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This may surprise many of you to know, but whether you follow a religion or not, Easter is one of the most important events on the Calendar – even more so than Christmas – because Easter is so rich in symbolism and the spectrum of colours that surround us at this time of year, are a reminder of that.

As a pattern theorist, I study nature because for me, it reveals both the visible and invisible patterns in all of life.  Sitting in the garden, enjoying my tea in the warm sunshine, I noticed a beautiful flower of deepest purple. Looking around, I saw lots of other lovely blooms all appearing in my own garden, as it turned out, completely in my absence.

Purple symbolises the colour of royalty and status in Christianity.  Some say it is the colour that Jesus was clothed in when they crucified him, as a mocking by the unlearned of his truest identity.  It is also the colour of spirituality and symbolises the quality of spiritual energy and intuition.

Yellow is a primary colour, found in every rainbow, that typically represents happiness and sunshine.  Yellow also denotes the colour ‘gold’, symbolising that which is rich and wealthy – not in coins but in spirit.

Containing all other colours in the spectrum, white represents all things pure, clean, fresh and innocent; of thought, of essence, of spirit and of the soul.  White is often chosen as the colour of the wedding dress, in Christianity it symbolises light and purity.

Whether sitting in the garden, celebrating with family and chocolate, or chasing bunnies on an Easter Egg Hunt, Easter is a time of rejuvenation.  The overriding symbolism and message in the Easter weekend is that of descent, purification and resurrection – not only of Jesus but of us.

For those of you who have read my first book, Pandora’s Panacea, you will be aware that my fascination with archetypal patterns sprung to life by the sudden appearance of a blackbird in my living room, who had inadvertently fallen down the chimney.  Ten years later, this week, the same thing happened, only this time I came face-to-face with a gorgeous black rook, perched, as an uninvited breakfast guest, on my sofa.  No matter the visit of a soul or a soldier, one should remember that birds always fly towards the light.  I opened the door.  The bird swooped down and flew out and up toward the light.  My job was done.  I put the kettle on.

Wishing you all a Happy Easter,
Carole Sawo

What better time of year than new year’s day to ‘code the ether’. This is not airy-fairy and this really has never been ‘a secret’! This has been a scientific evidential phenomenon since time began – only we didn’t know about it and we really did not understand the laws of magnetics, projection and thought-energy.

In the absence of knowledge people spend their time wishing, hoping, making resolutions, only to have them sail-off in the wind. But today, dear reader (or should I say coder) that is all about to change. Today is the day to put your hands on the steering wheel, to get engaged with your life, to start directing it and stop just playing a walk-on-part. Today is the day to access the infinite pool of every possibility, to get excited and to code the ether.

Imagine above your head is an infinite thought space into which you can project anything and call down anything. A space where a very patient dutiful assistant is waiting to hear about exactly what it is that you want to show up in your life – to be given a clear directive to go get it for you. Some people are familiar with a vision board and making one of those is excellent practice. Projecting energy into it every day is even better.

To make a vision board simply get a piece of paper and with lots of coloured pens write on it the words that represent the things you want to resonate in your life. Be specific and don’t just write things like ‘happiness’. Really think about what it is that is going to make you happy and include that.

Whilst you are designing your life, also drop all the people from it that do not make you happy – all those vampires who zap your energy, bulldoze over you and fail to appreciate the beauty that you are. Here is how to recognise them:- (1) they show no interest in your life or want to know anything about what you are doing (2) their words are not worth the air they used to say them (3) you think of them … and feel unhappy! This is a cleansing process with no animosity, so truly with good intention, actively clear them out of your thought space.

Life experiences enter in on your right field of vision and exit on the left, so wipe all the old off to the left and look with new bright eyes to the right. Writing down your thoughts and creating a plan is what brings energy into it. This brings the plan alive and into reality. Everything you see has come out of someone’s mind. They had an idea, applied energy, got busy and now you are looking at the products of their thoughts.

I’m telling you … my vision board from last year has an 80% success rate. 80% of the things I requested showed up and the remaining 20% is definitely ‘in progress’. You bet I will be fine-tuning that this afternoon. So get busy, get creative, design the life you really want, put it on paper, and then keep your eye out for those things appearing. It is then up to you to apply energy and go for it. And just to let you know – the assistant is very efficient and takes you exactly at your word, or rather thought. And the ether … well warp-speed has nothing on that!

