part of the (UK) Channel 5 Documentary called ‘Extraordinary People: The Boy Who Lived Before’.

Tucker’s investigation took him firstly to Glasgow to interview the then six-year-old and his mother, Norma. He then agreed to accompany Cameron and his family to the island to see if this house existed. Once there, Cameron was able to recognise many different areas of the island. However, locating the house proved challenging. But with the help of a local historian they were able to find reference to the Robertson family and their house at the north end of the island.

Upon their arrival at the house, Cameron immediately recognised the gate at the front. He walked through the house pointing out all the rooms in the house including the three toilets. Further research managed to discover Gillian Robertson who had lived in the house in the past. She confirmed that a black and white Border Collie dog lived with them. However, Gillian did not recall a Shane Robertson or any deaths in her family during that time.

In addition to the work of Jim Tucker and DOPS, the Society for Psychical Research have a detailed account of Cameron Macaulay on their Psi Encyclopaedia website.

I am an award winning Past Life Regression specialist. If this is something you are interested in then contact me.

Internet self-care day

I wrote recently about self-care and while doing so I came across an interesting special day. 21 August is Internet Self Care day and it’s all about how to using the internet to find resources that can help you take care of yourself.

Self-care is not self-indulgence or being selfish. Self-care is all about taking care of yourself so that you are well and healthy. There are six main areas of self-care – emotional, physical, social, practical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Perhaps make a plan to do something in each area to improve your life.

Taking stock of your own needs, aspirations, health, and successes is part of self-care, as is taking time to nourish and nurture ourselves. Now the internet can be seen as a negative aspect of life, but as with many tools it all depends how you use it. So use the internet to find something to boost your self-care routine. Perhaps search for a product to help pamper yourself or something related to a passion or hobby you have. Perhaps research a course you want to take – perhaps a new hobby.

Is technology or the internet a source of negativity or frustration? For example, social media can be entertaining and allows self-expression, but it can also be toxic and be confusing or misleading. So think about how the internet impacts your life and ways to improve your self-care.

Self-care is crucial to wellbeing and good self-care can help to underpin your life and make you more resilient. As Alyssa Edwards (American drag performer, choreographer, and businessperson) said, “When I take good care of myself, it lifts my spirits, boosts my confidence, and makes me feel strong. When someone tries to throw me shade, it bounces right off. I look those haters straight in the eye, keep my chin up and shoulders back. Because I know I’m a fierce queen – and they know it, too”.

So, this Internet self-care day, make the internet work for you and do something to strengthen your self-care. If you need help or advice on self-care, then contact me.

Never Give Up Day

Never Give Up Day is 18 August each year. This day is all about motivation. Motiving yourself, others or even your community. It’s also a day to remind us to keep striving, keep excelling and keep chasing our dreams and never give up on them.

The idea of motivation and the effect it has on our behaviour and brain has been studied and researched as far back as ancient Greece. And was an area of study of Plato and Aristotle. This was further built on in the modern renaissance by Rene Descartes.

Put simply motivation is defined as what explains why people (and animals) start, continue or stop a certain behaviour at a particular time. And if you think about it this is a very broad subject and one I find fascinating. I have written before about procrastination and how best to avoid it, Maslow hierarchy of needs and how it effects motivation and Brain Chemistry and the effect of Dopamine – the reward chemical. But I want to focus on achieving goals.

How do you feel about your goal? Do you feel obliged to do it? Changing the internal dialog can help. If you need to, or have to, do something that suggests you have no choice. Saying ‘I choose to’ do something means you own the task and are invested in it. When you have completed something, give yourself a small reward. Remember how it feels to have accomplished something – pride, relief, etc.

We all have times when we struggle with life’s challenges, but these times end. Don’t give up and you will get through it. If you know someone who is having a tough time, encourage them. Perhaps give them a call and tell them that they’re not alone.

If you are trying to motivation others, then praise, recognition and feedback are invaluable. As Dwight D. Eisenhower (American General and 34th President) said, “Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it”.

This day is a symbol of hope and a reminder that we all have a warrior inside of us. Remember why you started that something. So, never give up, keep going and achieve your goals.

And now a little treat. There are several songs that come to mind when I think about not giving up. I have chosen a relatively modern song by Sia called Never Give Up. A close second was Tubthumping, (aka I Get Knocked Down) by Chumbawamba. If you don’t know it, then google it. It’s not really a philosophy to live your life by, but inspirational nonetheless.

If you need help with motivation then Hypnotherapy can help. Contact me for more information.

Journaling

Do you keep a journal or a diary? Even if you do, you might want to start recording physical and mental health information. Keeping a journal can be a great way to get an insight into your health, both physical and mental, and a way to start a journey of self-discovery. So, if you don’t you might want to start.

But, what do I write about? Well it’s up to you, but a good place to start are your thoughts and feelings on that day. Were you anxious, stressed, relaxed or confident? Even this simple step can help you to understand your feelings more clearly. Other things to note might be memorable events of the time and how they made you feel.

