SensitiveBeing Personal Narratives Space

Narratives are stories rooted in lived experience which can and usually do convey life wisdom and spiritual truths.

Storytelling is a magic that can transform lives!

Imagine you are sitting around a fire listening to the truth of the elders relating their life journeys and wisdom to the younger members of the tribe. Tales of joys and pains held within a heart space that has found peace over time.

The ultimate generosity, when the story is well told.

With their words, someone in 'front' of us may remove a stone that might have tripped us, or leave open a door which we would otherwise have found closed, or quietly drop a map of ground we might have found difficult to cross.

I remember when I was 25 years old, completely burnt out, having recently given up on the pretense of being able to handle my computer programming job and life in the West.

I was recovering at a beach resort in Kerala, India, reading the books of Robert Pirsig over a period of six weeks. I would read a line or two, then drop into reflection and this continued week after week...

Somehow my being allowed me to do this, my heart wanted it, whereas even a few minutes reading a newspaper triggered the terrible head pains I was suffering from at the time.

Reading his journey, resolved a terrible struggle within me between my rational mind and my intuitive mind. I realised I didn't need to repeat his suffering and soon after was deeply into eastern meditation practices.

I can only describe the gratitude I felt to him as love!

Anthony

There is reward for the storyteller also, as when you are able to be the one to leave the path behind you a little easier for others to follow, there is the quiet heart joy of having served life's greater purpose.

Enter the Narrative Space

About the Space

There is a welcoming space here if people wish to contribute for narratives from:

  • Experiencers of extreme states involving altered experience or not.
  • Family members, whether as a parent, partner, sibling.
  • Psychiatrists
  • General Practitioners
  • Clinical Psychologists
  • Psychiatric Nurses
  • Social Workers
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Policemen & Women

In my own UK treatment experience, my GP played an important role in supporting my family, effectively overruling my psychiatrist. Two occupational therapists I saw briefly were the kindest people I met in my period of contact with the NHS.

In China, I caused extreme hassle for the local police, especially one who was assigned to be my 'bodyguard', and those who had to take me in eventually. The junior doctor who treated my wounds had a very hard time with me, but we got on well later.

One of my favourite staff members in the Chinese hospital was the cook who served me my food from a metal bucket she carried, and warmly called out my Chinese name all the time, 'Andounee, Andounee...'

So this space is for anyone whose life has been touched by humanity crossing beyond the heartlands that we call normal lived experience.

The main criteria for inclusion in the library is that narratives are written with compassion and generosity, out of a desire to support others to be happier in their lives and suffer less.

Writing like this is not easy. You have to let your heart speak out and sometimes this is a journey in itself, but you will be well rewarded for your efforts.

If you are interested in contributing to the library please read the Narrative Submissions Page .

News / Events

New: Check out my latest narrative essay:

Peaceful Reflections on the Past from 'One Who Got Away'


New: Check out an interview I gave for the Shiatsu Society.

It's on my personal journey developing HeartTouch: Embodied Mindfulness & Compassionate Connection through Touch for anxiety, emotional pain, trauma & psychosis.

The Mountain of Fire


New: Check out my latest video:

City Voices New York Interview


New: Check out my latest essay:

Reflections on the 'here and now' from the perspective of non-ordinary experience.


Check out this essay:

A Letter to the Psychiatric Profession from One Who 'Got Away'


One to One Online 'Mental Health' Wellness Coaching Sessions for Experiencers

These sessions can be in the form of a conversation or a Hara Conditioning coaching or a combination of the two.

I am happy to consider sessions with anyone but am especially interested in supporting people with spiritual crisis, psychosis, trauma or anxiety issues.

Session Fee: £80, Concessions: First session £80, Further sessions £50

Coaching Sessions are for one hour, but may often last up to 1 1/2 hrs if required.

More on SensitiveBeing Coaching Sessions


HeartTouch: Mindfulness & Compassionate Touch Training for Anxiety, Emotional Pain & Trauma.

These workshops are open to people experiencing extreme human states, whether that be labelled as psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar, manic depressive along with people with personal histories of sexual or emotional traumas.

They are also open to people experiencing milder forms of anxiety and emotional pain, however it expresses itself.

This can include co-issues such as addiction or eating disorders, though I would request people to find additional support for the side-issue as this is not part of my experience.

The workshops are also open to people interested in enhancing their capacity to work with people experiencing this kind of distress, whether as a bodyworker, psychotherapist, clinician or family member.

Visit easternpeace.com for more...