How Jerry Springer (kinda) Saved My Life
7 am, Monday morning, year 2000, Anglia Studios in Norwich. I breathe in the aroma of my life saving coffee. I’ve just driven from London on the crazy busy M11, and I’m sitting in the Producers meeting discussing the five shows we’ve got that week, one of which is my responsibility.
I FEEL like I’ve had no sleep (thanks insomnia).
I’m producing Trisha, a "Jerry Springer" type show where guests come on and broadcast their woes in front of millions in the name of entertainment.
The cognitive dissonance is jarring (and wasn’t helping my health and well-being). I wasn’t making a difference in the world.
I make sure that my guests see the counsellor after the show, so that they left the building in a better state than when they arrived. I smile now at my naivety, that one counselling session would make a difference, but my heart was in the right place.
I've spent a decade working my way up the ‘ladder of success’, from secretary at Channel 4, to TV Producer.
By then, I’d wanted to get out of tele for a few years, but I felt stuck. Whata else would I do? I’ve discovered that that ladder of success has been leaning against the wrong building (Dr Stephen Covey inspo).
Back to the meeting.
I’m EXHAUSTED.
I’ve been partying all weekend (in hindsight I see that it was my immature, unconscious way to release stress which built up during the week, and soothe my nervous system), and even though my life LOOKS like a dream come true - rocking around London in my Prada shoes, hanging out with celebrities, guest lists wherever I wanted, film premieres, amazing restaurants, the list goes on...
I had A LOT of fun.
Lots of travel.
But.
WHY was I working SO hard doing something I didn’t love anymore?
So, I'm in the meeting, and I take a big gulp of my coffee, and the words that change my life are uttered:
"The counseling budget has been cut."
I almost choke on my drink.
And without even thinking, I realise that I can no longer fool myself that I’m making any kind of a difference in the world.
Immediately, I hand in my notice.
No plan
No savings
Just a hopeful heart, and a dream.
Next Steps?
I envied alternative therapists.
Their ability to guide me into that magical state between wakefulness and sleep and I got so many insights in the ‘in between’ state.
Albert Einstein used to access that state to receive inspiration, answers and guidance on his ideas and creations.
These practitioners would magically heal the ailments I turned up with (only for me to ruin it almost immediately with my hard work, stress and partying).
I dreamt of having their amazing life, and being a full time professional healer, but I severely doubted myself.
I envied their life of freedom, fun and being the change you want to see in the world.
I’d already attended many Shiatsu taster courses, and as Shiatsu was my favourite therapy to receive AND I loved to treat people too, I embarked on a 3 year Shiatsu diploma training. I loved that it was backed by reams of empirical evidence (which soothed my left, logical brain) and that by holding a pressure point, or a stretch, my clients are able to sleep at night (sometimes immediately). Women who had chronic illness, aches and sciatica, found immediate relief just by holding a point on the thumb.
It felt miraculous.
I was still quite cynical then and wary of anything ‘woo woo’, so it was the perfect introduction into the healing arts.
Soon I felt like I was making a difference in the world!
My dream come true.
I qualified in Shiatsu, and soon embarked on a Shamanic Healing course (which I thought was super ‘woo woo’ back then. At first I had no intention of sharing it with my clients, but as I did more and more case studies, I was blown away by the results. It turned out that lots of my clients had been persecuted for being witches, which was why they had found it difficult to put themselves out in the world. With this realisation, healing, and a changed story, their businesses flourished.
I’ve recently qualified with a distinction in a Somatic Therapy/Coaching Diploma.
I also became qualified in:
Hawaiian Shamanism
Reiki
Indian Head Massage
Many coaching modalities, including the standard left brain models, and deeper work with the intuition, right brain, and creating, as well as The MAP Method (for people with severe PTSD), Superconscious work, Family Systems and more.
I had a couple of years working part time with the NHS (UK’s National Health System), as well as a stint working on a voluntary basis with clients with substance misuse issues.
After healing my insomnia, I attracted clients who were suffering from the side effects of poor sleep. I began to specialise in this area and I was mentioned in The Daily Mail (UK) in an article on insomnia.
As I worked on myself, and let go of negative beliefs, learned about business, and followed my heart, I created successful practices in The Life Centre in Notting Hill, Muswell Hill, and a dream come true practice in London's prestigious Harley Street.
I joined the award winning London Speakers Association, and became President, a role which I held for two years.
