Pausing on a magnificent snapshot from my trip to Hawaii, I recall the warm breeze that greeted me each morning as I walked the shoreline of Wailea, Maui to the Jogg'n Java. A hip little coffee shack right on the beach, where fresh ground coffee aroused my senses as we approached and leaping dolphins, smiling faces, beautiful birds and bobbing sea turtles kept our attention upon arrival. Parker, my son, sang in his stroller and I remember deliberately breathing deeply wanting to savor every second of Paradise. That week in Hawaii did more than introduce me to a magical New World - on this Planet, but a remarkable renewed vision of self-care and self-knowledge. I take a deep breath now and relive a life-changing vacation and week of awakening.

I should back up a bit to explain Montessori introduced Parker, an amazingly intelligent, beautiful child, (proud mom typing) - to his first ill health at about 19 months. Outside of a week's recovery from his cleft-lip surgery at 3 months, Parker has always been on the go. Others say, "boy, he's active" or "he's going to be a handful" but I gratefully say, he's just like his mama and has to keep himself intellectually and physically challenged and entertained. So when he stopped sneaking into my make-up drawer, or wanting to "get it" with dad's hammer and didn't want to go "ow-side" and hug the tree - I knew he wasn't feeling well. We progressed from runny nose and hacking cough to late night vomiting and diarrhea to 104.5-degree temperature, lethargy and midnight emergency room camp-outs. From early October into December, we had little relief let alone regular sleep. Parker's pediatrician, nice and knowledgeable at our "well baby" visits could not provide me with anything more than a prescription for antibiotics and helpful hints for treating diaper rash and preventing dehydration. Pragmatically good advice but no relief!

Desperate for some relief, I decided it was time to turn to my original faith and ask for help! "God, please guide me to assist Parker in knowing how to heal his body and be the perfectly whole and healthy being he was born to be." The answers were already within and before me. We just had to open our eyes and see them. I know the Truth is "what we can conceive and believe we can achieve" and I know we have the power within us to always maintain health and when necessary retrieve health.

I come to a snapshot of the most vitalizing sunset I have ever seen and am reminded of my prayer and how it was answered in Hawaii. Of course, it was a business trip and I wasn't about to go to Paradise without my boy. Little did I know Parker wasn't in Hawaii because of me but because HE wanted to be there and I was not learning and attending The 12 Stages seminar just for me but for my son too.

When I was first introduced to The 12 Stages of Healing by Dr. Donald Epstein, I thought, "hmmm, that's neat but I already know how to breathe." Whenever anyone has ever tried to tell me how awesome this breathing class or program was, I'd back up politely and say, "I'm glad it's working for you, but it's not for me." Then I'd wonder -- what's the big deal? - It's just breathing which I can honestly proclaim "I'm pretty good at it." However, this time was different - my friend insisted I at least check it out and using one my own lines of persuasion (from Vernon Howard) she said, "Anisa, Dare to Have No Opinions!" She got me and I went to Yellow Brick Road's SRI class taught by a truly gifted healer and teacher, Dorothea Cangelosi.

It only took 2 classes before I realized I was being introduced to something beyond any explanation, experience or rational reasoning. I began to gain a better understanding into my own work as a coach, into my life and wellness and into my adeptness at sharing my message with my family, friends and clients. I realized that the 12 stages corresponded to an innate idea that I've had for years about our levels of consciousness and yet had never before found anything that validated or even resembled my knowing. 

I was hooked! Then as the Law of Attraction would have it, another friend offered, "Hey, you want to go to The 12 Stages of Healing in Paradise seminar - being facilitated by Dr. Epstein, himself?" I jumped at the chance - "Absolutely!" So we made our creative collages and affirmations and amazingly manifested a trip to Hawaii.

 Four days into Maui and the seminar and Parker's fever returned. My immediate reaction was, "Oh God, not again." At 104.5-degrees, I knew I had to stay on top of his temperature and be clear about when to call for human help or reach for the Tylenol. However, I decided to practice what I preach and to do The 12 Stages exercises with him. Maintaining singular faith and focus, I laid Parker on my chest and began the breath, touch and movement exercises. Firmly grounded but somewhat exhausted after one round, I turned to my friend, Dr. Jackie St.Cyr, and without words said, "you want to help?" Being a Network Chiropractor, she then adjusted his spine and laid him on her chest and also did the exercises. Then when I started again, I made it to Stage 5 when Parker raised his head - no fever present and said, "I wan' strollyer." - interpreted "I want to ride in the stroller and go outside and play, mama."

Ecstatic and in tears I said, "OK, Parker, let's go play!" Strapped in the stroller and ready to fly, I was taken aback as Parker started doing the breath and exercise for Stage 5 all by himself. It was as if he knew intuitively how to do it and how to heal himself. That was it, he has not been sick since. In the past, I only thought I knew - "nothing outside of ourselves can heal our lives" but being able to live it in this experience reinforced my belief and faith in our innate intelligence and now, I really know it!

Not only am I ecstatic about discovering a way to help Parker know his own power but I am also excited because I have been asking the Universe for a way to physically and/or mentally facilitate a level of awareness/consciousness where my clients would automatically be in harmony with their desires.  I had experienced fleeting moments with clients where we both knew that what they were intending to attract was absolutely coming into their life - and poof, in a momentary flash after the session -something magical would happen and we were right - a manifestation occurred. I've now discovered that deliberate, intentional, value-driven manifesting ONLY happens from a Stage 9 or above - a consciousness of gratitude, which also happens to be a powerful attraction agent. Therefore, being able to physically facilitate a level of connection to Source that invites deliberate creation is an exciting tool for any practitioner or teacher of deliberate manifestation.

Now - if you ask Donny, he'll say, "Please don't call this breath-work." And I agree, it is so much more. I won't claim that this way is the only way or even the right way for all persons - as I know there are many paths for many diverse persons. I'm thankful for an unlimited Universe! I'm thankful for my prayers being answered, for my son's health and for a clear pathway to follow in order to take full responsibility for my life and never feel powerless over our health or fate, again.

Taping my snapshot to my monitor, I remember thinking "I don't want to leave. Can't I just move my family here - to paradise?" Laughing and taking full responsibility for my wellness, my love, my life, my prosperity and my joy - I know I can absolutely choose Hawaii when I desire it. Additionally, it feels great to know that we are Divine beings - meant to be perfectly whole, perfect, healthy and complete and may choose it at any time!

Anisa Aven is a member of the International Coach Federation, a business consultant and Creative Life Coach.  She leads workshops Nationally on 17 Seconds to a Celebrated Life, Navigate Your Fate, Create a Mate, Deliberate Success for Professionals and on The Secrets to Manifesting Your Dreams. Anisa is President of CreataVision Enterprises and coaches clients on the art of intentional manifesting.   Anisa has co-facilitated the Manifest Your Dreams workshop with Dr. Jackie St.Cyr at the INNATE CHIROPRACTIC Healing Arts Center

You can contact Anisa Aven through her website www.creatavision.com or e-mail Anisa at anisa@flash.net.

Back to articles page