“Most people want to be the sun that brightens up your life, but I’d rather be the moon that shines down on you in your darkest hours.” Author Unknown
To not share my journey into the world of alternative, natural healing would be sacrilege, you will love the mistakes and adventures of my journey into healing.
As always the best place to start is the beginning. At the age of eleven / twelve my mother came home from work and sat me down, told me to sit still she wants to look at me. I knew I had made trouble, I forget what and where.
As she sat staring at me my mind was running wild, I was ready to confess to anything except the atom bomb and the landing on the moon, she had to speak to Neil Armstrong about that, there was no way I was going to take that on me.
After what felt like years but was only minutes Mom said to me, “Cara, hold out your hands”
I knew she had an uncanny sixth sense but to me this was bizarre, not even I remembered if I had washed my hands after going to the ladies-room. Terrified I did as she asked. She took them and turned them up, out, top and over again.
“Get dressed, we are going to a patient of mine” Mom said.
I was excited, none of us younger ones had ever been near her work, and I hurriedly got dressed. We arrived at the patient’s home, after having been introduced to the entire family plus the dog I realised they were all blind. The only one from the grandmother to the youngest child that could see was the dog. We walked into the bedroom and the almost invisible man from the bed said,
“Yes, this is her, I can feel her powers.”
A chill ran through my body as I looked around the gloomy room, I was looking for the one with powers; it was only mom and I in the room, with the blind, ill man. Mom made me sit on the bed next to the man, took both my hands and placed them on his abdomen and instructed me to sit still. Fear forced my throat to close down, freezing my body; sitting completely still, so much that I was sure I had disappeared.
This became a ritual, every afternoon after school she would fetch me to one of her patients, I did not like it, in addition, it all scared me, no one bothered explaining to me what my hands were doing and why. I went to so many different types of dying people that the nightmares started to become part of my waking time.
Such was my life for the next couple of years, I had no idea what I was doing or why, the knowledge that as soon as I could, I would end it and never touch an ill or dying person again kept me going. It all stopped the day Mom died. Yes, it was sad and traumatic day, but it was the day I was freed from a life that scared me.
For the next couple of years I ignored anything that had to do with natural and alternative healing. Whenever anyone in the family referred to it I would become silent and hoped they change the subject.
Carl and Peterjohn were relentless in their guiding of me to use my special gifts, I did not have the courage to tell them to stop and go away, and instead I packed my bags and left Pretoria. My thinking was if no one knew, no one would ask, no one would care. A fact of life we learn too late is that if you have a gift it will stay with you and in the long run wear you down.
Eventually the reality of my gifts dawned on me and I realised that to not honour them would be a big mistake. I started researching various types of healing, various ways of energy healing, still only learning and researching, I still did not lay a hand on anyone or try to heal. To be honest I never spoke about this type of healing, no matter that I knew it existed.
Peterjohn discovered Reiki in Australia, he went on a course and became a master / teacher, 3rd generation Madam Tenaka, and he was so enthused with Reiki that the expensive long distance calls became regular, even daily.
Reiki took me to the most extra-ordinary form of healing. Reading about it only at first, I fell under its spell. Reiki is a soft, gentle, kind way of healing, it is a touch of love. The teachings of Reiki inspired me to such an extent. That I accepted his offer to pay for me to study Reiki in the USA. On his costs I packed my bags and went to the USA to learn more.
I have not looked back; I have enhanced Reiki with Aura dusting, balancing, restoring the flow – learned and now practice Chakra cleansing and balancing. I learned to manipulate all the reflexes, hand, foot and full body reflexology. The extra-ordinary healing with crystals, and colour, was an added phenomenon I had to study. Of course no natural healer can bypass the studies nutrition and herbs.
The Sacred Path of healing was my next step, this form of healing, although very controversial is the most enjoyable and relaxing addition to my list of interests, which I practice with severe caution as it is often misunderstood and misappropriated.
The American Masters, Swami’s and teachers are so evolved with these modules of healing they have advanced it to a proper schooling with practical healings making part of the course. You may for example not practise any of the modules alone until you have at least worked on 150 patients under the guidance of the Master or Swami. Your certification is reliant on these rules.
As a matter of interest, returning to South Africa I discovered that not the same standard apply to students and they may practise as soon as they have done the theory of the module.
Please do not think that any of this way of life is easy, to start anew in life with structures you were taught to fear as a child in your religion can lead to very daunting moments.
The first time ever I came face to face with my esoterical guide, I almost lost my ovaries in shock, I promised all the Gods of all the religions I knew existed, that I would never do it again.
It took me months to see and read the aura, I was about to give up when I saw it by mistake for the first time, as with all my mistakes I make, it became a life altering experience. For a few days after my discovery I walked around looking at everyone from the side, squinting, it was whispered that I had finally lost my mind, it was even suggested I see a psychiatrist again!
Once I was able to see and read the Aura I had to learn to interpret the meanings. Most people think the Aura concerns only colour and the meaning of colour. The truth is everything about the person manifests in the Aura. An illness is present in the Aura long before it has become a physical problem.
