Inspiring People

Let me introduce myself :

I am Jimmy Henderson and the author of a number of articles and two books on spiritual and psychic development. I am based in Durban, South Africa. I am also a trained trauma counselor and a regular radio talk show guest on a local radio station phone-in programme dealing with wellness issues. I also regard myself as a metaphysical teacher and latest book, which is available at most bookshops as well as online, is entitled 'Multi-Dimensional Thinking' . 

• In the past, we have always thought of 'spirituality' as being related only to religion and religious practices. However, I believe that the time has now arrived for it to come out of the closet and takes its rightful place in our world of everyday experience 

• We have now reached the stage where spiritual growth can be seen as a perfectly natural process involving our self-actualisation as human beings and 'spirituality' seen as synonymous with the highest possible levels of personal growth and self-development

• Please note that I am not here to criticise or threaten any existing religious or traditional beliefs. In fact, I believe that the steps mentioned in this process are present in all religious and belief systems in some form or another 

• In my book 'Multi-Dimensional Thinking', I have attempted to de-mystify this whole process by linking it to accepted scientific and psychological research as far as possible and viewing the process of spiritual development in terms of a gradual learning curve which involves completing certain developmental tasks and acquiring new skills relating to the body, mind and spirit 

• Although I would be the first to admit that there are other paths, this particular method involves integrating specific developmental outcomes and skills to produce a new level of 'mindfulness', understanding, perception and psychic awareness

• It is therefore best performed as a series of simple and systematically graded exercises designed to achieve certain desired outcomes in terms of actual experiences 

• I will now briefly describe the process. To begin, one must make two decisions or set two definite intentions One is a willingness to accept responsibility for your own life and actions and the second, a commitment to conscious self-development 

THE BODY

PHYSICAL WELLNESS

• As you begin your the learning curve, your first task will be to reach a certain level of physical wellness as there are a number of body and

lifestyle issues which could affect your spiritual and psychic development.  It makes sense that you would require a reasonably healthy body in

order to maintain the levels of consciousness for which you are striving. Here I refer to bad habits such as smoking and drinking excessively

as well as a bad diet. This can result in the buildup of toxins which will have to be cleansed by changing some of these habits and also detoxing your body regularly

• Your present lifestyle could also be an obstacle to spiritual and psychic development. For instance, excessive partying, drugs, obsessions with sex and materialism can be great distractions to someone who is striving for higher levels of consciousness, and you may need to look at changes to your lifestyle

• The desired outcome for this first stage would be a commitment to improving your health and simplifying your life to create the time and space for spiritual and psychic development to take place

THE MIND

EMOTIONAL WELLNESS (EQ)

• Your second task will be to reach a certain level of emotional wellness (EQ). This can be explained as the ability to remain reasonably

emotionally 'at ease' and suggests a certain amount of resilience to day-to-day concerns. The reason for this task is that, in my experience, past traumas, emotional pain and instability will hold you back in terms of your spiritual and psychic development. This stage therefore includes a period of healing to extricate yourself from the web of doubts, fears and negative emotions based on unpleasant memories from the past. This healing can be concluded with assistance from traditional or holistic therapists or by means of self-healing processes. In my book I do provide a 'toolbox' of common therapeutic techniques, such as journaling and rational-emotive techniques to release unhelpful emotions and challenge self-defeating beliefs, as well as new methods to deal with past traumas and restore broken relationships

• The desired outcome for this stage is divine forgiveness or self-forgiveness (depending on your belief system) which initiates a break with the past and ushers in a new beginning

EMOTIONAL EMPOWERMENT

• The third developmental task to be mastered is 'emotional empowerment', which can be described as building a healthy self-

image and high self-esteem. The path of spiritual and psychic development is often lonely and you will require an inner strength based on a new knowledge of who and what you really are, and your true purpose in this life, in order to succeed. Before beginning the deeper processes of spiritual and psychic study, you should therefore include a period of 'time-out' for self-introspection and contemplation on these important issues

• The desired outcome for this stage is therefore a sense of total confidence and belief in yourself that will prove to be useful during the more advanced processes.

A NEW FRAMEWORK OF THINKING (IQ)

• At the level of the mind there are also a number of tasks to be mastered.  It will be necessary to clean out your mind and free it of self-

defeating thoughts and beliefs based on fear and which do not allow you the freedom to explore the deeper mysteries of life. For instance 'I cannot /should not do this or that' (religious or self-imposed beliefs). Apart from holding you back, you simply will not be able to be make sense of any new experiences if they are not acceptable to your mind and thinking. You may therefore require a shift in consciousness as well as a new framework (or paradigm) of beliefs in order to move forward and to process the experiences, concepts and ideas associated with spiritual and psychic development.

