Holistic Feathers

When Vrinda Pendred (nee Barker) was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at age 7, the doctor failed to notice she had Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) as well, despite OCD symptoms being a huge part of why her parents had brought her to the doctor in the first place. Even when she was finally diagnosed with OCD at almost 14, Vrinda had no comprehension of how complex and wide-ranging the disorder was, even within herself. Only as an adult did she finally start to understand just how deeply OCD affected her life, mentally, physically, emotionally and socially.

Vrinda’s story is not at all unique. In fact, if there is anything rare about it, it’s that she was diagnosed as young as age 13. Some people don’t discover there’s a name for their intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviour until mid-life. Others are never diagnosed throughout their entire lives, their ‘quirkiness’ remaining a mystery both to themselves and to the people in their lives. We can only imagine the suffering they’ve experienced, struggling through homelife, school and work, feeling misunderstood by teachers, parents, friends and colleagues.

And it’s not just the people who have OCD who are suffering. Think of the frustration and heartache felt by millions of teachers and parents around the world, who watch their students or children struggling with OCD (often undiagnosed), but cannot understand what is happening because these children are too young to express what is going on inside their heads. The sense of helplessness, and even guilt, can be enormous, as they simply do not know what to do to help an OCD child, and are at a total loss as to how to manage or respond to the unusual behaviour and destructive anxieties.

And what is most poignant is the thought that all of this could be avoided – and even treated – if there were more education about the many facets that make up OCD.

And that is what Vrinda Pendred has set out to do. Now 27 years old, and a mother herself, she has merged her two most passionate callings in life: 1) writing and 2) educating the world about neurological conditions, such as OCD. Vrinda has created a unique publishing company called Conditional Publications, whose primary aim is to help push forward this education, by devoting its catalogue to publishing the works of writers with neurological conditions, thus giving a voice to the real experts on these mysterious disorders.

Their first book, Check Mates: A Collection of Fiction, Poetry and Artwork about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, by People with OCD, is coming to Amazon TODAY, Tuesday, May 11^th

Put together by 20 writers and artists from around the world, all who have OCD, Check Mates showcases a range of emotions, from love to hate, joy to rage, fear and sorrow to hope and optimism. There’s even a little bit of humour. What it doesn’t do is shy away from the truth. Every angle is covered, no matter how painful, which makes for a startling and moving read.

Whether you’re a parent or teacher of a child dealing with OCD, a therapist or coach of OCD clients, or you have OCD yourself, everyone will find something in this book that speaks to them.

And if you don’t think you know anyone with OCD, have a look around. I think you’ll be surprised (if not shocked) at how many people have it, but are hiding in silence and isolation. This book will open up your eyes, your mind and your heart, and will bring a long overdue healing for many.

And, true to her principles, Vrinda will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of every copy of Check Mates to OCD charities, to encourage research and treatment for the condition.

Check Mates: A Collection of Fiction, Poetry and Artwork about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, by People with OCD is coming to Amazon TODAY, Tuesday May 11^th.

There are over 30 other wonderful gifts being offered by mind-body-spirit teachers, authors, coaches and healers from around the planet when you purchase the book on May 11^th.

To find out how you can buy this book on May 11^th
and receive over 30 other gifts, just click HERE

Or copy and paste this link in your browser: http://conditionalpublications.com/pages/check-mates-launch.html

I hope you will join me in celebrating the launch of this unique book, Check Mates, the first ever collection of fiction, poetry and artwork about OCD.

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Blast Off!
The Surefire Success Plan to Launch Your Dreams into Reality
by Allison Maslan

Launch date: TODAY – 19th January 2009

Today is the BIG day … Blast Off! has launched!

Blast Off! is a truly powerful book that will really inspire you to grab your dreams and make them a reality. I am really excited to have been gifted the opportunity to review this book for Allison and will be sharing my thoughts with you later in the week …

As Allison Maslan says on her Blast Off! website:
“Blast Off! provides the guidance and structure you need to stay on course and rapidly reach your intermediate goals. Blast Off! will give you the encouragement and skills necessary to assist you in designing the necessary changes while eliminating any roadblocks or obstructions. Finally, Blast Off! will share step-by-step strategies to achieve your ultimate life visions.

