Welcome … Namaste … Sawubona

If you’re seeking solutions to your life’s challenges, you’ve come to the right place!  Feel free to connect with me, and let’s chat.

I’m passionate about helping people overcome their emotional challenges. I achieve this through individual consultations (via Skype), my products (books, videos and audios), also talks and workshops.

Today, I’m the author of three books, with a fourth “coming soon”, and many more in the pipeline. My books are within the self development genre specifically, Anger Gone! How to Easily Defeat Anger, Stress Gone! How to Identify and Reduce Stress Easily and Stress Gone! Tips. Living by my motto, “enabling others through love and true connection” I’ll continue writing. See my blog posts.

Why specifically stress, and stress related issues?

On a deeply personal note, I’ve had a history of stress, trauma and depression too. From early childhood my life was shaped by stressful experiences. It is said, with every curse there is a gift … on the bright side, my painfully traumatic and stressful experiences helped to develop my innate sensitivity, empathy and intuition, which I apply to my work. Today, I feel enormously blessed, not only in my own life, but to be able to help others, just like you.

For decades, I’ve been interested in complimentary and holistic therapies. In an attempt to find solutions to my own life’s challenges, I studied a myriad of modalities, but always felt wanting more – as if something was missing. In 2007 I discovered Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), also known simply as “tapping”, and everything changed!

I immediately begun incorporating EFT ‘tapping’ into client consultations, and the results were nothing short of astonishing. No matter what emotional complexities I was presented with, my clients reported enormous benefits. EFT ‘tapping’ is highly effective, yielding impressive results, often within a matter of minutes. Today, and 12 years later, my speciality is all things stress related – including Anger Management, Anxiety and Panic Attacks, Addictions, Depression, Grief and Loss, Trauma Counselling, Fears and Phobias, and obviously, Stress Management too.

Curious by naure, I’m the quintessential ‘student of life’. Personal development has always been important, and I’ll never stop learning, growing or evolving until my last breath!  To accompany my complimentary and holistic healing interests I’ve also studied metaphysics, meditation and nature conservation too. As a farm girl, I firmly believe aside from Mother Nature, we all hold the keys to life’s answers within us.

Each and every one of us are creators in our own rights i.e. creators of our own life and destiny – we all have free will to make choices. I believe the biblical saying, “be still, and know I am god” has been misconstrued, and taken out of context. The religious attribute of god being some external controlling paternal force i.e. a grey haired old man in the sky, who judges and controls our life’s destiny is utterly tragic. In my humble opinion, god is the representation of an indwelling life force, perhaps similar to what the ancient Chinese called ‘chi’ or the ancient Indians called, ‘prana’. This indwelling life force has mystical qualities because it is of an etherial nature, and means different things to different people – it is unique to each of us, much like our signatures. But, when we truly connect to it, we become the creators of our lives. ‘Be still and know I am god’ is the mystical life force we have at our disposal to direct, and thus like architects or designers, we can achieve anything and everything our heart desires. In fact, this mystical life force emanates from the heart, and connects us with everything in the entire universe. Unfortunately, in the west we’ve been conditioned to disconnect from our hearts, because the brain (mind) is supposedly superior. But in reality, the heart’s energy field is far, far greater than the mind could ever be. The ancients knew this, and western science is only just figuring this out now. Be that as it may, when we engage with this indwelling life force, we can become whatever it is we choose or wish to be.  This life force energy has magical, mystical qualities i.e. the power to heal yourself, and to attract whatever it is your wish to manifest into your life.  This indwelling life force energy has omnipotent and omnipresent consciousness, and when we connect with it, we are one with the Universe.