More than that, the Aura is the landmark of your emotions, fears, achievements, character, more importantly your Aura is you, just more. Reading and interpreting everything the Aura offers is unmistakably the one most important part of natural healing.
I am fortunate to have been the channel of many remarkable healings... The most difficult case was David, a Vietnam veteran who was one of the unfortunate people that had come into contact with “Agent Orange”. David is a brave man, he was also very into natural healing and knew the ways of the American Shaman, together David and I started working on him, often we would cure one problem and soon afterwards the next one took over.
Apparently this is the way “Agent Orange” works. We still work on all the disasters that hit him; he remains brave and has become my constant reminder that nothing is impossible.
In fact, on my dark days I cling to him, frantically e-mailing him for support and guidance. This is the way of Reiki, you can’t just heal the patient, and you also heal yourself.
Returning to South Africa I decided to change my life and only do natural healing, I was in for a shock, the bias of the people was tremendous even dangerous
I had no idea where to start and decided the Internet with a web-site is the best place. This did work but also brought out the strange people with bad intentions. I was lucky to not have too many. The surprise that hit me was the way people think.
Most people decided if healing is a gift they don’t have to pay for it. Many years I worked for free, too embarrassed to charge, until finally Carl sat me down and explained the facts of life and no money to me.
I still heal for free but I do insist on some kind of payment in whatever form, be it an apple or a piece of carved wood, what ever the patient can afford. In doing this I have not closed my door to people who do not have money.
An Indian physician found my site and started calling me with all sorts of questions, at first I thought is was to cause trouble, but I was wrong, he wanted to work with me, soon after he was satisfied I was not a fake he started referring patients to me.
Later other physicians he recommended me to would refer patients. Many of the patients that were referred were very ill, terminally so. I was their last resort. Often they would only be referred to me days before they were to die. These cases were very sad, especially the children. I would be an emotional mess after every such case.
Feeling I have failed, I would go into seclusion and try make sense of it, there are many facets of natural healing that you constantly have to rediscover, one consoling fact of this life is, that no matter the medication, no matter the healer, if the patient is destined to die, he will. This is the reality of all of life.
There were more than a few interesting patients which had me question life and the world. Due to stupidity I always declined working with HIV positive people, there is no possibility of a cure and saddened me.
This changed when Emmy, a young girl of 15, became a patient, before I knew she was HIV positive. The doctor who referred her, only told me she was gang raped, that she had healed physically but was struggling with the emotional trauma.
Reiki is wonderful in these cases, the young girl that came to me the first day had no will to live, she hated everything, everybody. It is not in our nature to hate all the time, and soon the gentle loving touch of Reiki had her wanting to live, wanting to be alive and beautiful again.
Unfortunately her youth was stolen but her strength was reclaimed. Emmy is once again full of life, beautiful and enjoying it, she has decided to finish school and help others who may have the same destiny
There have also been my comic patients, these people fear the reality of natural healing thinking it is evil but they are more afraid of death to not come. This at first annoyed me but later I saw the humour in this.
One such patient was an ex-springbok rugby hero; he was referred to me by friend. He was suffering from gout. Gout is one affliction I thought I knew about, it is caused by too much alcohol, wrong! The research led me to the truth and sadness of this illness, especially with sportsmen.
The Hero (I can not use his name, he has not consented to it) arrived, a huge man, tall, muscular and afraid. As I helped him lay down the only words he had for me was, are you a sangoma? A sangoma means witchdoctor, or similar traditional healers. Although I am a natural healer I am no where near being a sangoma.
I smiled and said “No, I am not that advanced.”
“Do you use Muti, like they do?” Muti is herbs and various other ingredients that traditional healers use to make elixirs, infusions, and totems. I do not use any such aids; I do advise on nutrition and added supplements such as vitamins or minerals etc. I do not prescribe only offer alternatives that would enhance the patient’s doctor’s medications.
“No I use my hands.” I said smiling, making a mental note not to use colour or crystal healing near him.
“Do you pray to God?” his voice was becoming smaller and smaller in his huge body.
“Yes, I do pray.”
“Good, you may touch me.” The voice was stronger now.
I started my normal ritual of Aura Dusting and Chakra balancing, making sure I was not doing anything to frighten the Hero more, the reason for his fear was lost to me at this early stage of the session. Later when the pain subsided he confessed to me that he had been warned by some of his religious friends that it may be the devil’s work.
This would explain his strange behaviour and why he took so long to relax and enjoy the touch of Reiki.
Whatever I did, I did it right, the gout was healed, he became my most interesting patient, calling me on a regular basis to assure me he is still healed. His calls make me smile, not sure if he is calling to console me for not coming for more hands on healing or because he actually wants to speak to me and be comforted.
Annemarie was a patient referred by my Indian doctor, she had breast cancer, all the normal procedures and healing techniques were done, she went into remission but then it went wrong.
The first session with me she laid dead quiet on the bed, hardly breathing, so stressed and tense I was worried. Normally the touch of Reiki would calm and comfort the patient. Their initial fears would give way to the wonderful feelings of love that permeate the receiver.
