The Secrets of Spiritual Marketing
Lawrence Ellyard
O-Books
£9.99
www.o-books.net
ISBN 978-1-84694-224-2
This book has been brought in, unedited, from the US. It hand-holds the reader through the minutiae of marketing a spiritual health business, assuming that the reader is qualified and is ready to leap into the shark-pool that is self-employment.
The author is Founder and CEO of the International Institute for Complementary Therapists, with fifteen years of practitioner experience (and seven books) under his belt. He also has a background of advertising, graphic design and marketing and so when it comes to getting your business out there, he really knows his stuff.
The book is aimed mainly at those therapies requiring the use of a couch and a comfortable room, but a lot of what the Mr. Ellyard advises is perfectly appropriate for astrologers and such. Some of it is also patently obvious, too, like the need for a website, email address and a ‘phone…
Having said that, though, the author himself tells us that the book is designed to be either a ‘read-through’ or a ‘dip in’ so that those who already have some experience can skip the parts that they know about already.
There’s advice on making advertising stand out, targeting client groups, how to ‘sell yourself’ – that bit made me cringe – how to establish your website, organise business cards, and generally increase your profile. There are even handy-dandy blank spaces to write your own stuff (I resisted the urge).
It does have plenty of useful tips in it: for example giving three business cards to clients and asking them to pass a couple on to friends, using coupon lines in ad’s, sending fake cheques, ‘tryvertising’, and even getting into the record books are all ways of increasing business. Of course there are lots of other, more conventional, ways to boost sales and keep clientele – many of which I hadn’t even thought of - and these are set out in detail.
It’s a thoroughly thought-out book, and if you can ignore the slight American bias I would recommend it for new starters – and perhaps those who’s trade has gone somewhat stagnant. The price can be set against tax, I’m sure.
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Book Review - Life Without Panic Attacks
Author Nicola Quinn
DragonRising books, ISBN 978-1-873483-95-4
This paperback introduces a concept I’ve never heard of – EmoTrance, which sounds like something you’d come across in a dodgy night club – but more of that in a mo’. Anyone who has suffered this crippling condition will surely welcome advice – and even a cure – from someone who has been there, and got the t-shirt. However, I did spot some typo’s and grammar gaffs, and it comes across as quite American. The large print and shouty bits (cap’s) as well as a slippy cover don’t help, either, but that said, this energy therapy technique involved seems like it could well work. It looks similar to TFT – thought field therapy – where clients are taught to tap acupressure points in order to calm themselves down, and get over mental blocks. It’s eminently readable, and the author attacks the problem on many fronts. I would say that it’s definitely worth a try.
DragonRising books, ISBN 978-1-873483-95-4
This paperback introduces a concept I’ve never heard of – EmoTrance, which sounds like something you’d come across in a dodgy night club – but more of that in a mo’. Anyone who has suffered this crippling condition will surely welcome advice – and even a cure – from someone who has been there, and got the t-shirt. However, I did spot some typo’s and grammar gaffs, and it comes across as quite American. The large print and shouty bits (cap’s) as well as a slippy cover don’t help, either, but that said, this energy therapy technique involved seems like it could well work. It looks similar to TFT – thought field therapy – where clients are taught to tap acupressure points in order to calm themselves down, and get over mental blocks. It’s eminently readable, and the author attacks the problem on many fronts. I would say that it’s definitely worth a try.
Book Review - Healing Your Spine
Author - Stefan Rippel
O Books ISBN 978-1-84694-137-5
Many of us suffer from back pain, and it can be a vicious circle of being out of balance.
Is there help? Well, of course there is. Painkillers, investigations, posture changes, acupuncture, physiotherapy, special chairs and more – but what will work in the long run? Qualified massage therapist and hands-on healer Stefan Rippel goes into meticulous detail, taking the reader through the spine’s growth and anatomy at cellular level, but getting fairly quickly to physical causes, and then how emotions – and the brain itself - play a part.
For example, did you know that as emotions and thoughts pass directly from the brain to the spine – affecting posture as a result?
Different approaches are discussed, including visualisation, exercises, and much more, in this quite readable book.
This, surely is what whole-istic – holistic – healing is all about. Certainly worth a look.
O Books ISBN 978-1-84694-137-5
Many of us suffer from back pain, and it can be a vicious circle of being out of balance.
Is there help? Well, of course there is. Painkillers, investigations, posture changes, acupuncture, physiotherapy, special chairs and more – but what will work in the long run? Qualified massage therapist and hands-on healer Stefan Rippel goes into meticulous detail, taking the reader through the spine’s growth and anatomy at cellular level, but getting fairly quickly to physical causes, and then how emotions – and the brain itself - play a part.
For example, did you know that as emotions and thoughts pass directly from the brain to the spine – affecting posture as a result?
Different approaches are discussed, including visualisation, exercises, and much more, in this quite readable book.
This, surely is what whole-istic – holistic – healing is all about. Certainly worth a look.