Blast Off! is a proven personal and professional life changing system invented by life and career coach, Allison Maslan. Allison has been the catalyst to help thousands of individuals reach their potential and attain a fulfilling personal and love life, inspiring career and healthy way of living that they never thought possible.

A successful serial entrepreneur for the past 25 years, Allison reveals her failures, successes, and the obstacles she overcame throughout her life with determination, passion, and purpose, and how she became the “supersonic” woman she is today. Allison has done—and continues to do—everything she advocates in this book.

Allison has been committed to supporting her clients’ dreams and helping them realize personal and financial goals, and also cultivate their human spirit and inner peace for their most abundant and prosperous life.

She shares the secrets that brought her and her client’s success in every aspect of life, and then outlines a clear-cut guide to infuse this prosperity in your own career or business, finances, relationships, health, personal fulfillment and spiritual life.”

Blast Off! by Allison Maslan

Blast Off! workbook by Allison Maslan

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I am just so excited by this … if you are tired of trying to move your life forward or end up hating yourself by 11th January as you’ve tripped up on every single resolution made on New Years Eve, then do yourself a huge favour and sign up for a 1-month trial for this amazing programme.

I am also part way through reading Allison’s companionm book, due to launch mid-January 2010 – I am finding it highly effective, so if you have always wondered what it is like to work with a life coach but something has held you back, then why not try this option?

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How is Your Relationship with Money?

Written By: Melanie Yost, LCSW – Business Mindset Coach

(I just had to share this with readers of my blog – I love Melanie’s monthly newsletters, she always offers such heartfelt encouragement and advice for those working within the complementary health and healing field.  This article addresses an issue which ALWAYS presents itself!  Enjoy – Callie)

In my 20 years within the healing world, I have watched many healers and heart-centered entrepreneurs struggle to earn a living because they regularly reduce their fees and give their services away. It is challenging to build a profitable business if you are not receiving adequate compensation for your time, knowledge and gifts. It becomes a trap that many service-oriented business owners have a difficult time getting out of. It’s a trap that ends up draining their resources and creating a lot of frustration and resentment.

There are 2 main reasons that heart-centered entrepreneurs fall into this trap. First, healers often get tangled up in the various destructive mindsets about money. The most common one is worrying that others will be able to afford their services. They try to make their services “affordable” for everyone. In doing so, they are setting themselves up energetically for clients not “being able to” afford them. I put “being able to” in quotes because I have learned 2 important lessons about what people can and can not afford.

First, people afford what they want to afford. If it is important to them and they find value in it, they find a way to afford it. Think of something you really wanted. You wanted it so bad that you were able to think outside of the box, get creative and figure out how to afford it. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard people complain about my fees for service in one breath and in the next breath talk about the new luxury car they just bought or the $500 they just spent on a new wardrobe. On the other hand, I have had people tell me they can’t believe how reasonable my fees are and that they would have paid three times what I charge for the benefit they have received. My service is the same. The only difference is the importance and the value the person places on the service.

Second, people value what they pay for. I noticed this early on in my therapy practice when I would work with clients who paid little to nothing for therapy. They didn’t value our time together they way my clients who were paying full fee for an hour of my time and knowledge did. Now that I am coaching and my coaching fees are far higher than my therapy fees, I am only attracting clients who value what I have to offer and are ready and willing to work to accomplish goals.

The second reason that service-oriented business owners fall into this trap is that we want to help as many people as possible. The truth is that when we barter, reduce our fees or give our services away, we are actually hurting our clients, not helping them. Clients are investing in themselves, not you, when they choose to purchase your services. If you believe in your services and products and you know that it will change someone’s life if they fully take advantage of what you offer, then you are giving them the opportunity to invest in themselves, their business, their dreams, their health and well-being. How much is your client worth? Cutting the price so they can afford it disrespects and devalues them and robs them of an opportunity to be creative and find a way to make the commitment to themselves and invest in their dreams and goals.

Helping others move to a better place is what we as helping professionals and heart-centered entrepreneurs are all about. I’m not saying you should never reduce your fee or provide services pro bono. I’m asking you to be conscious about your choices in how you decide to do it. In my business I have policies for how I handle special financial arrangements.