To start with it might seem strange. Even Anne Frank, the celebrated diarist struggled. She said, “Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not only because I’ve never written anything before, but also because it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl”.

Many find the process of writing a journal relaxing. Also it can feel good to get all of those thoughts, worries and feelings out of your head and down on paper. It can help you to understand them more clearly. Labelling emotions and acknowledging traumatic events, both natural by products of journaling, are known to have a positive effect on people. Also, writing is basically an organisational process. So, keeping a journal helps to organise events in our mind and make sense of concerns and trauma. When we do that, our working memory improves, since our brains are freed from the enormously taxing job of processing that experience. Because of this it can also improve your quality of sleep.

So how do I do it? Well, it doesn’t have to be a physical book, but it can be. More likely it will be document on your phone or computer. Try to write every day by setting aside a few moments, perhaps at bed time. Keep a pen and paper nearby at all times so when you want to write down something you can. This is your document and so there is no right or wrong. Simply write or draw whatever feels right. It’s your private, safe place to express your feelings.

If you are struggling with stress, anxiety or the effects of trauma, hypnotherapy can help. Contact me for more information.

Guide to Past Life Regression

I have an exciting announcement in the realm of self-exploration and personal growth. As promised, I am thrilled to introduce you to a free comprehensive guide to Past Life Regression I have written. In this guide, I explore the fascinating process of Past Life Regression from beginning to end, shedding light on its potential for profound healing, self-discovery, and spiritual transformation.

Through Past Life Regression, you can gain profound insights into your current life challenges, relationships, and behavioural patterns. Exploring past lives often reveals connections between past and present, shedding light on the root causes of fears, phobias, traumas, and recurring patterns.

These insights and realisations provide opportunities for healing, growth, and personal transformation. As Kofi Annan (Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations), put it, “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family”.

Past Life Regression is not merely a journey of exploration; it also equips you with valuable tools for personal growth and transformation. By applying the insights and wisdom gained from past lives to your present life, you can make conscious choices, break patterns, heal wounds, and create a more fulfilling life.

Remember, Past Life Regression is not about proving the existence of past lives, but rather about utilising the therapeutic benefits it offers to enhance your present life. Embrace the opportunity, surrender to the process, and allow your soul to guide you on a captivating voyage of self-understanding and empowerment.

I invite you to join me on this extraordinary journey of self-discovery and transformation. My comprehensive guide to Past Life Regression will be your trusted companion, providing guidance, support, and profound insights every step of the way. Unveil the secrets of your soul and embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

The time has come. The gateways to the past are open. Are you ready to step through? Embrace the launch of my comprehensive guide to Past Life Regression and unlock the door to a world of profound self-discovery and healing. Your soul is calling—answer it’s whisper with the power of regression.

So, if you are interested in Past Life Regression, all you have to do it contact me and I will send you the guide, completely free of charge.

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder

Unlike post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) is a stress-related disorder which occurs in response to prolonged or repetitive exposures to traumatic events.

Typical symptoms include emotional dysregulations (angry outbursts, throwing objects, and aggression towards self or others), negative self-beliefs (feelings of shame, guilt, and failure) and interpersonal difficulties (problems with relationship boundaries, lack of trust, social isolation, difficulty perceiving and responding to others’ emotional states). Other symptoms can include feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, distorted sense of self and hypervigilance.

A good example of this is Rick James (American singer-songwriter). He said, “I was angry about the fact that my father would beat my mother on a daily basis, that my mother would take it in turn and beat on me. I was an abused child. I was mad about all those things, very bitter and very angry”.

CPTSD is often caused by repetitive adverse childhood experiences. Indeed, the trauma model of mental disorders connects CPTSD with chronic neglect or repetitive sexual, psychological or physical abuse.

It has also been observed as a result of instances of intimate partner violence, bullying, kidnapping and hostage situations, slavery or other human trafficking, sweatshop workers, prisoners of war and solitary confinement.

Judith Lewis Herman (American Psychiatrist) was the first scholar to propose Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) as a new mental disorder in 1992, with her book Trauma & Recovery.

Regardless of the age of the sufferer, a child or adult, the first step is to identify and address the threat they are under. Only once safety and stability has been restored can recovery begin. Judith Lewis Herman proposed a complex trauma recovery model that occurs in three major stages:

Establishing safety
Remembrance and mourning for what was lost
Reconnecting with community and more broadly, society

Herman believes recovery can only occur within a healing relationship where the survivor is empowered by that relationship. This means relationship in the widest sense. It need not be romantic and can also include relationships with friends, co-workers, relatives or children. It can be a therapeutic relationship (between a healthcare professional and a client or patient).

Hypnotherapy can help with CPTSD. If you contact me, I will carry out an initial free consultation to discuss with you what symptom you have. If I can help you I will set out. If I feel I can’t help you, I will refer to a better suited health professional.