Book Review - Feng Shui Life Coach
Simon Brown
144 pages
ISBN 978-1-84181-343-1
£14.99
Octopus Books
www.octopusbooks.co.uk
Another Feng Shui book? Yes, but this one is different, and it does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a life-coach book in that it helps you identify and then aim towards your life goals, with the help of Feng Shui.
Most people understand the concept of Feng Shui – that they change the layout of their environment and their lives improve automatically. That on its own may seem a little vague and unfocussed, and this new book addresses that.
The author’s suggested approach is first to decide what it is you’d like to change about your life, then work out what internal (personal) changes you’d need to make in order to achieve what you want. Once you’ve defined your goals, find how Feng Shui will help you to get there then implement those environmental changes and see what happens. That’s the basic premise, but as the book reveals, there are many parts to it. Intuition, energy-sensing, working with the Sun and the Moon as well as (of course) the eight directions and the use of colours, shapes, plants, lighting and space all combine to get the final result.
It’s an easy read – and the author recommends reading the book quickly right through without analysing before you start making changes, just to get the hang of the concept.
Chapters – there are only four, but they contain all you need to know to get started: understanding life coaching, understanding energy, Feng Shui life-coaching tools, and finally room make-overs with eight-directional energy.
The glossary is brief, and has only around twenty entries, although the index is four pages long, and quite comprehensive. I liked the idea of ‘automatic leaning’ but was disappointed to discover that it was a typo…
I would certainly recommend this book to anyone interested in self-improvement.
144 pages
ISBN 978-1-84181-343-1
£14.99
Octopus Books
www.octopusbooks.co.uk
Another Feng Shui book? Yes, but this one is different, and it does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a life-coach book in that it helps you identify and then aim towards your life goals, with the help of Feng Shui.
Most people understand the concept of Feng Shui – that they change the layout of their environment and their lives improve automatically. That on its own may seem a little vague and unfocussed, and this new book addresses that.
The author’s suggested approach is first to decide what it is you’d like to change about your life, then work out what internal (personal) changes you’d need to make in order to achieve what you want. Once you’ve defined your goals, find how Feng Shui will help you to get there then implement those environmental changes and see what happens. That’s the basic premise, but as the book reveals, there are many parts to it. Intuition, energy-sensing, working with the Sun and the Moon as well as (of course) the eight directions and the use of colours, shapes, plants, lighting and space all combine to get the final result.
It’s an easy read – and the author recommends reading the book quickly right through without analysing before you start making changes, just to get the hang of the concept.
Chapters – there are only four, but they contain all you need to know to get started: understanding life coaching, understanding energy, Feng Shui life-coaching tools, and finally room make-overs with eight-directional energy.
The glossary is brief, and has only around twenty entries, although the index is four pages long, and quite comprehensive. I liked the idea of ‘automatic leaning’ but was disappointed to discover that it was a typo…
I would certainly recommend this book to anyone interested in self-improvement.
Review - All Pets Go To Heaven
All Pets Go To Heaven by Sylvia Browne
O Books
£11.99
ISBN 978 – 0 – 7499 – 4007 - 2
This revised book has an endearing cover, and is quite readable. Sylvia writes extensively about the roles of pets in man’s history before going into the main thrust of the book – namely to assure loving pet owners that our little (and not-so-little) loved ones do indeed go to heaven. Accounts from many pet-owners are included here, and show how animals not only pass over to somewhere beautiful, but come back in spirit when we need them. Sometimes animals come to us in real life who have been sent by spirit. A fascinating book, and a comforting read for all those who have lost a dear pet.
O Books
£11.99
ISBN 978 – 0 – 7499 – 4007 - 2
This revised book has an endearing cover, and is quite readable. Sylvia writes extensively about the roles of pets in man’s history before going into the main thrust of the book – namely to assure loving pet owners that our little (and not-so-little) loved ones do indeed go to heaven. Accounts from many pet-owners are included here, and show how animals not only pass over to somewhere beautiful, but come back in spirit when we need them. Sometimes animals come to us in real life who have been sent by spirit. A fascinating book, and a comforting read for all those who have lost a dear pet.
Product review - The Qu Chi Band
Qu Chi Band
Drug-free hayfever relief – and more!
www.airtight-international.co.uk
OK, this sounds like a designer accessory for a baby, but it’s something completely different.
Remember the acupressure wrist band for travel sickness? Well, this is a band for hayfever and more. Designed by a leading acupuncturist, it’s clinically proven to help allergic rhinitis, sinus, skin and eye problems, headaches, tiredness, lack of concentration…and pain in the elbow and shoulder. For those acupressure aficionados/as the point concerned lies on the large intestine meridian and acts to draw energy away from the face.
When I was given the option to try one of these stylish bands, I jumped at the chance. Although I don’t suffer from hayfever myself, two in our household do, so an opportunity to test it out and silence the sneezing seemed to good to miss…
However, so far, it’s just a friend and I who have used it, though. Why?