To date, I have created four summits, interviewing the leading lights in the world of neuroscience, spirituality and personal development (Dr. Joe Vitale, Dr. Lynne McTaggart, Robert Fritz, Serge Kahili King and more).
I launched Soul Discovery Coaching, which became Soul Discovery Academy, the umbrella for all my offerings and created the "Create A Life You Adore" Podcast.
Hawaii, Heaven on Earth & Ho'oponopono
For so long, Hawaii was on my vision board, I'd immersed myself in many books on Hawaiian shamanism, and from afar, I fell in love with the islands, still thinking it was a dream too big.
However, like most dreams, when they DO manifest, they are MUCH better than the imagination.
Knowing my time living in London was coming to an end as I had changed so much during my Shamanic trainings, falling more in love with nature, I lived in Dorset by the sea for some time. However, I soon followed my vision and intuition (which had become a big part of my life after a wonderful training), I left London, following my heart to Hawaii.
I’d wanted to study with a Hawaiian Shaman (Serge Kahili King) for years, and I did many trainings with him and other Shamans.
I connected deeply with Hawaiian culture, and inspired by the Shamanic courses, I began to connect, and communicate with Goddess Pele, who lives in the volcano on the Big Island. I also swam with the dolphins daily, and learned to free dive, soon beginning to communicate with the dolphins.
Their messages were consistent, we are here to:
Connect
Love unconditionally
Have fun, and play
I lived in Hawaii on and off for a couple of years.
Then, the apparent ‘end of time as we know it approached - was my heart really calling me to go live in Central America for the famous 21/12/2012?
While in Hawaii, I met one of my teachers who specialised in intuition and creating (William Whitecloud). Having studied his work for quite some time, I assisted their transition from Australia to the US. However, I soon discovered that LA just wasn’t my place, as well as wanting to find ‘my’ thing to teach… I knew there was much more, I just wasn't sure what it was.
So, my intuition guided me to Guatemala and Lake Atitlan where I met Keith - ‘The Chocolate Shaman’.
I discovered that cacao is a powerful, sacred medicine, used hundreds of years ago by the Mayans and Aztecs for ceremonial and spiritual purposes. I worked with Keith for some time, and I began to add cacao, and ceremonies to my repertoire. I’d known for some time that I’m an HSP (highly sensitive person), and I discovered that I'm also an empath (feeling EVERYTHING, and often sponging up other people’s negative emotions).
After Guatemala and another visit to Hawaii, introducing my friends and clients to cacao, I continued on my magical mystery tour sourcing great choccy and meeting tribes - one in Costa Rica who still used cacao as the ancients did.
Over the years I’ve lived and studied with shamans in many countries including India, Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada, US, UK and Ireland.
But I felt like I was still searching.
I often had terrible anxiety.
Meltdowns
Feelings of overwhelm
Insomnia returned
I became overweight
And sometimes I’d wake up with feelings of grief, shame, heartbreak.
Even though I’d created SO many dreams, house by the sea, dream coem true dog, writing my book, it seemed like I wasn’t able to sustain the dreams or success, and I noticed this in many people who were touting coaching or healing modalities.
Even though my health had greatly improved after leaving TV, as I approached menopause, old ailments began to reappear… allergies, insomnia, nightmares, bruxism, weight, relationship dramas and I began to isolate (with ice cream and a glass of vino or two).
I had read that all empaths have unconscious trauma - surely I’ve dealt with my core wound which I thought was my dad dying when I was 6 years old?
Embarrassingly (in hindsight), I put the insomnia down to the fact that I’m a driven entrepreneur - and surely getting up at 3, 4 & 5 am was normal!?!?!?
In divine time, when I was strong enough, another huge layer of the onion became clear to be transmuted.
My body had been alerting me for quite some time that something wasn’t right. In fact, every time I ‘tried’ to tell my story (this) - I got ill, and my external reality wobbled.. There was still something inside that needed to be brought to my attention.
It all started to make sense.
Gifts Of Trauma
Like a true alchemist, rather than going back down the path of therapy, I was guided to CREATE instead.
A dream guided me to study Ecstatic Dance DJing. I’ve loved ED since discovering it at its birthplace in Kalani, Hawaii in 2011 and I’ve wanted to try DJing since my rave days in the 90s.