Wishing you the best year ever,
With all potentials,
Carole

You would think, wouldn’t you, that before standing in front of an audience to give a 45 minute talk, that the sensible thing would be to prepare? To have notes all ready, perfectly typed, bullet points in large print, etc. And of course you would be right. But stand in front of an audience with absolutely nothing prepared is exactly what I did on Saturday – in fact, it is exactly what I do every time I give a talk at any holistic event.

Contrary to the many hours I spend behind the scenes, meticulously researching, designing and preparing every lesson I ever teach, there are times, I know, when science and planning just doesn’t hit the spot. Seemingly opposite to the logical, linear, left-hemispheric processing, is another equally important process in the mind – that which is artistic, creative, boundless, illogical, crazy even, but no less true. It is that which makes for whole-mind processing – it is that which makes us alive.

The talk on Saturday was about ‘calling in the Archetypal Wise Man’. It was a lesson on accessing a vitally important quantity within the mind – that which often lays dormant and unknown to most, due to the desensitization of collective, programmed belief systems. And yet it is an inexplicable quantity by which I navigate everything I do. As I munched my breakfast on the morning of the talk I enquired to the ether, ‘what would you like me to tell them today?’ The Wise Man responded with the words above.  But no matter how you prefer your education, I wish you, on this beautiful Spring day, that wisdom enables you to close all of your portals to pain.

All good things,
Carole

Change is never that easy but only those capable of changing and evolving will survive life.  Other people have the capacity to change us, for better or for worse, and it is the latter that is the reason for this article. 

Learning, at the fundamental, psychological level, means ‘a permanent change over time’.  At the neurological level, change means the formation of new neural connections and networks in the brain, with all the firings and mis-firings that that involves.  To solidify change certain things need to happen; the presentation of new material or ideas at least three times, enables the electrical and chemical ‘hands’ (or dendrites) to be held more tightly, the ‘new thought’ has to be rehearsed and old patterns need time to dissipate and recede.

Changes in the mind happen more quickly when we are shocked, humiliated or near death.  All of these things create a surge of electrical activity in both the mind and the heart, that fosters the change more quickly.

The only way to deal with the shocks and rocks in life, is to surf them. That is, to allow the experience (no matter how awful or sudden) to go through us – helped enormously by our capacity to ground, and breath ‘slow and low’. 

Referring to the atrocities in life – created entirely by humans – there is, however, a certain type of change that we should resist by all means. And that is when we are given news that incites us into rage and into becoming a darker version of our very selves.   

Often we see horrendous things on the news and social media, and we, being lovely people, feel provoked into reacting with anger.  But this is the type of change I think we should resist because when we are outside of ourselves with fury, we are not inside of ourselves with peace – and anything can happen when we see red.

Particularly when we are knocked sideways by the horrendous behaviour of others, is when we should develop an automatic internal programme that reminds us ‘we have a good heart and we are not like them’.

I could segue into a lesson on ‘in-groups and out-groups’ and the automatic unconscious projection and splitting that occurs, but my point is to share a personal observation and belief.  In life I have no interest in divides; gender, religion, culture, politics, looks, society or finance.  I decided many years ago from my journeys and experiences around the world, that there are only two types of people in life, ‘nice and not nice’.

So when bad people do bad things, let us, as far as we can, not let them change us.  The only change we need to make then is, ‘how to better maintain our peace and niceness’ – and that is the only change worth making.

All good things,
Carole Sawo 

“That’s outrageous”, she said, “if it happens again call me and I’ll sort it out immediately”.  It happened again.  I called her.  She never came.  In fact, I never saw her again. “That’s no problem”, he said, “I can fix that for you, I’ll see you on Monday”.  Monday came and went.  He didn’t.  “Mr so and so will call you back later today”, said the secretary in full confidence.  Either she was not as efficient at her job as the projected authority in her voice would have anyone believe, or Mr so and so suddenly got called into an unexpected meeting …. from which he never returned. There are many invisible yet deadly plagues in our society, that all contribute to our collective levels of despair. People being bad for their word is one of them.

As I sit here typing this article I am currently waiting for nine people to ‘get back to me’.  Of course, the moment I call any of them and remind them of their promise, I will receive a barrage of very typical and boringly predictable retorts from their defence mechanisms such as; ‘tut’, ‘I got called away’, ‘I didn’t realise that…’, ‘I thought you didn’t need it done anymore’, ‘I’m too busy’, ‘you’re too impatient’!    Oh really?

I’m good for my word.  If I say yes, then I do it.  If I say no, then I don’t. Everyone knows where they are with me.  Which some people find hugely comforting and those who are bad for their word find immensely annoying. “I’ll handle that”, she said with magnitude and hands-on-hips, clearly wondered why I wasn’t thanking her profusely and why my facial expression reflected disbelief.  It was because my sight was distracted by the movement in her wonder-woman cape – which only left me wondering?

