Colours of life

Anne Cook, holistic health specialist, owner of The Healing Zone, Umm Suqueim, Dubai

The greatest discovery is that one can alter one's life by altering the attitudes of the mind. One who has healed is a whole person and recognises the interconnectedness of life.

When I was at high school (Tesford College in Leicester, UK), I was a quiet kid. Teachers always complained that I rarely participated in class.

What they didn't realise was that I missed nothing. I was like a sponge: wanting to learn not only what was being taught, but also about people. Most children react so differently to life and what (it) throws at them.

As a child I kept everything to myself, didn't share much with anyone, least of all my friends and parents (John and Margaret). This led to my illness (multiple sclerosis) being so difficult for me when it surfaced.

I first got married at 21 and was a widow at 23! (Cook later married Saif Sultan Al Shamsi and has two sons.) During those two years, I learnt that everything is not what it seems. I almost turned grey from the stress and grief of being a battered wife and the miscarriages I had.

This traumatic phase in my life has given me great insight into grief, sadness and despair, which has helped me in many ways with my clients.

As I look back on life, I can see exactly why certain events took place. These ... onslaughts in my life empowered me with skills (to deal with) everything happening in my life now.

Modern medicine only looks at the symptoms of the disease ...
... In the early 1990s, I (suffered from) multiple sclerosis; I was losing sensation in parts of my body. Shockingly, noted neurologists could not diagnose my ailment.

I was given painful electric shock treatment along my arms to test my reflexes, not to mention ... medication which had burning side effects. I lost all hope of being cured.

In 1992, (my twin boys Omar and Abdullah, then 2, and I) temporarily moved to Lincolnshire. (Here my condition worsened. One day) I was lying on the hospital bed reading a magazine when a story on Aura-Soma caught my fancy. Seeing my interest in the subject, my dad fixed a consultation with the therapist.

I didn't realise until later (when I had become trained in Aura-Soma therapy) that the yellow and violet coloured 'challenge' bottle which I chose (then opened and sniffed, as part of the Aura-Soma session) was specifically a cure for my ailment.

The holistic therapy worked wonders where (conventional) medicine had failed.

On the fifth day (of Aura-Soma treatment) I stopped taking the injections. Feeling (came) back to my body ... Aura-Soma balanced my body. I could see and feel immediate results, whereas the (conventional) medical profession had tortured me for years.

Life presents us with many challenges, some of them change your life path.

(At times), life's challenges may appear too difficult. Yet with a positive hindsight, they are usually great learning experiences that help us cope with future events.

I decided that if I could be cured (using) holistic principles, I wanted others to benefit from my experience.

I decided to (attend) a workshop for seven days in Dev Aura (a village in Lincolnshire) and learn Aura-Soma.

While on the course, I learnt a lot about colour, emotions and the physical effects that colour and herbs have on the body.

This kick-started my new career (although I had a degree in business administration from Leicester University) and different opportunities presented themselves to me.

I then mastered other holistic therapies, which I now practise at the Healing Zone.

The art of healing comes from nature and not from the physician

Healing is basically about a harmonious and wholesome start to returning (a person's) physical, mental and emotional ... aspects back into balance.

As a healing therapist, I make use of nature. Our bodies have the abilityto heal themselves, given the right environment and conditions of balance and harmony. In order to balance your mind and body ... you need to work on your health.

Holistic principles help internalise and mentally balance stress levels and emotions. (We) can attain this tranquility by ... being still and listening to our bodies and minds and 'seeing' life's answers around us.

To overcome anger (one must) ...
... harbour feelings of goodwill. The (mainstream) medical profession angers me for being unable to tell me what was wrong with me and putting me through numerous harrowing tests.

Plunging into the holistic arena, peace of mind is now something I (achieve) without even consciously thinking about it. I have learnt to say no and stand up for what I believe is right for me and to state it calmly and firmly.

Energy healing treatments (are some of the most important elements) in my daily life. I have not been to a doctor for 11 years. Painkillers have been thrown out of the window.

Today, I (practise) homeopathy, reiki and Aura-Soma on myself on a daily basis.

Put bright colours in your surroundings ...
... And you will bring more brightness and colour to your life. Colour influences all aspects of you and your life. Today I chose a red jumper to wear ... I instinctively reached for it. I need the energy of red today, I told myself. Colour influences everyone, whether they know it or not.