Aside from my holistic therapy work and spiritual interests, I’ve also lived outside the proverbial box, pushing personal yet adventurous boundaries. I’ve successfully completed Comrades (89kms) and Two Oceans (56kms) ultra marathons, several standard (42kms) and half marathons (21kms), several Argus Cycle races (109kms), and summited Mount Kilimanjaro twice (the highest mountain on the African continent) – see pictures below.  Pushing the envelop to the ultimate, I’ve also successfully conquered Fire Walking – walking barefoot over a bed of hot burning coals. A deeply challenging, but highly rewarding experience I’m grateful to have accomplished.

Physical endurance taught me a lot about myself, but more importantly, what humans are capable of achieving. The backdrop of my holistic, spiritual and experiential lifestyle has provided me with a unique skill set – the approach of which I apply to my Stress Consultation work and writing.  I’d be truly delighted for you to benefit accordingly …

A Glimpse of my Travels:  Africa, India, Camino and Peru …

Travel broadens the mind. I’ve been privileged to travel extensively, and enjoyed exposure to numerous cultures across the globe; an enriching, deeply rewarding and spiritual experience. This has significantly augemented my holistic approach to my work, and the way I live my life.

My favourite travel adventures was an overland trip from South Africa through 12 Eastern and Northern African countries, with an old series III Land Rover, our ‘home-on-wheels’ for 10 months. Other travel adventures include meditating in various Ashrams around India, walking +-1,000kms along three ancient pilgrim routes in northern Spain, commonly known as the Camino Francés.

During the Camino I stumbled across the only English text to appear in the remote Spanish countryside. Written in chalk on an old vehicle ‘leaf spring’ and strategically placed in a secluded shady grove along with a neatly decorated table complete with tea, coffee, biscuits and fruit. Completely alone, I felt this poigniant message was just for me. Enjoying the generous offerings, and taking a much needed respite from the unrelenting Spanish heat, I sat quietly absorbing the now ‘haunting’ text, ‘Trust Truth, Truth Trust”.  In the moment I felt a definitive impact, like being slapped by a wet fish, but still, I took the meaning too literally. Little did I know, in time and years later, a deeper meaning would reveal itself, and as if a ‘constant companion’ this memory has repeatedly popped up when I’ve least expected, but needed it most …“Trust Truth, Truth Trust.” 

In 2017 I spent six months in Peru exploring shamanic paths whilst also working with San Pedro, a sacred medicinal healing plant.

Although it may sound like I’ve lived a glorious lifestyle, but in truth, my life hasn’t been a bed of roses; family tragedies, multiple traumas, fatal illness, including burnout with subsequent financial losses, being a cult survivor, and other difficulties have all taken their toll.

In spiritual terms, ‘the dark night of the soul’ has been a harrowing experience, and tough space to navigate, particularly alone. I’ve had to dig really deep to understand myself, to keep myself together whilst frantically searching for answers. Experiencing every human emotion possible, my life has been a roller coaster ride – high highs and equally low lows, along with manic depression, and suicial tendencies. Naturally, I’ve repeatedly questioned the meaning of life.

Searching for meaning, or spiritual enlightenment as some call it, is not easy, in fact, please do everything you can to avoid it! Truth is stranger than fiction. Truth ain’t pretty. Truth can be blatant, harsh and unrelenting. Truth hurts, and cuts to the core. Truth makes one question everything including beliefs, perceptions, attachments, emotions, labels, the past, present and future, even ‘reality’ … “Trust Truth, Truth Trust”  hasn’t been an easy, pleasant teacher but today my life certainly makes FAR more sense than it ever did before.

Dancing with Death …

One of my life’s most interesting curve balls was a fatal illness – I say ‘interesting’ now in hindsight. In 2007, I suffered a terrible bout of tickbite fever (Ricketsia/Lyme’s disease) but didn’t give it much attention because I was back on my feet within a few days. Besides, growing up on a farm I’d been bitten by ticks dozens and dozens of times, another bite meant nothing. However, unbeknownst to me, the bacteria of these minute pepper tick critters went into mutation overdrive, and spread throughout my body like wildfire.