• Completing this shift is not always easy and could also be tackled in stages. For example, a useful start would be to begin to think holistically

and be more open to new ideas. One way of doing this is to do self-introspection, learn to reflect on life more deeply and to approach important questions in life by cross-referencing and combining information from various areas of knowledge such as the natural and human sciences, philosophy, metaphysics and even religion. Another method is to begin classes in basic meditation and learn to quiet your mind and free it from the clutter of everyday thinking. This will also raise your consciousness which is required for later stages.

• Your desired outcome for this stage would be success in clearing the unwanted debris from your mind and 'shifting gears' to a more universal paradigm of thinking.

THE SPIRIT

THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPIRITUAL SKILLS (SQ)

• The slope of your developmental curve has now increased and you are ready to begin to develop new 'skills' such as heightened sense perception, intuition, psychic sight and a conscious connection with your higher self, all associated with a higher spiritual experience or

spiritual wellness (SQ).

• The first and most important task is building a relationship with your subconscious mind, as this provides the underlying power for

your later spiritual and psychic skills.

• I liken your subconscious to a lover who needs to be wooed before she will trust you and admit you into her chamber of mysteries. This building of trust takes place gradually as you learn to use affirmations, intentions and begin to build channels of two-way communication using dreams, collages and symbolic drawings. You will also need to increase your sensitivity to cues and impressions from your subconscious. This will become possible during training in more advanced meditations and visualization (imagery) which you should undertake with an experienced teacher or a reputable metaphysical college. These processes are also explained in detail in the exercises in my

book.

• The desired outcome for this stage is a relationship of trust with your subconscious mind in which it communicates readily with you through dreams and meditations and provides the basis for your developing psychic abilities such as intuition and spontaneous imagery.

THE RECONNECTION WITH THE HIGHER SELF

• The next stage of spiritual and psychic development involves a reconnection with your higher self (or soul-consciousness)

• This provides the power and consciousness needed for the development of advanced psychic skills such as clairvoyance, clairaudience and clairsentience and the perception of energy

• This is where your earlier work in dealing with your past and clearing out the pathways of your consciousness will be of such great value, as it is unlikely that you will have much success at his level if the previous tasks have not been satisfactorily completed

 As you approach the end of your developmental curve, you need to prepare for this meeting and merging with your higher self or soul, your true spiritual identity.  Once again, this will be achieved during advanced training in meditation which should be undertaken with experienced teachers

• Your desired outcome is the successful re-integration of your inner and outer self. This introduces a state of mindfulness or self-actualization in which you are able to manifest psychic abilities and take a quantum leap into a new life filled with meaning and power.  In practice, this should result in your becoming happier, more insightful, understanding, tolerant, moral and spiritual. All that now remains is to apply this to your everyday life.

Taken with permission from www.jimmyhendersonbooks.blogspot.com

A few months ago Caroline sent me an email, saying: ‘If you ever feel  like writing a short article on how you managed to create the life you have,  I would love to put it on my website as it would inspire a lot of people - including me!’

I was surprised and honoured by such a request, especially given that I have been writing for Renaissance Magazine for many years, and always admired the way in which Caroline had created the magazine out of a strong vision.

If anything, the guiding principle in my life has been always to be true to myself and true to my passion. This determined the decisions I made throughout the years concerning my work as a therapist and artist. It has been an amazing discovery of just how much we are taken care of, and that there are always opportunities if we ask ourselves what we really want to do with the tools we have received. Passion is a force that motivates us to follow our life mission, since inspiration carries us through the hours of perspiration required to realise our visions.

The journey of discovering this lesson in my own life obviously began in the formative years of childhood. Both my parents came from rather rigid Christian families, but after marrying, moved to Australia and vowed never to impose religion on their own children. They were far from being hippies, but always encouraged us to think for ourselves and to read - which luckily both my sister  and I always enjoyed.

Although we left for Australia when I was eight, but I always felt like an outsider there. Having a South African accent (which I stubbornly resisted losing) and being interested in strange things - like history and foreign cultures - did nothing to enhance my popularity at school. In fact, I spent many years being thoroughly hated by my peers.

I started studying languages from an early age, since, to my young and idealistic mind, a language represented an exotic culture and more utopian circumstances. My first attempts were at studying Greek at the age of 9, although I didn’t get further than learning the months and numbers. I then started French at 10, and my fascination for Japan led me to Japanese lessons at the age of 12… throughout my adolescent years I also studied Latin and Spanish on and off. Although these might have seemed like the whims of a hyperactive child, my parents kindly drove me around the city to attend lessons, and supplied the books to fuel my fire.

