'do not go where the path may lead. go instead where there is no path and leave a trail'

Ralph Waldo Emerson, transcendental philosopher and observer of humankind was  asked to sum up his work, and said his central doctrine was "the infinitude of the private man."
In my work as psychotherapist and life coach, concepts and insights are conveyed through metaphor. Today's story is called 'the path' and connects with the neuroplastic nature of the human brain...more of that later.

As Judy looked across the field, she could see the daffodils quite clearly on the brow of the hill.

Like a golden sea, they moved and swayed, wave upon wave of yellow flowers.

‘I would love to be there’ thought Judy

‘What a wonderful place to sit and relax for a while, up on the hill, breathing in the cool fresh air.

She opened the gate to the field and started to follow the path, hoping it would lead her to the daffodils.

But after a while, she realised the path was taking her into some woods. Still she followed the path hoping it would branch off at some point.

Further and further into the woods she went as it grew darker and darker around her. The undergrowth was quite dense here and the thorns threatened to tear her clothing.

The leaves formed a heavy canopy over her head so the no sunlight permeated the trees and Judy began to feel quite cold.

After a while, Judy decided to turn around and find her way back to the gate where she looked across at the shimmering hill in the distance.

It became clear to Judy that she could not get to the flowers through the wood and so she set off, straight across the field, her feet treading down the grass beneath her, walking in a straight line with the daffodils ahead of her, keeping them in her eye line, it was easy to see where she was going until, at last she came to them, breathing in the heady aroma of spring.

And from up there on the hill, amongst the golden daffodils, things looked different and, looking back, Judy could see the new path that she had made through the green grass.

see more on http://www.oldthatchcoaching.co.uk/

words that heal.....

As a psychotherapeutic coach, I am often amazed at the healing power of a well placed therapeutic story. Since ancient times, we have known that stories paint pictures in the mind.

We now know more about the workings of the silent right hemisphere, which has no language but see the world in shapes and concepts and images

This story was written for a vicar in crisis. Significant therapeutic concepts are in bold.

There is more on my website http://www.oldthatchcoaching.co.uk/

and more stories will follow....Enjoy!

The apple tree

In the garden of the cottage stood an apple tree.

Nobody knew how long it had been there but it was central to the garden. Every autumn after a bumper harvest of beautiful green apples, its leaves would wither and die and fall to the ground, as is the natural order of things.

But every spring, at the first glint of summer warmth, the tiny buds on its branches would erupt into new life, creating before long, bunches of fragrant blossom and a beautiful green canopy for the garden, where the family would come and shade themselves from the intensity of the full sun, and holding the promise of more delicious apples for the autumn.

Every year was the same. The apple tree was steady, reliable and constant, following the gentle rhythms of the seasons, beautiful in its simplicity.

And the apple tree felt good. It was wonderful to be so appreciated, so central to the garden and so loved by the family.

Yet, one day something terrible happened.

Builders, who had been working on the cottage thoughtlessly, cut through one of the apples tree’s largest roots sending shock waves through the tree to its very core.

At first the tree felt numb. Nothing like this had happened before and now the tree became angry, berating the builders for their foolishness.

And then it grew frightened, feeling unsteady in the wind now, unstable. Every time the wind would blow, the tree would hold itself very tight and shout ‘Leave me alone, I cannot withstand your force. Can you not see I have lost my strength? Would you have me fall down?’

But the wind continued to blow, as is the natural order of things.

A bird that lived in the tree had an idea. ‘Why do you not ask the King of the Trees for some help? He is old and wise and he will surely know what you should do at this uncertain time.’

‘Of course’ said the tree. ‘In my anger and fear, I could not think clearly, but now I can see that you are right. But how will I get a message to the King?

‘It is the natural order of things,’ said the bird ‘that I have the freedom of the skies and so I can take your message deep into the heart of the woods where the King resides.’

‘So be it’ said the tree.

And with a flap of his wings, the bird was gone, soaring high into the sky and disappearing somewhere among the drifting clouds.

The apple tree waited…….and waited. Several days passed by and the tree felt deserted, without support, creaking and groaning in the wind and fearing the weakness caused by the damaged root.

And the old apple tree grew sad and worried. Holding himself so tight against the strength of the wind was making him tired.

Early one morning, the bird returned.

‘The King of the Trees’ he began, in an important voice ‘Says, it is the natural order of things for the wind to blow and that you should not resist, but rather bend with it. Breathe the cool fresh air.  And as you bend, send down your remaining roots even further into the earth so that you will grow stronger and stronger and support you in your time of need.’

And that is exactly what happened. Every time the wind blew, instead of fighting and berating it for trying to cause it harm, the tree accepted it was the natural order and harnessed the power of the cool, fresh air to drive down roots so deep into the earth that it felt safe and secure and calm once more.

The apple tree is still there, bearing the scar of the damaged root, but stronger now in many ways.

And the tree is central to the garden, appreciated by the family, changing and evolving with the gentle rhythm of the passing seasons, growing older and wiser……… as is the natural order of things…..……

’Prayerise… Picturise …Actualise’ N V Peale