Academy of Healing Diets with Bonny Casel
The Healing Diets Teacher Training is part of the Naturopathy, Master Iridologist and Master Herbalist Diploma programmes, or can be studied separately. Students who wish to undertake a Healing Diets Diploma can speak to Bonny directly to discuss the curriculum and requirements.
AMAZING work by Iridology Level 1 Class - October 2010
Iridology Level One Class - October 2010 - Penny,
Kim, Helen, Sarah and Agata
We went on to study the 10 Faridian constitutional
types, exploring the relationship between physical
systemic strength and weakness, and the emotional and
mental patterns that preceed and evolve from these
patterns, creating dynamic pathways towards both
health and disease, depending on lifestyle choices,
stresses and other factors. As we progressed through
the tree days of constitutional types students took
breaks to work on their own Iris Mandalas, a profound
exercise designed to help students to truly
understand the effects of their own constitutions and
strengths and weaknesses in relation to their life
choices, health patterns and life experiences, and
vice versa. The standard of work produced by students
was amazing and showed a level of understanding and
willingness to explore deeper patterns that was a
pleasure as a teacher to participate in. Here are
their precious works of art.
Sarah - a
brilliant Naturopathic Student who has retired from
working on luxury yachts to pursue her studies with
the School of Natural Medicine
Sarah beginning her project with symbolic
representation of her past
Sarah’s work progresses as she explores positive
aspirations in the context of inherent strengths and
weaknesses
Sarah’s completed masterpiece - one of the most
beautifully thought out iris manadalas I have seen
and when Sarah started she...wasn’t sure what she was
going to do. It just goes to show how our
consciousness clears the way to understanding and
evolution when we give attention to our inner world.
Helen comes to us with a
long history of study and experience in the realms of
art, psychology, healing arts, permaculture and more.
She is undertaking the Naturopathy Diploma course and
we are lucky to have such a talented and enriched
student.
The first eye Helen drew
revealed the interconnectedness of all parts of the
iris, the body, the mind, emotions and the experience
of life. The second eye explored the depth and
contrasts of the radii solaris. Helen’s work on all
levels is deeply felt and she really understood the
meaning of the exercise and brought it to life.
“I became aware of more
defined contrasts in the left eye, warm and cool
colours, more smooth and then highly rippled areas.
Then I discovered that I had misinterpreted the hills
and valleys in my drawing, so that the dark was at
the peeks of the hills rather then being in the
valleys. Perhaps the significance of wanting to lift
the darkness of not knowing to the top to enable
illumination.”
Penny has been a
student of Iridology for some time and decided to
attend the Constitutions class with me after hearing
me give a presentation at the Annual Iridology
Symposium for the Guild of Naturopathic
Iridologists. “The class has helped me to
solidify my previous knowledge of Iridology and
have given a whole new dimension of the
constitutions. I feel this class has helped my
confidence to approach each client as an
individual and have given me tools to help them
with their personal challenges. I have been taught
to understand that everyone processes life’s
challenges and emotions differently, and that I
can use that knowledge to empower them.”
Penny approached the assignment with a very personal,
delicate and inspiring simplicity. She included
photos of people and symbols of aspects of her life
that are important to her and that influence her
health and enjoyment of life.
The results were beautiful and rich with symbolic
meaning.
Kim is a inspired student
who came to the School of Natural Medicine to take
the Healing Diets class and learn about cleansing and
rejuvenation as she runs the kitchen at one of the
countries leading drug and alcohol detox centres. She
has been given the support by her employers to
continue her education with the School of Natural
Medicine and brings to the class a level of
commitment, enthusiasm and penetrating understanding
of human nature that is a gift for all of us to be
around.
The butterflies of transformation are a perfect
symbol of the potential of the work that we teach
here at the School of Natural Medicine. The
understanding that it is what we do with what we have
been given that defines who and what we really are,
and that circumstances do not define what we can do
with our lives. Kim’s work is very three dimensional
and difficult to photograph in a way that expresses
its true beauty, but even so you can see Kims magical
personal touch throughout.
The heart is at the centre of Kim’s work and this is
certainly true of Kim in her own life.
“I
would like to say thank you so much, your Iridology
class was amazing and I can’t wait to start the next
class. I always knew it was
going
to be an exciting year! I’m very proud to be one of
your students.” - Kim
Agata is a new Naturopathy
diploma student with a tremendous sense of focus and
mental clarity. With her ability to perceive the
‘fine print’ I know that it will be interesting to
see where her studies take her. For the mandala
project Agata had a vision and went for it.
Gilded leaves and lace, sparkling beads, soft
pastels; lovely use of materials to represent Agata’s
‘jewel studded’ eyes. The mandala expressed a
wonderful sense of balance between ‘feminine’ beauty,
softness and ‘prettiness’ and stronger, clearly
defined ‘masculine’ qualities. Agata also clearly has
excellent artistic skills, which I look forward to
seeing more of.
Agata took her work outside as the pastel powder
began to fly. Thankfully the sky
was...momentarily...clear!
The details of Agata’s project are lost in the
photography. Agata carefully sewed beads by hand
through the paper to represent the ‘jewels’ in her
iris and carefully gilded each leaf in gold. The
results are completely beautiful. Agata had an
interesting time getting her creation home on the
airplane and I received a text from her stating
“squished, concealed and smuggled, the mandala is now
on the plane...” And yes, it arrived home safely.
It was a fantastic five days and a brilliant
beginning for our students Iridology studies. By
beginning with the overview approach to analyzing the
Iris, students avoid getting lost in details without
being able to assess what is important, and thus
students create a solid foundation for future
successful practise.