The energy flow would enhance the sense of well-being and generate feelings of love, warmth and acceptance. Most patients would love the touch and often release trauma, pain and fear.
Annemarie was not responding to the loving touch, eventually I enquired about this stiffness, she was as stiff as a Popsicle; if I were to suddenly hit her; she would crack into thousands of pieces. Trying to dust the Aura was taking twice as long due to the rigid form of her body.
Her answer made me smile sadly, “Your hands are too warm, the vibrations from them feels supernatural, I am afraid you are doing the devil’s work. I have heard that is how the devil steals the soul. He will heal you, only to take it all for him.”
My thoughts were decadent about this confession: It sounded like I was about to give her life only to have the devil repossess her life and soul for payment. My smile probably made her realise how amusing her thinking is. She laughed nervously then she relaxed a little. I am not too sure if she had decided to succumb to the loving touch, and forget preconceived ideas.
After the session she informed me
“I feel wonderful, and I am sure what you do is good with no evil intentions but I am not convinced that this is natural healing, there is some kind of power in your hands that scare me. I want to be cured but not at the cost of my religion. I won’t be back.”
Moments such as these sadden me, they make me weary to take on patients who have no other choice of who the medical profession have discarded as hopeless. As a result I now interview the patient before I book a healing session.
One cold morning at 3am I received a sad phone call from Mike who discovered my web-site and read about the natural healing, especially the loving touch of Reiki. His eleven year old son, Thomas had been diagnosed with gangrene in his left leg. The surgeons urgently wanted to amputate the leg; Mike was trying to find an alternative. I know about gangrene first hand, my mother’s brother, Peter had an amputated leg due to this condition.
I was careful to tell Mike that I have no idea how to work with this illness, that I have only Reiki to use where the doctors had all the tools possible, it was better if he listened to them and did as they advised. Mike begged to see me the next day; he would fly his family to Pretoria even if it meant I could just comfort Thomas. I accepted.
On the plane something went wrong with the leg, they had to get Thomas off and rush him to the nearest emergency room. It scared me even more. I tried to reason with Mike, begging him to take Thomas back to his own doctors. Mike was adamant, he said there must be a reason he found me and he thinks that was to help his son.
I stopped arguing and decided I had explained enough that I am not a miracle worker and that Mike was adult enough to accept it.
As soon as the doctors released Thomas they came to my studio, I was not there at the precise moment. When I entered the room, Thomas was already lying on the healing table. I did not see anyone else in the room, only this beautiful boy with the clearest blue eyes imaginable. My own eyes were watering now as I realised such beauty was going to be damaged.
Thomas greeted me with a tiny voice, “Hello Cara, I see your angels!”
I burst into tears, not able to stop the extreme pain I felt for this very beautiful little man.
Thomas took my hand, held it close to his face and said, “Your love will help me.”
The Reiki or the angels or some magick took hold of me, I forgot all else, I started the session without a word; I did not even wonder where the parents were, they were not important.
The healing session that first day was almost five hours long, Thomas went into a deep sleep moments after I touched him. When I finally decided to stop, Thomas woke up declaring he was starving, a man behind me burst out laughing and hugged me.
That was the first time, in all those hours I realised the parents were right there, sitting on the couch watching me. I took stock of Mike, the brave father and was pleasantly surprised by his love for his son. His enthusiasm that Thomas will be cured was contagious even I believed it.
I turned to hug Sandra, the mother and stopped. I have yet to see such a beautiful human, her blonde hair was styled perfectly, Sandra’s eyes were the shades of the sea on a stormy day, and she was angry.
Sandra accused me of doing the devils work, accused Mike of endangering the life of her son, Thomas. Sandra told me that God wanted Thomas’ leg only, and to not give it will make God take his life. I did not say a word, I did not have an answer, maybe she was right, maybe she wasn’t, I don’t know.
They booked into a nearby hotel and Mike insisted that I cancel all my other patients and work exclusively on the little man for the next 5 days. I did.
Later that evening the Sandra phoned, very upset, screaming abuse that I had made it all worse, Mike took over and was laughing, he said for the first time in many weeks Thomas had an appetite; he ate too much and was now paying the price.
I worked on Thomas for five days, the ever-optimistic Mike promised me it was helping and that he could see definite improvement in the leg. I wanted to believe, so I did. They left the day before the scheduled operation, Thomas, had now become my dear friend, and Mike promised to let him phone whenever he needed me; Sandra still thought I was from the devil.
The next day every time my cell started ringing I had a bad moment, I had no idea what was taking so long and why they had not phoned as promised after the operation.
They did not phone for a few days, I was devastated. Early morning on the fourth day Mike phoned, he was so happy I thought he had too much to drink, good news had him delirious, there will be no amputation, and the doctors have discovered they can save the leg. The wonderful doctors, the healing angels and Reiki did it again! How perfect is this life.
The doors to a world of magick were open and now I was ready to touch with love to heal.
It is my honest belief that my gift is not healing, that my true gift is the gift of love, which is the power of healing.