I’ve never been a ‘bucket list’ kinda gal, but I’ve always had a fantasy of doing the ‘van thing’. Sure enough, shortly after my mum’s death, she (thankfully) appeared to me in dreams - she was showing me around her new campervan, marvelling at the shag pile carpet. That was SO not like my mum when she was alive, but she looked happier than ever! I sat with the dream for a couple of years, and finally plucked up the courage to purchase a little combo van. I knew that if I didn't do it then, I’d regret it. So I embarked on an(other) adventure (with DJ equipment and soundsystem) and that adventure continues, sprinkled in with hotels, Airbnbs and other magic.
I’ve never lived so close to nature, and it is true BLISS. I’d always strived for ‘happiness’, and now I see the magic in contentment, surrendering to it, and interestingly enough, that opens the doors to a beautiful energy (even happiness).
One of my favorite quotations is:
“Until you make the unconscious conscious,
It will rule your life and you’ll call it fate."
Carl Jung
This is the magic of being a HSP, or empath; once we become aware that we might have a dysregulated nervous system, take steps to move into harmony (which I guide people through in my 5 Step MM Method), we evolve.
We navigate our sensitivities with gentleness, grace and wisdom. Then the anxiety, overwhelm, or other side effects heal. Our belief and confidence in ourselves increase, and what might have caused us turmoil in the past is simply a step on the path!
With so much empathy and our sensitive nature, we get more appreciation out of things like music, coffee, a sunrise, sunset while having a heightened resilience to challenges.
For me, this is the true gold, and the treasure.
‘Above all else,
Know Thyself’
I love guiding my clients to deep sleep, sweet dreams, and creating THEIR version of ‘heaven on earth’.
Helping my clients move past blocks and beliefs, gaining clarity on what they would TRULY love to create, and then observing them manifest what they love, makes my heart sing.
When we focus on what they want to bring into being, rather than our problems, the problems slip away. And dreams come into focus, and manifest. Focus creates reality.
This is what a few of my clients say:
"I have worked with Geraldine a couple of times when I felt that I needed a significant boost to get me to a new level of success and happiness in my life.
Having made many efforts on my own and with coaches, I felt that I needed the assistance of someone who could remove deep blocks to my progress.
Geraldine is someone I trust totally to work at the most influential levels of my personality.
She facilitates the removal of negative conditioning, old energy from past relationships and the strengthening of belief systems that lead to increased health and prosperity.
The results have been remarkable.
In the first few months after meeting Geraldine my earnings tripled and my energy levels became higher than at any time in the last 15 years.
Also there was a huge improvement in the harmony between me and everyone else in my life, colleagues, family and friends.
I am already experiencing similar benefits in the brief period since we last met.
I know that Geraldine has trained hard to reach this point but she must surely be remarkably gifted to have this effect."
P Fahy, Headhunter, London
“I have had insomnia since I was 12.
For decades I would be up most nights. I was in utter turmoil.
I was prescribed antidepressants, then temazepam.
After ten years I saw Geraldine, I was soon calmer and happier. I started to go to sleep at 11pm and wouldn’t wake until 7am.
I still enjoy sleeping normally."
Natalie, West London - from an article on Insomnia in The UK’s Daily Mail.
And Stephen Russell - The Barefoot Doctor, author and self-development guru. Stephen wrote a weekly piece in The Sunday Observer and was a hero of mine, who later became a client.
"The people that go to make up any profession, including and perhaps especially the self-development profession, roughly fall into three categories: not so good, average and a tiny minority, who are truly excellent and exceptional. Geraldine is one of these.
On a base of natural aptitude, she has dedicatedly built a solid foundation and immeasurable skill through intensive training and clinical practice over many years and is, in my humble opinion, world-class.
Simply being in her presence, you all at once feel at one with the depths of your soul, whence springs the empowerment we all desire.
I can’t recommend her highly enough."
And now?
Soooo content in the moment.
Doing what I love - whether it’s retreats, one to one sessions, or Ecstatic Dances, it’s all about discovering what our soul loves, and bringing our ‘human’, into alignment with that. Fun and play is a key healing step in balancing our nervous system.
.
I don’t want others to experience the pain that I had for so long.
I created The MM Method which combines decades of training, and clinical practice, and ensures that your journey of transformation is fun, effective and effortless.
You are not broken
You don’t need fixing
If you are curious about how I might be able to help you, pop your name and email address in the box below and you’ll get a meditation, tip sheet, and instructions on how to book a call if you like.