I nabbed one to wear overnight as I’ve been plagued for years with a painful shoulder, which usually wakes me, and I gave the other to a friend who has M.E. as well as hayfever. The following day I got an excited text from her – she’d not taken her hayfever med’s that day, and had managed to walk thro’ a new-mown meadow without so much as a sneeze. She also added that it helped stop snoring. She didn’t say who the culprit was…
The band stayed put while I slept, and I had a fairly comfortable night, but the point felt slightly tender the next morning - like I’d just had a blood test.
The Qu Chi point became more painful after a couple of wears and by the third night I was unable to wear it. It was too small for either sneezing son or hayfever-ridden hubby so we don’t know if it would have worked on them.
I also felt that the instructions – at least the diagram – could have been clearer, and it isn’t stated how long to wear it for. So far it only comes in two colours – beige and pink – and two sizes (beige is bigger).
I put these concerns to the company, and they told me that the band will stretch and be more comfortable after a few wears. It can be left around something larger to stretch it, too. The manufacturers are planning to release a larger size as well as one for children. It can be worn for as long as required – if this means 24 hours at a stretch then that’s OK. It’s washable, and can be worn when swimming.
What about finding the right point? Easy-peasy, say the makers – simply put the band on as the picture suggests, and if relief is not fairly immediate, then move it slightly until you see a difference.
All in all a brilliant concept, and certainly worth a try for a drug-free solution to hayfever. I don’t intend to part with mine, and will certainly be giving it another go.
Drug-free hayfever relief – and more!
www.airtight-international.co.uk
OK, this sounds like a designer accessory for a baby, but it’s something completely different.
Remember the acupressure wrist band for travel sickness? Well, this is a band for hayfever and more. Designed by a leading acupuncturist, it’s clinically proven to help allergic rhinitis, sinus, skin and eye problems, headaches, tiredness, lack of concentration…and pain in the elbow and shoulder. For those acupressure aficionados/as the point concerned lies on the large intestine meridian and acts to draw energy away from the face.
When I was given the option to try one of these stylish bands, I jumped at the chance. Although I don’t suffer from hayfever myself, two in our household do, so an opportunity to test it out and silence the sneezing seemed to good to miss…
However, so far, it’s just a friend and I who have used it, though. Why?
I nabbed one to wear overnight as I’ve been plagued for years with a painful shoulder, which usually wakes me, and I gave the other to a friend who has M.E. as well as hayfever. The following day I got an excited text from her – she’d not taken her hayfever med’s that day, and had managed to walk thro’ a new-mown meadow without so much as a sneeze. She also added that it helped stop snoring. She didn’t say who the culprit was…
The band stayed put while I slept, and I had a fairly comfortable night, but the point felt slightly tender the next morning - like I’d just had a blood test.
The Qu Chi point became more painful after a couple of wears and by the third night I was unable to wear it. It was too small for either sneezing son or hayfever-ridden hubby so we don’t know if it would have worked on them.
I also felt that the instructions – at least the diagram – could have been clearer, and it isn’t stated how long to wear it for. So far it only comes in two colours – beige and pink – and two sizes (beige is bigger).
I put these concerns to the company, and they told me that the band will stretch and be more comfortable after a few wears. It can be left around something larger to stretch it, too. The manufacturers are planning to release a larger size as well as one for children. It can be worn for as long as required – if this means 24 hours at a stretch then that’s OK. It’s washable, and can be worn when swimming.
What about finding the right point? Easy-peasy, say the makers – simply put the band on as the picture suggests, and if relief is not fairly immediate, then move it slightly until you see a difference.
All in all a brilliant concept, and certainly worth a try for a drug-free solution to hayfever. I don’t intend to part with mine, and will certainly be giving it another go.
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
OK - as no-one's watching, I can say what I like.
Seriously, though... reviews will be going on my blog from now on, plus some news (snoresville).
Most recent is that we're planning next year's hols already - not the ol' run-of-the-mill flight-plus-two-weeks, but we're going a bit more green and taking the train thro' Europe.
Eek!
Not sure when... but any tips from travelco's will be most welcome.
We've just had a magpie in the garden, shouting at a squirrel, who was, in turn, being stalked by an ambitious tabby.
I leapt to the door (well, not quite) and yelled at all three of them.
Our neighbours must think I'm mental.
I'm getting good at opening the door with a flourish (most people use the handle...).
More soon!
Seriously, though... reviews will be going on my blog from now on, plus some news (snoresville).
Most recent is that we're planning next year's hols already - not the ol' run-of-the-mill flight-plus-two-weeks, but we're going a bit more green and taking the train thro' Europe.
Eek!
Not sure when... but any tips from travelco's will be most welcome.
We've just had a magpie in the garden, shouting at a squirrel, who was, in turn, being stalked by an ambitious tabby.
I leapt to the door (well, not quite) and yelled at all three of them.
Our neighbours must think I'm mental.
I'm getting good at opening the door with a flourish (most people use the handle...).
More soon!
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