Within eighteen months to two years, I was laid low and diagnosed with CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), adrenal failure, and burn out for the second time in my life. The accompanying physical aches and pains I then endured felt like an early onset of arthritis, I literally felt crippled. Then, manic depressive episodes began, followed by treacherous suicidal ideations. Over a period of time, my life literally spiralled out of control.

At this point, I still didn’t know I had Ricketsia (Lyme’s disease) – that took years to finally figure out.  In the interim, I literally felt I was going off my head! Being well aquainted with metaphysical principles, I knew deep down this illness was far more than purely physical, it was emotional and perhaps deeply imbedded within my psyche. But exactly what it was, stumped me. For decades, I’d been in denial of my personal trauma and childhood stress. I’d done such a good job of burying it so deeply, I was numb and totally oblivious of what was going on internally and subconsciously.  Was it all this, bubbling up to the surface?  I didn’t know, but I was determined to find out.

During my complimentary therapy and metaphysical studies I’d come across the terms ‘dark night of the soul’ and ‘spiritual sickness’ a few times. The latter is something referred to by sangomas (African traditional healers) and shamans. But I didn’t know that it applied to me until several sources started saying I was possibly being called to become a traditional healer (sangoma) or medicine woman. Although this may sound rather glamourous, its definitely not. I felt repelled – perhaps because of my own internal negative framework, lack of confidence, poor self worth etc, but also because I was already deeply entrenched in an aspect of “healing” as a EFT ‘tapping’ practitioner.  Admittedly, I’d had many snake dreams, which is the classic calling card for African traditional healers. Being stubbornly me, I refused to accept this: I didn’t want to put myself through “Twasa” – the rigouorous traditional healer’s training which can last for years.

Then, and as if life has a wickerd sense of humour, I found myself in a totally desperate mental and emotional space where I was completely suicidal. My daily dark dance with death became terrifying – if I’d owned a gun, I would have pulled the trigger … how I’m alive today, is a miracle. It was around this time I discovered I had full blown Ricketsia (Lyme’s disease) and my entire body was completely riddled with the associated borelia bacteria and spyrochetes. This was the source of my all-too-frequent meldowns, ‘going off my head’, the manic depressive episodes, chronic fatigue and exhaustion, painful arthritic inflammation, and utter dispair.

In hindsight now, I understand this well: quite literally, my spirit was screaming at me, and the associated illness, disease, pain and suffering was merely at attempt to get my attention, and bring me to a complete standstill (A-type personalities cannot stop!) – to prevent me from total self destruction, and give me time and space to heal the deep wounds I’d LONG ignored. By now, I also knew traditional western medicine wasn’t the route to take. In fact, that was exactly how and where all the misdiagnosises had occured in the first place. I’d wasted tons of money on medical bills and treatments, and amassed enormous debt as a result. At this point, I knew I had to take a different, perhaps radical path, and course of action in order to truly heal. But what? How? When? Where? To say I was at my wits end, is putting it mildly.

At a brutally low junction, and on the recommendation of someone I trusted, I uncharacteristically decided to try cannabis oil to heal the Ricketsia/Lyme’s. Having never smoked a joint, I was terrified to try the oil – fortunately my desperation was greater than my fear. Within a few months, this miracle oil cured me and my whole demenour changed. Finally, my body’s immunity was strong enough to destroy the Ricketsia’s bacteria. For the first time in years, I didn’t need to sleep 12-14 hours a day … I had energy, motivation, and felt inspired to be human again.

During this ghastly dark period, and in desperation of health and wellbeing, I was also introduced to other shamanic healing processes, which until then I knew nothing about. The ancient wisdom of sacred healing plants such as ceremonial mushrooms, San Pedro, Ayahyasca and Iboga have all become fairly well known today for their deep transformational abilities. Over a period of approx five to six years, I underwent several guided sacred plant healing journeys. These experiences aren’t for the feint hearted because you face your innermost demons headon. At times you feel like you’re dancing with death as parts of the ego dies – the ego is full of fear, resentment, anger, hurt and pain etc, and prevents us from experiencing pure unconditional love. During these journeys, you’re also shown the sources of your pain, trauma and suffering – and, there’s no escaping that truth. Truth ain’t pretty; it’s hard hitting, raw and real. That said, these experiences were all deeply cathartic, and over time I noticed radical internal shifts together with a sense of personal peace.