All five students will be back with me for the
Advanced Iridology class in November and will be
joined by students that have taken other Iridology
Level 1 classes with me. If you are interested in
taking a Iridology Level 1 Class with me we a new
group will be beginning the Iridology Level 1 class
in February. To find out more contact the School of
Natural Medicine directly and I will be able to give
you the dates.
Flower Essence Group June 2010
Mark, Fiona and Caroline
On our field trip to Branscombe
we were blessed with a beautiful sunny day - so
different from the wind and rain trip to Branscombe
this time last year. The first plant that we communed
with was a dramatic solitary thistle at the entrance
to a farm gate between one pasture and the next.
Students contemplated the Thistle for several minutes
and then drew it from memory. They then contemplated
the Thistle again, this time taking notes of their
feelings and impressions, followed by drawing a
‘feeling sense’ of the Thistle. We then shared as a
group our impressions and what we thought ‘Thistle’
might be used for in a remedy. Of course there was
such a great synergy between the thistle and
with/within the group. Our activities drew the
attention of a group of young cows who inched their
way closer and closer and CLOSER, until they were
right upon us and we had to face facts and find
another spot. Here is a photo of our darling
friends... they certainly were curious :)
We went on to walk up the hill to visit a beautiful
fern in the woods:
This is Mark contemplating the Fern before beginning
his drawing and following are his comments about the
course:
“I
arrived at the flower essence course, in a rather
hot, bothersome and fatigued state. Having arrived at
the course, some 90minutes late by virtue of driving
a 5 mile radius around the desired location, in a
baking hot car, on roads I was becoming increasingly
confused and enraged by; such were my homing pigeon
skills. As I walked up the path, towards the final
destination I was greeted by a warm smile from Bonny.
Such a welcome, set the tone for the 5 thoroughly
enjoyable days that were to unfold.
The flower essence course has gracefully
helped me to understand, appreciate and led me to
explore further, the innner workings of life, energy
and vibration. Those goings on, just beyond the other
side of the veil we operate behind in normal day to
day life. I have come through the 5 days with a sense
of companionship. A relationship with God and the
gifts he has given us and works through. It has
brought a renewed clarity to my own personal state of
grace and invited me to work in a much more
harmonious way with Creation.
Upon our field exercise, I knew that the
plants were speaking with us because they knew we
listened. We approached them with the right attitude.
And it is this attitude that has helped to uplift me.
It became so glaringly obvious and simple that of
course, everything about them was a direct clue as to
the virtues they offer and in turn, those in which
they help remedy. One cannot help but feel an
overwhelming state of gratification towards these
beaming lights hereon after.
Through studying the essences in turn
and getting a sense of feeling for each particular
state. I knew that my sense of compassion alone was
increasing. Goodness, who would want to live with the
negative expressions of those vibrations! And in the
positive expressions, I saw the diversity of
humankind. The gifts we all have to offer one another
and which we all need to call upon at some stage of
our life.
It was a fitting, conclusion to our 5
days together, that we should make a combined group
essence and as I sipped it in the few days after, I
was transported lovingly straight back into that
saced place, amongst those sacred souls with which I
shared this lovely experience.”
Spending time in such a beautiful green environment
was healing for all of us
Then we moved on towards the beach for lunch and then
to a meadow filled with buttercups, daisies and other
wildflowers. Here we waited and watched until the
flower that wished to become our remedy called out
and on this day it was the Buttercup. We placed our
crystal bowl in the sunshine and carefully allowed
each and every individual flower share its intention
and desire to be part of our remedy. I think that the
students were really pleased to experience how
clearly plants communicate when you are paying
attention to what they are saying.
Here Fiona describes her experience on the course:
“I too thoroughly
enjoyed the course - on many different levels - and
realise that on returning home yesterday afternoon
that I feel profoundly different in myself. I
can only surmise that this is due to a combination of
things, including what felt like one of the most
indulgent healing processes I've ever had (two
people twirling
essence-laden feathers on me for half an
hour!) along with such a positive, kind and open
environment in which to explore and share inner
thoughts, experiences and knowledge, as well as
our group essence which has already served one of its
functions for me (being receptive to grace) and,
lastly, spending time in a place of great natural
beauty (Branscombe). I therefore want to extend
my heart-felt love and gratitude to you all for
contributing to this experience which I will not
forget. “
and later...
"I was so pleased
to be able to join Bonny's Flower Essence course in
June - we had some wonderful discussions about the
variety of human experience and how each Bach Remedy
has its own subtle application to assist management
of difficult emotions. Our field trip to draw flowers
and convene with nature so that we could learn how to
make a flower essence and have a sense of what it
could be used for was deeply satisfying - I will
never be able to look at a thistle in the same way
again! However having essence-laden feathers lightly
brushed on my skin for half an hour was probably the
most indulgent healing practice I have experienced -
unforgettable.
Bonny's guidance and insight each day was inspiring
and the whole experience of being with this lovely
group was a heart-felt joy. Thanks for listening to
me talk about astrology!" - Fiona
And from Caroline:
“I had a
wonderful week also and felt like a different person
leaving on Friday, I felt such a sense of peace and
calm (something I had not felt in a long time). Since
I have returned to Ireland I've noticed so many
thistles. Thanks for the insight on them Fiona,
its amazing how we had a similar feel from our own
work. I enjoyed every second of the course and
it was a pleasure to be around such interesting and
kind people. Thanks to all of you. I bought
some good brandy at the weekend so I'll out in the
garden in the morning.”
So a wonderful time was had by all. Thank you to all
of you and thank you also to the beautiful flowers
that inspired our time together!