So why aren’t people good for their word?

1. They haven’t thought it through
2. They have fallen victim to their own saviour complex
3. They want you to like them even though …
4. They want to get rid of you
5. They have no conscience

What people who are bad for their word fail to realise, is that no matter what profession, what level of intellect or what amount in their pay-cheque, the moment their word is revealed as not being worth the toilet paper they spouted on, they lose all respect.  Forever.  The wizard behind the curtain is revealed. And all that remains is powerless impotence. Their customers know it.  Their staff know it.  Their children know it.  And worst of all, they know it.

There are, of course, those silent soldiers who are steadfast and relentless in the goodness of what they say and do.  Thank God for them.  And those who have the humility, that should they fall foul to unexpected circumstances that prevent them, actually call back and feel terrible for letting others down.  But for those who are bad for their word, the morals of this story are:- Turn off the wind machine, lest you cape get caught up in it.  Think before you spout.  Spine up.  Man up.  Grow up.  And never upset a writer.

Carole Sawo

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In Pandora’s Panacea ~ Holographic Works of Art (2007) by Carole Sawo 

So you think no-one can comprehend just where your mind might go

Imagine you are all alone and no-one else could know

The first to find the last to leave and lost somewhere between

No feet on earth in your rebirth and nothing as it seem

See shadows dancing in your dream dodge stalkers of the night

Submerged in fastest flowing stream fall from the greatest height

No-one to hear your silent fear no hand to grasp and hold

No courage left within your heart that once was young and bold

But here’s the truth said loud and clear that surely you must sense

That this is not a time begot but space for recompense

No ghastly sight can you perceive without first you create

No demon stand crossed hallowed land where angel at the gate

My dear you see all you could be both fact and mystic fiction

Extract from this eternal bliss enabled in your diction

Can you now tell that this no spell but gift from Ether given

Revealed today so you might say I found my soul in Heaven

No matter what the path you trod to bring you to this state

Important now is when and how and know it’s not too late

For blessed you are a golden star is handed from behind

In time will eyes clear misty skies that once were closed and blind

How happy might your life become if only you believed

That all was found when left the ground and once more you perceived

Unfolding wings tucked in your jeans new warrior of one

Your life not end when you descend but once more has begun

Something exists in the Universe that is more potent than any drug or spell. It has the extraordinary capacity to amend, to restore, to bring us back from the edge and to heal – and it lives in all of us. It is an alchemical element that is often overlooked in the complexity of relating and certainly in the commercialism of Valentine’s Day, due to its simplicity and quietness. And that element is gentle TLC.

Often people ask me how to help someone else who is raging, clearly causing chaos, who displays no love and seems to be on a self-destruct mission. Well anger is a secondary emotion and it always manifests to cover up a hurt. Never bother asking anyone why they are so angry, or expect them to manage that uncontainable behaviour – because that not only does not solve anything, it can definitely make matters worse. Ask instead ‘why are you so hurt?’ That is really how I stop a raging bull, I ignore the anger and deal directly with the hurt.  People scream in silence. Simple TLC reminds them that someone has a loving eye in their direction. And often what people really want is another very very simple element that we always have to give – our time. 

You do not have to be psychic, or call anyone with ‘a message’ from the Ether. The next time someone pops into your mind, just take the opportunity to send them a quick note, text or email. Something to remind them that they can be seen and heard. Something to say ‘you are normal, not alone and are welcome’ Not just on this day but on any day, be a magician for a moment, take time and send someone a little TLC.

With TLC for you,
Carole Sawo

Let’s just say it had been a very testing hour in the mobile phone shop!   I needed coffee.  Immediately. Lots of coffee.  Intravenous.  ‘Would you like that to go?’ asked the assistant.  Given that I was clearly having such a problem answering him, due to my still reverberating head, I thought I had better take a seat, calm down, not inflict my condition on anyone and regroup myself.  In fact, all of my selves at that point.  And anyway, ‘people-watching’ was not only one of my favourite hobbies, it is what I teach and I need very little encouragement to indulge.

Large coffee in right hand. Comfy seat.  And a vantage view of the whole shop.  How happy could a girl suddenly be?  Conducting an observation isn’t really about just watching what people are doing, it is about watching what people do not realise they are doing.  All those little unconscious behaviours that are oblivious unto them – that is the real focus – to look at what is really happening underneath.