I only make special financial arrangements with a client I already have a relationship with. If we have been working together and the person is diligently working, making progress toward their goals, and they run into financial difficulties then I will discuss the possibility of special financial arrangements with them.

I ask them to set the price the think they can pay. I find that they usually pick a higher rate than I would have picked.

I make the agreement to see them at that rate for a specified time period (1 month, 3 months, 8 sessions) and then agree to revisit what they will pay at the end of the time period.

I limit the number of special financial arrangements available. I see only 1 pro bono client and 2 reduced fee clients at a time. When the slots are full, they are full.

Make a commitment to yourself and your clients that you will take an honest look at the special financial arrangements you are making with people and begin working toward setting policies that support your financial health and reflect your clients’ value.

Homework

Look at your business and see how many clients you are bartering with, working with at a reduced rate and servicing pro-bono. Be honest. What percentage of your work is being offered at less than your regular fees?

Put a check mark next to the clients who are working hard and are really invested in improving their circumstances.

Write down how much you would charge them if you were basing your fees on their worth.

Create policies around special financial arrangements that support your financial health and reflect your clients’ value.

(c) Melanie Yost

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An Important Note to Resellers
http://elementalreiki.com/resellers

(Shared with readers as requested by Stephanie of Elemental Reiki)

It has been the tradition in Reiki circles that when a Reiki attunement is given to a Reiki Master, it can be passed along to other Reiki attunements by the recipient.

The positive aspects of this include the ability to share energies to many different people across the globe. It also provides a method of income for many Reiki Masters.

Unfortunately, certain practices have crept into Reiki communities that have not only served to seriously depress the prices of Reiki attunements, but are putting the livelihoods of the most productive Reiki Masters in jeopardy.

There are, you see, Reiki Masters who primarily produce attunements and manuals, and then Reiki Masters who resell the attunements and manuals of others.

The producers are now having a hard time making a living due to the resellers.

The Problem

Reiki attunements used to be sold for $80-150. I remember looking for an attunement in Blue Star Celestial Energy. The standard price for an attunement to this system was $150!! Other systems might be $200 or more!

Now, people are reselling attunements for 99 cents on eBay, or selling them as a package with psychic readings.

The price of attunements has fallen dramatically from an average of $100 to an average of $10. Many people have gone and put up attunements for free on attunement exchanges without even bothering to ask the founders if this was OK with them.

There are apparently groups of attunement-seekers, who split the cost of buying the Reiki attunement from the founder, and then go off and resell the attunements to their customers for a steep discount. Note what this means: Resellers are not actually paying the full price from the founder! If 5 people chip in to buy a $20 attunement to resell, they are essentially paying the founder $4 per person, cheating the founder out of $16 x 5 = $80.

Do these people go back to the founder and give a tithe once they’ve earned money off the founder’s work? No.

Some of the resellers hover around the computer and order attunements the minute they are placed on the founders website. Then, having discounted the attunement, they quickly send an announcement out to their list and spread the attunement with the undercut price across the globe. The founder makes a one-time fee off the attunement while the reseller, who put no work into the attunement other than dropping the price drastically, makes more.

Is this true? Yes, it is true. I have experienced this myself and know other Reiki Masters this happens to on a regular basis. We create the attunement, spend hours and hours, if not days, writing a manual, place it up online…and…it sells ONCE. Just once. And then the buyer goes and resells it at a ridiculously cheap price, and the next thing you know, Reiki Masters in Afghanistan are reselling it. Meanwhile, the founder made maybe $20, if they were lucky.

No-one can afford to write something for days on end and only make $20! It’s not sustainable!

Cheap and Free Attunements

This is not to say that cheap attunements are bad, or free attunements should not be available.

On the one hand, if people are actually buying attunements for the purposes of spiritual growth and healing others, having affordable attunements can be a blessing.

On the other, if the only market for attunements is a dog-eat-dog resale market, where others are reselling other’s work at third world prices, this does not honor the energy. It is also taking advantage of the good will of the founders, who through their generosity allow people to resell their attunements without asking for any sort of payback or percentage.

There’s also the question of how good can an attunement be if it is being sold for so cheap that the seller can’t possibly have the time to do a personal attunement.