Today, I sit in awe, feeling reset and transformed, having shed a ton of personal and ancestral baggage – the source of my ‘spiritual sickness’. I now regard the Ricketsia/Lyme’s as an absolute blessing – like any great teacher, it guided me to a totally different path and lead me to knowing, understanding and accepting myself profoundly. What a beautiful gift!  How often life’s greatest gifts are disguised in hideous, henious packages.

This personal transformation has given me a far greater capacity of compassion, empathy, kindness, vulnerability and understanding towards myself, and others. As a result, the quality of all my senses has heightened, which contributes enormously to my therapy work. It is said, we can only meet another person where we are at, and having delved so deeply into my own human psyche, I’m far better equipped and able to support clients to delve deeper into their own inner sanctum.

Fortunately, EFT ‘tapping’ is a far more gentle process compared with sacred plant journeys. EFT ‘tapping’ yields remarkable results that are highly effective and long lasting.  On a personal level, EFT ‘tapping’ is my number ONE ‘go to’ for daily irritations, stress, and even traumatic situations – it’s helped keep me alive, sane, and able to face the world.  EFT ‘tapping’ has also been the tool I’ve used most for eliminating negative and limiting beliefs.

See the testimonials received from some of my clients here.

Considered dyslexic at school, it’s ironic I’m a writer today. During my darkest hours, and in the depths of my Ricketsia/Lyme’s despair, I discovered the ability to write, and haven’t stopped writing since. I’ve been astounded by the many rich discoveries, and gifts received on that dark, rocky journey.

A tiny source of inspiration, which has remained dangling like a carrot, is the word “impossible” – it actually means “I’m Possible” . This has repeatedly lead me to question “what else is possible”? These simple words continue to inspire, motivate and drive me to constantly explore inwards, onwards and upwards.

Without doubt, both my exhilarating adventurous experiences and equally traumatic ‘depths of despair’ have taught valuable lessons, life skills and brightly coloured the canvas of my life, shaping who I am today. All of which has enabled me to comfortably work with people of all walks of life, and with all kinds of emotional complexities too. In most cases I’ve been there, have first hand experience, and earned the proverbial T-shirt. Fortunately, my knowledge, wisdom and understanding is not from some University text book or a Professor’s postulated theory. Life has been my greatest teacher. Today, I truly love helping people better themselves – there is nothing more rewarding than witnessing clients transform before my eyes.

… Here I Am …

Today, I love and cherish ALL that is simple and natural; the outdoors and calls of the wild, birding, vegan and vegetarian foods, meditation, sun gazing and walking barefoot in beautiful peaceful surroundings, and of course natural, authentic and sustainable systems of health and well being.

I AM truly blessed AND grateful to do what I LOVE doing … living my passion and purpose through ALL aspects of my Stress Gone! work; be it speaking engagements, consultations, facilitating workshops, writing, even interviews.

There is nothing more gratifying than witnessing positive shifts and changes in client’s once they’ve shed an overwhelming, stressful or painful emotional burden of the past … that’s absolutely priceless!

Get in Touch…

Now that you know more about me, including the dark, raw, vulnerable path I’ve travelled, perhaps you’d like to work with me to help you overcome the obstacles in the way of you achieving magnificence and personal peace.

Deep down you know you were born to succeed – you deserve it – don’t you owe it to yourself to become the best version of yourself in this lifetime?  If so, let’s connect and have a chat  … I am here to serve you, and your highest good.

To your continued health and wellbeing,

Blessings always!
Bridget Edwards