I smiled at the predictable recognition of five single people on five separate tables eating five separate cakes pretending to be engrossed in five different electronic devices and reading material.  None of them looked up for the entire duration. The first lady swapped an iphone for an ipad then got a book out.  Blimey.  The second lady crouched over her phone on the desk as she scoffed her cake and coffee.  The third scrolled her phone like people do when they are not looking at anything in particular.  The fourth … oh good Lord, I was done with all their embarrassment, and for why?  Because everyone was gripped by the same life-long paralysing thought of mind imprisonment, that I had thankfully unhooked myself from years ago – they were all in varying stages of ‘what will people think?’.

The ‘what will people think’ thought stops people leaving the house, going for the job they want, trying something new, speaking to strangers …  enjoying their coffee.  And what is the terrifying consequence they are all trying to avoid?  Somebody looking at them … and thinking. The real issue, of course, is that they are the ones thinking, thinking something negative … about themselves.  A whole group of people with indigestion.  A whole group of prisoners with the dungeon key in their own pocket.

By contrast, I had nothing on my lap, nothing in my hand, except the coffee – and I was the only one looking up and around.  As I contemplated my companions’ condition, a young man wearing a backpack sat down in front of me, placing his coffee and sandwich on the table.  He looked up at me uncomfortably and I saw his eyes dart around the room.  There was one other table free.  I could tell he was weighing it all up.  ‘Shall I sit down in front of this weird woman who is just looking around, or shall I join the other five single women?’  He decided to tough it out, and I decided not to make him feel conspicuous by looking elsewhere in the shop.

Jack the lad then entered.  Whilst he waited for his coffee he looked about and noticed I was facing in his direction.  He suddenly took his jacket off, puffed up his muscled chest, collected his coffee to go and swaggered out of the shop – most likely hoping, unlike the women, that I was watching, or at least, hoping somebody was.  I smiled to myself.  The man with the backpack still on his back for a quick get-away, noticed.  I decided to leave and release him from his anxiety.  What a strange spectacle I must have looked?  Just sitting, drinking my coffee.

As I took the last sip I noticed I had not let go of the cup handle the whole time.  Observation requires self-scrutiny.  Was it my comfort blanket?  No, it was however an indication, coupled with my return to calm, that the coffee break had done the trick – I had a grip.  I got a handle on it.  I left the shop.

Wishing you liberty … and coffee,

Carole 

Today I saw five grown men cry.  The first caught my elsewhere attention. The second made me stop what I was doing completely.  The third made me sit down and listen.  The fourth tugged at my heartstrings and by the time the fifth man cried, my eyes were full of my own tears.

You might think, given the work that I do, that I was in a group therapy session – or that I had made them cry – but no!  In actual fact, I had accidently caught a screening of ‘Undercover Boss’, a daytime programme in which a boss of a large company goes undercover to see what their employees are really up to.  What the particular boss I was watching had discovered, however, was that her previously anonymous, long-standing and long-suffering employees were ‘going above and beyond’ for her company on a regular basis. Some overcame constraints such as heat, time factors, no useful tools to do their jobs, etc – which many had dug into their own pockets to buy.   And admirably, others had overcome serious accidents and illnesses such as cancer, and carried on working regardless (not seen or looked at).

What provoked all the tears, however, was not the disclosure of the trials and difficulties the employees had endured, but the moment they were called up to head office to be told the truth about the undercover operation. In the meeting, all of the employees were given a bonus, but what really started the tears flowing (and in one man’s case, sobbing) was when they were told how much they were appreciated; how all their hard work had been noticed and recognised, and how much, on a personal level, they were truly valued. The disclosure ensured there was not a dry eye in the house – well not in mine anyway.

The programme was a reminder. Men and women are very different – as we are supposed to be.  It is in our opposite weaknesses in which we have an opportunity to support each other, and in our opposite strengths in which we have an opportunity to be an invincible team.  Women communicate largely by feelings and men communicate largely by action.  Both men and women cry in states of despair; when we cannot fathom a future beyond the difficulty we have encountered – and the way the male mind works ensures they often find envisioning beyond the moment more difficult.  In our society, that often seems to put men under enormous social expectation, it is easy to forget that men also secretly suffer often scary emotions and life experiences that can cause more than a wobble.  Many men don’t speak about their feelings at all, and yet, just behind the masculine image are the real little boys, who, just the same as the little girls, really want to be noticed, appreciated, welcomed and acknowledged. And that’s why grown men really cry … at the recognition that someone else truly sees and values them for who they are.

Regarde Vous
Carole Sawo

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