The guidance of passion burned particularly strongly in my early twenties, when I was deciding what career path to follow. I had studied architecture at university, but knew that it was not for me. I flirted with being an actor and an artist, both bringing moderate success, but my truest love was spirituality. I could, however, not imagine that it was a feasible way of earning a living - not that acting or being an artist generally are!

I learned astrology, alchemy and the Tarot, I was studying a BA in psychology, and meditated strictly twice a day… but it was only when I did a Reiki course and the teacher said to me that I should start my practice since being a therapist was my path, that I even considered a career in alternative therapy as a possibility.

With that external – and well-timed - confirmation of the stirrings in my heart, I acted quickly. I found a part-time job in a golf shop – of all places, since I don’t even know how to kick a golf ball – printed brochures and set up my practice. At about the same, I discovered Rebirthing and Holotropic Breathwork, and worked through my apprenticeship in record time, adding Breathwork to the very few techniques I had mastered at the time. Looking back, it was pretty precocious to start my practice with so little experience at the ripe old age of 25.

But somehow it all worked out. I very soon learned that miraculously I always had the right information and experience to help my clients (and sometimes I even read the relevant information the night before, quite by chance). More interestingly, my process and that of my client were always a reflection of one other; when I was working on a personal issue, I attracted the clients going through similar challenges. When I had lots of energy, my diary was full, but when I was tired or stressed, the clients cancelled mysteriously. Whenever I did a new workshop for my own growth, spent quality time in nature or was profoundly inspired, new clients came and my practice flourished.

And thus I learned the very beautiful feedback system that life itself offers.

Within 3 months I could quit my part-time job in the golf shop and depend fully on the money coming from my practice. I was ecstatic, since I realised the more I studied what I loved, the more tools and experience I would have in my work, making it possible to attract more abundance, to do more of what I loved.

At that time I was also able to nurture one of my other passions: writing. Apart from a few novels I wrote (which probably weren’t very good) and the poetry collection I published, I wrote articles for various magazines. In 2004 I published ‘The Building Blocks of Tarot’, and in 2007, the “Classical Mythology Deck” – the latter being a set of 81 cards used for divination and the study of mythological archetypes.

Another inspiration that has become an important part of my life and work is the Camino de Santiago-de-Compostela in Spain. Before moving to France in 2000, a client mentioned this pilgrimage, and I just knew that I had to do it. I walked it for the first time in 2001, and it was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life, given that it is a mix of spiritual reflection, intense friendship, beautiful nature and a fascinating history. Since then I have taken a group every year on this magical journey, offering a three week spiritual process along with 320 kilometres of walking.

I had my first experiences with teacher plants from Peru in 2006, which truly changed my life, strengthening and intensifying my path. My heart was truly opened, existing friendships were deepened to unforeseen levels and my sense of who I am has expanded. I was inspired to go to South America to learn more, even considering going to live in Buenos Aires.

Before leaving on that first trip, my mother confirmed something I already suspected deeply within myself. She said: “Don’t fall in love in South America, because you’re life is going so well here now.”

And with that premonition, I met Maucir (a typically unconventional Brazilian name). Rather improbably, we first got to know each other on the internet, but when we met face to face in São Paolo, I thought: “Oh my goodness, so this is what love at first sight and feeling completely understood by someone is about”.

We have been together for three years, and our relationship has been at its best in the last months… the love just keeps growing and growing. We have everything in common – ranging from exercise preferences to spiritual outlook – and, most importantly, we laugh all the time.

Within weeks of our fated meeting, I knew I would have to move to São Paulo for us to be together. It wasn’t altogether easy: I would have to learn Portuguese, start my practice from scratch at the age of 37 in the urban jungle of São Paulo, which does not exactly compare with Cape Town in beauty and lifestyle. But again, somehow things have worked out well. São Paulo is a generous city, the Brazilian people are fantastically friendly and new opportunities keep arising. Before moving, I resolved to take up sculpture again seriously - therapy for myself through the inevitably tough transitional phase. And this is a new adventure unfolding for me on the highlands of south-western Brazil…

It may be easy to say we should live our passion, but many people say they they would gladly follow their passion, if only they knew what it was. I believe it is always there, in one’s heart; often it seems outlandish and impossible, usually very impractical given the demands of contemporary life. We just need to follow the little clues that life brings us, and forget about the ‘hows’ and ‘whens’. I believe our souls are programmed for certain missions on Earth, and passion is the key. How we choose to use the keys of our potential, is a question of free-will.

Jacques Theron will be running workshops in South Africa until mid-October 2009. You may contact him at 082 817 5266 or visit www.jacquestheron.com