The Pain of the Producers

I have spoken to many Reiki Masters who produce attunements who are feeling especially crunched in this economic environment. Reiki Masters who are trying to make the world a better place are having a hard time paying for their basic essentials due to not being able to receive enough value from the systems they create.

I am not the only one who has found that the energy I put into writing my manuals is not returned to me financially. It is a problem not just for American Reiki Masters but for those abroad as well.

What makes me angry about this whole situation is that I personally have not gotten any sort of thank you, tithe or donation from many of the people who resell my attunements. There have been a notable few who have helped me out. There is one person who regularly donates to me $10 here and there. I don’t know if she is a reseller or a person who simply got some value out of my work. (WHATEVER THE REASON, THANK YOU!)

But considering that I get emails from people all over the globe about how my energies have CHANGED THEIR LIVES, you’d think that I’d have more than just ONE person giving me tithes on a regular basis.

In hosting my holiday fundraiser, for example, in the course of a month I received less than $75, and some of those donations were from my personal friends, some of whom don’t even know what Reiki is.

I have to say I am absolutely stunned that some people who have apparently resold my attunements time and again can’t come by and even plug in a measly $1 into PayPal. People tell me my energy has changed their life and I can’t even get a small donation for a holiday fundraiser to support free attunements that I give as part of my tithe to you? Unbelievable.

Don’t Kill the Golden Goose

Some of you out there making money of the output of others might be doing more to not kill the goose who gives you the golden eggs.

What is happening is that the more you take advantage of the Reiki Masters who produce, the less they are going to be able to produce. You are killing off your source of income.

I am personally moving away from Reiki attunements into other areas where my work can’t be resold a hundred times over and I make nothing from it. It’s not that I begrudge that the energy has been shared. However, I will say quite frankly that I am angry that more people have not come back to help me out or provide a donation when one is asked. (Especially when there are bonus thank-yous such as a Reiki healing offered as a thank you for the donation!)

If you think this is a massive guilt-trip, it is. This whole system sucks. It sucks for me and it sucks for many other Reiki Masters I’ve spoken with, some who have told me they couldn’t even afford the fees to pay for their eBay store…because other people were grabbing their attunements and selling them on pennies for the dollar before the founder even had a chance to make more than $20 off of them.

What kind of healing community is this when Reiki Masters are disrespected in such a way?

Meanwhile, I constantly get emails from people demanding free support and answers, people who bought my attunements from others, who see my donation button and ignore it.

I can only tell you personally that I simply cannot afford to put as much energy into giving away the free attunements and personal support I do give, if this sort of behavior continues. I am overwhelmed with emails that I have to go through…people asking me if they can translate a manual they didn’t even buy from me, for example.

If this continues, I won’t have the time to write up the manuals for any new energies I get, because I have to do other things to earn a living.

TITHING IS THE SOLUTION

To make a long story short, I believe the solution to this is to create a culture of tithing.

This is very simple. You’ve heard it before. DONATE MONEY TO THOSE WHO HAVE UPLIFTED YOU IN SOME WAY.

More importantly: IF YOU ARE REGULARLY MAKING MONEY OFF THE ATTUNEMENTS OF OTHERS, THEN DONATE A PERCENTAGE TO THEM.

It could be 1%, it could be 10%. If you really can’t afford to donate, then find a way to give in some other manner:

1. Promote the founder’s website on your website.
2. Give the founder a free energy healing.
3. Refer clients who are not appropriate to you to the founder.
4. In the least, send the founder a sincere thank you.

Bottom line, if you resellers don’t start doing this, more and more producers are going to set up stricter rules for resale. At best.

I already limit the amount at which my systems can be discounted. I also give a cooling off period before they can be resold. Furthermore, I have set up a rule whereby my attunement packages can’t be bought by a group for the purposes of reselling.

Some other Reiki Masters have gone even further and have decided to not allow their systems to be resold at all.

So if you want to continue to have new, fresh energies to resell, you need to stop biting the hand that feeds you. DON’T TAKE ADVANTAGE. You are going to push people out of business and then you won’t have anything to resell except old material.

Tithe, tithe generously, and maybe we can all prosper.

Otherwise, the inevitable karma awaits.

Sorry for the lecture but this had to be put out there.

Namaste,
Stephanie
(c) Stephanie – Elemental Reiki

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